We often forget how easy it is for a child to begin to feel unsafe in school.  A young boy or girl cannot easily discern if an actual threat is imminent. Increased anxiety and unbridled fear can abound, not exactly the emotions that time spent with classmates should evoke. Based upon research conducted at the Bank Street College of Education, we will help you reexamine the effects that all-too-common kinds of ‘safety’ drills have on a child’s emotional well-being and ability to learn. Building their awareness and earning their trust in a non-threatening manner is critical.

Audience - Early Childhood & Lower School Faculty, Parent Groups

Duration - 2 Hours

Cost - Dependent on school size and necessary travel. Contact steve@bigbackpack.org.

Join the over 1.7 million! The only evidence informed program proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and change child-protective behaviors. Appropriate for any adult, this training will teach you how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.  Ask about our hour long workshop for students.

Audience - Faculty & Staff, High School Student Program Available

Duration - 2 Hours (Adults), 1 Hour (Students)

Cost - $12 per participant and necessary travel. Contact steve@bigbackpack.org.

Is your school prepared for the ever-changing world of technology?  Unfortunately, greater access and interactivity are also accompanied by concerns and threats that cannot be ignored. From the more positive use of social media by students and staff alike to increased awareness of poor online judgement, discover the tools available to school leadership that better ensure the safe, responsible, and meaningful use of both school-related and personal technology.

Audience - Faculty & Staff, Middle and High School Students, Parent Groups

Duration - 2 Hours (Adults), 1 Hour (Students)

Cost - Dependent on school size and necessary travel. Contact steve@bigbackpack.org.

Are all active shooter drills equally effective? Nine in ten public schools now conduct active shooter drills; most without the realization of the potential impact that these kinds of drills can have on a child’s emotional well-being or ability to learn. This hour-long workshop engages adults and/or students in a discussion of current trends, culminating with how we can make greater sense of today's challenges.

Audience - Faculty & Staff, Middle and High School Students, Parent Groups

Duration - 2 Hours (Adults), 1 Hour (Students)

Cost - Dependent on school size and necessary travel. Contact steve@bigbackpack.org.

A commitment to prevent sexual harassment in schools is essential. Sexual harassment harms us all. All teachers and students deserve to be treated with unfettered respect and dignity. This interactive presentation will increase your ability to recognize sexual harassment while also helping you to become more proactive in its prevention. In addition, it will assist you in reevaluating your school's policies and procedures on responding to/reporting of sexual harassment incidents or concerns.

Audience - Faculty & Staff, Trustees

Duration - 2 Hours

Cost - Dependent on school size and necessary travel. Contact steve@bigbackpack.org.

The well-being of a school starts with the emotional health of its stakeholders. We will help to engage your faculty (or students) in an important discussion of what it takes to nurture a strong school climate built upon calm confidence and open communication. Comprehensive school safety and security starts with a keen focus on the critical need to build healthy relationships and to develop and maintain non-threatening communication systems. Shifting towards a model that prioritizes the social, emotional, and ideological safety of students, staff and faculty lays the most solid groundwork for all other types of safety and  security initiatives and programs.

Audience - Faculty & Staff, Middle and High School Students, Parent Groups

Duration - 2 Hours (Adults), 1 Hour (Students)

Cost - Dependent on school size and necessary travel. Contact steve@bigbackpack.org.