Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island

Coming of Age Program
October 2006 through May 2007
Age 13 on or before Sept 1, 2006

The Coming-of-Age Program is designed to prepare young people for adult life by ...
acquainting them with ethics, contributing to a feeling of connectedness,
exploring their developing personal philosophies, facilitating dialogue on important issues,
developing a connection to a community, and affirming their shared knowledge of ethics
in an atmosphere of joy!

Participants meet for 8 events on the 1st or 2nd Sat of each month,
Oct through May.

Program Facilitators-
Leader Dr. Anne Klaeysen and Youth Ethics Director Devorah Weinmann
will provide content and personal guidance.

Teens completing this program are invited to be honored at an Affirmation Ceremony in June.
This program is designed around the Eight Commitments.

Centering
The most central human issue in our lives involves creating
a more humane environment
Choosing
Creating a more humane environment begins by affirming the
need to make significant choices in our lives.
Honoring
To enable us to be whole in a fragmented world, we choose
to treat each other as individuals having intrinsic worth.
Caring
Treating one another as an *ends* not a means requires that we
learn to act with integrity by keeping commitments,
being open; honest, caring and responsive.
Self-reflection
Personal progress is possible, both in wisdom and in social life.
Learning how to build ethical relationships and cultivate a
humane community is a life long endeavor.
Repairing
Spiritual life is rooted in self-reflection, but can come full flower only within community. Our social nature requires that we reach beyond ourselves to decrease suffering and increase creativity in our world.
Listening
The democratic process is essential to a humane social order
because it respects the worth of persons and elicits and allows a
greater expression of humane capacities.
It implies a commitment to shared responsibility.
Celebrating
Awareness of impending death intensifies the human quest for meaning
and lends perspective to all our achievements. It drives the need to
feel connected to the universe and the desire for celebration and joy.

The Program:
Session #1 Introductory family meal followed by: Project Adventure -A team building day on a low ropes course -participants move through a series of hands-on activities designed to develop communication, cooperation, trust, and problem-solving skills in an atmosphere of safety, respect, and fun. Participants are guided in making connections between these activities and "real-life" situations.
Sessions #2 - #7 involve study, discussion, shared activities, meals, and socializing based in the Eight Commitments
(sibling childcare on-site on
parent nights # 2 & #5)
Session #8 Project Adventure - A final team building day on the ropes course Closing meal with families and facilitators.

2006-2007
Dates and Times At-A-Glance
Saturdays:
Oct 14 - 11am - 5pm
Nov. 18 - 6 - 8pm
Dec. 9 - 6 - 8pm
Jan. 13 - 6 - 8pm
Feb 10 - 6 - 8pm
Mar.10 - 6 - 8pm
Apr. 14 - 6 - 8pm
May 12 - 11am - 5pm

Registration
Fee: $ 160

(a limited # of scholarships are available)

call 516.741.7304 for registration materials