Youth Curriculum, 11-1-26
Youth Announcements:
CSL Winter Teen Camp Registration Is Open! Teens ages 12.5–18, sign up by December 15! Visit cslolympia.org under Youth & Family → Teen Camp to learn more and register.
Youth Ages 9-13! Join the Cooking Club for Kids hosted by Alison Eastlake of Deerfoot Herbs Nov-Dec, Thursdays 5-7:30 here at CSL. Six sessions include meal planning, nutrition, cooking prep & basics, eating meals together, clean-up, and community. Families are invited Nov 19th & Dec 17th for meals prepared by the club. See Adrienne for more information.
November Monthly Theme: Expanding Empathy
November Week 1 — What It Means to Be Empathetic
Value: Presence & Authentic Connection
Affirmation: I live empathy as presence, truth, and conscious love.
Youth explore empathy as more than feeling sorry for someone or trying to solve their problems. They discover how being fully present, listening without judgment, and allowing others to express their feelings can create genuine connection. Through paired listening exercises, role-play, reflection, and creative expression, youth practice recognizing the difference between listening to respond and listening to understand. They learn that small, intentional choices can help others feel seen, heard, and valued.
Spiritual Lesson:
Empathy is a way of expressing the Love and Oneness that connect us all. Youth discover that they don’t have to agree with someone or have experienced the same feelings to approach them with understanding. By pausing, listening with an open heart, and resisting the urge to fix a situation immediately, we create space for authentic connection. Empathy becomes a spiritual practice when we allow love and understanding to guide how we show up for others.
Meditation Practice: The Pause of Compassion
Youth settle into a comfortable position and take a few gentle breaths. They imagine a warm light of love within their hearts, reminding them that they can meet others with patience and understanding. They visualize a conversation in which someone needs to be heard and imagine themselves listening without interrupting, judging, or rushing to offer advice. They silently repeat, “I can pause. I can listen. I can respond with care.”
Active Listening: Book/Music/Video
Book: Younger Youth (ages 4–7): The Rabbit Listened — Cori Doerrfeld
Video: Younger Youth (ages 4–7): Empathy and Caring for Others — Sesame Workshop
Book: Older Youth (ages 8–12): Each Kindness — Jacqueline Woodson
Video: Older Youth (ages 8–12): Empathy: The Human Connection to Patient Care — Cleveland Clinic
Music: “Count on Me” — Bruno Mars
Teen Video: The Power of Empathy — Brené Brown, RSA Short
Teen Discussion: Listening to Understand
Teens explore the difference between listening to understand someone and listening to prepare a response. They discuss why people sometimes rush to offer advice, compare experiences, or judge another person’s choices rather than simply being present. Together, they consider how empathy can strengthen relationships, how to acknowledge feelings without assuming we know exactly what someone is experiencing, and how to offer support while respecting personal boundaries. Teens identify practical ways to show empathy in friendships, family relationships, and their wider communities.
Creative Expression: The Listening Lab
Youth work in pairs to practice two different styles of listening. In the first round, they have a natural conversation and notice the urge to interrupt, share a similar story, or offer advice. In the second round, they practice giving their partner their full attention, allowing pauses, and asking thoughtful questions. After switching roles, participants reflect on how each experience felt and identify the listening behaviors that helped them feel heard. Younger youth can use familiar topics, such as favorite activities or animals, while older youth can explore friendship, belonging, and everyday challenges.
Creative Expression: Small Moments, Open Hearts
Youth choose one small way to practice empathy during the coming week. They might pause before responding to a difficult message, listen to a family member without interrupting, or ask a friend whether they want advice or simply someone to listen. They reflect on the question: “Was I present, or was I trying to solve it?” Through these everyday choices, youth discover how empathy can become a natural expression of love, understanding, and connection.