Each year during the month of May, organizations like and , raise awareness and highlight the importance of mental health through local events, media, and health screenings. The unfortunate reality is there is a growing number of Americans who are living with mental illness or have been impacted by trauma. This, in turn, can significantly affect their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Mental health organizations, like NAMI, work to support, educate, and advocate for policies that assist children, families, and communities.

As an organization, 优蜜视频 is also dedicated to serving the holistic development and needs of gifted youth by recognizing that they have important aspects of themselves, including intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and physical. These unique facets of gifted youth must be met for them to find balance in their lives and actualize their full potential. We know that some of these young people are more vulnerable to facing social and emotional challenges that stem from being gifted and trying to navigate a world that doesn鈥檛 readily accept or understand them.

In support of National Mental Health Month and to acknowledge the importance of mental well-being among our gifted youth, we鈥檝e compiled a list of mental health professionals and organizations who understand and have experience working with gifted families and communities.

Licensed and SENG-certified psychologist, Dr. Vula Baliotis, is based out of the Los Angeles area and specializes in working with gifted, creative, and highly sensitive youth and their parents. She offers psychotherapy and consultation for children and parents and assessment for twice exceptionality, learning disabilities, and emotional, social, or behavioral difficulties.

CFC utilizes a connection-based model that provides more comprehensive services for families, with independent professionals ranging from psychotherapy to parent education to neuropsychological assessments, from physical health and educational therapy to occupational therapy, and more.

The Center for the Gifted, located in Philadelphia and led by Dr. Suzanne Schneider, was established in 1983 to meet the needs of gifted people of all ages. Services include counseling and psychotherapy, gifted identification, vocational interest testing and guidance, and workshops and publications focusing on the needs of the gifted population.

The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. They work to deliver the highest standard of care, advance the science of the developing brain, and empower parents, professionals, and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most.

Gloria Sandford MA, LMHC specializes in Marriage and Family Therapy and has worked with a variety of issues concerning adults, children, marital issues, families, and support groups. She is a professional member and trained Parent Facilitator of and a Certified Lifespan Integration therapist.

The Daimon Institute for the Highly Gifted provides psychotherapy and educational consulting to support the overall development of exceptionally and profoundly gifted people. Located in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, their practice implements the Integral Practice for the Gifted model which addresses all aspects of the gifted individual: intellectual, emotional, moral, spiritual, social and physical.

Gunn Psychological Services is a group of professionals dedicated to providing the highest quality psychological services and referrals, including developmental, psychoeducational, and intellectual giftedness assessments, as well as individual, family, couples and group therapy.

Linda Powers-Leviton is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child therapist who specializes in counseling for the gifted. Since 1974, she has developed and taught programs to help parents and educators best reach children with learning and emotional challenges. Her expertise with the gifted population, particularly twice-exceptional youth, has prepared her to offer a unique specialized program to address the needs of this community.

As a clinical psychologist in practice for over 30 years, Dr. Post specializes in gifted adults and adolescents. Through private practice, she offers individual, couples, family and group therapy for adults and adolescents; consultation and supervision for treatment professionals; and educational consultation services for gifted children and adolescents.

SENG is a national organization which seeks to inform gifted individuals, their families, and the professionals who work with them, about the unique social and emotional needs of gifted persons. SENG supports programs that foster in gifted individuals the mental health and social competence necessary for them to be free to choose ways to develop and express their abilities and talents fully.

Summit Center provides educational and psychological assessments, consultation, and treatment for children, their parents, and families. Summit works with all kids 鈥� including those who are gifted, those with learning challenges, and those who are twice-exceptional.

Terry Bradley is a gifted education consultant specializing in the social and emotional aspects of giftedness. Her services include a full-day workshop training for school personnel and mental health professionals on facilitating discussion groups for gifted K-12 students; a professional development training on the affective needs of the gifted; and a presentation for parents on what to know when raising gifted youth.

