Now Enrolling for 2025!
Meeting weekly January through April in three separate groups to learn and practice:
Paying attention to peripheral information.
integrating somatic information or sensory awareness.
Authentically responding to where our attention goes.
Developing dialogic skills.
Doing all of this real-time in a role-playing game environment.
Recognizing that true leadership is responding in service to your community.
Mondays at 6PM ET
The crew of the USS Frigate Freedom looks for new lands and attempts to organize the seven seas. There are a few exploratory smaller ships but all are in service to the Freedom. This group is attracted to creating order in a wild and wooly world of water.
Recommended for older grade school students.
This groups likes systems and collaboration.
Tuesdays at 5PM ET
The motley Merchant Seafarers sail in a convoy together looking for places to sell their goods and trying to develop markets. They are a gathering of smaller ships that stay together to support and protected each other. This group works together to create best business practices.
All grade school ages appropriate.
This groups is interested in community.
Wednesdays at 4PM ET
This band of Buccaneers sail their mighty ship from town to town to learn the local songs and stories and cultures and adapt them for their own productions This is a flamboyant bunch who love the arts.Recommended for all ages who like projects and building beautiful things!
All grade school ages appropriate
This group likes to draw, design and build.
“The Seven Seas" Weekly Adventures:
Winter/Spring '25 Semester
Grade School Children
build empathic listening and emergent leadership skills through immersive storytelling
We will meet weekly with three different scheduling options to accommodate time zones and storytelling types.
Course Deliverables:
Paying attention to peripheral information.
integrating somatic information or sensory awareness.
Authentically responding to where our attention goes.
Developing dialogic skills.
Doing all of this real-time in a role-playing game environment.
Recognizing that true leadership is responding in service to your community.
What to Expect in
“The Seven Seas”
Weekly Role Playing Adventures
In this ongoing weekly adventure, FreeSpinners engage with others collaboratively in real time. We will use mechanics from role playing games with the intended goal of teaching them how to use storytelling in the moment, off the top of their head and be responsive to changing situations.
Newcomers are welcome at any time!
David and Meredith will support the progression of the adventure story and help with the collaborative storytelling process.
What happens at the Admirals' Table
Once a week on Mondays, the older Freespinners from each of the three groups will gather together to discuss the goings-on of the week, make any decisions that need making and then report what outcome in a weekly "Admirals' Log" that is published to the full group.
This is intended for ages 10-13 years olds.
Included in your Bundle:
Example Curriculum
Freespinners learn:
- How to tell short interesting stories about something we did, saw, heard about.
- The art of conversation.
- How to ask the best questions.
- Group storytelling using improv exercises.
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Where to find the best stories.
An Example of Freespinner Sessions
“Your Ship”
- In our first gathering, all three groups will meet together to discuss what sorts of ships will be used on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the difference between naval ships, merchants' ships and pirate ships.
“Your Crew”
- This is our second full meeting with all three groups and here we will have a chance to consider the crews. Again it will be different per group: what is a crew for a naval ship, a merchant ship and a pirate ship?
“Character and Costuming”
- This is our first week of meeting individually so it is a chance for the smaller groups to get clear on character and what we all dress like. You can use the practice page to help.
“Missions Set”
- Now that we know who we are, who we are sailing with and the nature of our expedition, we receive our mission and individual roles within that objective.
“We Launch”
- Let’s go! This is a very exciting moment filled with pomp and tradition. Each of us has a chance to set our intentions and express our enthusiasm before we begin this momentous adventure.
“How to Crew”
- Oh my, working with a crew is more complicated than we expected. This week we will air out what systems are not working and how we can work together to make this trip more efficient, functional and fun!
“What is that Vessel?”
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Hmm - there is a ship ahead that is anchored and seems empty. Let us all make a plan that includes safety within our sense of adventure and curiosity. Who could it be? Are they still there?
Meeting Times and Dates
Mondays at 6PM ET
(USS Frigate Freedom)
Tuesdays at 5PM ET
(Merchant Seafarers)
Wednesdays 4PM ET (Buccaneers)
SEE OUR UPDATED CALENDAR HERE
FAQ
A few Particulars:
- Freespinners meets weekly in in small groups.
- There are occasional short recorded lessons that we ask your child to watch prior to each session.
- We use the Zoom meeting password protected platform.
- We meet for 1 hour per week, but your child can visit one of the other Freespinners meetings, as well.
- All sessions are recorded if you miss a session or want to watch it again.
- We have a community forum where we share our creations and ideas.
- We learn one skill per week and then have fun practicing, sharing and getting to know each other.
- There will be an option to share pictures, videos and written comments and conversation.
CAN MY CHILD DO THE COURSE COMPLETELY ON HER OWN?
Freespinners is designed so that your child can engage independently. That said, you know your child and the level of support they may need.
WHAT IF WE MISS A WEEK OF THE INTERACTIVE COURSE?
All of our sessions are recorded!
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT FOR THIS COURSE?
There are weekly 60 minute Zoom sessions and optional creative enrichment activities to do in between. The time commitment is up to you!
DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ & WRITE TO PARTICIPATE?
It would be helpful, although proficient reading and writing skills are not required by any means. Our students will be offered opportunities to express themselves in many different modalities.
WHY IS THERE "LIMITED ENROLLMENT" ON THE COURSE?
David and Meredith directly communicate with and support children through the entire experience. Because of this, and because we want to give the requisite attention to our participants, we are keeping the numbers limited.
CAN TWO OR MORE CHILDREN TAKE THE INTERACTIVE COURSE UNDER ONE REGISTRATION?
For our live interactive courses, one registration is for a single child. Due to the high-level of interaction with the students, David and Meredith will be supporting children in their practice, discovery and development.
IS THERE A SIBLING DISCOUNT FOR THE INTERACTIVE COURSE?
Please contact Meredith if finances are a concern. We sincerely try to be inclusive so that Spinners who wish to, can join! [email protected].