ART Program: The Power of the Paintbrush

 

In the SCBF Art Program, our butterflies use a variety of artist mediums to create and express feelings spontaneously. The creation of artwork itself and the overall healing benefit in expressing creative energy is an integral means of finding personal fulfillment, emotional reparation, recovery, and self-discovery.  Through non-verbal communication, underlying thoughts and feelings are conveyed within the artwork allowing our artists to gain insight and judgment, and perhaps a better understanding of how they relate to the world around them.  Inner exploration through the creative process has been clinically proven time and again to help clients cope better with stress, work through traumatic experiences, increase cognitive abilities, and improve relationships with family and friends.

Our Goal: Provide artists with new ways to express themselves coupled with positive reinforcement to build self-esteem and self-expression. 

Showcasing Our Butterflies: Each art program culminates with a mini art show. At the end of each year, our artists display their work at an annual Art Show Fundraiser.

 

Creative writing/Reading Program: The Power of the Pen

 

SCBF believes in the power of literature, storytelling, and poetry as a power tool to understanding one’s self, thoughts and emotions.  Reading to and with our students creates a bond of trust as well as sharing of interests that may have been previously unattainable.  Creative writing projects, poetry exercises, and storytelling are all tools facilitators can use to help address harbored negative feelings so they can be dealt with and redirected positively.  Metaphors, allegories, and symbolism offer insight into our butterflies' minds, and also provides a sense of safety to express feelings that they typically would not be willing to share.  SCBF's Creative Writing & Readying Program further enhances the healing aspect of literature, fostering a greater sense of self-esteem, social skills, and interpersonal relationships.

Our Goal: To give each child the power of the pen building confidence in his or her reading and writing abilities.

Showcasing Our Butterflies: At the end of each program term, SCBF will produce a compilation of the students' work.

 

 

NUTRITION & HEALTH AWARENESS Program: The Power of the Spoon

 

A healthy body helps develop a healthy mind. Through our nutrition and health program, students learn creative ways to make healthy choices. With hands on cooking demonstrations, we encourage our students to get engaged in the kitchen and to try new kinds of foods and healthy alternatives. 

Our Goal: Studies show that kids are more likely to make healthy choices for eating when they are involved in the cooking/preparation process. Our goals are to provide our butterflies with the power of the spoon or spatula and the power to make healthy choices. 

Showcasing Our Butterflies: Students will work toward developing their own healthy recipe! 

 

 

YOGA: The Power of the Pose

 

Yoga practice can be instrumental in instilling a higher self-concept and an attitude of inner discipline.  It has become widely accepted in treating a variety of ailments in adults and children, both emotional and physical.  Through various poses and postures, focus is directed from negative thoughts and feelings to peaceful, tranquil ones — giving each student an overall sense of well-being and balance.  A combination of physical movement, progressive relaxation, deep breathing, visualization, and stretching all help to rebalance internal energy, relieve stress, and develop coping techniques to be applied throughout the student's life.

Our Goal: To provide each student with the tools to find his or her own sense of space and quiet amongst the potential chaos of everyday life.  

 

 

Music/Drumming Program: The Power of the Instrument

 

Music Programming is used to assist individuals of all ages in overcoming emotional trauma to gain a better sense of peace and well being.  Music can help children with communication problems, attention, motivation, and behavioral problems. Studies have shown music can decrease aggression, lift depression, and improve negative behaviors.  Through the process of playing and sharing music, children and youth especially show marked improvement in their self-esteem, increased focus, enhanced social and listening skills, as well as improved academic and cognitive function. Because music touches each person individually, participation in music programming offers opportunities for improvisation, expression, creativity, and learning that may be significantly different for each student.

Our Goal: Provide our musicians, no matter what level they are at, with access to the creative process of making music in whatever form that may take. 

Showcasing Our Butterflies: At our annual Art Show/Fundraiser, our musicians will show off their talents with a performance or showing. 

 

 

Grow A Garden: The Power of the Seed

 

Revered for its healing value since ancient Egypt, Horticultural Therapy is defined by the American Horticultural Therapy Association as “a process utilizing plants and horticultural activities to improve social, educational, psychological and physical adjustment of persons thus improving their body, mind, and spirit.”Children seeking to overcome trauma have shown dramatic progress in their sense of self-esteem, personal capacity, and accomplishment after being given the role as caregiver.  The tranquil setting of a garden has been shown in clinical studies to be an important therapeutic venue in which children with deep emotional wounds tend to be relieved of aggressive behavior through activities such as hoeing, digging, and planting, all the while becoming more receptive to talking and working through their problems as anxiety and tension dissipate through the activities.