Tyler Institute provides high-quality mental health services by qualified professionals to children, adolescents, adults and families. Anne Tyler, its founder, is devoted to helping children, adolescents, families and adults work through mental health challenges in order to live up to their potential and manifest their talents and strengths in a more vibrant way in everyday life.

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Patty has provided individual, couple, family, and group counseling to gifted and profoundly gifted individuals across the life span, from very young children to people in their elder years. Her therapeutic orientation is holistic with a relationship focus.

For additional resources, visit our online (GRC) which contains an ever-growing and robust listing of over 800 resources appropriate for gifted learners from pre-k through high school.

Want to share a resource? Email GRC@educationaladvancement.org or comment below!

On February 9, 2019, 优蜜视频 celebrated its 20^th anniversary! The event took place at Annandale Golf Club with over 100 guests in attendance. Student volunteers played music, facilitated jeopardy and mingled with guests. One family even put on a photo booth for the event! It was truly a wonderful night filled with old and new community members celebrating 20 years of friendship and services for gifted youth.

The evening also honored several key players in 优蜜视频鈥檚 development as an organization: . The honorees flew in from all over the country for the occasion.

Student speakers, Nico and Alondra, shared about their experiences with 优蜜视频 and the impact that the programs, teachers and support have had on their life.

After dinner, a there was a DJ, dancing, desert, more jeopardy and photos.

All in all the evening was a wonderful success. Thank you to all of those who helped support this event, including: Dennis Finnerman, Jill Hawkins & MHP Events, the sponsors and guests. We are so grateful for all of you!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Giant Sequoia

The Bradley Foundation
The Burke Family

Jeffrey Pine

Betsy Jones & Ted Mergenthaler
The McDonell Family
Teri and John Valentine

Live Oak

The Balbuena Family
Becky and Peter Knell
The Lee Family
Math Academy
Parents of Alexander Miller
Rodriguez, Horii, Choi & Cafferata, LLP
The Tracey Family

Media Sponsor

Pasadena Now

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As part of the festivities, we will be honoring two groups instrumental to the founding of 优蜜视频.

优蜜视频 Senior Fellows

The Senior Fellows have years of experience working with gifted youth and shaping gifted discourse. Their expertise was crucial to the development of 优蜜视频 through the research and implementation of the awarding winning camps.听 Their years of service as facilitators at Yunasa and advisors to 优蜜视频 remain invaluable.

Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden is a licensed psychologist who has worked holistically with thousands of gifted and profoundly gifted children, adolescents, and adults for more than 35 years. In her adjunct educational consulting practice, she has helped parents, educators, and administrators understand and accept the multifaceted inner world and needs of gifted individuals. Dr. Gatto-Walden additionally provides two-day comprehensive family retreats, entitled 鈥渆ducational consulting and family renewal,鈥� which blend counseling and consulting services. She is a featured speaker at gifted conferences and educational workshops throughout the nation.

Michael M. Piechowski, Ph.D. is the author of Mellow Out, They Say. If I Only Could: Intensities and Sensitivities of the Young and Bright and Living with Intensity (with S. Daniels). Earning a PhD first in Molecular Biology and later in Counseling Psychology, he served as a faculty member at three universities and one small college. He has published extensively in the areas of emotional development, developmental potential of the gifted, and emotional and spiritual giftedness. He is one of the original designers of Yunasa. In 2016 he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by SENG and the NAGC Global Awareness Network Annemarie Roeper Award.

Stephanie Tolan, M.A. is author of 27 books of fiction for children and young adults, including the Newbery Honor Award-winning novel Surviving the Applewhites and Applewhites at Wit鈥檚 End, Listen!, Welcome to the Ark, Flight of the Raven, and Ordinary Miracles. Her non-fiction writing includes Guiding the Gifted Child (co-author), Change Your Story, Change Your Life, and an article about highly gifted children that has been translated into more than 40 languages, 鈥淚s It a Cheetah?鈥� She is a well-known lecturer and advocate for highly gifted young people.

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

The has been a pivotal supporter of 优蜜视频 since the organization鈥檚 inception. Their generosity has assisted 优蜜视频 in its general operations, public policy efforts, and technology program.

