How can we make the walk more creative, innovative, and interactive? Past stations have included the Tree of Forgiveness, Random Act of Kindness Garden, and Letter to Yourself.

i *really* liked all the activity stations we had this last year. I think they were well meaning and also well executed.

Maybe we can utilize the tree/ribbons again but use a theme other than forgiveness?

I also thought it may be cool to bring back the 'Letter to Yourself' idea?

The path of silence with pictures and statistics about the state of the world was very powerful. Maybe that can be brought back again too, but of course with new pictures and new facts.

An idea from the Art for Peace event, how about setting up a video-blog station where someone can record themselves sending out a 3 to 4 minute message of peace?

The poe-tree corner was also well received. I know we'll be providing everyone a t-shirt so the t-shirt making may not work as well, but we could do some button making at the Walk for Hope as well. Some of these may not necessarily be activities along the route but may be fun things to do near the booths area?

Activity station ideas submitted by the wonderful Norma Rosen!
Thank you Norma!

Ehi Mwen Ma
(my ehi is good)

Ehi= guardian angel/ spirit
is a name given to a newborn child to show that it has come to do good deeds.
Celebrate your head as it leads you through the world. Choose to be a blessing to others through your actions. Joy and blessings are symbolized in Benin City, Nigeria through the use of white chalk. A spot of white powdered chalk is placed on your forehead, on the base of the back of your neck (which honors your ehi), and in front of each ear.

Obg'orhue e i gb'ibi
He who rubs white chalk never rubs white chalk never rubs black chalk.

station idea 1: "how far can hope really go?"

we can prepare several pieces of printing-paper sized cloth that people will have a chance to decorate with their thoughts on how to make hope more than idea, as well as their footprint, to signify walking...for...HOPE! volunteers will be at the station sewing the pieces together, end to end, as new pieces are created. at the final ceremony, that long train of walking hope will be walked down the path and into the meeting area, to physically represent how far compassion can go in just a few hours (i.e., imagine how far you take it when you leave the park).

station idea 2: "dirty feet"

have a series of volunteers set up with buckets, towels, etc. this should be a silent station. the walker approaches and is given a piece of (recycled) paper that talks about the notion of washing someone's feet - humility, and a kind of palpable execution of saying "namaste". they then have the choice to wash one another's feet, or volunteers can do so. as they exit, there should be some signs talking about the idea of taking that kind of respect, love, and humility toward one another and ourselves into the world.

idea for connecting these two stations: if we were to definitely include the footprint in station 1, we could then have volunteers walk to a closeby pseudo-station (kind of like how the path of silence wasn't really a station, more of a reflection area), which would be "dirty feet". we will of course lay something down as a path in between the two stations so that we don't get paint all over the grass (which will look awesome with all of the footprints on it at the end of the day).

*all the materials for all of this would be recylced, cruelty free, biodegradble, etc.*

that's all i've got for now. will keep brainstorming.

also i really like the youtube idea. maybe we could combine that with the feet station, instead of having people write along with their footprint, we can record them making the footprint and talking about their hopes/ideas/actions for peace/compassion.

so many great ideas!

an observation from last year's walk is that the first activity station on the route takes a huge hit at the beginning -- a few hundred walkers reach that spot at the same time, and the area is so congested that a lot of people skip it altogether.

rather than staggering start times to regulate the flow of walkers, another option is to make this 1st station an activity that huge crowds of people can participate in. or maybe we can choose a theme for this station, and have several activities set up

any ideas? the area for the first station is shortly after going thru the tunnel and crossing the street.

we can push this station back, especially if we extend the route this year

Supun's idea:

I had an idea for a activity station: try to group 3 or 4 people together and get them to think of a small act of service / intentional act of kindness to do in the next 1-21 days. They can write down their ideas and let other people who aren't creative steal their ideas. They can then exchange contact info plan to meet. We can involve any of the beneficiaries to come and recruit the groups at the activity stations too. They can use the website to schedule an event calendar and then post what they did on the site. we can set up a short activity to find things they have in common (favorite colors, songs, sports, etc) or just randomly pick a tall, medium and short person to go together.
what do you think? will people be to shy to do stuff with people they just met at the walk?

The Last Activity station on the route for "Walk 2009", inspired by the powerful and emotive words of Julie Nguyen, a 2008 walker.

Materials needed: at least 2 pieces of white paper per walker measuring 4"x 8" and black stick pens ( that don't leak). One paper will be left at the station and the other is for the walkers to take away with them.

Paper # 1 the question and the paper to be left:

Since awakening this morning, how have your thoughts and feelings changed after participating in the 8th Annual Walk for Hope ?

Paper # 2 the questions and the paper will be kept by the walker.

What thoughts and feelings will you take away from this experience to share with others and what have you learned here today?

How are you now a different person and what gift will you give yourself this evening to reward your openess?

Wow, these are all amazing ideas guys! Would love to help with the activities, let me know how I can get involved.

thanks!