School/Agency Workshops

School workshops provide training for teachers, counselors and school staff, as well as students. The Kidpower approach ensures that every child practices every skill presented through carefully formatted activities and role-plays that build confidence, self-esteem and awareness in dealing with strangers, adults children know and bullies. Unless the school specifically requests physical training, the four-hour workshop for children focuses on verbal boundary-setting skills and safety training without physical self-defense. Teacher/counselor training helps school professionals learn how to present safety skills in the classroom so that this can become part of the ongoing curriculum.

Comments from Russ Vogel, Principal of Manitou Springs Elementary School:
"What is Kidpower’s effect in my school? Empowered children. Empowered to stand against bullies because they have been given the vocabulary to do so. Empowered to stand against predatory adults because they have the awareness to do so—as did the young boy last year who he shouted ‘No!” and fled back to our school from an adult closing in on him. Empowered to stand together as they move on into middle school, with the fully developed expectation that people respect and protect themselves and each other. Kidpower has been a major partner here in preparing our children internally, systemically, against the risk factors in an increasingly risky world. These people are smart, loving, appropriate, and powerful for kids."

Programs scheduled this year (open only to students of each school):

• Academy ACL, November 29 & December 6
• Academy International Elementary, November 10 & 17
• Antelope Trails Elementary, October 11 & 18
• Broadmoor Elementary (Open to District 12), February 21 & 28
• Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy, April 17, 24 or May 2
• Chinook Trail Elementary, September 27 & October 4
• Chipeta Elementary, January 19 & 26
• Edith Wolford Elementary, April 4 & 11
• Freedom Elementary, November 9 & 16
• Gateway Elementary, May 3 & 10
• Grant Elementary, September 15 & 22
• High Plains Elementary, September 13 & 20
• Jackson Elementary, September 29
• Manitou Springs Elementary, Spring Semester
• Monterey Elementary, January 18 & 25
• Mountain View Elementary, February 1 & 8
• Odyssey Elementary, December 7 & 14
• Penrose Elementary, April 3 & 10
• Pinello Elementary, November 8 & 15
• Pioneer Elementary, April 5 & 12
• Prairie Winds Elementary, April 19 & 26
• Ranch Creek Elementary, January 17 & 24
• Soaring Eagles Elementary, February 15 & 22
• Steele Elementary, April 18 & 25
• Sunrise Elementary, September 14 & 21
• Ute Pass Elementary 1st & 5th Grade Classrooms
• Venetucci Elementary, October 26 & November 2
• Weikel Elementary Kindergarten classrooms
• West Elementary, January 31 & February 7
• Widefield Elementary, October 12 & 19

How to arrange a school program

Kidpower has provided services to most school districts and many agencies in our community. School programs can be arranged by principals, school counselors, PTO representatives or interested parents. Agency programs are organized by agency personnel. School workshops focus on verbal boundary-setting and safety training without physical self-defense unless specifically requested by the school. Our approach ensures that every child practices every skill presented through carefully formatted activities and role-plays that build confidence, self-esteem and awareness in dealing with strangers, adults children know and peers.

As each school and agency differs, Kidpower is happy to customize programs to the specific needs of your group. Please call our office to discuss your school or agency’s particular situation and we can propose various lengths and formats to fit your needs. Kidpower also holds programs during the day, teaching skills to the entire school population. We have also done programs in nursery schools, kindergartens, middle schools and high schools.

Our typical school program consists of two 2-hour segments, usually held one week apart from 6 to 8 o’clock in the evening. Classes include up to twenty-five first through fifth or sixth graders. Sign-up is conducted by the school on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost of the program can be paid by participants or by a school organization like the PTO. Some schools pursue their own grant funding or use funds Kidpower has available for low-income or high-risk areas in order to offer the program at no cost to families. It is our policy to never turn away a child away for lack of funds so provisions are made so that every child is welcome. Please contact Kidpower for specific fee information.

The evening school program requires students to be accompanied by an adult in their life (parent, grandparent, or caregiver) to help develop a common vocabulary about safety. It is fine to have one adult for multiple children in the same family. Schools provide a simple snack and drink for participants. The only equipment required are 20-25 folding chairs and a school gym.

Upon confirmation of your program, we will send materials to help you publicize the program to your school or agency’s members.