Ages 10-12, October 2nd and 16th, 1-4pm, PLUS October 10th- 1:30-3:30pm – this is an extra date that has been added on, if you can’t make it, don’t worry, I just wanted to add one more structured class to the month. $175- Program is limited to 12 kids so if you want to have your child attend with a friend, make sure to send them this link!
Ages 13-17, October 9th and 23rd, 1-4pm, PLUS October 17th, 1:30-3:30pm this is an extra date that has been added on, if you can’t make it, don’t worry, I just wanted to add one more structured class to the month. $175- Program is limited to 12 teens only.
If you believe your child belongs in a different age group (maybe they just turned 13 and their friend are all 12, then sign up for the one with their friends)- I trust you as the parent to know what is best for your child.
Make sure to read the Required Reading section before signing up. No cancelations with refund after September 20th for this program- if you find someone to take your spot then contact me for refund. In the case of storms, we will reschedule to a new date.
Feel free to send a snack- I may have something depending on allergies of participants but always recommend you send something you know your tween/teen will eat if they are a snack needing kid.
Parents- I get that it’s a drive to get here for some. And as a mom, I hate living in my car. You are welcome to stay during the workshop and get work done inside BMK (wifi, coffee and tea will be available). If you are staying, simply circle around and park facing up the drive.
This is a preview of what will become a staple at BMK both for tweens and teens, but also offered for adults- both for business retreats and workshops open to the public. The workshops will be based on foundational lessons the book I am writing which blends stoic philosophy and modern mindfulness. Stoic philosophy, stoicism, is often misunderstood and the stereotypical image of the ‘stoic human’, hardly describes me.
In the two sneak peek workshops this fall, kids will get introduced to the concepts that I believe best prepares one to navigate life, both as a teen and an adult. Leadership to me applies not only to leading others, but leading oneself and without the latter, you cannot do the former.
The concepts/lessons covered in this workshop are nothing like what kids are introduced to in school. And that’s what makes them fun. I am not here to indoctrinate or preach to kids but instead challenge them to draw their own conclusions, question and push back. Learning the skill of respectful discourse will play a big role in the full program.
We’ll cover the idea that vulnerability is courage in action, how to turn anger into action, soften the voice of anxiety, and remove the power of shame. A big focus will be on recognizing what is in our control and how to embrace the love of process over outcome. How to look at events as not good or bad, but simply something that has happened and asking yourself, “what is the right thing to do next?”. We often make things about US and look for ways to back up that story. Instead of saying “why did this happen to me?”, saying ” this has happened, how can I make this work for me?”.
“It isn’t the events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgements about them.” – Epictetus
Finally, we will talk about how to navigate peer pressure and bullying. One of my favorite quotes on this topic is: “If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, ‘He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would have not mentioned these alone.’” – Epictetus
How? Through dynamic discussions and with hands on activities such as archery and fire making. Kids will be chopping their own wood, and making fires using just a knife and ferro rod. They also will be learning archery and spend time building upon skills learned this summer for those who attended fire or archery camps.
I have recruited my husband, Bill, to help with this as his background as a professional pilot and flight instructor and now fire lieutenant and fire chief, provides an invaluable resource of knowledge of what leadership looks like. Having studied Buddhism for many years, Bill brings that perspective to mindfulness that beautifully compliments stoicism. Bill will be leading the fire making, hatchet/knife skills and archery parts of the program along with team building exercises in the future both for this program and for the adult workshops.
With only 2 classes/group (now with bonus 2hr 3rd class), we will be balancing fitting in as much as possible with allowing time for each lesson to be absorbed. I also will send you a link once registered to a private FB group where I will post additional content and do some live videos in preparation for the upcoming workshop- that way adults/kids can interact and ask questions. If there are kids who want to continue to explore the topics we touch on past the two workshops, I will consider offering some zoom classes during the winter to tackle different concepts and topics. The full program will include first aid training as well.
This being just a sneak peek, is priced accordingly so don’t miss out on this discounted price. We will be adjusting and building the program based on the input from your kids as well, so they will get to be part of the foundation of something truly special. There is nothing like this in the area and this summer I will be offering versions of this in all day camp form. I understand that this age of kids- tweens to teens involves a lot of commitments and activities. So with that in mind, I will be creating the program to allow for maximum flexibility but personally believe that the life skills covered here are just as important as anything else- if not more. There is a mental health crisis facing our children and while I am NOT a mental health professional, I do believe that creating a healthy mindset and vocabulary to talk about emotions is essential in building one’s resilience and ability to adapt to the hard things in life. “I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent—no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.” – Seneca
DROP OFF AND PICK UP: Drive down to the white house and drop off at the “DROP HERE” sign, circle around and if parking, park facing up the drive. The grass yard is my neighbors, so please do not go into their lawn or block their driveway.
