A Little More Kind was a campaign to encourage a culture of kindness through small, selfless acts that were easy to do—demonstrating that just about anybody could find a way to do a kind thing in the course of their day. People who did random acts of kindness (RAKs) were encouraged to photograph it and post in on a facebook page we created to promote the groundswell, with the hashtag “alittlemorekind.”

For Break Through 2014, One Stone students traveled to the Idaho Youth Ranch campus in Rupert to spend two days teaching and learning from each other. The Ranch is a residential care and education community for youth in in crisis, and is the longest running program offered by our partner, the Idaho Youth Ranch. During the course of the project, students learned equine therapy and ranching practices and did hands-on improvements to the ranch

xplore Camp, a healthy lifestyle and self esteem building project, is an example of what’s possible when you believe in yourself. The camp, in collaboration with St. Luke’s Health System YEAH! Program, Bogus Basin, Boise Parks and Recreation and One Stone, came to be known as the Think, Believe, Explore, Dream, Build, Commit, Discover, Act, Choose, Live Camp, where we did just that. One Stone students partnered up with a camp buddy for five days of nutritional education, activity and self-esteem building exercises that looked nothing like any of those things—to campers, it was CAMP!

One Stone team members wanted to design a project that would address an environmental issue in the Treasure Valley. As they moved through the design thinking process, their focus shifted as they learned about the critical importance of those who protect our environment—wildland firefighters. The group pivoted, and refocused on honoring this group of front-line, first responders through a partnership with the Wildland Firefighter Association, whose vision is “To honor, recognize and support wildland firefighters past, present and future, and to provide resources to assist fallen and injured firefighters and their families.”

The American Psychological Association reports that low self-esteem is often associated with health-compromising behaviors in adolescence such as substance use, early sexual activity, eating problems, and thoughts that may lead to suicide.  This hit home with a team of One Stone students who recalled their own memories and experiences from junior high, and served as a call to action to do something to positively impact girls at this vulnerable age.

Originally focused on brightening the lives of the elderly, the Young @ Heart project was a powerful reminder of the capacity we all have to make connections. The One Stone project team worked with Wynwood at River Place Assisted Living Facility in Boise to plan three Saturday afternoons of tea parties, tailgating, and a talent show by One Stone members. Over the course of these events, the teens and senior citizens formed transformative relationships that challenged stereotypes and encouraged positive perceptions.