Peace Justice and Harmony:

A Montessori Retreat

Thursday, August 20th – Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
Presented by MECA-Seton and Nature’s Classroom Montessori
In conjunction with the American Montessori Society

The Retreat will be held on the 400 acre campus of Nature's Classroom Institute and Montessori School

Retreat Registration Deadline Extended

Presenters

Sr. Carolina Gomez
Sr. Carolina Gomez has taught and mentored Montessori teachers in many countries, notably in places where no Montessori teacher education has been available. With Celma Pinho Perry, she was the founding instructor of MECA’s Infant Toddler Teacher Education Program. In 1992, Carolina was the first person honored by the American Montessori Society with its Living Legacy Award. She has a particular gift for helping Montessori educators look more deeply at their philosophical roots.

Resa Steindel Brown (Keynote)
Resa Steindel Brown’s expertise is in building educational processes and environments that enable children to find their passion and develop their individual and innate brilliance. She has been involved in alternative education since 1970 and homeschooling since 1987. Most recently, she is the author of the greatly acclaimed and award winning book “The Call to Brilliance”.

Steve Beyer
Steve Beyer is the Head of Peacemaker Services. He has a law degree and two Ph.D. degrees in Buddhist Studies and in Psychology. He has been a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of California–Berkeley. Steve was a litigator and trial lawyer in Chicago for twenty five years. An expert in wilderness survival Steve currently serves as a lecturer in Restorative Justice in the Department of Criminal Justice at Chicago State University.

Geoffrey E. Bishop

Geoffrey Bishop has degrees in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and has taught children in the environment for the past 17 years. He is the founder and Executive Director of Nature’s Classroom Montessori School and Nature’s Classroom Institute, a nationally recognized residential Environmental Education program. Geoffrey was awarded the Non Formal Educator of the Year for the State of Wisconsin, from the Wisconsin Association of Environmental Educators.

Thursday, August 20th

12 noon onwards – Check- in and Registration

3pm-5pm:

Cooking for the Seasons
Restoring Balance and Justice in the Environment– Geoffrey Bishop

5pm-6pm: Tour of Grounds

6.15pm-7.15pm: Dinner

7.30pm-9.30pm: “The Call to Brilliance” : advocating for the brilliance that is unique to each child – Keynote Address and Interactive session by Resa Steindel Brown

10 pm: Reception hosted by MECA-Seton and Nature’s Classroom Montessori
Book Signing by Resa Steindel Brown

Friday, August 21st

7am-8am:

Shibashi – Sr. Carolina Gomez del Valle
Peace Activities for the classroom- Dana Gagnon Hubka
Morning Hike/ Farm Chores- Nature’s Classroom Faculty

8am-9am: Breakfast

9am-12 noon: Session 1

What is Peace Education : a Cosmic Approach– Sr. Carolina Gomez del Valle
Restorative Justice and Council – Steven Beyer
(a) Building a Peaceful Community: The Role of Counseling and Character Building – Iman Khan
(b) Peace across Cultures: Celebrating Diversity and Building Tolerance – Deepa Shreekumar

12.15pm-1.15pm: Lunch

1.30pm -4.30pm: Session 2

What is Peace Education : a Cosmic Approach– Sr. Carolina Gomez del Valle
Restorative Justice and Council – Steven Beyer
(a) Building a Peaceful Community:The Role of Counseling and Character Building – Iman Khan
(b) Peace across Cultures: One World - Celebrating Diversity and Building Tolerance – Deepa Shreekumar

4.30pm-5pm: Afternoon Tea

5pm-6.30pm:

Music as a means to create Balance, Order and Peace– Eva Parucci
Art as a reflection of Harmony – Rosemary Quaranta
Listening Point – Reflective Journaling to promote Peaceful Observation - Nature’s Classroom Faculty

6.45pm-7.45pm: Dinner

8pm-9pm: Rhythm for Unity

9pm-10pm:

Camp Fire
Group reflections with Faculty

Saturday, August 22nd

7am-8am:

Shibashi – Sr. Carolina Gomez del Valle
Peace Activities for the classroom- Dana Gagnon Hubka
Farm Chores- Nature’s Classroom Faculty

8am-9am: Breakfast

9am-12noon: Session 3

What is Peace Education : a Cosmic Approach– Sr. Carolina Gomez del Valle
Restorative Justice and Council – Steven Beyer
(a) Building a Peaceful Community:The Role of Counseling and Character Building – Iman Khan
(b) Peace across Cultures: One World - Celebrating Diversity and Building Tolerance – Deepa Shreekumar

12.15pm-1.15pm: Lunch

1.30pm- 3pm:

Music as a means to create Balance, Order and Peace– Eva Parucci
Art as a reflection of Harmony – Rosemary Quaranta
Listening Point – Reflective Journaling to promote Peaceful Observation – NCM faculty

3pm-4.30pm: