Review of Youth Empowerment Camps

1. Get Real Youth Weekend Next one: October 14 th and 25 th 2009, Brisbane AGES 12-18YRS

3. We made agreements with each other to really give each other permission to totally play, to give others their own space and time out, not to judge each other, to allow the stories around emotions to fall away, and be really honest, give each other total respect and privacy, and to honour each other. We played games, really fun activities to get to know each other, and learn to trust each other. Then we started exploring what has been holding us back in life. We used movement, and art, activities to help us really start to share and explore where are blocks are, and where they began for us. We started to really uncover how all of this plays out in our lives, and Get Real about it! Even just seeing all this, and getting the chance to speak about it was so liberating for us all!

4. On the Saturday we all woke with a real desire to clear out the issues we had uncovered the night before. Everyone had deeply healing Journey Processes, each learning how to both give and receive a process, so these tools can be used again and again through life with any issues that may arise. We shared together all that had been realised, and how free everyone was experiencing themselves and each other! We used other processes and activities to clear out any beliefs that we may have taken on as a result of these experiences. We cleared all of these old beliefs out, and in their place the youth chose beliefs like “ I am lovable, fun, real, comfortable with myself, outgoing, energetic, looking forward to life, I am free, special, trusting and trustworthy, brave, I have the courage of a lion, I am powerful, I am beautiful in every way, I love myself, I surrender, I follow my heart, I am worthy, My love is worth it, I am a healthy weight, I am healthy, I am unique, one of a kind, strong, confident, I am everything I want to be… I believe in myself!” These are just some of them! Can you even begin to imagine the change this will allow – for us all!

5. As a family we learned to support each other to really go where they have never felt safe enough to go before. With the total acceptance that surrounded us all we realised as if for the first time that while experiences happen… and feelings come and go, we remain whole untouched by any of this… Piece by piece each of us remembered the truth of who we are… and in this we all had permission to shine. We realised how supported, how loved, how honoured we all are – and we offered this to each other. We were all willing to be seen as this amazing light we are! What a relief!!!

6. To see the truth in ourselves, allowed us to see the truth in each other… and everything that would have had us playing small in life just melted in the presence of this. Everyone experienced the Freedom it is to just be yourself! To finally speak the truth about who you are… and to see that in each other. This let friendships come from the very deepest and most true place inside… This lets life be lived from this very same place. This is our commitment to each other and to ourselves… To live life from this place… from the Heart!

7. On Saturday night we offered to the campfire everything that we had cleared out. We burned our old pictures, and limiting beliefs, and let the purifying fire represent the total letting go. We each had a cleansing smudging ceremony to get it at every level of our beings the healing, the purifying, the release that has taken place.

8. Making room for the Truth… for our empowering beliefs and realisations about ourselves and how we live life. Welcoming each other Home - to ourselves!

9. THEN WE ATE LOTS OF MARSHMALLOWS!!!!

10. We played, and sang, and hung out, enjoying the freedom, and the night!

11. We opened our hearts and shared our experiences and lessons, gave thanks and honouring to each other and to life - and really enjoyed sharing each others talents!

12. On the Sunday we began to explore the mystery of letting life guide us a moment at a time, and really deeply trusting the process of life, each other and most importantly… ourselves! Everything we played with showed us that when we open ourselves we open to all creativity, abundance and all possibility. With limitations no longer in place, we are open to the limitless possibilities in which we can experience our lives. We realised that we are not defined by what we do, or achieve, and so in this we can do and achieve anything our heart most longs for – from a place of freedom and wholeness.

13. Through games and activities we explored what it is to communicate openly, starting with opening our hearts. We learned how only 7% of how we communicate is what we say, the other 23% is from the way we say things, and a whole 70% is communicated through our body language! So we experimented what happens when we communicate consciously with our body language… and how this effects our relationships with others in our lives. We shared in our Journal writing, and then with each other what we are most grateful for in life. Realising all the ways we are so cared for and looked after by life! From our full hearts then came an intention… something that we wanted to really put out for our lives. What do we really want?

14. LOLLIES!!!!  YES... AND WHAT ELSE DO YOU REALLY WANT?!

15. So in a very sacred setting, each of us one at a time stood in the middle of our circle of intention, and asked the universe what we most wanted of life! “ Let me know the Truth, Let me Be True, Let me continue to deepen in allowing and in really knowing myself, Let me be totally in my power and do what I came here to do…” These were just some of the beautiful things asked for by these amazing Youth, these inspiring lights!

16. We took time to share with each other what we really see in each other, what we had been so touched by in each other during our time together. We took time to really honour each other, and receive this love and honouring ourselves. We learned that giving and receiving come hand in hand, and complete the circle… and that it feels really great to really receive!

