Partnership with the Prestige Club
The SUN Program is a researched skill-building program which teaches adolescents social skills and problem solving techniques. It is a solution-focused, 10 step, interactive program which engages young people to help themselves, as well as to help others.
Using the techniques of positive self-talk and personal introspection, students learn to take responsibility for their behaviors and self-regulate. They learn that a person’s decision making, problem solving and coping skills greatly affect the course of one’s life.
By learning these skills in a systematic 10-step program, students gain the tools to avoid impulsive choices and practice conscious deliberation of alternatives. They then plan the steps to solve their dilemma, take action and adjust their course of action, if necessary.
Students need more than slogans (Just Say No) and consequences (suspensions) to combat the peer pressure to use drugs and exert excessive control over others (bullying and gang involvement). They need real practice in making good choices, positive coping mechanisms and effective communication skills enhancement.
The SUN Program has been adapted to meet the needs of the Prestige Club Hoot Camp Program and includes a specific curriculum. It can be further modified if necessary, to fit the groups’ logistics or desired goals.
GOALS – Participants will:
- Obtain positive decision making skills to prevent drug and alcohol use.
- Obtain social behavior skills, thereby reducing violence and bullying.
- Learn how to communicate with peers & adults to relieve peer pressure and stress.
- Develop understanding and empathy skills resulting in a willingness to help others.
- Increase self-confidence and self-worth to eliminate use of drugs, bullying and depression.
- Learn problem solving skills to control anger and impulsivity and eliminate feelings of helplessness.
- Learn control and adaptability skills and behaviors so interactions are effective and appropriate with friends, family, at school and in other social situations.
SIX SESSIONS FOR 100 GIRLS AND SIX SESSIONS FOR 100 BOYS EACH MEETING ONCE A WEEK FOR ONE HOUR – TOTAL OF TWELVE SESSIONS, EQUALLING A TOTAL OF 12 HOURS.
EACH SESSION FOR 100 PARTICIPANTS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO 4 GROUPS OF 25 EACH. ONE FACILITATOR WILL FACILITATE EACH GROUP OF 25, FOR A TOTAL OF 4 FACILITORS PER EACH 100 STUDENTS.
Hoot Camp Outline
Session One:
Introductive overview of the SUN Program
ANTI-BULLYING
- What is bullying?
- Types of bullying – emotional, verbal, physical and cyber
- Tolerance and acceptance (handout)
- Empathy for victims (personal story presentation)
- Standing up against bullying (making a choice, activities for bystanders– self-talk)
Session Two:
DRUG PREVENTION
- Understanding positive and negative attitudes
- “What would you do? Who would you go to for help? – activity
- “Fun without drugs” (handout – check list)
- Using “self-talk”
- Drugs and Decisions (Scenario) – Discussion utilizing SUN 10 Steps
Session Three:
DECISION MAKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
- Choices, alternatives and consequences
- Discovering the “real” problem
- Pros and Cons of solutions
- Planning actions for solving situations
- Discussion and/or role play of situation
Session Four:
COPING AND GETTING HELP
- Reacting to stress (self-evaluation checklist)
- Building coping skills, empathy and understanding
- Self-help vs Reaching out “Reacting to stress” handout
- Understanding danger (suicide prevention)
- SUN Program discussion of scenarios
Session Five:
ANGER MANAGEMENT
- Personal Anger Scale (self-help checklist)
- Angry responses – physical and emotional (depression)
- Dealing with anger (current responses checklist) Bottling anger
- Confrontation vs Aggression
- Safe ways of getting angry
- SUN Program discussion of dealing with anger
Session Six:
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- I Messages
- Listening exercise
- Dealing with family problems
- SUN Program discussion of personal issues
Written expressions of “What I learned.”
Certificates of Completion