Workshops Just for Kids

COMING SOON!

CALLING ALL SUPER HEROES!

Awaking the super hero within each child

Philosophy

Within each and every child are all the attributes of a super hero. However, without positive mentorship, this innate hero can become buried beneath a false identity perpetuated through negative influence, including peer pressure. It is our purpose to mentor and nurture the superhero that is each and every child.

“Calling All Superheroes!” is an 8-week experiential workshop for children ages 11 through 13. Patrick Feren and Rita Andriello, workshop facilitators and coaches use interactive dialogue, community participation and collaborative hands-on activities to awaken the participating children to their individual positive heroic qualities.

At the end of the 8 weeks, participating children will demonstrate their understanding of the positive attributes of a superhero by collaborating and creating their own modern-day original superhero team with a cause for good and full cast of characters. This may take form as a comic strip, art project, dramatic presentation, speeches, and more.

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PADDYKINS’ WAKE UP CALL

 Story by Patrick Feren

Written By Patrick Feren & Rita Andriello

       Once upon a time there was a caterpillar named Paddykins. He spent his very short life crawling from leaf to leaf and eating and eating.

       One day, he got really tired from eating so much. He hung upside down on his favorite tree branch and wove a warm blanket around himself. “Hmmm. How comfortable,” he said. “I like it here. Not much to do and I can just rest.”

       Soon, Paddykins became so comfortable, he forgot about eating leaves. He forgot about crawling. It was so warm and safe in his gooey blanket that he just slept and slept.

       Time passed. Then one day he was startled by a voice that seemed to come from deep within him, “Wake-up! It said. “It’s time to be a butterfly!”

       "A what?” Paddykins yawned. "I’m a Caterpillar, and I’m sleeping. I can’t be something I’m not. Good Night."

       And yet, as he was trying to fall back to sleep, Paddykins thought something sounded familiar about the word, ‘butterfly’. But, he pushed the thought from his mind, and he tried to turn over and get comfortable. “Hmmm,” he said, “It’s getting really tight in this blanket.”

       Almost immediately, the voice responded from within him. “It’s getting tight in there because you’ve got wings. It’s time to fly, my friend.” 

       “Who are you?” asked Paddykins, “and why do you think you can tell me what to do?”

       “I’m the butterfly within you,” said the voice, “and I’m telling you, it’s time to fly.”

       “Well, I’m telling you, said Paddykins, “I’m a caterpillar, and I don’t fly. Birds fly! Go away!”

       Paddykins got so excited he jumped in his blanket, and the blanket tore. “Oh, now look what I’ve done,” he said.

       But, the voice within him wouldn’t give up. “You’re getting too big for that worn out old shell. It’s time to leave!”

       Paddykins reluctantly peaked out through the hole. "Wow!” he squeaked. “There is so much space out there, if I left, I would get lost. It’s way too big for me.”

       But, the voice said, "Your wings are getting pretty big. Aren’t you getting cramped in there?”

       Paddykins tried to move. "Well, it’s a little tight, but with this hole and if I don’t move much, I’ll be okay."

       Then, he heard the voice again. It was really loud now. “It’s time Paddykins!”

       "I’m fine, I told you," Paddykins said, barely able to breathe because of the tight space.

       Then the voice got gentle. "It’s okay, Paddykins. You don’t need to be scared. You’ve got what it takes for all that space. Here we go. Just relax!”

       "No I’m fine,” the little caterpillar shouted. But he felt awful. There just wasn’t room to breathe anymore.

       "Relax, take a deep breath and surrender, Paddykins. I promise, you can do it!”

       Paddykins couldn’t hold back any longer. He took a deep breath and let go, and as he did, his blanket split wide open. He fell from his branch to the ground with a “plop!”

       Paddykins was left with yellow goo all over his body. He tried to move, but the goo was just too heavy. He started to cry. "I feel dirty and very heavy. I should have never listened to you,” he screamed. “I was forced out of my nice warm place. What can I do now? I have nothing and I’m cold!”

       Paddykins tried to move but all he could do was hobble. He hobbled until he came to a puddle of water. Paddykins looked down to see his reflection in the water. "Who am I?” he asked curiously. “I don’t recognize this face or this body. What are these?” he asked, as he spread his wings and revealed the beautiful colors.

              With a tear running down his cheek, Paddykins said, "What do I do now? I don’t know who I am.”

       The voice spoke gently, "You are who you have always been…a butterfly. You were born to fly, Paddykins!"

       Paddykins felt the warmth of the sun. A slight breeze came up and with it, a lightness came over Paddykins. He spread his wings and glided up and down and all around in all directions. “I’m free!” he smiled.

       Just then other beautiful creatures appeared. They were other butterflies just like him. “I’m not alone,” he said as he flapped his wings.

       He looked back at his torn blanket that had been his home, and asked in a whisper. "What if I forget what I was?”

       The voice whispered back, "That will be a good thing my friend. That will be a good thing. Now fly!”

       Paddykins smiled and settled into the NOW, and with wings spread wide, he flew off toward the rainbow in the sky

THE END AND THE BEGINNING

copyright: Rita Andriello & Patrick Feren 2010

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