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T.E.A.M. Year in Review. Roll the Dice with Special Needs Students. |
The academic year of 2003/2004 has been very exciting for everyone involved with TEAM - from the committee members, to all of you conference attendees, and everyone else in between. October 2003 was one particularly noteworthy month where TEAM was graced three times. In early October, our Peace Fire Circle was graced with the presence of Jane Goodall who came to visit. TEAM welcomed and honored her with a dinner that was followed by a Peace Fire where Jane honored us by sharing her adventures from around the globe and her Roots & Shoots program. Later on October 20th, a Peace Labyrinth was installed in the same area where our Peace Circle and Peace Pole reside. The labyrinth was built with chakra stones carved and donated by students of the Waldorf school in Chicago. The labyrinth was laid out by Johannes Matthiessen, who is an architect by training from Germany who now travels around the world putting in Standing Stone structures and earth balancing environments. Next, Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastic College visited our Peace Circle on October 25th, 2003. The monks came for a Fire Puja with Tribal Elders at Northeastern Illinois University at noon. The monks chanted for nearly an hour. Afterwards, they planted a white pine tree for our Peace area; following this, we all walked the new labyrinth. Pictures from the monks visitation and the new labyrinth are posted on TEAM's website in the Peace Circle section (http://www.neiu.edu/~team/peacecir/laby.htm) Just recently, on April 27th, 2004, the founder of the Art of Living Foundation Sri Sri Ravi Shankar spoke at Northeastern Illinois University on Building Cultures of Peace. After his session, he came out to our Peace Circle and honored us by lighting the fire for all. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a world renowned humanitarian and has addressed over 20 million people around the globe including the United Nations, the European Parliament, and the World Economic Forum. Pictures from this moment are also on the TEAM website in the Peace Circle section (http://www.neiu.edu/~team/peacecir/ravi.htm). In between all of this was the 15th Annual TEAM Conference. Yes! Already 15 years of growth and service to those involved in the methodology of Experiential and Adventure Education. We received many positive comments during, as well as after, the conference. Attendees were inspired by our Friday night Peace ceremony led by Pat Cleveland and her class where the children brought in a huge crane model they had constructed together and performed a song of peace. Following, the nationally acclaimed McHenry County Childrens Choir performed two songs; afterward, they then taught us how to fold origami cranes and insert our own personal messages for peace, which would be sent around the world. Pictures from this event are posted on the TEAM website under the Conference heading. Besides the over 80 workshops that were offered, attendees also shared a moving lunchtime experience as they were addressed by 3 teachers who shared their joy of teaching experiences: Rob Schader, Mike Donatucci, and Laurie Frank. At the end of the conference, we partook in our customary rainmaking experience, wished each other good experiences, and scattered out from the gathering until next year. You view pictures from the 15th Annual Conference on our website by clicking here. And next year is soon around the corner. Our 16th Annual Conference will convene Friday and Saturday, February 18th and 19th, 2005. Mark your calendars now. Our print brochure will mail November 1st; our website version will also be available on that date. Register as early as possible to insure you get the sessions you crave for from both our new selections as well as some that you might have missed last year. We are pleased to announce that Karl Rhonke will be back for an all-day Friday session (limited to the first 40 registrants). Laurie Frank will be presenting an all-day session on Friday. Tony Calabrese, Michelle Cummings, Momfeather Erickson, and many more presenters will be in attendance to energize and inspire you to new heights. As Carol Kyle writes in her article in this issue of The Ripple Effect, "TEAMBUILDING ACTIVITIES is the future for our profession! It is also a great way to align your...Curriculum with the state goals for Illinois!" Our theme
this year really speaks to the heart of everything we all do. "The Spirit
of Education: Embrace the Ed-venture." Come and be re-energized. Bring
your experiences from this school year to share as you network with over
300 other attendees from all around the country and the globe who will
be present as speakers and participants.
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