Rose Blossoms

During this age where youth are questioning their identities, friend groups are shifting, bodies are changing, and social media and screen time is influential - we gather to ground ourselves by deepening our competency, connection, and care for each other and the larger cycles of life. We learn new skills and make beautiful crafts focused on personal empowerment, and exploring our place in the larger collective.

This framework supports a growing, affirming community where young women and female-identifying youth learn to care for themselves, each other, and the Earth through practice, reflection, and shared action.

Who: 12-15 year old young women and female identifying youth

When: Oct 24-5, Nov 22, Jan 24, Mar 14, Apr 11, May 22-3

Where: Beautiful camping locations in the Hudson Valley and Lenoir Preserve - 19 Dudley Street, Yonkers

Purpose:

• Create a supportive space where adolescents can practice self-care, build healthy relationships, and develop environmental stewardship.

• Foster skills in communication, empathy, resilience, and practical care for the natural world.

• Encourage agency, leadership, and a lasting connection to community and place.

Core Values:

• Care for ourselves: mindfulness practices, body-positive conversations, creative self-expression, sleep and nutrition education, emotional literacy activities.

• Care for each other: peer mentoring, restorative communication, collaborative projects, inclusive decision-making, boundary-setting practice.

• Care for the Earth: outdoor learning, low-waste habits, habitat restoration, gardening, seasonal stewardship rituals.

Program Structure:

• Sessions: 2 camping trips (Orientation/First Gathering and Closing/Rite of Passage sessions), one additional session in the fall, two in the winter, two in the spring - including the final camping session)

• Group size: 10–16 participants to balance intimacy and diversity of perspectives.

• Facilitators: two trained adults (one lead, one assistant) with experience in youth development, trauma-informed practice, and outdoor education.

• Rhythm of a session: welcome circle → check-in → thematic learning or skill practice → small-group project or reflection → closing ritual.

General Gathering Themes:

• Belonging — identity mapping, group agreements, trust-building activities.

• Body & Mind — mindfulness, healthy boundaries, stress tools.

• Relationships — active listening, conflict resolution, consent education.

• Place — nature walks, local ecology basics, seasonal cycles.

• Action — community garden, low-waste swaps, service project planning.

• Leadership & Celebration — project presentations, peer recognition, transition rituals.

Activities and Practices:

• Circle check-ins with emotion cards or journaling prompts.

• Skill workshops: knot-tying, plant ID, first-aid basics, recipe demos.

• Creative projects: zine-making, mural design, poetry evenings.

• Stewardship actions: native planting, trash-free picnics, citizen science contributions.

• Reflection rituals: gratitude stones, intention-setting, closing songs.

Safety, Inclusion, and Accessibility:

• Co-created behavioral agreements and consent culture.

• Trauma-informed facilitation and clear reporting pathways.

• Accommodations for mobility, sensory, and learning needs.

• Gender-affirming language and practices; respect for self-identification.

• Low-barrier participation: sliding-scale fees or scholarships; materials provided.

Roles for Caregivers and Community:

• Caregivers invited to periodic family nights and volunteer support.

• Local partners (schools, parks, community gardens) provide sites, expertise, and resources.

• Youth co-design: participants help plan themes, lead activities, and evaluate the program.

Outcomes & Evaluation:

• Short-term: improved emotional regulation, stronger peer connections, increased nature engagement.

• Medium-term: demonstrated leadership, reduced single-use waste practices, completion of a stewardship project.

• Evaluation methods: participant reflections, caregiver feedback, facilitator observations, simple ecological metrics for projects.

Sustaining the Community:

• Create alumni circles for older youth to mentor newer cohorts.

• Document activities and outcomes to support funding and partnerships.

• Maintain seasonal traditions to anchor ongoing identity and belonging.

Lenoir Nature Preserve - 19 Dudley Street, Yonkers, NY and other beautiful places in the Hudson Valley

Reserve your spot at our first camping weekend on October 24-25th!

Limited Spaces & Scholarships Available!