Body Basics for Boys

Creating Positive Impressions of Changing Bodies

Body Basics for Boys is a program designed to:

● Inform your youth about the many possible changes they may experience as they go through the emotional and physical changes associated with puberty.

● Create a supportive and fun group environment for 6-8 youth to connect and learn together with a quality educator.

● Encourage conversations about puberty and growing up with a father or another parenting adult with the same anatomy.

● Build your youth’s self-confidence with a positive body image as it is changing.

Body Basics for Boys is for 6th grade aged boys.

Details

● A series of six classes, 1.5 hours each, during six consecutive weeks with one class per week. Classes are typically from 6:00-7:30 pm.

● Just for the budding adolescent, parents do not attend the actual classes. It makes no difference if the youth know each other or not within a group.

● For youth anywhere in their development. It is for those who show no physical signs of puberty and for those who have started, and anywhere in
between.

● Open to all youth regardless of financial constraints. Partial scholarships and payment plans are always available. The cost of the class series is $310.

Note: We need a minimum of 6 youth for the program to run so please tell others!

Please read on to meet the educator and get more information. Still have questions?
Email Karen at karen@bodybasicsandbeyond.com

Frequently Asked Questions

I have read through everything and I AM IN! How can I have my youth participate in the classes?
We are in the process of creating the schedule for Winter 2025. If you are interested in gathering boys to create a group, or would like to join a group, please email karen@bodybasicsandbeyond.com and we will get you started.

Are there any other additional costs I should count on?
There are no additional costs. The tuition of $310 includes the scheduled parent meeting, nine hours of instruction and all prep, the location and all class materials.

I might need a partial scholarship but a payment plan would definitely help me. How do I go about this?
Email Karen and the two of you will figure it out. No youth is ever denied the opportunity to attend classes due to other financial commitments. We always make it work!

Where do the classes take place?
Classes take place in a private new location to be announced during the parent meeting on Zoom.

What is the schedule of classes?
Once we have enough students to fill a group, we will schedule a parent meeting. All six class dates and times will be scheduled during the parent meeting when everyone is together and have their schedules with them. There will be recommended class dates to start with but can be changed based on the needs of the educator’s and the students’ schedules.

What if we can’t do the current session? Will there be other sessions offered during the school year?
We are taking it one seasonal session at a time. Mr. Blacklight and I will be checking in towards the end of each seasonal session to see if there is enough interest in more seasonal sessions.

What is the parent meeting for and are they in-person?
In order for a youth to participate in Body Basics at least one parenting adult needs to attend the parent meeting due to the intimate subject matter. Parents will learn about what information the youth are going to receive, meet the educator, receive resources, complete the registration process and to review the class dates. Parent meetings take place on Zoom in the evenings typically from 6:30-8:00pm. Fathers or mentors are encouraged to be there. Youth do not attend this meeting.

What if a parenting adult cannot attend the parent meeting?
You will need to schedule a private parent meeting with the educator for a $45 fee before the first class. This one-on-one meeting is about 45 minutes.

There is some information I want to share with the educator about my son. How do I do that?
Once you have registered with Karen via email and paid the $75 deposit you will receive a parent information form for you to fill out that asks you to share about your son’s development, as well as who he is as a learner and a social being. We will also give you the opportunity to share about any current life issues that may be up for your family and/or son. If after filling in the parent information form you still want to speak with someone, a phone call will be scheduled.

What if my son can’t attend one of the scheduled classes?
The youth are expected to attend each of the six classes. Missing a class is huge and we want to avoid it. He may have to miss other after school commitments to attend the classes.

What if my son doesn’t want to do Body Basics?
This is a very common thing! Of course it is embarrassing to talk about bodies, but it is also important. Lots of youth feel this way. It is natural to feel awkward. Anticipation of something like this is the hardest part. Empathize with him and then let him know he is going to the first class, and if he doesn’t like it, he doesn’t have to continue. Then don’t discuss it until it is time for the first class. We have never had a youth not return, turns out it is weird and fun!

What is the father’s/mentor’s role during the session?
To make yourself available for your youth as much as possible. He will also be coming to you with questions about your development through puberty after each class. Push through any feelings of embarrassment and answer his questions. Be open to any other conversations related to human development. By your youth taking these classes, we are inviting him to open up around many aspects of his development.

What if father/stepdad/partner is not around or is unavailable?
If the father is not around but has contact with his son, the activities can be done through phone conversations or emails. If a father/stepdad/partner is unavailable, we encourage you to support your youth in finding a mentor with the same anatomy such as a
relative or good family friend is just fine as long as they have already been through puberty that he can confide in.

Do you talk about sex?
No, but we get really close! If we receive questions about sex, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, masturbation, etc. we respond with, “Your family is ready to answer your questions about that.” Then you will be contacted about the nature of his curiosity. Topics related to sex are for families to discuss at this age. Our job is to help your youth feel comfortable with his changing body.

Does it matter how much or how little discussion around puberty has taken place with my youth?
Whether you have regular conversations or this is his first conversation about puberty, the class will benefit him greatly. Peers are increasingly important at this age and the impact of hearing other youth discussing how they feel about changes and development is powerful and encourages openness and sharing.

Do you have anything for younger or older boys? My sister has a son in 5th grade and I have one in 8th?
Along with the 6th grade program we currently offer a 7th grade program called Besides Body Basics for Boys and an 8th grade program called Beyond Body Basics for Boys. Have your sister email Karen to get on the 6th grade list for next year!

Please let us know if you have any questions. Welcome to Body Basics for Boys!
Karen O’Dougherty and Mr. Blacklight
karen@bodybasicsandbeyond.com
541-601-2849

Meet Micah BlackLight

Growing up an army brat meant Micah spent a great deal of his youth traveling all over the country. Among other things, being constantly introduced to new communities and classrooms taught him how to be extremely adaptable and resilient, and how to communicate with a wide variety of people and perspectives. From the very beginning, his interest in expressing himself through various means showed itself and culminated in his graduating with honors from Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC and then Pratt Institute of Art and Design in Brooklyn, NY with a Bachelors of Fine Arts.
   

He has since become a multimedia artist, writer, fashion designer, vocalist, motivational speaker, coach, teacher and mentor for a wide and diverse range of students and teachers from elementary school up through the corporate sphere. Micah’s passion for powerfully impacting the lives of young people in particular began with the birth of his now ten year old daughter and expanded as he watched her and her peers grow and develop. However, it was during the pandemic that it really kicked into a higher gear. 

When children were sequestered and dealing with school entirely online, Micah was welcomed by different schools across the country as a mindfulness instructor and motivational speaker. He witnessed some of the toll the situation was having on the youth and recognized connection was a necessary and almost magical gift. Because of his unique approach to promoting positivity, open communication, and acceptance during a time full of upheaval,  he was also hired to facilitate anti-racism workshops, and was later approached to become a mentor for a young student needing guidance through her senior project at the Siskiyou School, a local Waldorf School in Ashland, OR.

He has since started teaching art part-time at the Siskiyou School, and has realized that his energy could be literal medicine for the children dealing with the trials of a world turned on its head by the pandemic. He used art and expression to reach them. He’s been dealing with more and more youth ever since and was absolutely ecstatic to learn of the existence of the Body Basics and Beyond program. As a Black male in a world that doesn’t always paint pictures of Black males in a positive light, he is profoundly grateful to have the opportunity to embody a positive, intentional male energy for growing youth while empowering them to navigate the strangeness of puberty and adolescence with a measure of grace.