Guard Up

A very productive trip to DC for our contingent to support museum funding and fight against censorship. In addition to both Senator Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton stopping in to hear our points (as well as a staffer for Warren), Director Meghan Gardner had the distinct honor of reconnecting with one of one of our former summer campers, Caleb Levy. Caleb is a recent grad from Museum Studies and spoke of how his years at Guardian Adventures camps was impactful for him.

Meghan also had the opportunity to mention the EU funded project she is working on for her Masters Degree that is focused on creating civic dialog between participants of different (or even opposing) political views.

We are planning to reach out to Seth Moulton’s office as a follow up but also to introduce our GRIT program for addressing trauma in war veterans (something he is particularly interested in).

Even with the cancelled flight home (and taking a long train ride instead), this has been a deeply inspiring and educational trip.

Hey Educators! Hope you can join us and learn how to run this exciting STEM adventure using Smithsonian 3D Assets!

(Know any teachers or homeschool parents? Please share this post)

Legend has it that in 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh stayed awake and alert for over 30 hours to complete the first ever solo non-stop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in 1927…but what if he had help?

Join us for a FREE live training event for educators. Learn to facilitate a sci-fi themed interactive STEM adventure centered around exploring the Spirit of St. Louis, where learners ages 8-10 travel back in time to ensure Lindbergh makes history! Register here: guardup.com/spirit-of-stlouis

National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

The first time I met Byout: The Palestinian Live Action Role Playing (Larp) Organisation was when I was in Norway for a conference about live action roleplaying. This nonprofit Palestinian larp group has been growing and thriving on the West Bank for almost 20 years. My dear friend Kjell made the introductions at the conference and we sat at a table together, talking about our dream to create therapeutic larps for children in Gaza. We talked about the work that they had already been engaged in to help children refugees... and the differences they had seen first hand as children learned to play again and how this play helped them process their trauma. We talked about how Bait Byout was creating a safe space for all, regardless of background or gender. And that Inclusion is listed as their first fundamental value for their organization.

In that meeting, we forged an agreement to work together to see this plan come to be. Before we parted ways, they gave me this beautiful ceramic medallion that represents the Palestinian refugee children. This is our reminder of why we are doing this: For the children who have had their childhood destroyed by death and bombs.

Because our teams are located outside of the conflict zones, we can begin the training with refugees immediately. And once it is safe, Bait Byout will bring the program into Gaza itself.

Today is the last day of our fundraiser. We have only 3K left to raise. Please consider supporting our initiative for both Gaza and Ukraine to help address the trauma of war in children, teens, and adults.

https://zurl.co/8IEbL

Thank you,
Meghan