connected teens

3 PILLARS OF FOCUS

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I. Natural Health - Skills for self-care                                              

- Levels of who we are: physical, mental, spiritual, and how they affect each other

- Appreciating and nourishing the body through all its phases.

- Chinese Medicine perspectives: applying the 5 Element system to our life cycles, daily habits, and body development as well as self-care techniques through understanding the body’s energetics

- Exploring the dominating paradigm of the pharmaceutical medical system, how it dominates our country’s concept of healthcare, and the effects that it has on our true state of health.

- Food as medicine: understanding whole food and nutrient dense diets and applying knowledge by making recipes from the "Nourishing Traditions" book.

- Natural medicine creations: various herbal medicines made for a wide variety of practical purposes.

- PE at local parks: strength training, cooperative sports and games, obstacle courses

Light reading assignments from various books such as:

"Between Heaven and Earth," by Efrem Korngold and Harriet Beinfield,

"Electric Body, Electric Health," by Eileen McKusick,

"Nourishing Traditions," by Sally Fallon

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II. Natural Connections- Importance of relationships 

- Connecting with people through team-building activities, communication skills, mentorship opportunities with younger children, and analyzing modern relationship imbalances and potential remedies.
- Connecting with plants through stewardship of the land and growing food
- Connecting with animals through the study of local animals, their uses and purposes in
our ecosystem and how we affect each other.
- Connecting with the elements through activities to develop personal experiences with
the weather, sun, moon, stars, fire, water, wood, earth, and metal.

Assigned books: "The 4 Agreements," by Don Miguel Ruiz 

"Grandfather," by Tom Brown Jr.

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III. Natural Rights- Our intrinsic power, our birthrights, ethics, respect, and responsibility

- Applying constitutional rights, understanding why they were written for this country,
and interpreting the liberties we hold and responsibilities that come with them
- Understanding natural laws and rights from diverse cultural perspectives and putting
them into action
- Career exploration through workshops and volunteering at various places with guest
teachers
- Creative writing and research on topics important to students, story creations and
storytelling through various art forms

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Assigned Books: "Weapons of Mass Instruction," by John Taylor Gatto 

"Anthem," by Ayn Rand

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Underlying theme to all areas of study: WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR TEENS TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO THEIR LIVES NOW? WHAT WILL THEY ALWAYS NEED TO KNOW REGARDLESS OF HOW THE FUTURE UNFOLDS?