what happens each session

what happens each session

This page can give you a sense of how we'll actually spend our time at the dream house--what a week looks like, how a person's typical day or week might go, what we'll do at the beginning and end of each session, and some miscellaneous fun things we'll do during each session.

A typical week will include lots of unstructured time so that people can plan their own schedules, work on their projects, etc.

But each week will also include:

	a 1-2 hour "goals and dreams" workshop (attendance required)
	a 1-2 hour house meeting (required)
	a 1-2 hour workshop taught by the resource coordinator (optional)
	during some weeks, a 1-2 hour workshop in communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution skills (perhaps optional, but highly encouraged)
	during some weeks, the houseparent(s) will teach an optional workshop in cooking, gardening, etc.
	and members, apprentices, interns, and staffers may also set up and offer optional weekly or daily events like yoga, current events updates, etc.--the sky's the limit.

A typical personal schedule

Everyone will have their own distinctive schedule, depending on what their project is, how much time they're investing in it, whether they're working at a job, have a regular volunteer commitment or apprenticeship, whether they're taking music lessons or attending a class at a local community college or acting in a local theater production. But basically, here's a rundown of our daily schedule:

First thing: get up, prepare and eat breakfast, shower when you wish. Meet with your project partner at a previously agreed upon time. (We will choose partners based partly on preferred meeting times. And, some partners may prefer to meet in the evenings after dinner rather in the mornings.)

Daytime hours--you might

	work on your project--at the house or anywhere in the Bay Area
	attend workshops led by staffers or dreamers
	perform household chores
	prepare dinner if it's your night to do so
	work at a part-time job
	have fun
	explore the Bay Area
	read
	work on our community service project
	work at an apprenticeship, volunteer position, or internship
	put in work-trade hours if you have a Dream House scholarship

Evening: Eat dinner together with other Dreamers (occasionally you might choose to eat out at a restaurant instead). Depending on the day of the week, possibly attend an after-dinner house meeting or an evening workshop. You might also

	go out for evening lessons, classes, concerts, or other events
	work on your project
	perform household chores
	relax and talk with other Dreamers
	read
	put in work-trade hours if you have a Dream House work-trade scholarship

Here's another way to look at it: In every week, you have 168 hours. They'll go something like this:

	work on your project--10 hours
	sleep (8 hours/night)--56
	eat (2 hours per day)--14
	shower and dress (1 hour each day)--7 total
	household chores (cook, clean, shop, etc.)--7
	community service project--3
	weekly house meeting--2
	your Dream House volunteer project--1
	attend the goals and dreams workshop--2
	meet with your project partner--3

That totals 105 hours, which leaves 63 hours for things like:

	attending the resource coordinator's workshops
	going to other staffers' workshops
	eploring and enjoying the Bay Area
	putting more energy into your project (though we ask everyone to spend a minimum of 10 hours on their projects, we encourage people to spend 20 or more hours if they're not busy with other things)
	a part-time job
	hanging out
	taking classes or workshops outside the Bay Area
	working at a volunteer position or an apprenticeship
	enjoying your new friends
	extra sleep

Orientation

Our first few days together, we'll get to know each other, play games, dance and sing, make agreements for living together harmoniously, learn about what the Bay Area has to offer and how to use public transportation, and define our individual goals for the session.

Closing week

Our final week, we'll bring everything to culmination, with

	an intimate closing dinner and ceremony for members and staff
	banquets/talent shows for parents and mentors, in which each member gives one or two brief presentations based on her project.
	several days devoted to workshops--each member will give a workshop based on his project.
	publication of the official "dream book," a zine in which each person contributes a page or two based on her project. (A lot like the Not Back to School Camp bliss books.)
	a dance party
	a “moving on” workshop, in which we each decide how we want to integrate what we've learned and experienced during the session into our futures
	and lots of time for goodbye hugs

some miscellaneous cool things that will happen during each Dream House session

	a mid-session talent show, in which each member and staffer is invited to perform or share something they love to do--not necessarily related to their project.
	a Big Happy Family field trip--we'll brainstorm possibilities, then choose a destination--a festival, the coast, Point Reyes, the zoo.
	a games night, in which we play all kinds of fun, silly, wonderful games
	dinner for everyone at Grace's house
	we’ll put on a party for local kids (a haunted house, cooking party, etc.)
	an open house for area homeschoolers and other interested folks
	birthday parties

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Send mail to gracellew@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: June 06, 2000

Send mail to gracellew@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: June 06, 2000