Mindful Awareness Program, Kindergarten-5th grade

Promoting Life Skills

THE MAJOR EMPHASIS OF THE K-5 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IS CULTIVATING A HOLISTIC WORLD-VIEW AND A NON-INJURIOUS WAY OF LIFE.    WITHIN THIS CONTEXT THE WORD “WORLD-VIEW” REFERS TO HOW WE SEE THE WORLD AND UNDERSTAND OUR PLACE WITHIN IT.   

THE MAJOR THEMES THAT ARE DEVELOPED IN SUPPORT OF A HOLISTIC WORLD-VIEW ARE INTERDEPENDENCE, OR SHIFTING FROM “ME” TO “WE” THINKING, THE HAPPINESS OF BEING, WHICH IS THE FULFILLMENT WE EXPERIENCE FROM OUR WAY OF BEING IN THE WORLD AND NOT WHAT WE GET FROM THE WORLD, AND PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT, OR THE RECOGNITION THAT WE ALL MATTER AND WHAT WE THINK, SAY AND DO IMPACTS THE WORLD AROUND US.  

THE THEME OF INTERDEPENDENCE IS A POTENT ANTIDOTE TO THE SOCIAL INJUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION THAT IS PERPETUATED BY SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND NARCISSISM.  THE EXPLORATION OF THE HAPPINESS OF BEING PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT BALANCE TO THE SOCIETAL PRESSURE OF UNRESTRAINED CONSUMERISM AND THE FIXATION OF LOOKING FOR WELLBEING IN WHAT WE GET FROM THE WORLD IN TERMS OF WEALTH, PRESTIGE AND POWER. THE RECOGNITION OF PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT PROTECTS US FROM HOPELESSNESS AND DESPAIR AND IMPARTS A SENSE OF PERSONAL EFFICACY AND SELF-MASTERY.   

TO NURTURE A NON-INJURIOUS WAY OF LIFE STUDENTS EXPLORE A NUMBER OF GAMES AND EXERCISES THAT PROMOTE SELF-AWARENESS OF THEIR BODY, SPEECH AND MIND. WITH HEIGHTENED SELF-AWARENESS STUDENTS LEARN TO RECOGNIZE DESTRUCTIVE IMPULSES AND CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES.  ALONG WITH SELF-AWARENESS STUDENTS CULTIVATE EMPATHY AND KINDNESS AND INVIGORATE THE INCLINATION FOR ALTRUISM.

IN ADDITION TO THE CULTIVATION OF A HOLISTIC WORLD-VIEW AND A NON-INJURIOUS WAY OF LIFE, FLOURISH PROGRAMMING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL INTRODUCES A LANGUAGE OF EMOTION AND BASIC ELEMENTS OF MEDITATION THAT SUPPORT SELF-SOOTHING, FOCUSED ATTENTION, AND GRATITUDE.

 

 84% of students report using the skills and tools taught in Flourish educational programs on a daily basis

When students were asked why they  use these skills they responded:

• To manage stress and become calm

• Find peace

• When I'm angry, sad or afraid

• To strengthen kindness and build positive relationships

• To build focus and support academic success

 Mindful Awareness Program, 6th-12th Grade

Exploring the Human Experience

"This program means a lot to me because it helped me get rid of my depression.  Thank you for that!" ~7th grade student

ADOLESCENTS GROWING UP IN THE 21ST CENTURY ARE FACED WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF GLOBAL CHALLENGES INVOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, SOCIAL INJUSTICE, ECONOMIC DISTRESS, AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION. THESE CHALLENGES ARE FURTHER COMPOUNDED BY SCHOOL, EXTRACURRICULAR, AND SOCIAL PRESSURES THAT HAVE CREATED A SOCIETY OF STRESSED OUT TEENS, WHO ARE NOW SUSCEPTIBLE TO A WIDE ARRAY OF MENTAL DISORDERS THAT HINDER THEIR HUMAN CAPACITY TO LEARN, THRIVE, AND CONSTRUCTIVELY ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD. IT IS NOW ESTIMATED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH THAT 20% OF 13-18 YEAR OLDS EITHER CURRENTLY OR IN THE PAST HAVE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE DEBILITATING MENTAL DISORDER. UNFORTUNATELY, IN AN ATTEMPT TO COPE, YOUNG PEOPLE OFTEN TURN TO DRUGS, ALCOHOL, VIOLENCE, AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS THAT EXACERBATE THE EXPERIENCE OF DISTRESS AND DISSATISFACTION.

TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND TO PROMOTE A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING, PROGRAMMING AT THIS AGE AIMS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF ETHICS AND VALUES, MEDITATION AND EXPERIENTIAL INQUIRY.  THIS EXPLORATION IS GUIDED BY GAMES, RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE, GROUP ACTIVITIES, DYADIC WORK, CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE AND THE PRINCIPLES OF SUBJECTIVE ECOLOGY.

THROUGH THIS IMMERSION STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISCOVER FOR THEMSELVES WHAT QUALITIES OF THE HEART/MIND ARE BENEFICIAL OR ANTITHETICAL TO THEIR OWN AND OTHERS WELL-BEING.  IN ADDITION STUDENTS CAN REALIZE THE WORLD IS NOT SIMPLY HAPPENING TO THEM AND HAVE A CHOICE FOR HOW THEY SHOW UP.  

ULTIMATELY, THROUGH FOSTERING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND DELIBERATELY CULTIVATING THE HEART/MIND, STUDENTS ARE INSPIRED TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD FROM THE INSIDE OUT THROUGH HUMAN VALUES SUCH AS KINDNESS, COMPASSION, EMPATHETIC JOY AND EVEN-HEARTEDNESS. 


Filmed over the course of a year, we highlight the core concepts of the Mindful Awareness Program through class excerpts, and interviews with students from Jennica Alexander's 5th grade class at Hailey Elementary.

This video is about the Flourish Mindful Awareness Program in the Wood River Valley. Filmed over the course of a year, the video highlights the core concepts of the Mindful Awareness Program through class excerpts, and interviews with students from Jennica Alexander's 5th grade class at Hailey Elementary.