We are not complete without walking our talk.  Once a month, SpiritJam becomes a ServiceJam during which we offer a project of service to others.

 For the theme of "Unity" we put together 144 Emergency Preparedness Kits for Boulder County CareConnect, serving "in unity" with our wider community. The kits included water bottles, food, toiletries, grocery store gift cards, flashlights, hand sanitizer, gloves, masks and other items. CareConnect provided the supplies and we supplied the multi-age labor force. "OK, let's make over ONE HUNDRED!" said a third grader, and they did.

It helped that Rachel, one of the SpiritJam leaders, was also an Americorps volunteer with the Emergency Prepareness folks. It was gratifying to see an article about the kits on the front page of the local paper, even if we weren't mentioned. 

The kids and adults knew they had made a difference, and we all were proud.

The Mini-Vision Quest was part of the "Vision" theme for October. They chose a blanket and found a spot outdoors to be by themselves for 5 minutes. The reflection questions were 

1. "What do you love the most?" 
2. "What is important to you?"
   

First, I shared simple facts about Vision Quests, and compared the  Vision Quest with our 8th Grade Coming of Agers' who sit for 6 hours on their solo Vision Quest. I told them I would walk around after 2.5 minutes so they would know they were halfway through.  

Then, each child, youth and adult took a clipboard with paper and markers, plus a Rainbow Peephole, a special lens which separates light into rainbow colors. There were enough concrete "things to do" for children not prepared for a quiet sit. 

Most of the participants settled in, the blankets like prayer shawls, providing snuggles and sacred space. At the 2.5 minute walk, one first grade boy said he was done. I invited him to try to continue a bit longer, but he reiterated he was done and got up. I gave him the task of watching my timer count down the remaining seconds.  It focused him. At 5 minutes, he walked quietly to each "Quester" and gently rang the bell and told them to bring their blankets and supplies to the gathering spot.

The children shared their thoughts, drawings, and Rainbow Peephole discoveries. The adults who had joined in the Vision Quest noticed how age had smothered their creativity, as they had simply written down the answers to the reflection questions in one color, using words. The children's creations were alive with color and beauty. Each person now talked quietly, moved gently, and breathed deeply. We held our moment together, then with mutual grins, the children ran, twirled, and jumped into the sunshine and grass for some playtime.