17. When the parents came to meet us we had a graduation celebration. We got to really be seen for the lights we are, and the coaches shared with the youth, and the parents what they truly see when they look at these beautiful beings, and what a gift it is to be together in this way!

18. I am so proud of you all… each one of you are burned in my heart forever. You are so brave to have the courage to totally Get Real, in everyway one can be Real! You are an inspiration and a gift to everyone you touch. I am so grateful that you came into my life, and that we were so blessed to share this time together. I know each one of you will live your life to the full, authentic and free… true to the magic you are. Swah-Ha!!!! In all Love and thanks, Tamsyn and the Get Real Team!

19. Feedback... “ It was really amazing, and I came to some big realisations! I had so much fun, and I definitely want to come back next year. It’s amazing how well we get on together, I hope we all stay in touch with each other and support each other.” Lucia – 13yrs (Participant)

20. Feedback... “ I opened into the truth of my masculinity, I can’t wait to carry this into life… purely by remaining open and true.” Zac – 15yrs (Participant)

21. Feedback... “ This was the all time BEST experience of my life so far! Thank you for having this weekend – AMAZING! I loved all the activities, I loved having time to hang out with each other – really making a second family. The coaches were awesome – they were always there when you needed them – thank you!” Sarah – 14yrs (Participant)

22. Feedback... “ I’m doing really well, I took it easy for a couple of days and now am back into the full swing of things.....everyone that knows I went on Get Real camp has noticed a big change in me not just physically but also in my personality… its been really great!” Elle – 16 yrs (Participant)

23. Feedback... “ I enjoyed realising and facing problems I had. It felt good to let out so much that I think I had locked away. What you all did for us, it’s hard to name my gratefulness… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart! I WOULD LOVE TO COME AGAIN!” Amalia – 14yrs (Participant)

24. Feedback... “ Yeah this was pretty cool, I had a stack of fun and learned a lot about myself. I enjoyed the Journey Process and found it was pretty wicked and enlightening! It was choice I was cared for and fed… but… there wasn’t any steak!!!  ” Jordan – 15yrs (Participant)

25. Feedback... “ Being a coach at “Get Real” had so many gifts for me. At the end of the weekend, I was filled with so much gratitude… Firstly, to experience each teenager open and reveal their deepest fears & hurts with such humility. Then, being able to assist them in learning the tools to identify and penetrate these lies and limiting beliefs. I was awed by their willingness to dive in & clear out these emotional blocks. By the end of the weekend, the transformation was incredible - there was so much love, excitement and “I can do anything” attitude in the room - it was electric! To see such amazing shifts and healing in just one weekend was humbling to say the least. Tamsyn, the facilitator, was an inspiration and has a beautiful way of connecting with teenagers & provided the perfect embrace. And, there’s more - my own healing… In all honesty, this weekend was one of the most powerful events I have attended. The teen’s openness & humility gave me permission to speak my truth as I have never spoken before. I left the weekend a changed person. During the weekend, I developed a deep inner trust and belief in myself – it is so refreshing. Thus, more gratitude! This is a powerful and empowering youth camp and I am excited with the support it is providing the youth of today. Leanne – Get Real Coach.

26. Feedback... I want to express my deepest gratitude to you for following your true path, you have opened up the most precious healing space for my daughter & the other beautiful souls present at the weekend, not just these, but all those who are going to attend. You are truly gifted & I thank you so much for your presence in our Healing path. Yes the camp was for my daughter, but I too had a huge amount of healing, with intense physical confirmations, the ripple effect, believe me is VERY LARGE, & this is just the beginning!!!! Leigh (Mother of participant)

27. Feedback... “ When people met my daughter they would generally like her as she has many good qualities, but when you live with someone you experience the real person with no pretences & no rose coloured glasses. Even though you try to love them unconditionally it really is a tall order, one that you really have to work at. Living with her previously was like always awaiting the explosion/s, it was only the depth of the anger that varied. I totally recognised it was her "baggage" creating this. Every thing that was said or done or not done was viewed as the end of the world, I can’t describe the anguish that our family lived in just in the anticipation of her angry explosions. Her sibling was showing real signs of hatred & resentment at just being around her… I recognised it was her "baggage" creating this and since her participation in the Get real camp, she has changed! When she first arrived home from camp I automatically held my breath, ready for the eruptions to begin, I cant explain why but I know they wont return as they didn't come back with her from camp. She hasn't told me anything that happened that weekend other than making lots of friends, but I don't need to know because the girl that came home is a joy to live with & one i can love unconditionally without any effort.” Mother of Participant

28. Many thanks... To the Get Real Coaches and supporting Team, and for these Grace given tools that allow us to open again and again to Truth. If you want to read more about Get Real, and upcoming events, and how you can get involved or support the program and our Youth please click here to go to www.getreal4youth.com