I mentioned in a previous post that I’ve been contracted to run a program called Boot Camp for New Dads at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. The program depends on the participation of veteran dads who volunteer to share their experience and bring their babies to the class. Part of my responsibility is recruiting those veterans. As the program grows, the idea is that the ‘rookie’ participants will return as veterans to give back (and that’s already beginning). But as the program is still quite new, I’m posting the message below and asking anyone who’s in the area to copy and paste it into an email (copying me on it – bootcamp@jerryharrington.net) and send it to anyone you think might be helpful (lists like preschool parents, mom’s groups, dad’s groups, men’s groups, etc.). Thanks!
PLEASE NOTE: This program is NOT specifically Catholic; the curriculum is strictly fatherhood-based and is religion neutral. I post about it here, because CMR is my company that’s been contracted to run the program and this blog provides a handy platform for providing the message below.
Friends,
I’m sending this message to ask any dads with new babies (0-6 months old) to volunteer a Saturday morning to help prepare expectant fathers for what’s to come. I’m facilitating a course at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL called Boot Camp for New Dads. The program’s website is www.bootcampfornewdads.org. Here’s an overview:
The Basic Principles of Boot Camp
an involved dad is radically important for children and society
the mission is to get dads started from a place of confidence
Boot Camp is for men, by men, with only men
not lecture but led by a Coach who turns to Veteran Dads who volunteer with their infant to share their own experience
participants (Rookie Dads) not only benefit from listening to those recently gone through it but also from hands-on practice holding, changing, sometimes even feeding real babies in the room
The Topics of Boot Camp
the birthing process and being home after
getting involved from the beginning
the importance of teamwork and what that looks like
safety at home and in the car
great advice from veterans
Since the program is new to Lutheran General, we need Veteran Dads! The class runs every other month on a Saturday morning (9 am – noon) on the following dates: Feb 27, Apr 24, Jun 19, Aug 21, Oct 16, and Dec 4, 2010. If you have an infant (or will have one) in the proper age range (0-6 months) on one of those dates and would be willing to bring your baby to a class, please contact me either with an email (bootcamp@jerryharrington.net) or give me a call (847.331.2674).
OR if someone you know (or you yourself) are a dad expecting your first child and you’d like to register for Boot Camp, you can do that through the hospital’s Health Advisor system by either calling 1.800.3.ADVOCATE (1-800-323-8622) Monday – Friday 8am to 6pm or online by visiting advocatehealth.com/luth, clicking on the “i need…” menu, choosing “a class or support group,” and on the new page (Health Advisor) searching for Boot Camp.
Thanks for actually reading all the way to the bottom of this long message! Please forward it to anyone you know that might find it interesting. I hope you or someone you know could help me keep growing Boot Camp for New Dads at Lutheran General.
Sincerely,
Jerry Harrington
Master Coach
Boot Camp for New Dads
This is Memindia 2 of 8 in the Social Justice Pack 1!
This breakout hit for the Black Eyed Peas combines rap and singing into a powerful call for love and truth by pointing to the many ways we violate love and respect.
In understanding Catholic Social Justice Teaching, everything starts from the point of human dignity: the value, worth, and divine image that we all carry. Only when that’s respected can all the other needs be addressed.
Faith Topics:
Social Justice Principle #1
Respect for Life & Dignity
Everyone is Neighbor
Prayer:
Guided Meditation
Respect Reflection
Activity:
Letter Writing
Letter to the Disrespected
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Choose from the individual song for download (on the left) or the whole album CD (on the right)!
Catholic Social Justice Pack Memindia 1 (of 8, eventually!)
The name of DoSomething.org is fairly self-explanatory: dedicated to young people, especially teens, who want to change the world this website provides everything needed to empower youth to work for good: learning resources, forums, project ideas, clubs to found, and grants to fund it.
In this first introductory Memindia of this Social Justice Pack, I summarize the seven principles of social justice teaching and how this website supports all of them! Each principle will then be explored in subsequent Memindia.
Faith Topics:
Catholic Social Justice
Overview of 7 Principles
Prayer:
Original Recitation
Prayer for Courage
Activity:
Personal Growth Challenge
Do Something!
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I actually taught this book in a Catholic high school Social Justice class!
Amazon purchases made by clicking through the link above benefits Catholic Media Resources! Please further support us by making media purchases through these links.
I just found a fantastic service: WingClips (www.wingclips.com). They identify movie clips that connect to faith topics and scripture passages and provide not only sermon ideas but also the actual movie clips! They’ve negotiated a limited license agreement with the distributors of the movies that they offer so that if you subscribe (free for medium resolution or paid for high res in multiple formats – most noticably the one friendly to Powerpoint) you can download the edited clips and play them from a computer.
I’m going to give some thought to what they’re doing and how we might work together. Perhaps I could become an affiliate for them or they could become an idea provider for me? Who knows, but exciting things are possible.
Party in the USA? Try Catholic Mass: party on whole planet!
In this incredibly catchy and sweet tune, Miley Cyrus describes the anxiety of arriving in Los Angeles for the first time being calmed by hearing and dancing to familiar music. The national nature of popular music helps her feel connected, even away from home.
We as Catholics have something even more powerful than music that connects us to each other, not just in the USA but everywhere on the planet: the ritual of the Mass. And contrary to popular perception (and perhaps practice!) it’s supposed to be a party too!
Faith Topics:
The Mass:
Comfort in Familiarity
Global in Reach
Prayer:
Traditional Recitation
Eucharistic Prayer I (The Roman Canon)
Activity:
Game
Name That Tune
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Amazon purchases made by clicking through the link above benefits Catholic Media Resources! Please further support us by making media purchases through these links.
You say you love God. Can you walk the walk or only talk the talk?
In this hit single, Iyaz sings of a man who changes for the Shawty (really attractive girl) he loves. Since he can’t get her out of his head (like his iPod stuck on replay), he finds himself doing things he’s never done: like cooking in the kitchen for her.
If we say we love God, we should be more like the guy in the song: changing our ways, doing new things to please God. We’re called to ‘be Jesus’ to the world; that means answering the call to conversion and holiness – walking the walking of loving God.
Faith Topics:
Being Jesus
Call to Conversion
Striving for Holiness
Prayer:
Scriptural Meditation
Walking the Walk
Activity:
Game
Truth or Dare: Church Edition
Buy It From Amazon!
Amazon purchases made by clicking through the link above benefits Catholic Media Resources! Please further support us by making media purchases through these links.
I mentioned in a previous post that I’ve been contracted to run a program called Boot Camp for New Dads at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. The program depends on the participation of veteran dads who volunteer to share their experience and bring their babies to the class. Part of my responsibility is recruiting those veterans. As the program grows, the idea is that the ‘rookie’ participants will return as veterans to give back (and that’s already beginning). But as the program is still quite new, I’m posting the message below and asking anyone who’s in the area to copy and paste it into an email (copying me on it – bootcamp@jerryharrington.net) and send it to anyone you think might be helpful (lists like preschool parents, mom’s groups, dad’s groups, men’s groups, etc.). Thanks!
I just found a fantastic service: 