The FORT is a safe, healing, community space for young people in middle and high school to find connection, make friends, be themselves without pressure, and participate in fun, experiential workshops and activities that help them deal with the stresses of everyday life.
The FORT experience
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In addition to games, brief group discussions and free activity time, all participants will engage in two workshops that vary each time they attend the FORT, exploring expressive arts, mindfulness, nature or animal assisted therapy, and movement/physical activity.
All workshops are designed specifically to focus on building resilience through positive messaging and holistic experiences that allow participants to learn new tools and strategies that can be used in moments of heightened anxiety, stress or sadness.
Upcoming dates at The FORT
April 26th, 2:00 - 5:00pm
Crossroads United Methodist
43454 Crossroads Dr, Ashburn, VA
Discover how movement, art, and mindfulness help us grow together
WORKSHOPS EXPRESSIVE ARTS: Splotch Monsters: Creativity for a Healthy Mind In this playful and imaginative workshop, teens will explore creativity as a healthy way to express themselves. Artist Steve Loya will guide participants in creating their own “Splotch Monsters” using watercolor and ink. Starting with simple paint splotches, teens will transform abstract shapes into unique characters by adding eyes, limbs, textures, and personality. This fun and relaxed activity encourages creative thinking, self-expression, and using art as a healthy outlet for emotions and stress. MOVEMENT: Shake It Off: Reset Your Energy Through Movement Sometimes the best way to reset your mind is to move your body. In this interactive workshop, teens will explore how simple movements, breathing, and body awareness can shift their mood, release stress, and help them feel more grounded. Through playful yoga-inspired and somatic exercises, participants will experiment with shaking out tension, finding their breath, and noticing how their body responds to different movements. Teens will leave with a few simple movement tools they can use anytime they need to reset, recharge, or reconnect with themselves. MINDFULNESS: Slow Down to Strengthen: Mindful Drawing for Stress Relief Just like physical exercise strengthens the body, mindful creative practices strengthen the brain. In this workshop, teens will learn how Zentangle drawing can help regulate stress, improve concentration, and build confidence. This healthy activity encourages participants to let go of perfection and focus on the calming process of creating.
May 3rd 1:00 - 4:00pm
Hope Flower Farm
40905 Stumptown Rd, Waterford, VA
Sign up early for everybody‘s favorite FORT destination.
WORKSHOPS ANIMALS & NATURE: The Donkey Obstacle Challenge Sometimes the hardest moments show us our greatest strengths. In this experiential workshop, teens will work through a guided obstacle course with donkeys, practicing patience, resilience, and trust—both in the process and in themselves. With each step, teens will reflect on how they respond to challenges and begin to uncover strengths like courage, persistence, and self-awareness. This workshop creates space for teens to see that growth isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about learning who you are along the way. MINDFULNESS: Granola & Gratitude What if building your strengths was as simple as making a snack? In this interactive workshop, teens will create their own custom granola while also making one to share with someone else. Along the way, they’ll explore strengths like creativity, kindness, and generosity. This workshop shows how small acts of giving can shift your mindset and help you recognize the strengths you bring to others. Teens will leave feeling good, connected, and confident in what they have to offer. EXPRESSIVE ARTS: Create Your Own Rainstick What if the noise in your life wasn’t something to escape—but something you could reshape? In this creative workshop, teens will build their own rainsticks as a symbol of turning chaos into calm. Through reflection and hands-on creation, participants will explore how their struggles, emotions, and experiences can be reframed as strengths, leaving with both a meaningful keepsake and a new perspective on their inner resilience.
Past participants: Online registration closes Friday at 5 PM (walk-ins on Sunday accepted).
New participants: New participants' parents/caregivers are required to first register, then schedule a welcome call by noon Friday before the FORT, to ensure the program is a good fit. Walk in registration is not available for first time participants.
Save the date for The FORT next month!
