STARS (Safety, Tolerance and Respect Superstars)

Thanks to a wonderful collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of the North Valley, we are now offering this afterschool program at three local schools, Paradise Elementary, Pine-Ridge School, and Ponderosa Elementary. Created and led by PCTN employees and volunteers,  the program guides children aged 6 to12  in learning about empathy, appreciating differences, handling bullying situations, and resolving conflicts non-violently.

Begun in spring 2005, STARS is PCTN's Youth Bullying Prevention program, a series of twelve weekly sessions conducted by PCTN employees and volunteers as part of the local Boys & Girls Club After School Program "Clubhouse", now held onsite at local Paradise Ridge schools. 
Guided dialogue, crafts, interactive "games" and role-playing are some components. The kids have fun, bond in friendship and understanding, and demonstrate positive changes in their behavior and attitudes. Many children enthusiastically return to participate again in subsequent semesters.

Camp Friendship, a Nonviolence Summer Day Camp
The success of the STARS program inspired us to offer the two-week-long "Camp Friendship" in June 2006. This unique nonviolence day camp, created and facilitated by PCTN, was held at the Paradise Recreation and Parks Center.

In a fun and supportive setting with activities involving music, arts & crafts, role-playing, cooperative sports, games, and journaling, the program focused on a different virtue theme each day. A real tool belt with 'tools' crafted by the kids included the Ring of Respect, Friendship Bracelet, Compass of Cooperation, and Peace Passport. It gave the kids a fun reminder of the behaviors they had learned to help them to deal with bullying situations, to control anger, to empathize, and to stand up for self and others in non-combative ways.

In Summer 2007, Camp Friendship was expanded to two 2-week sessions, one for children ages 7 - 10 and one for youth ages 11 - 13.  The program activities were enhanced and also tailored to the age group.  PCTN staff members and volunteers lead the camp.

Details about the 2008 Camp will be coming soon.