Peace Camp Programs
General Information
The various options below all involve adult leaders working with high school or
college age youth leaders to conduct programs that vary from one day to two
weeks in length, but which can also be expanded over the length of a summer-long
program. The framework for all these peace camps are the seven components of
the Kids Pledge or School Pledge of Nonviolence. The methods used in all peace
camps involve music, arts and crafts activities, stories, videos, skits,
movement and sign language, personal testimonies of the trainers, and
opportunities to put the Pledge into practice during the camp. The training of
the youth leaders varies from one day to one week, depending on the length of
the peace camp; and can take place right before the peace camp or several
weeks/months prior.
Some Peace Camp Options
1. Weekend Peace Camp + Friday Youth Training Day
Introduction
This model can be used in several contexts. It can be
the total program or the youth and childrens component of a parallel program
for adults who would gather with their children for breakfast and dinner (and in
the case of religious groups, for Sunday worship). The Peace Camp can also be
condensed into a one-day program, with or without a concluding celebration with
parents.
Sample Friday Schedule Youth Training
9:00-12:00 Training of high school youth
12-1 PM Lunch
1-3 PM Continuation of training
3-3:30 PM Snack break
3:30-5 PM Completion of training
5-6 PM Rehearsal of youth skits/presentations
Sample Saturday Schedule Peace Camp
9:00-12:00 Introductory and "Respect Self &
Others" activities
12-1 PM Lunch
1-2:00 PM "Communicate Better & Listen Carefully" activities
2:00-2:30 Snack break with music/dance option
2:30-3:30 "Forgive" activities and concluding songs
Sample Sunday Schedule Peace Camp
9:30Noon Worship and "Respect Nature"
activities
Noon12:30 - Lunch
12:30-2:00 "Play Creatively" and "Be Courageous" activities
2:00-2:30 Break and rehearsal for closing celebration
2:30-3:00 Closing celebration for parents & certificates to youth
3:15-4:30 Processing the Peace Camp with youth and adult advisors
2. One-Week and Two-Week Peace Camps + 2-Day Youth
Training
a. 2-Day Youth Training
Sample Day One Schedule
9:00-10:00 Introductions and the Pledge of
Nonviolence
10:00-12:00 - "Respect Self And Others" activities
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 "Communicate Better" and "Listen" activities
3:00-3:30 Break
3:30-5:00 "Forgive" activities
5:00-5:30 Processing the day
5:30-7:00 Dinner and rest
7:00-8:30 OPTIONAL: Personal sharing around the Pledge and what it asks of us
Sample Day Two Schedule
9:00-10:30 "Respect Nature" activities
10:45-12:00 - "Play Creatively" activities
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:30 "Be Courageous" activities
2:30-3:00 Break
3:00-4:30 "Nuts and Bolts" of conducting a Peace Camp
4:30-5:00 "Commissioning" of youth leaders
5:00-5:30 Processing the day
5:30-7:00 Dinner and rest
7:00-8:30 Additional planning, as needed
b. Sample One-Week Peace Camp
Monday "Respect Self and Others"
Tuesday "Communicate Better" ("Peaceful Problem-Solving") and "Listen
Carefully"
Wednesday "Anger" (from "Communicate Better") and "Forgive"
Thursday "Respect Nature" and "Play Creatively"
Friday "Be Courageous"
c. Sample Two-Week Peace Camp
Monday "Respect Self and Others Day"
Tuesday "Diversity Day" respect for differences
Wednesday "Feelings Day" especially anger
Thursday "Listening and Empathy Day"
Friday "Play Creatively Day" including making paper cranes and cooperative
games
Monday "Problem Solving Day"
Tuesday "Forgiveness Day"
Wednesday "Earth Day"
Thursday "Peace Day" or "Wonderful World Day"
Friday "Courage Day" doing peace actions
Resources for Conducting Peace
Camps
TAP Adult
Training Manual
($35) -- 2 Peace Camp models and detailed suggestions for training youth to
conduct Peace Camps and school-based programs around the "Pledge of
Nonviolence." TAP is the Teens Acting for Peace Program for training youth to
live and teach the Pledge of Nonviolence.
BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE BEGINS WITH THE CHILDREN ($5) -- 30-page
guidebook for leaders conducting a six-session Peace Camp around the Kids Pledge
of Nonviolence; includes a Christian perspective which can be omitted in secular
settings.
KIDS
CREATING CIRCLES OF PEACE ($5) -- 40-page workbook for children ages
6-11 around the seven components of the Kids Pledge of Nonviolence. Ideal for
use in a Peace Camp format.
TEACHING
PEACE ($25 for CD + songbook & activities; $15 for CD alone; $10 for
cassette alone) - wonderful collection of upbeat children's songs by Red Grammer,
promoting respect for self and others, using words when we're angry, caring for
the earth, celebrating racial diversity, listening, working together, and more.
Perfect for Peace Camp settings.
Teacher
Resource Book for Public Schools, K-5 ($40) -- 450 pages of activities
geared to children ages 6 to 11 around the seven components of the Pledge of
Nonviolence, with updated activities on peacemaking after 9/11. Also part of a
larger ($90) Alternatives to Violence Kit containing TEACHING PEACE, KIDS
CREATING CIRCLES OF PEACE, and much more.
Teacher
Resource Book for Christian Schools, K-8 ($40) -- 500 pages of
activities geared to children ages 6 to 14 around the seven components of the
Pledge of Nonviolence, with updated activities on peacemaking after 9/11. Also
part of a larger ($100) Alternatives to Violence Kit containing TEACHING PEACE,
KIDS CREATING CIRCLES OF PEACE, BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE, and much more.
For more information, contact:
Jim McGinnis
Institute for Peace and Justice
4144 Lindell Blvd., #408
St. Louis, MO 63130
314-918-2630
email: jimppjn@aol.com
"In the face of escalating violence, escalate love"