May 17th, 1:00 - 4:00pm
Location TBD
Details about the Workshops will be available soon
More Programs to explore
Meet Our FORT Facilitators
Doreen Zebdi, MA
Hello Friends! I’m Doreen Zebdi, a movement specialist with a MA in Dance from American University where I studied modern dance. Are you ready to create and move at the Movement for Well-being Workshop? I’m so excited to share my passion for movement with you! Creative dance is one way you can express how you feel without words. Movement and dance have profound connections to mental health. The best part is that there is no right or wrong. When we move more, we simply feel more. That’s because dance offers a unique avenue for emotional expression, so you can convey feelings and experiences that you just can’t put into words. Have fun moving and dancing while you hear about all the ways dance can boost mental well-being. The way you feel in your head matters. Let’s use those feelings and create an expressive outlet through creative dance. Just Move! I studied modern dance and teaching techniques from American University. I also teach barre, cycle, strength and yoga classes through her company; UnFancyFitness. I am a certified ACE® Health and Fitness Coach and AFAA® Personal Trainer teaching virtual and in-person fitness classes and 1:1 health coaching.
Hello Friends! I’m Doreen Zebdi, a movement specialist with a MA in Dance from American University where I studied modern dance. Are you ready to create and move at the Movement for Well-being Workshop? I’m so excited to share my passion for movement with you! Creative dance is one way you can express how you feel without words. Movement and dance have profound connections to mental health. The best part is that there is no right or wrong. When we move more, we simply feel more. That’s because dance offers a unique avenue for emotional expression, so you can convey feelings and experiences that you just can’t put into words. Have fun moving and dancing while you hear about all the ways dance can boost mental well-being. The way you feel in your head matters. Let’s use those feelings and create an expressive outlet through creative dance. Just Move! I studied modern dance and teaching techniques from American University. I also teach barre, cycle, strength and yoga classes through her company; UnFancyFitness. I am a certified ACE® Health and Fitness Coach and AFAA® Personal Trainer teaching virtual and in-person fitness classes and 1:1 health coaching.
Nancy McGovern, MS, RYT-500 & C-IAYT
Hi, I’m Nancy! I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy from Maryland University of Integrative Health. Certifications include RYT-500 & C-IAYT. I spent three years as the District Director for the Muscular Dystrophy Association before starting my first business, Dance To You. As owner, director, and primary instructor, Dance To You’s, Kids ‘N Motion program taught dance & tumbling in area preschools for 25+ years. In 2017, I became a certified yoga teacher and began to add yoga and mindfulness to the Kids ‘N Motion curriculum. In July of 2018, Dance To You was renamed Corner of the Sky. I spent many years as a performing artist. I danced and acted professionally and have been a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild for over 25 years. I taught creative movement in area preschools for 30 years. I love spending time with my husband and grown children. The beach in St. Augustine, Florida is my happy place.
Kirsten Shabanowitz, RYT-200
Hello my friends, I’m Kirsten, a yoga and meditation teacher for kids through adults. I am a big believer in the power of yoga for both our physical and mental health. Whether we are moving, meditating, breathing, journaling or getting out in nature it is all a part of yoga and can provide our minds with a sense of calm and clarity through regular practice. Yoga practices are all about connecting to yourself and keeping expectations far away! Just like we all learn differently and at different paces, our bodies move and act differently from one another’s and there is no need for comparison. My goal is to not only teach what yoga is, but also how to apply it to your daily life in a way that makes sense for you. You can take what works and leave behind what doesn’t. I invite you to bring a smile, your sense of humor, any questions you may have and I will see you on the mat!
Dave Edwards, LPC
Hi, my name is Dave Edwards. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and the owner/clinical director of Evolve Family Counseling and Sports Psychotherapy, a private group practice in Lansdowne, VA. I have been working with children and adolescents for 36 years and have been providing therapeutic services to children, adolescents, adults, and families in the Northern Virginia region since 2015. I work with clients of all ages, but specialize in work with children, adolescents, and families, as well as all sports performance-related issues. I played soccer at the professional level in the U.K., and have coached professionally for over 36 years. I graduated with honors from the highly accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Marymount University in 2016.
Michael Kruczkowski (they/them)
Hello, my name is Michael Kruczkowski. I have been working in public education since 2015. Prior to serving LCPS in my current role as an Instructional Technology Facilitator, I taught middle school Visual Arts for ten years. I graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelors in Art Education with concentrations in both Ceramics and Fiber Arts. I am also the music and technical director of the Lionheart Players, a middle school performing arts group. I love working with young creatives using both the visual and performing arts to express themselves and share their stories.