Teens need a warm relationship with a good role model. ATP runs programs almost every night of the week where kids can hang out in a fun and supervised atmosphere with trained mentors. Mentors become a sounding board the for the teens, and slowly a relationship of trust and support is built. Hakshiva has been extremely successful and problems big and small have been avoided, alleviated, and sometimes even solved, all because of the relationships that were built.

Chilling Together
The boys in the ATP program join Hakshiva mentors for various activities that are aimed at little more than having a good time together. These activities include hanging out in a Moadon where we play pool, ping pong and foozball; watching various sporting events together; and playing cards or board games (most notably Beyond Balderdash and Apples to Apples). All activities and events take place in settings that are comfortable for the boys and offer them a safe place, physically and - more importantly - emotionally. By spending time together in a relaxed atmosphere, the group is able to develop solid relationships between the mentors and the boys, and amongst the boys themselves, and is also able to see those relationships develop. At all ATP events one rule carries the day: Respect. We respect the place we're in, the equipment we're using, each other, and ourselves. Even as we're enjoying ourselves important life lessons are absorbed and positive role models are setting an example of the proper response to all situations.

Weekly Basketball
Hakshiva's weekly basketball game offers another outlet for the ATP boys. Getting out, running, sweating, and enjoying the game is a great way to burn some energy and have some fun. The inherent lessons of the game - the importance of teamwork, the value of working hard, and the pleasure of engaging in healthy, enjoyable activities - underscore the event. Mentors playing with the boys gives ATP staff yet another angle to build and reinforce relationships with the boys.

Friday Night Oneg
Shabbos brings a new dimension to ATP. On almost every Friday night throughout the year there is an Oneg Shabbos at the home of the ATP Coordinator. There's chulent, cakes, pitzuchim (seeds), and soda to enjoy. We sit, shmooze, and just have a good time together. During the winter, when Shabbos starts early enough, a one hour learning program that takes place in one of the local shuls precedes the Oneg. Hakshiva never pressures the boys into joining us in any of our activities. The boys come because they want to. We believe that they come because they're loved and accepted and there's no one in the world who doesn't appreciate love and acceptance. Of course, there's also the chulent. During the summer, long Shabbos days are at times harbingers of boredom, which can easily lead to trouble. Hakshiva offers Seudah Shilishis at the homes of various ATP mentors. The teens enjoy a Shabbos meal with the mentor and his family, built around a life lesson that is discussed by the group. One of the more structured ATP programs, Seudah Shilishis is an opportunity for shared discussion and growth. By opening their homes to the teens and inviting them to spend time as part of the family, mentors open themselves to the teens in a way that is inevitably reciprocated. Relationships deepen greatly

Motzei Shabbos Growth Plans
On Motzei Shabbos the boys come back to the home of the ATP coordinator for some pizza, soda, and a chance to work on themselves. Though there often will be a game played as well, it is during this time that the most structured work is done with the boys. Various opportunities for growth are presented to the boys. Participation is always optional and little pressure, if any, is applied. Growth programs are offered that are then tailored to each teen to help him work on areas that he believes need to be developed. Each teen is encouraged to grow at his own pace and in a way that is comfortable to him. Incentives are offered to help motivate the boys (and the mentors) to work hard and get the most they can from these opportunities. The most common - and popular - incentives are trips. ATP trips have included bowling, hiking/rappeling, paintball, a ski/snowboarding trip to the Chermon, and rafting near the Kinneret. Through these growth plans ATP has seen some teens take tremendous strides towards becoming the mature, responsible, healthy, content adults that they are capable of being. Valuable life skills are developed and important lessons learned.

It's All About the Relationship
As with all Hakshiva programs, the ultimate goal of ATP is to help each teen maximize his potential. And it's all done through the relationships. Group mentoring was developed for children and teens who aren't well suited, for whatever reason, for an individual mentor. The hope, however, is that the relationships with the mentors will blossom to the point where the teens receive the same benefits as they would from the individual mentor. There are times in every teen's life when he needs support, a listening ear, or a shoulder to cry on. His adolescent friends are not always those best suited to fill that role. ATP mentors fill the void, bringing the compassion of that good friend coupled with the maturity and experience of an adult. ATP mentors come from disparate backgrounds, presenting the teens various personalities and perspectives to engage with. Deep, enduring, special relationships have evolved, and the boys come to ATP mentors with problems big and small. Sometimes we can help. Sometimes we have wisdom to share. Always, we listen. And the boys know that they have someone they can rely on, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.