TEEN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Dates:  July 20-July 31, 2015
Where:  Our home base is in San Rafael, with field trips every other day to parks, gardens, and Marin Civic Center.
Time:  All days 9:00 am-3:30 pm, except Fri July 31, 8:30-5:30.  The activities below are subject to adjustment.
Apply here:  TELA 2015.

Mon July 20.  Orientation day:  Yoga.  Introductions. Goal-sharing.  Folk dance & games.  Garden walk.  Mindfulness practice.  Preparing for field trips.  Closing circle.

Tue 21.  Green Gulch Farm:  Meditation in the Zendo.  Garden work.  Farm lunch.  Meditation walk.  Speaking practice.

Wed 22.  Speaker training:  Yoga for energy.  Reading circles.  Dance & movement.  Research reports.  Speaking games.  Deep breathing, deep relaxation.

Thu 23  Vision walk:  Game, hike, and stories with Catrionia MacGregor, author and environmental educator. Closing meditation.

Fri 24.  Speaker training:  Yoga for energy.  Reading circles.  Speech writing.  Dance & movement.  Speech practice & revision.  Yoga for your eyes.  Juggling practice.

Mon 27.  Slide Ranch (tent.):  Yoga on the bluffs. Garden lesson and work in the fields.  Farm-grown lunch.

Tue 28.  Prep for Advocacy Day:  Yoga for sleep.  Reading circles.  Movement & dance composition.  Speech prep, speech-giving.  Yoga for your eyes (with juggling).

Wed 29.  Ring Mountain:  Nature hike with Juan-Carlos.  Listening meditation. Practice speeches.  Yoga for sleep.

Thu 30.  Advocacy Day:  Bus to Civic Center.  Meet with officials. Meditate with staff. Yoga for eyes.

Fri 31.  Point Reyes:  Hike & nature study with Juan-Carlos.  Lunch at beach. Listening meditation.  Post-surveys.  Note times:  depart at 8:30 am, return at 4:00 for post-surveys and family gathering – slide show, speeches, meditation, refreshments.  Adjourn 5:30.

 The environment unites every human, of every nation and creed.  If we fail to save it, we all perish.  If we rise to meet the need, we and all to which ecology binds us – other humans, other species, other everything – survive together.  And that will be peace.

– Thich Nhat Hanh, The World We Have (2008)