Boot Camp for New Dads
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
