Peace Initiatives Day with Simon Fraser

    In September of 2004, Simon Fraser Junior High organized a project called Peace Initiatives. Peace Initiatives was meant to target the issue of bullying in schools. The Peace Initiatives committee (Mr. Johnston - the principal - and members of the administrative team) was able to organize a special "outing" for all the students in Simon Fraser Junior High. On September 23, 2004, over 500 junior high students had the opportunity of spending a school day in Bowness Park. The students were then engaged in activities designed to encourage cooperation, teamwork, and acceptance among individuals.

    The activities presented to the students at Bowness Park included:

1. The Web

    "The Web" was an activity meant to show students how all individuals in society is interconnected. A spool of thread was passed on from one person to the next to form a web of connection between students. When every student had received the thread once, the web was complete, and students were told to hold onto their portion of string and lean back. By distributing their weight equally through the web and supporting one another, students were able to maintain an upright position. However, when a single individual released their part of the string, the entire web came loose and many students lost their balance and fell to the ground.

2. Flipping the Tarp.

    "Flipping the Tarp" was an activity designed to show students how important cooperation and prominent leadership are in society. A tarp was laid out on the ground and students were told to stand on the tarp without touching the grass. Students were then told to flip the entire tarp over in the quickest time possible, without having a single person come in contact with the surrounding grass. With twenty to thirty students crowded on one tarp, the only way to complete the activity was to have individuals come forward and provide leadership and direction for the rest of the group.

3. Cross-over.

    "Cross-over" was an activity that stressed teamwork, leadership, and cooperation. A skipping rope was tied between twotrees at about shoulder height, and students were gathered on one side of the rope. The students were told that to transfer all group members over the rope without having anyone come in contact with the skipping rope. In order to transfer all members over the rope, groups had to work together in order to lift individuals, one by one, over the rope and onto the other side.

    The above examples are only a few among the many activities that were available at Bowness Park. Needless to say, the students had a lot of fun, and they also learned a lot about cooperation, leadership, and teamwork.

    At the end of the day, when all activities had been completed, students were given free time to have some fun. Peace Initiatives day at Bowness Park was, indeed, a great success.

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