In 2014, with generous support from Sarah D. Barder, The Bradley Foundation has continued to fund the 听 initiative. 听Since its inception in 2002, the program has awarded 293 high school students with merit based scholarships. These students are provided with the resources and guidance to find and attend an optimally-matched high school program that meets their unique intellectual and personal needs. This guidance and support continues throughout their high school careers.

Support from The Bradley Foundation has enabled 优蜜视频 to serve thousands of gifted children over the years and continues to help us fight for a population very much in need of services.

Join the Celebration!

Join us on February 9th at our 20^th Anniversary Celebration, to be held at The Annandale Golf Club of Pasadena, and help show our appreciation for these and other exceptional advocates for gifted education.

To sponsor and/or purchase tickets or a program ad to the event, click .

鈥淚t is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.鈥�
鈥� Oliver Wendell Holmes

Every year, the Bradley Seminar brings together our national cohort of current 听Scholars along with alumni, parents, educators, guest speakers and 优蜜视频 staff for a weekend event where they can connect as a community, discuss issues of personal and global significance, and explore engaging content through cross-generational dialogue. And every year, it comes and goes all too quickly. The 2017 Bradley Seminar took place March 10 – 12 in 优蜜视频’s hometown of Pasadena, California. This year鈥檚 theme was Listen Up!, a topic we hoped would be particularly relevant to the current social, political, and cultural climate. We explored the theme of listening to ourselves, others, and the world through sharing open dialogue and diverse perspectives in cross-generational formats, small group workshops, and conversations of personal connection and depth.

Since 2002, the has been supported by the generous vision of one donor, founded on the premise that our nation鈥檚 most gifted young students will best thrive and actualize their unique individual potential through access to the most challenging, nurturing, and flexible learning environments suited to their intellectual and personal needs. Since 2014, the CDB Scholarship has been funded in perpetuity, expanding its annual scholar identification from 15 to up to 30 Scholars per year.

This year鈥檚 Bradley Seminar welcomed the Class of 2015, our second annual class of 30 Scholars, making this our largest seminar to date with over 200 attendees! The weekend kicked off on Friday afternoon with a Welcome Reception for the freshmen Class of 2015 held at The Barder House, a space rife with meaning for the CDB community. The home is dedicated and named for the scholarship鈥檚 visionary, Sarah D. Barder, who generously donated the space to the Institute for Educational Advancement in 2011 to serve as the main offices for 优蜜视频, as well as a meeting place and touchstone for the CDB community.

CDB Class of 2015

Scholars Billy Menken and Ethan Yan practice the art of blind drawings led by 优蜜视频 staff

CDB freshmen enjoy refreshments at The Barder House

Throughout the weekend, we visited the theme of listening through presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and group activities. 鈥� licensed psychologist and 优蜜视频 senior fellow 鈥� delivered a keynote address on the value of balance and holistic listening: to ourselves, to each other, to nature and the world, to intuition. Betsy Jones 鈥� president and co-founder of the Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频) 鈥� facilitated intentional, inter-generational conversations between scholars, alumni, parents, educators and guests. These conversations focused on questions like: Have you ever felt like your words weren鈥檛 being acknowledged, heard or understood? What do you think are the most important things you can do to impact your ability to listen? How can these changes affect your life, your relationships and your community?

On Saturday afternoon, CDB Scholars spent time exploring the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, The Broad Contemporary Art Museum, and The Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens. Parents and guests were privy to a unique screening event for the upcoming film, , including an exclusive Q & A with the producer and lead actress, McKenna Grace. Reviews were glowing – we recommend the film, which will be released nationwide on April 7, to anyone who has ever raised, taught or been a gifted child.

CDB Scholars at The Broad

Scholars Junah Jang, Trisha Boonpongmanee, Sarah Jung, Ellie Surman and Sarah Smale enjoy the Chinese Gardens at The Huntington Library

Actress McKenna Grace and Producer Karen Lunder give an exclusive Q & A for the soon to be released film, .

