As I begin an adventure on Steemit...

I feel like an explorer in a mysterious world – like the guy in the picture below. He’s traveled far and is generally a friendly inquisitive fellow. His backpack is full of notes and ideas and a smattering of half-started tales. He’s not a scholar, preferring rather to explore the wilderness, discover first-hand interesting creatures and magical places. And here he’s found a new friend – a baby dragonling of some sort or other, not realizing that the large, very powerful, and potentially dangerous mother dragon is headed his way. To devour him? Or to befriend him? That remains to be seen…

Yes, I make a living LARP’ing with children.

LARP: That’s live-action roleplaying – dressing up as elves, wizards, goblins, and trolls, and playacting with kids. Sound fun? It is! And…there’s a lot more to it.

Experiential Education Through Live-Action Roleplaying

How do you teach a kid to think outside the box? To share, and not interrupt other kids? To not label a “monster” as a “monster, or as good or evil, but rather to see shades of light and shadow? To view so-called “villains” as creatures deserving of respect, and who have complex goals and motivations, like everyone else.

How do you help a kid build their self-esteem, self-worth, and courage to speak up and stand up for what they know is right?

Lecturing and moralizing - these are not effective. However, give a kid a foam sword and some magical powers, playact the king or queen asking them to go negotiate a peace treaty between dwarves and goblins, and you can facilitate an amazing opportunity for learning. And that is a topic I’ll talk more about in another post! For more information about edu-LARP, check out my three-minute video on youtube, or on the homepage of my website: www.RenaissanceAdventures.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts6DDMdn-Mk

A Little Background On Me:

I founded Renaissance Adventures in 1995 out of a passion to give kids the opportunities for learning, play, and love that I did not have as a child. I do my best to lead RA through ethical leadership, and to coach my staff in leading the children’s Adventure Quest programs in a non-authoritarian style, that invites children’s creative expression and responsible empowerment.

As for me, I grew up an introverted disempowered nerd, avoiding life through reading fantasy novels and playing roleplaying games with a few friends. Roleplaying was my creative outlet, and my most active and engaged method of communication and co-creation as a teen.

Meditation and Personal Growth

Meditation retreats and intensive group therapy in my early twenties tore me open and out of the safe shell. Gratitude to my many mentors! When I found my center I realized I needed to work with kids. I do storytelling at schools and camps, and I lead a team of storytellers, actors, and teachers in facilitating the children becoming the heroes of mythic quests.

I’ve lived in spiritual communes, worked with amazing people, and done a lot of soul searching. I’m human - I get laid low by old wounds, reactions, self-sabotaging habits. Lately, I’ve been wrestling with a part of me that believes I’ll never be able to accomplish what I truly desire. That old voice says, “It’s ok to numb out. No need to finish writing your book. No need for your business to succeed. Disappear into distraction.”

But maybe engaging with Steemit will be helpful for my creative spirit and desire to expand my community. Will I flake out? Procrastin