Session 6, Week 4
Every year is different. Different journeys, different quests, different challenges, and the heroes abilities and struggles change so much in a year. However, after 4 years, as spring time rolls around, and the end of the year approaches, we can now recognize patterns in individual heroes, tribes and even the guides. The pattern we see in guides is that we are already onto the next year – we are super excited about the future of CHOICE. We have so many ideas we are anxious to try out, and changes we want to make – we are in heavy reflection mode. Meanwhile, the heroes are digging in and beginning the hard work of wrapping up this year.
In the Spark Studio during one launch this week we played, “What’s missing?” We looked at a set of pictures, and then we noticed what was different. Then we had a discussion about what’s different now from the beginning of the year.
Heroes mentioned that we have a market now, and we didn’t have one before.
They mentioned works and materials that we didn’t have out before.
And many commented about being a better friend and having more friends. We see this pattern every year – Heroes friendships are blossoming!
This week when a hero’s shoe broke, several heroes were there to support him. It was beautiful to see that even if they knew they could not mend the shoe, there was an care and concern for his dilemma.
This time of year, we notice heroes’ confidence blossoming. This week we recognized that as the heroes have gained skills, they are less intimidated to conquer quest challenges.
By this time of year, heroes are really good at mentoring! Heroes feel confident to mentor others and have figured out how to give just enough support to help a fellow traveler be successful without doing it for them. This week when the challenge involved a lot of writing, one hero wrote all the words in yellow pen and had the other trace over the words.
By this time of year, the heroes know their routines and also the flexibility within routines. Heroes coordinate efforts to efficiently build a fort. And when recess is over, they can switch gears and efficiently put all the pieces away.
Heroes know the routine of their daily “words,” but also expect it to be a little different every time. This week we used mirrors as we sounded out words to see how our mouths move.
Some heroes have established personal routines. For example, one hero often starts CHOICE work cycle with a wonder bin at the same table before exploring other places or materials.
Yet with all their routines, heroes also love novelty and are often intrigued by it.
This week the Spark heroes were intrigued watching the DS do woodworking. They were aware that it wasn’t an appropriate thing for them to try out and everyone stayed where they thought was a safe distance. Although there was some discussion between heroes how far they needed to be so they didn’t get hurt or get sawdust in their eyes.
Just like the Spark heroes, we see a pattern of increased friendships, abilities to mentor, and confidence in the Fire Studio heroes. One hero who at times in the year has been decently discouraged by failure told me this week with a huge smile on his face, “We tried and we tried and we failed and we failed and we failed again and then we finally did it!”
We also see confidence in creativity by the end of the year – confidence comes from a safe place to create. At the beginning of the year, the question was often asked, “Is it okay if we do this in our own way?” Now by the end of the year, many BELIEVE it is a good thing to complete a task in their own unique style and proceed without asking a Guide.
Other patterns that we see at this time of year in the Fire Studio: recognizing when others are struggling (due to familiarity with each other), significantly improved accountability systems (Including holding Guides accountable. The heroes know more about guidelines than the Guides by this time of year 😆), heroes feeling comfortable (or uncomfortable) with their learning choices throughout the year, and crunch time to Exhibition and badge earning.
With the crunch time and hard work that happens at the end of the year, heroes need a whole lot of fun to keep energy high. There was no lack of fun this week…
Session 6 Chess tourney is in full swing:
Many tribe building challenges and games:
And the Final Grit Challenge of Session 6 (making water balloon launchers, launching water bombs and playing Capture the Flag) was a huge hit. One hero who was reluctant to play Capture the Flag afterwards said “This was so so so so much fun. I totally even forgot about the trip I am going on.” Another hero who early in the year was reluctant to join in any competitive game, participated enthusiastically and then talked all the way back from the park about how fun it was.
Apparently sporting mustaches adds a little fun to everything! Especially when they earned the Stache for solving the Quest case! 
In the DELTA Studio there is a springtime energy at the end of each year that sometimes manifests as intense focus, and sometimes as hyperactivity! Heroes have taken stock of what they still need to do to reach their goals and the end is in sight. When they clearly set out what they hope to accomplish in a given work session, the productivity astounds even themselves. When the to-do list feels overwhelmingly long or the fellow heroes are especially silly, they sometimes give in to distraction. They are scrambling to log servant leader hours they may have procrastinated signing up for. They are writing lots of thank you notes. They are giving lots of pitches, having many badges approved, revisiting old challenges that they never quite finished and doing a lot of math! 
They are really good at organizing themselves into games and have mostly figured out how to play more than argue by now.
They are so good at mentoring the younger heroes.
Our yearly opt in “May day” flower delivery outing is always a huge hit for both the givers and the receivers. It is so fun to spread joy purposefully and surprisingly!
And the guides give many tribe-building challenges to keep the pattern of friendship and inclusivity strong, and the fun high!
Whatever the studio, whatever the hero, it is a high energy time at CHOICE!