young ethical explorers: Ethics For Children Director Welcomes You

I've created this site to share plans and visions for Ethical Culture's educational programs in NYC, for young people and their families. It's a window into the exciting groundwork of Ethics For Children at NYSEC, where our doors are open.... for you and your family and friends.

Come to Ethical Culture at the New York Society for Ethical Culture (NYSEC), on a Sunday morning at 11. Ethics For Children programming includes children of all ages (suggested: between the ages of 3-12) on the 5th floor at 2 W. 64th Street, New York City. Simultaneously the Ethical Culture Morning Meeting, in the 4th floor Ceremonial Hall, offers a wonderful gathering of ethical growth for teens and adults.

During the Fall season of 2014, Ethics For Children will focus on: ETHICAL BODY -- KIND MIND. Laying a ground of social emotional tools for compassionate friendship building and problem solving, this curriculum integrates Compassionate Communication, Creative Movement, Secular Yoga, and Expressive Arts. I like to call it P.E.A.C.E: Practices in Ethics, Arts, Compassion and Energy. As program director, I will be leading the sessions and hosting a rotation of visiting guest artists. The season will include mindfulness practices, movement, nature based arts, and social action. As the natural world moves from heat toward coolness, we will have multiple opportunities for good deeds (join NYSEC's deed of the month: People's Climate March), and celebration (Happy Bones Fest, Thanks & Giving Gathering, Winter Festival.)

It is fun to look back upon our recent seasons. This summer we had a few Family Sleep Over Gatherings, where we camped on the roof-top-playground right in the heart of NYC. You may enjoy looking at photos from that adventure. For these past few years, Ethics For Children participants worked together with me and our teaching artist Amy Reid. It is wonderful to look back on this work, as Amy moves into a new phase of life, going to graduate school for art in California. Using her wonderful gifts, we wove a curriculum that braided creativity, technology and ethical themes together through project-driven explorations. Creative projects in stop-motion animation offered a framework for children to collaborate across age differences examining ethical themes. Ethics For Children Seasonal Programs in 2012-13 and 2013-14 included: "Animating Peace," "Animating Earth," “Animating Friendship Near and Far,” "Animating Hopes and Dreams," "Animating Energy and Environment": Children developed skills of intentional social communication and bridge building through arts-n-animation collaborations. These can all be viewed with a click on you tube (link to Animating Ethics).