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Register to join Mentoring Through Drama
"I have learned that a leader is truly defined by his or her compassion, resourcefulness, and ability to make things happen. I have learned to be this kind of a leader." - Bridgette, Leadership Challenge Graduate
Become More Adept At:
- Time Management
- Organization
- Team Building
- Public Speaking
- Assessing Personal Strengths/Weaknesses
- Interpersonal Communication
- Goal Setting
- Decision Making
Leadership Projects:
- Peer Mentoring
- Mentoring Through Drama
- KidPOWER
- Coalition Builders
- "Kids going Places"
- Elder Buddies
- Click Here for a detailed listing of Student Leadership Projects
Testimonials:
"Leadership Challenge gives you a chance to become a better leader and while doing so makes you a better person. I have become more prepared more confident and therefore have better self esteem than I did previously. Leadership Challenge has really affected my life for the better." - Sarah S., Leadership Challenge Graduate
What is the Leadership Challenge?
The Leadership Challenge consists of 45 hours of curriculum training that takes place affter the traditional school day, together with 10-15 hours of servant leadership with a variety of community organizations. Each participant comes away with valuable skills designed to serve them in future endeavors; skills such as organization, time management, public speaking, goal setting and constructive criticism. Leadership Challenge provides an opportunity for youth to look beyond their high school environment, opening their eyes to new avenues they might not otherwise have pursued.
Admittance into the Leadership Challenge Program is by nomination: parent, peer, self, faculty, and/or community leader.
Submit an application below for consideration.
TAKE THE LEAD
Social Emotional Positive Youth Development Program
Take the LEAD (“TTL”) is a twenty session Social Emotional Learning program that is facilitated by New Canaan CARES and delivered to students in the New Canaan Public Schools. Through this interactive training program, CARES teaches youth how to make good decisions with the goal of building individual strengths and reducing negative behaviors. TTL provides youth with the tools to identify and evaluate difficult social situations, explore the choices available to them, understand the consequences and alternatives and react confidently and competently to challenges they face. Developed by health promotion specialists, TTL equips students with social and emotional learning skills that transcend the classroom, empowering them to approach life’s challenges with competencies in several key areas, including: self-awareness, interpersonal communication, social awareness, decision-making, goal setting, self-management, problem solving, and organizational skills; all essential leadership skills.
Sample Session:
Goal
To raise self-awareness and identify positive personal attributes which contribute to confidence, competence, individuality, and belief in one's future
Objectives:
- Identify positive personal characteristics, skills, and behaviors that contribute to their individuality and social emotional health, through the completion of a self-assessment
- Explore characteristics and abilities they aspire
- Introduce themselves and identify attributes that make them unique and independent
- Build group rapport and self-confidence through fantasy introduction activity
- Identify positive character traits and attributes in peers and family members
Movin' On to High School
Transitioning to high school can be an exciting and yet daunting experience for the whole family. Within this energizing and information program, middle school seniors and their parents are invited for an open discussion about changes, challenges and insights from current high school students aimed at helping you and your 8th grader feel more comfortable and prepared to transition.
Topics include:
- Fitting in
- Social life
- Independence
- Managing coursework
- Schedules (lunch, free periods)
- Risky temptations
- Making the right connections and choices for you!
Please click here to visit our community calendar for the next offering of this program as well as our many other programs.
Register to join Movin' ON
Register Below for Assertiveness Training
Between increasingly competitive popularity contests, heavy school workloads, and an ever-expanding number of responsibilities, the Middle School years can be overwhelming. The Assertiveness Training program helps participants develop self-advocacy tools to better respond to these challenges. This series of after-school workshops for 6th and 7th graders uses hands-on activities-such as debate, crafts, role-playing, and cartooning, to improve participants' personal communication style, boost their assertiveness, and help them practice essential leadership skills. These activities are specifically designed to both identify and build upon individual strengths, and to encourage teamwork and group dynamics, in order to improve Middle Schoolers' resilience and self-confidence.
Highlights:
-
Cultivate essential leadership and communication skills in a respectful, non competitive setting
- Learn how to positively influence others
- Interactive activities teach participants approriate responses to situations of conflict, while establishing a supportive peer culture
- Learn to respect oneself and others equally
- Develop self-advocacy skills necessary for success in Middle School and beyond!
Dates and Times:
Open to 6th and 7th graders, this four session program meets once a week for four weeks in the spring and fall.
Space is limited. Register today to ensure a space for your child.
REGISTRATION: