By Maria Corse
 
A few days ago, I had a 'tween look me directly in the eye and say, with deep sadness, disappointment, and frustration in his voice, “I think I am being too nice”.  My heart, quite literally, broke into a million little pieces when I realized, upon hearing that short, emphatic statement, that this child felt that he could no longer allow his innate goodness to shine through.
 
When our view of the world is predominately influenced by the news media’s obsessively intense magnification and sensationalization of hatred and division --- is it any wonder that our kids perceive the world to be a bad and dangerous place, where everyone has an agenda, and, no matter what you do, you will get hurt?  They clearly comprehend that the expected and called upon response to all of this “badness” is fear.  Especially, fear of the other.
 
My immediate and spontaneous reaction, of course, is to prove to this kid, and, to every single child I encounter that there is no such thing as being too nice.  Being thoughtful, agreeable, and pleasant does not require becoming a doormat.  You can set boundaries and limits without being mean, and, you can stand up for what you believe in without being wishy-washy, or, for that matter, a bully or a jerk.  Being kind involves recognizing another person’s humanity without judging, blaming, or fearing them. This is my expectation for all of my students at DRC.  It is modeled by every staff member and volunteer who spends time in our space.  Niceness (in all its perceived blandness), very simply, is the foundation for all we do, because building community demands respect from and for every unique individual.
 
I want them to know that there are tons of positive things happening on this planet. There are more ethical, morally grounded, responsible, dedicated, outstanding, capable, inspired, imaginative, and, yes, simply, good and kind people in this world, who are working hard to make it a better place for everyone, than not.  And, I want them to fully understand, as humans, we are much more alike than our individual and/or tribal ideologies would allow us to believe.
 
It is my greatest wish, that every child (everywhere) has the opportunity (and reason) to recognize, on a deep level, that each of them have an extensive network of support, which will always be there to provide steady and nurturing, encouragement and love.  When we can achieve that simple goal – I truly believe that our reality (true stories) will reflect the good in all of us.

DRC NEWS
 
Art and Craft week is our last week of summer programs before the academic year begins.  Register today. 
 
On September 5th, we are thrilled to begin our 4th full year with new programs, facilities, and resources.  The following experiential offerings are in addition to our Seedlings Program and regular schedule which feature a full range of classes and activities that have been specifically requested by our student members.
 
 
Water, Woods, & Wild Wonders
Every Tuesday our student members will have the opportunity to spend the entire day outside Water. Woods, & Wild Wonders immersed in our natural world.  Our September schedule includes: canoeing on the Little River, exploring the Clear Pond Wilderness, visiting Martin’s farm stand to spend time in the fields and learn about local food, and working with Nature Up North with their MOW the Grasse project to monitor the Grasse River at Heritage Park.
 
DRC Workout Room
Yes, we have a gym filled with equipment, including: free weights, a heavy punching bag with boxing gloves, a stationary bike, treadmill, balance ball, and yoga mats.  We are looking for a small size (not flimsy) basketball hoop that we can attach to the wall.  If you have that or any other gym equipment you would be willing to donate, please let us know.
 
Maker Room
Our hands-on space has been enhanced this summer with a long project counter as well as a nearly full service kitchen.  Thank you to Lenore VanderZee and Sean OBrien for donating a FULL-size refrigerator!  We are excited to offer our kids the opportunity to learn how to cook and bake.
 
Music Room
The DRC music program has taken over the old office space.  It features more space and a door!  Our students have the chance to try out a large variety of instruments on their own or during a class.  We also have engineering and sound equipment that allows them to record karaoke, original pieces, and soundtracks for films and animations they are creating, as well as podcasts.
 
DRC accepts new student members throughout the year.  Please contact Maria to learn more.

.by Maria Corse
 
When a kid says, “I am bored”, with a long drawn out sigh,  I usually say, “good.”  I do not and will not automatically seek out activities that will keep them amused or entertained.  That was not my job as a parent and it would certainly not support my deep belief in the empowering philosophy behind self-directed learning.  
 
Even with that explanation, you are probably asking why I respond, “good”, to any child’s (teen’s) pronouncement of boredom.  It is very simple. When you are bored, your brain goes into overdrive to create a diversion from the stupefying symptoms of lethargy and restlessness.  Boredom, in other words, directly leads to some of the most intensely creative ideas and solutions you will ever have.  (Have you ever wondered about the old axiom: idle hands or minds are the devil's workshop?) To get all technical and biological about it - tedium is our evolutionally guided response to staying alive.  (I know, I know, some incredibly stupid and dangerous ideas have also come out of boredom - this is where I say - "please use your brains and remember past consequences, before implementing something that can and will hurt you!")

I started pondering all this when one of the kids I was hanging out with, during this past week’s theater workshop, told me a story about building sand castles on the seashore.  He spent a fair amount of time and energy figuring out how to stop the big waves from wiping out his creations.  Through play and experimentation, he discovered the solution.  As he related this story to me, he explained that building indestructible sand castles was no longer fun and actually got tedious, because it was no longer challenging.  
 
Bam!  Why do kids get bored?  Because - they are constantly examining new ideas and concepts while learning and growing!  Once they figure something out – they need some down time to mentally process what they just learned before they can move on to the next trial.  Once that rest period is over, however, they are ready to actively dig in and discover an enterprising solution to the next problem.  I should be very clear – these are not problems presented to them by a teacher or parent – these must be puzzles sought and encountered through their own investigations while playing, exploring, and experimenting. 
 
Which brings us back to - learning is natural.  Children are intrinsically driven to seek out opportunities to learn.  If adults will simply stand back, (Yes, I quite literally mean get to hell out of the way!) and, be prepared to provide the necessary resources, materials, and support (NOT advice), kids (teens) have all they need to develop really cool, creative, and innovative answers for some of our biggest challenges.
 

DRC NEWS
 
Summer Programming:
 
Thank you once again to the fantastic Karen Wells for providing a supportive, professional environment for kids to participate in real theater experiences.  It was a privilege to watch seven kids learn theatric skills while developing caring relationships with their fellow thespians. 
 
Music Week with Christopher Raymo begins this Monday.  We are looking forward to creating some awesome sounds.  There is room for one or two more participants, if your musician would like to join us.  Register here.
 
Art and Craft Week starts Aug 28th.  This program is filling up quickly.  Register here.

…  are often the first words spoken when a parent, of one of the overwhelming number of young people who have been diagnosed and cope with anxiety on a daily basis, calls Deep Root Center.  Some, who do not live with, or, understand this, would say, in a casual tone, that everyone experiences anxiety.  Yes, on a very basic level, I would agree; worry and stress is universal. However, the kind of anxiety I am speaking of is not your run of the mill, garden variety vague unease or concern; I am directly referring to the heart stopping, gut wrenching, puking, agitated, hand shaking (whole body shaking), cold sweat, mind blowing, debilitating, paralyzing – panic, that affects more children, teens, and young adults today than ever before.
 
When you consider just a few of the screaming headlines, in the last week, alone - blatant racism, homophobia, and xenophobia, hate rallies, terrorism, social injustice, potential nuclear holocaust, extreme weather brought on by climate change – all of which no one can really escape (believe me, I try), is it any wonder this is becoming a pandemic with far reaching consequences? 
 
On top of all that, our kids, from a very early age, are probably also dealing with peer pressure (including bullying), body shaming, learning differences, societal and familial requirements, high stakes testing, over scheduling, homework, over consumption, and/or simply not enough time to connect with nature or their true selves. 
 
The parents who call Deep Root Center are seeking an answer – an alternative – to what they have already tried.  My first task, which I take very seriously, is to stay quiet and listen fully to their personal story.  These tales, as you can imagine, have a similar thread; however, they are each intensely intimate and often heart-wrenching. 
 
After they have finished, or, simply exhausted all of words they could possibly use to describe their child’s situation, I proceed to explain exactly what Deep Root Center can offer them (their child and family).
 
Firstly, and, probably most importantly, DRC is a safe place.  Our personal and organizational philosophy dictates that.  All kids are welcome here.  Every person here (staff, students, parents, and volunteers) understands the importance of building community through mutual respect and honors that.  It is, in fact, our only rule.
 
Every single student is treated as a unique individual with completely different interests and passions.  An ongoing learning plan is developed through conversations during weekly mentoring sessions.  There is absolutely no coercion here.  No class is required.  Everything the student takes on is through their own free-will with direct support and suggestions from the staff (this is key, these are not orders, every student is allowed to say, “no”, if they feel it is not right for them at that moment). 
 
This piece in itself is so very important when dealing with anxiety.  Which is often defined by the fear of losing control.  When that authority is reverted back to the young person, while scary in itself (for parent and child), it relieves some of those feelings of being dominated, and, allows them to peek out from under all that weight and seek out (often with trepidation) their personal path. 
 
Yes, we offer classes (group and one on one), as well as the facilities with all of the resources and materials our students need to pursue their interests and passions. DRC is a constant hive of action and vibrancy, where kids are actively creating, researching, studying, discussing, and playing, as well as questioning, exploring, and discovering new ideas and concepts that are relevant to their world.
 
Most of our kids refer to Deep Root Center as home away from home – a family – where they can be themselves, while taking charge of their education.  They understand fully that learning is absolutely natural and school is completely optional. They are choosing to be proactive, motivated, and excited about learning, because they appreciate that education is important and valid.
 
In so many ways our work here is defined by the same end goal as traditional school – accomplished, educated students, who will go out and change the world. It is simply our methods and philosophy that are different, which allows DRC to follow each student’s objectives, instead of our own. 

 
DRC NEWS:
 
Membership:
We are here for any young person in the North Country.  If you feel that your child would thrive in our environment – give us a call or send an email.  I would be honored to listen to your story.

Summer Programs – Register online.
Theater with Karen Wells - This Monday – it is not too late to register your thespian.
 
Music with Chris Raymo – Week of August 21st. 
 
Art and Crafts with Maria – Week of August 28th.

by Maria Corse
 
Bullying is as old as civilization itself.  Please notice - I did not say - as old as human existence.  It is my firm belief, that bullying is a direct result of competition, which, in itself, is a consequence of the development of agricultural/pastoral societies over 12,000 years ago.  When our ancestors settled down, because they no longer had to travel around to hunt or gather their food, societal stratification occurred – those that accumulated an abundance of stuff and those that did not.  One way to get those possessions was to beat out your neighbor – have more children (who themselves were a commodity to be bought and sold through marriage), grow more of a single crop, be better at trading, develop skills that are marketable, own (steal) the land, get others to do your physical labor, and cheat if necessary.  Building status through wealth was the name of the game, which brings us to today – free-market, capitalism, etc.  Their very definitions revolve around competition – one up-man ship.
 
Hence, our children learn early on that status (wealth, community position, etc.) is desirable.  Vying for recognition and prestige among their peer group is often their first experience in the world of rivalry.  They understand the need to fit in and that being different in any way automatically sets them back. Yet, despite (in spite of) this clear understanding, some choose to embrace their differences, instead of following the group, which automatically makes them the target.
 
To be clear, physical intimidation is still what many of us think of when we hear the word, bully. And, what many of us experienced growing up.   Today, in the world of internet connections - smart phones and devices - strong arming has taken on a new meaning.  Cyber bullying is an insidious practice that takes persecution and psychological brow-beating to a level that makes the perpetrator a constant presence in the victim’s life.  They simply feel like they cannot get away from the abuse.  Many cases are not reported to parents or school authorities – I can only guess - for fear of having their phones or tablets taken away and, of course, for retribution. 
 
Many, with the best of intentions, have developed and implemented anti-bullying campaigns, including books for young children, specific programming, as well as community meetings.  These have helped in a small way to bring recognition to the problem.  However, instances of bullying – cyber, mental, physical, and verbal - are on the rise here in Northern New York, as well as the rest of the country.  Is there a solution to something so intrinsic to the very foundation of our societal structure?  If so, what are we missing?
 
I, personally, go back to the beginning – competition.  If we could somehow remove the need for kids to feel they have to physically, mentally, or verbally conquer someone else to achieve status, and, let them know it is absolutely OK to be themselves, we may be able to make some headway. 
 
In several studies, it was shown that if another student stepped in to help the victim, the bullying stopped.  I have discovered over the last few years that respect given freely, without any judgment attached, is absolutely reciprocated.  What if our kids were offered that simple commodity from adults and peers – every single day?
 
Imagine the possibilities, if kindness and a dedication to helping others became status symbols.
 
 
Resources: http://www.a4kclub.org/get-the-facts/bullying-statistics, http://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/stats.asp, https://www.stopbullying.gov/media/facts/index.html#stats, and http://americanspcc.org/bullying/statistics-and-information/