Champaign County

"Helping Teens Find Their Own Way!"

Mailing Address:
809 S. Fifth St., Champaign, IL 61820
Tuesday Night Meeting Address:
805 S. Sixth St. Champaign, IL 61820
217-337-5809
ccos@champaignsnowball.org

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Unconditional Acceptance

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be at a place where you'll be accepted no matter what?
OP SNOWBALL is the place.

OP SNOWBALL is the place where everybody is encouraged to speak up, but where it's okay if it takes a month or a year to figure out how to do this. It's also okay if you want to come watch and listen for awhile, just to see how it's done. That won't be a problem: just say, "Pass."

1. Self-Awareness
2. Self-Expression
3. Responsible Decision Making
4. Teen Helping Teen Peer Leadership


Weekly Tuesday Night Meeting We meet all year around at 805 S. Sixth St., Champaign, corner of Sixth and Daniel, Champaign; the entrance is on Daniel street. There is no cost. For info, click here.


Spring & Fall Weekend Retreats Retreats are the best: high energy, positive events for learning about oneself and others. For info, click here.


Unconditional AcceptanceAt OP SNOWBALL everybody is encouraged to speak up, even if it takes a month or year to figure out how to do this. If you want to come watch and listen for awhile, just to see how it's done: no problem. Just say, "Pass."


The name OPERATION SNOWBALL means "If I have a positive impact on you, you can have a positive impact on someone else and the effect Snowballs." OP SNOWBALL is 100% voluntary and based on the belief that every person has the ability to make sound decisions regarding life and behavior. This decision-making responsibility requires adequate information, as well as an understanding of one's self, attitudes and motivations.

Norms CCOS has rules but we call them "Norms," different than rules because Norms are based on respect. In CCOS the goal is to treat others the same way you want others to treat you. Check out the Norms. At Op Snowball, teens following the Norms talk openly, freely and honestly.

Small Group OP SNOWBALL has Large and Small Groups. In Large Group everybody is together for an activity. In Small Groups three or more teens meet with a Teen and Adult Staff. Small Groups are neither for lectures nor advice. They're times to say what you want/ need to say as well as time to listen to what other teens have to say.

Mission StatementThe Champaign County Operation Snowball is a voluntary peer-to-peer, self-help support program for high-school-age teens which teaches Self-Awareness, Self-Expression, Self-Responsibility and Teen helping Teen Peer Leadership skills to assist CCOS participants develop personal, family and community responsibility.

Links and Referrals Op SNOWBALL has links to many great websites. Check out the information on health, education, self-esteem, music, art, disability, trauma, self-awareness, and everything in between.

Places CCOS Has Met In 1979, CCOS had its first Tuesday Night meeting in the former Youth Services Center on the second floor of the 100 block of North Neil in downtown Champaign. The YSC closed and we moved to the main floor of the Inman Hotel, remaining there until 1988 when the Inman changed to the senior housing it is today. In 1988, CCOS rented an office from the McKinley Church and Foundation and we met there until December 2007. Currently, the Tuesday Night meeting is held at the Community United Church of Christ, 805 S. Sixth, Champaign. And while CCOS is not faith-based we survived because of the generousity of these two churches which opened their building and facilities supporting the growth of the teens of the Champaign County Operation Snowball.

CCOS History In the beginning was the Illinois Teenage Institute on Substance Abuse (ITI). ITI is a week-long, summer leadership training program for high school teens. In 1977, a group of teens from Rockford, Illinois, attended ITI and thought it was great, so they returned home and started a similar group designed to meet throughout the school year. They named their new program Operation Snowball, hoping it would roll to other communities. Today, there are over 130 chapters. In 1979, Urbana resident Teddy Dawson was deeply involved in mental health issues on a local and state level. She attended a meeting in Rockford and heard the teens talking about their new Snowball. The ever-resourceful Teddy returned to Champaign-Urbana and started up the first Operation Snowball meetings in Champaign County.

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