Polite Greetings
Journal 10 introductions and 10 polite greetings to friends, family, teachers etc as well as people you don’t know; grocery clerks, janitors, barristas etc. (do with a parent)
Kindness & Selflessness
Journal 20 acts; hold the door open for someone, smile at everyone, compliment someone, each lunch with someone who’s sitting alone etc.
Bonus: Invite www.ThinkKindness.org to your school!
Acts of Respect
Journal 20 acts of respect; listening carefully, being considerate, using good manners, giving people physical space, allowing other’s opinions etc. For more info check out Wiki How www.wikihow.com/Be-Respectful.
Gratitude
Studies show that people who focus on gratitude are happier, healthier and act with more compassion and generosity. Journal 20 things you are grateful for. For each thing your journal take the time to express your gratitude to the person responsible for your good feelings. For more info check out Teens Health: kidshealth.org/en/teens/gratitude-practice.html
Supportive Sibling or Family Member
Journal 20 acts of supporting your sibling(s) or members of your family. Think about their needs and try to anticipate helping them without them asking.
Ocean Preservation
Organize or take part in a beach clean up project. Your dojo has been cleaning beaches since 2005 and has found it to be hugely rewarding. It is a great way to understand that there’s really no such thing as “away” when we throw away our trash. You can join our annual Coastal Clean Up Day at Muzzi Marsh or pick your own beach to clean up. For help organizing a clean up go to: www.nps.gov/goga/getinvolved/supportyourpark
For more info on why marine debris is a problem check out: www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/marinedebris.html
People Before Pixels
Studies show that our addiction to screens is making us more unhappy and less connected with each other. Journal 20 times that you put your device down when another person entered the room and made a genuine connection with them. How hard was it? How did it make you feel? How did it make others feel?
Environmental Self Defense
Commit to using these 5 actions and add your own! How do you contribute to protecting our planet? www.cooltheearth.org/actions.html
Bonus: organize a group tour of the Marin Sanitary Service. www.marinsanitaryservice.com/tours
Nature’s Dojo
After reading Last Child in the Woods and noticing her own children’s lack of time in nature, Mrs. Valentine created Nature’s Dojo. This simple yet impactful project aims to get more kids & families to practice “the way of Nature” by attending and/or planning their own unstructured playdates in nature.
Interview a Living Hero / Role Model
Name, Town, Title
Why I chose them/What they have done to earn this title
How this person impacted my life
Ask them at least these questions:
1. What’s your definition of a hero/role model?
2. Do you feel like a hero/role model?
3. What drives you?
4. What’s been (or is) your biggest challenge?
5. What did you do as a result?
6. Advice to people who aspire to make a hero’s contribution?
7. Additional comments?
