IONS YOUTH CONFERENCE 2005

IONS Youth Conference provides rich, full and exciting programs for students of every age. These youth programs offer growth-oriented, expansive activities such as art expression, dream sharing, movement, facilitated group work, as well as special presentations from our amazing panel of conference presenters. We group the youth by age as follows: college Questers; high school Pathfinders; middle school Explorers; and grade school Magicians.

THE QUESTERS (for college freshmen through age 24, facilitated by Luisah Teish). The four-day intensive Questers program is for young adults interested in self-discovery, clarity of life purpose, and creative exploration. In its third year, the program allows participants to explore growth issues in a safe, supportive environment. Rich dialogues between Questers and invited elders helps improve intergenerational relationships. Questers are invited to take advantage of keynote speakers, selected workshops, and performances from the main conference.

THE PATHFINDERS (for high school students, facilitated by Bret Stephenson and Daniel Arriaga). The Pathfinders program includes content from leaders and presentations of the main conference along with facilitated group work.

THE EXPLORERS (for middle school students, grades 6-8, facilitated by Dana Andersen). The Explorers’ experience will include playful, creative exploration of mythic stories—personal, social, and global. Hands-on art making will include clay, collage, mask making, and embodiment. This work is interwoven with presentations by some of the conference speakers.

THE MAGICIANS (for grade school students, grades 1-5, facilitated by Jasmine Scott and Cathy Coleman). This full program for the young set includes daily work with dreams, movement, art, and fascinating programs by some of our presenters. PROGRAMS for the Pathfinders, Explorers, and Magicians also include an optional excursion to Washington, DC sites on Thursday afternoon, July 7, just before the conference sessions. Edgar Mitchell, our founder and Apollo 14 astronaut, will accompany the youth to the National Air and Space Museum on Sunday, July 10 in the afternoon.

Many other conference presenters will make presentations to the Youth Program.

FEES are discounted to encourage early registration. ($50 off for each additional youth)
$225 through April 30, $250 through June 10, $275 after June 10.

QUESTIONS Please contact Cathy Coleman, Youth Conference Director, at 707.779.8271,
CathyColeman@noetic.org.

YOUTH CONFERENCE STAFF
Cathy Coleman, PhD, Youth Conference Director, is director of IONS’ youth conference. She holds a doctorate in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She is IONS Director of Administration, and has a passion for creating empowering experiences for youth of all ages.

Dana Andersen, MA, is a multi-media artist, writer, playwright, and teacher with a degree in Consciousness Studies. Pioneering the use of art and creativity to shift consciousness, she taught at schools, universities, conferences, and her Awakening Arts Studio.

Daniel Arriaga is a teacher at a public alternative school and diagnostic program for youth ages 12-21 in Massachusetts. He is affiliated with Earth Drum Council and Dance New England, and uses rhythm, dance, mythology, visualization, and meditation in his teaching.

Jasmine Scott, MA, works as IONS Retreat Center Event Manager. Her interests in spirituality, art, and consciousness led her to an MA in Women’s Spirituality at New College of California. As a high school student, she helped found the first after-school program in her town.

Bret Stephenson, MA, is the author of Slaying the Dragon: The Contemporary Struggle of Adolescent Boys—Modern Rules in an Ancient Game. He has been a counselor of at-risk and high-risk adolescents for more than 16 years, and a presenter at numerous conferences.

Luisah Teish is a priestess of Oshun, the African Yoruba goddess of love. She is also on the faculty of the University of Creation Spirituality and board member of the Association for Transpersonal Psychology. Luisah is author of Jambalaya and Carnival of the Spirit.