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The FORT After School Program
A FREE after-school program brought to schools, libraries and community centers where teens can unwind, connect, belong and thrive with other teens through creative, experiential workshops to relieve stress, build resilience, and promote mental wellness in a safe, healing space.
The FORT After School Experience
After a long day at school, students can participate in a series of healthy, experiential one hour workshops that will help them deal with the stresses of their day and promote mental wellness.
Workshops are offered one day per week as a series over 3 weeks, exploring different modalities in 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 build social connections, while learning new tools and strategies that can be used in moments of heightened anxiety, stress or sadness.
For middle schoolers ages 11 - 14.
Who can benefit from these workshops?
The FORT is a welcoming space for all students, and many can benefit from learning new ways to relieve stress, identify strengths, increase coping skills, increase connections to other peers and trusted adults, and have fun.
In particular, the FORT benefits students who:
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Have expressed interest in learning more about mental health and social-emotional learning
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Are experiencing mental wellness challenges and are in need of more emotional support
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Could benefit from meaningful after-school activities
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Are seeking more social connections and opportunities to make friends
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Are Interested in trying out new creative coping activities, including yoga, art, music, interactions with animals, etc to relieve stress and anxiety.
Want to bring the FORT After School program to your location?
If you are interested in bringing this program to your community in Loudoun County, VA, please reach out to us at info@ryanbartelfoundation.org. The Ryan Bartel Foundation will work with you to secure the best dates, themes, and workshop modalities based on student interest and facilitator availability.
A marketing tool kit will be provided and each participating school, library or community center will coordinate registration and promotion of the program within their community with our support.
Space will be limited and registration will be required for each full series of three to six week sessions. Participants will be expected to commit to attending all sessions in order to fully benefit from the program.