Unplug, de-stress and share together, as we rejuvenate and renewed our energy. During this two-day retreat, at the lovely Menucha Retreat and Conference Center outside Portland, you will:
     *  Learn strategies to enhance wellbeing
     *  Lean effective meditation and mindfulness techniques to relieve stress
     *  Keep a journal of your inner and outer life to deepen self-awareness and knowledge
     *  Learn strategies to take back home and school that will rejuvenate your soul

Brain research reveals how Happiness Skills positively affect our state of mind. A conscious choice of attitudes, beliefs, intentions, personal philosophy, precepts and daily practices are under your control and teachable. All the learning in the world is worthless without happiness. For K-12 youth to be successful and motivated they need the skills and knowledge necessary to create happy lives. Learn how to shift perspective about difficult situations, and more, through readings and discussions.

Teenagers are both incredibly delightful and occasionally frustrating. While that is not news, why teenagers behave the way they do is news to many of us. Recent research has created a significant body of literature that explains the developmental phases of teens. Based on teen brain research, this course will help you to navigate the labyrinth of emotions, developmental differences and entertainment we often call the teenage brain. For teachers of grades 7-12.

This course incorporates Observational Drawing Skills (ODS) based on drawing and design principles that guide participants through the process of creating successful, realistic looking, still life drawings. Teacher-artists who want to develop, support or advance their ODS will purchase the “Introduction To Advanced Observational Drawing” video course to access thirty (30) online teaching videos constituting approximately 5 hours of step-by step ODS content. The lessons are open to all ability levels, from emerging to advance drawing skills. Lessons are broken down into a series of small concepts that build upon each other so that participants can practice each concept before incorporating it into their overarching still life project. From hands on practice projects, exemplars and skill building, lesson plans will be developed for implementation for any studio and/or classroom setting.