Teen Activities

[Laurelei]

I am really excited to have volunteered to coordinate teen activities at Our Haven for the 2009 season. For those who don't know me well or don't know my background, I was a high school English and Drama teacher for about 7 years. I left full-time teaching a couple of years ago, and I don't miss the grading, but I do miss the kids. Terribly. I loved working and talking with adolescents, and I am so grateful and optimistic about the chance to make a positive impact in the experiences of teens who come to Our Haven's festivals and campouts.

Teens need the respect of being treated as more than children with the understanding that they aren't yet adults. With that in mind, I am thrilled at the idea of bringing in workshops, activities, rituals and more for Our Haven's teens.

In preparing for the 2009 festivals, I would love to start collecting ideas, suggestions, etc. from teens, parents of teens, adults who are involved in the lives of teens, and adults who are generally aware that teens exist and come to Our Haven. What would you like to see offered? How would you like to be involved? What would it be great if we did, created, discussed?

You can post here (which would be fabulous for getting open discussion rolling) or e-mail me off-forum at [e-mail].

Laurelei

[Firepanther]

Laurelei, I will be happy to assist you in any way you need.  I love the teens and we all get along pretty good....so just let me know....

[Laurelei]

Eeeexcellent <said somewhat diabolically>. I have ideas for you already. Maybe something about herbal cosmetology ideas? We'll brainstorm at Longest Night!

[KC Wilkerson]

I have a suggestion but please don't bounce it back at me. I'm to close to the problem and I'm not qualified to teach this. So please understand this is just an idea for someone to pickup and run with.

Anyway, that said, I've noticed the teens are having trouble with each other in the area of "spreading rumors".  When I was in the military there was a department called "Rumor Control" that prevented a lot of problems. People could call, or write in, and find out if a rumor was true or not. That may not be a practical solution but I hope you get my drift?

The teens also need some tools for conflict resolution, or some anti-backstabbing alternatives. These tools wouldn't be limited to use with each other. They could also be handy for talking to the adults about things that are bothering them, instead of acting out to get our attention.

Feel free to talk amongst yourselves. LOL

Thanks,
KC

[Bill Schook]

Don't hold me to the fire on this since I am not a parent and I only have minimal experience with children outside of Our Haven and two nieces that I don't see often enough.  I know that I have some kind of clout in this since I have been adopted by several kids at Our Haven.  It's fun to be everyone's "Gay Uncle Bill" and to have kids that are ecstatic to see me when I show up at the front gate of Our Haven.  I would like to participate in this, but don't want to be considered a babysitter.  

I wholeheartedly agree that some activities and activities planning would be necessary for kids and teens.  Not only for the kids to do, but for the kids to know that there are some events going on.  This would also be good for parents to know this as well so they can either participate or be able to provide stuff to do for their children at their camp if the kids don't want to participate in the planned activities.  And, I know we can't make EVERYONE happy.

During October Gathering there was a very disappointed child who wanted to make candles and was excited about making candles when he got to the gathering and the person who was going to have the workshop didn't hold the workshop.  My heart went out to this very upset kiddo and his mom.  

During the same event, several of the kids figured out that the culvert in the playground rolls when you knock the blocks away and had several children in the culvert while it was rolling while several other children outside of the culvert rolling it into the road towards the information booth.  I had to "play parent" for a brief time and I didn't like it.  I don't think that rebuilding a fence around the playground would be a viable solution for that problem since it was a lack of supervision.

I would like to hear more things from parents of kids, of all ages that could keep kids not only from getting bored but to keep them entertained.  Weather your kids are 7 months, 17 months, 7 years or 17 years.

What works for kids/teens at events?  
What HAS worked for kids/teens at events?
What doesn't work for kids/teens at events?  
What can we do for kids/teens who are bored?  (besides locking down the culvert)

Wood Busting only works so far as far as time allotments (wood buster's schedule) and capacity and there's not that many teens that actively pursues this other than a few outside of Tony and Yolanda's kids and KC and Cricket's kids and most kids that do this are already strapped to elitism because they earned them.

So, other questions that I have is what do we do with the kids and teens who are bored and wander off?
What age range(s) are we talking about?
Do the parent(s) responsibility end and the coordinator(s)/Our Haven's responsibility take over when the parent(s) send their kid(s) off to the workshop(s).
How much does the parent(s) involvement count in regard to the activities their kids do?
Will there have to be waivers to sign?

See ya'll for Longest Night.  Off I go to make some mead to entertain the adults for the Spring.    Don't worry, I'll bring mead to Longest Night, too.

[DRAGON47]

As merchants we have a little different perspective on the child issue.We have a set vantage point to pretty much observe everything that goes on at festivals.To be honest we get pretty upset about how little supervision some of the parents have over thier kids at festivals.Unfortunately these parents have the attitude that they want to enjoy the festival and not have to worry about what thier kids are doing."Hey, they have 175 acres to mess around in.What kind of trouble can they get in to?".Then they get upset when a person tells them thier child is getting in trouble by doing something hey shouldn't be doing.
We did see this quite a bit at October Gathering and it was pretty much from the same group of kids.

We have seen 8 year old kids act more mature than some 13 year olds,but we have a standing rule with the business.If you are under 13 you must have a parent with you in our shop.I believe that should be true for any area on the grounds,this includes the playground.The parent must be within the vicinity and able to be there at a moments notice to deal with the child if needed.If the child is attending a kids workshop and the parent is not needed there to supervise then the parent can go about thier business till the workshop ends.After the workshop the parent retrieves said child and they resume responsibility unless other arrangements are made in advance with another responsible person.

I could probably say alot more,but I don't think it is needed.
I greatly appreciate those that want to help keep the kids occupied and interested in doing something constructive.More power to you.I am all for workshops for teens and children.It gives them a sense of purpose and keeps the boredom down.

[DRAGON47]

Laurelei,
Angie and I have been talking and she will be replying to you as soon as she has her ideas grounded.
Some of the ideas she has may require personal tools.Once you have an events workshop program together, whatever tools the teens will need to bring with them from home needs to gotten into the program for that event so that they can bring them.
Best of luck

Tim and Angie

[Bill Schook]

Good evening.

A discussion took place on a chat board I am on (http://willowandabroad.ning.com/) about putting together and having a sweat lodge for Beltaine at Our Haven this year.  During this discussion, a "Sweat for Teens" was mentioned.

KC Wilkerson had said that he may be interested in working with the facilitators in getting this going.  I forwarded that information to Lor and she said that it was a great idea.

So, as a suggestion and to get additional input, we are taking this out of private email and onto the Our Haven Forum!  

This can spawn a couple of topics on their own:

Having a sweat at Our Haven
Having a sweat for teens

In this thread, I would like to discuss if anyone has facilitated or knows how to facilitate a sweat for teens?  What's needed?  What worked?  What didn't work?... and all that.

[MommaSavage]

   I wanted to post a message regarding the nature of the comment that BS had posted regarding the Teen Sweat. First off a teen sweat was only mentioned not confirmed so if Laurelei wants to host a teen Sweat please do so with caution, sweats are not anything to take lightly (people can die). Sweating can be a very purifying experience and a sweat was mentioned for "Adults" on the forum as aforementioned. The individuals who were speaking about this topic on the Willow forum had only mentioned doing one, it had not been set in stone or had not even talked it over with the Elders of Our Haven. I am looking forward to the upcoming season at Our Haven and I hope this reply is seen by the necessary people to be clarified.

I apologize for any confusion,
Shannon