AN INVITATION

Do you like getting outside in the hills, exploring nature, working in gardens? Would you like to make the world a more beautiful place? Would you like to learn how to relax and let go of stress? Can you imagine being a leader in your community?

If you answered yes, the Teen Environmental Leadership Academy (TELA) is for you! TELA is a two-week summer program for high-school students who live in the Canal area of San Rafael, CA. The Academy will meet 9:00 to 3:30, Monday through Friday: ten days of outdoor exploration, mindfulness training, leadership development and service.

Exploring . . .

With the Pickleweed Center as our home base, we will venture out to local parks and gardens such as Green Gulch, Pt. Reyes, Tennessee Valley, and the Marin Art & Garden Center. We will also explore the natural beauty right here in our home neighborhood. Service work will include tending to gardens we visit and in the Canal community.

Learning . . .

Instructors will teach you common and not-so-common plants in Marin County (some are edible!), how to take care of vegetables that you can grow for your own family, the hidden costs of throw-away society, how to speak confidently in front of a group, and how to approach it all with an open mind and peaceful spirit.

Becoming a leader . . .

Leadership begins with knowing who you are. Through mindful practice and cultural awareness, you can set high goals for yourself and become a steward of the community. The Academy will include workshops on key themes for effective leadership: the art of listening, persuasive speaking, and inner peace.

A priceless opportunity

Mark your calendar for July 9 through 20, 2012, for two weeks of community, learning, and fun.