What is Stepping Stones?
The Stepping Stones Project (SSP) is a program that feels like home. It is a long term mentoring and 'Coming of Age' program, where you get to connect with other kids your age, awesome Leaders, and a wise, really nice Elder. Stepping Stones is a place to learn, grow and play! Your group is a place where you get to be all of who you are without worrying, because you are with people you can really trust.
Your group will meet monthly to go on daylong adventures when you'll go outside, maybe do a ropes course or tend a special fire, or some other adventure your Leaders come up with. In the summer the group meets less often. You'll go on summer trips to some of the most beautiful places in California.
Groups are about 8 youth. We have boys groups, girls groups, and are starting gender-spectrum groups, for youth who don't identify within the binary. Most of our groups start in 6th Grade. Some start in 7th or 8th. They continue through the Fall of 9th Grade, and will sometimes continue meeting less frequently into high school. Some of our groups even go on trips through college!
Your group will meet monthly to go on daylong adventures when you'll go outside, maybe do a ropes course or tend a special fire, or some other adventure your Leaders come up with. In the summer the group meets less often. You'll go on summer trips to some of the most beautiful places in California.
Groups are about 8 youth. We have boys groups, girls groups, and are starting gender-spectrum groups, for youth who don't identify within the binary. Most of our groups start in 6th Grade. Some start in 7th or 8th. They continue through the Fall of 9th Grade, and will sometimes continue meeting less frequently into high school. Some of our groups even go on trips through college!
What's the 'Coming of Age' part about?
The transition from elementary school to middle school, then to high school, is a really big change. As you grow out of elementary school, you often grow out of who you've been. You might change the way you look, talk, your friends - a lot of things change pretty quickly in these pre-teen and early teen years. Middle school can be a challenging environment to try to balance your wish to be true to yourself, fit in with peers, and get school work done too!
Stepping Stones to the rescue! SSP is a special place, away from it all, to figure things out. Unlike the rest of middle school life, Stepping Stones is a place where you get to just BE. There is space for all of you, who you've been and who you're becoming. There is space to celebrate what's great, and space for what's hard or hurting. You have two amazing Leaders and an Elder to help you through whatever life might bring up. That's a really special kind of support not enough people have.
Stepping Stones to the rescue! SSP is a special place, away from it all, to figure things out. Unlike the rest of middle school life, Stepping Stones is a place where you get to just BE. There is space for all of you, who you've been and who you're becoming. There is space to celebrate what's great, and space for what's hard or hurting. You have two amazing Leaders and an Elder to help you through whatever life might bring up. That's a really special kind of support not enough people have.
Is it just for me, or are my parents part of it?
Your Stepping Stones group is just for you, not your parents. Your regular group meetings will be you, the other kids, your Leaders, and sometimes your group Elder. Your parents will have their own group that meets separately every few months, so they can be part of the program too. They'll know your Leaders and Elder, and will come to a few special events, but they won't be in your group.
Everything that's said in your group, stays in your group. Unless there is some super duper important safety type issue, everything that goes on in your group stays confidential. Your parents will get a general summary of what happened, because they like to feel connected to what's happening, but they won't really know the details. Your group is for YOU!
Everything that's said in your group, stays in your group. Unless there is some super duper important safety type issue, everything that goes on in your group stays confidential. Your parents will get a general summary of what happened, because they like to feel connected to what's happening, but they won't really know the details. Your group is for YOU!
What do we do in the groups?
It depends. Every group is different. All the Stepping Stones groups have things in common because they follow the same loose curriculum. They all PLAY! At Stepping Stones, we think play is one of the best ways to connect with each other. All the groups practice ways of communicating that help you feel really listened to and like your group cares what you have to say. This is called Council. Every group also has snacks!
Every group is also different. Your Leaders will always have ideas, plans and ways to make the group meaningful - but they will also always be flexible and really listen to what everyone wants and needs to take care of themselves and feel connected to each other.
Some examples of what you might do during a Daylong adventure: hike to an awesome view, go to the beach, do a ropes course, work on a special project.
Every group is also different. Your Leaders will always have ideas, plans and ways to make the group meaningful - but they will also always be flexible and really listen to what everyone wants and needs to take care of themselves and feel connected to each other.
Some examples of what you might do during a Daylong adventure: hike to an awesome view, go to the beach, do a ropes course, work on a special project.
What about the Summer Trips?
The summer trips are super fun, when you really get to bond with everyone in your group in ways you just can't when you're in the middle of your busy week of school.
Some examples of things you might do on a Summer Trip are: backpacking or car camping, learn to make and tend fires, eat smores, play wild games, take solo time in gorgeous nature spots, and visit places you can't get to in a day.
Some examples of things you might do on a Summer Trip are: backpacking or car camping, learn to make and tend fires, eat smores, play wild games, take solo time in gorgeous nature spots, and visit places you can't get to in a day.
Do I get to see the kids in my group outside of Stepping Stones?
Yes! You totally get to hang out with the kids in your Stepping Stones group whenever you want to. The kids in your group will probably become some of your closest friends. The Leaders will only be able to get your group together for the Daylong adventures and summer trip, but you can ask your parents to meet up with anyone, any time.
Stepping Stones also has other cool events during the year, like the All Village Daylong, when all the families of Stepping Stones groups from around the Bay Area get together for a lot of fun, or for fun workshops like world drumming, mindfulness or sound healing.
Stepping Stones also has other cool events during the year, like the All Village Daylong, when all the families of Stepping Stones groups from around the Bay Area get together for a lot of fun, or for fun workshops like world drumming, mindfulness or sound healing.