Finally, threaded throughout the weekend were speeches from our graduating Class of 2012 Scholars. Senior speeches are a highlight of the seminar every year, a 3-5 minute opportunity for each of our seniors to share some of their most transformative memories and moments from high school, the lessons they have been taught along the way, and how the CDB Scholarship has prepared them for the new road ahead.听One parent commented:听鈥淚 expected intellect and passion. I wasn鈥檛 prepared for the humility, integrity, and wisdom.听 I feel more hopeful now, knowing that these young students are becoming our next generation of leaders.鈥�

Thank you to our entire CDB community, 优蜜视频 staff, and for a refreshing and memorable weekend 鈥� we can鈥檛 wait until 2018!

Congratulations, CDB Senior Class of 2012!

CDB Junior Class of 2013 鈥� it鈥檚 your turn next year!听

CDB Sophomore Class of 2014

CDB Alumni at the 2017 Seminar

See more photos of the Bradley Seminar on our !

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优蜜视频鈥檚 pioneering unite highly able youngsters with experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children. Campers explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives.

When I sat down to write a blog post on the wonder of Yunasa and Yunasa West, I was completely baffled as to how to begin. I sat, hands stagnant upon my keyboard as I searched for words that would adequately capture the essence of this magical summer. When I am thwarted by writer鈥檚 block, I often feel compelled to turn to the words of a beloved author or poet for inspiration. And so, I begin this blog with the words of Hafez, a Persian poet from the fourteenth century.

鈥淲ith That Moon Language鈥� by Hafez

Admit something: Everyone you see, you say to them, 鈥淟ove me.鈥�
Of course you do not do this out loud, otherwise
Someone would call the cops.
Still though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.
Why not become the one who lives with a
Full moon in each eye that is always saying,
With that sweet moon language, what every other eye in
This world is dying to hear?

At Yunasa last year, I was deeply moved by the overall acceptance I witnessed as the uniqueness and individuality and quirkiness of each child was celebrated by the entire group. I never experienced anything like that amongst my peers as a child, and I felt grateful that a place exists where such unconditional acceptance envelopes each young person. This year, I was especially struck by the wisdom of the campers at both Yunasa and Yunasa West.

I watched, in awe, as campers 鈥� both new and seasoned 鈥� intentionally reached out to include some of the more shy and timid children; I listened, in awe, to conversations between campers that reflected profound insight and deep thought; and I shared conversations with quite a few campers whose empathy and self-understanding touched me deeply. This year, the Counselors in Training (CITs) at Yunasa in Michigan decided to orchestrate a 鈥渇riendship panel,鈥� or an open discussion with the entire population of campers about issues pertaining to relationships amongst friends. The younger campers had lots of questions, both general and specific, and the CITs demonstrated the type of wisdom one encounters within clusters of brilliant philosophers. They led an enlightening and interesting conversation that could easily have continued for hours.

Both camps were marked by traditional Yunasa Programming: Heart of the Matter 鈥� small group sessions with clinical psychologist and Senior Fellow Patty Gatto-Walden; Fellows鈥� Workshops, e.g., Emotional Life of the Brain with Michael Piechowski, Energy Healing with Stef Tolan, Archetypes: The Four-Fold Way with Shelagh Gallagher and Dan Tichenor, and Psychosynthesis Scenarios with Jim Delisle; Counselors鈥� Workshops, e.g., Duct Tape Crafts with Darcy, Russian Fairy Tales with Paul, Soccer with Lucy and Steph, History with Wade, and Music Improv with Ethan; traditional camp activities 鈥� zipline, giant swing, high ropes, kayaking, rock climbing, fishing, and hammockville; Psychosynthesis 鈥� daily guided meditation in small groups; and evening activities such as the Variety Show, Campfire, Social, and Movie Night (we watched Big Hero Six). Special guests of Yunasa West 鈥� Louise Hindle and Dr. Amy Gaesser 鈥� offered workshops on poetry and EFT, respectively. Dr. April DeGennarro, our special guest at Yunasa Michigan, offered two compelling workshops pertaining to the identity we display on social media.

