Youth Curriculum, 5-5-24

Announcements:

Calling all community champions! We have an incredible opportunity to support our teen advisor, Ocean Laura, who will be attending the transformative Summer Camp at Camp Cedar Ridge in Vernonia, Oregon. This week-long event gathers Teen Groups internationally for growth-focused workshops, recreation, and community building. This camp empowers teens through spiritual transformation. Your donation will bring back insights to empower our local community and teens nationwide. Let’s rally together to make dreams come true! Use our website’s donation page at CSLOLYMPIA.ORG and select Youth & Family Fundraising.

Our next INSPIRE Life-Skills Workshop is May 26th at 5 p.m.! Teens ages 13-18 will explore “The Art of Budgeting & Financial Responsibility.” Learn crucial money management skills and craft your own financial plan. Walk away with actionable steps to boost your financial health by summer. Bring a friend and share the empowerment! Topics include budgeting, car ownership costs, compound interest, and the importance of credit scores. See you there!

Curriculum Overview:

May – Good to Great to Grand: Youth embark on a transformative month, delving into their inner landscapes, embodying their values, taking purposeful steps, and crafting stories of vision. Guided by creativity and reflection, they ignite their journey towards self-actualization.

May Monthly Theme: Good to Great to Grand
Week 1 Value: The Inner Landscape
Affirmation: I am open and curious as I explore my own inner landscape.

Spiritual Lesson: 

By engaging in these activities and discussions, children will gain valuable insights into the importance of observing, questioning, and exploring their inner landscapes, laying the foundation for their journey toward self-actualization and authentic expression.

Meditation Practice: “Exploring the Inner Garden”

Youth are guided to visualize themselves in a tranquil inner garden, exploring various elements that represent aspects of themselves, such as blooming flowers for passions and sturdy trees for strengths. They’re prompted to observe, connect, and express gratitude for their inner landscape before gently returning to the present moment, feeling grounded and centered.

Active Listening: Book/Music/Video

Book: “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst – This book beautifully illustrates the interconnectedness of all beings, emphasizing the importance of inner connection and self-discovery.

Book: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy

Book: “You Are Special” by Max Lucado

Music: “Inner Peace” by Yanni

Music:  “Happy” by Pharrell Williams

Creative Expression: Observation Station:

In the “Observation Station,” children engage with sensory materials, practicing non-judgmental observation of their thoughts and sensations. During “Curiosity Quest,” they explore self-discovery through thought-provoking prompts, fostering curiosity about their inner world through journaling or discussion.

Connecting/Spiritual Practice: Discovery Walk  

Youth are guided through nature, fostering curiosity about their surroundings while drawing parallels between observation in nature and self-exploration. In the “Group Meditation,” participants engage in a guided inner exploration, using vivid imagery like landscapes or oceans to symbolize the journey into their inner worlds.