At Yunasa West, each psychosynthesis group performed a skit to demonstrate one of Dabrowski鈥檚 overexcitabilities. The Fellows, counselors, and I laughed hysterically as our wise young campers harnessed their creativity and impressive theatric talent to portray individuals who exemplify the intellectual, sensual, imaginational, emotional, and psychomotor overexcitabilities. Although we all laughed 鈥� a lot 鈥� their dramatic depictions were not far from reality!

This year, we read Listen! by Stef Tolan to correspond with the Yunasa theme, which was also 鈥淟isten.鈥� We chose this theme because listening to our bodies, minds, spirits, emotions, and, of course, listening to one another is imperative as we seek balance. At Yunasa, we aim to pay attention 鈥� to listen closely 鈥� to the world around us, even as we sit silently amongst the trees, absorbing the sounds, colors, life, and history of our surroundings. Listening and mindfulness are closely related. As I listen, I grow attentive to the way my body feels and what that means; I am able to gauge my emotions with a deeper sensitivity; I am more equipped to empathize with others.

I have now participated in three Yunasa camps, and each time, I come home with a heightened sense of attentiveness. My interactions with the Fellows, campers, and counselors of Yunasa help me return to a vibrant place of attention. We miss so much when we dwell inside our heads, bend our heads over our phones, and stare blankly as we move through life. Thank you, people of Yunasa, for existing and for inspiring.

And with that, I shall end this blog post in the same way it began.

鈥淭en times a day something happens to me like this 鈥� some strengthening throb of amazement 鈥� some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.鈥�
鈥揗ary Oliver

Jennifer is a recent addition to the 优蜜视频 staff and attended Yunasa for the first time this summer. 优蜜视频鈥檚 pioneering unite highly able youngsters with experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children. Campers explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives.

Yunasa 2014 left me breathless 鈥� perhaps because this was my first Yunasa experience, or perhaps because Yunasa is a special and unique hub of safety, growth, and unparalleled camp-magic. The afternoon of Sunday, July 27, campers began to filter into the conference center of Camp Copneconic in Fenton, Michigan; some brows were knitted, some smiles were uncertain, some faces looked thoughtful. Several of the kids seemed to float, others skipped, many hugged with excited ferocity, quite a few squealed and jumped up and down as they spotted a friend. The older campers 鈥� deemed either EL for 鈥楨merging Leader鈥� or CIT for 鈥楥ounselor in Training鈥� 鈥� whose bonds with one another are indurate after years of Yunasa, dispersed to welcome the younger campers, show them to their rooms, and initiate ice-breaking exercises. Kids who seemed a bit apprehensive were directed to the table of Yunasa Buddies, cuddly stuffed animals donated by staff and campers meant to offer a bit of comfort throughout the week.

On the first night of camp, Newbury Honor Award winner and 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow Stephanie Tolan led a group discussion on her work, Flight of the Raven, the second book in a series about four gifted youth who combine powers to save a violent, troubled world. I was immediately struck by the depth and intelligence of the conversation; the questions the campers asked were interesting and insightful. And so mature. Was I sitting in on a college literature course or was I watching a summer camp unfold?

During the rest of the week, the Fellows offered a variety of workshops about topics such as literary archetypes, the emotional life of the brain, 鈥済ifted gripes鈥�, contemporary music, line dancing, energy healing, and soul collage 鈥� the art of assembling randomly selected pictures torn from assorted magazines into a piece that, once finished, renders an interesting reflection of the artist. Yunasa Fellow Dan Tichenor headed the Rube Goldberg team, a committed group who worked all week to create a highly complicated machine with the sole mission of turning a single page in a book. In twenty years, Dan has seen only one Rube Goldberg machine that actually fulfilled its purpose. This year, the Yunasa team succeeded! The page was turned.

听

Each camper was assigned to a psychosynthesis group, which was led by one of the Fellows and met each day to practice guided imagery and mind-calming techniques. Everyone also had the opportunity to participate in Heart of the Matter, a session in which groups were able to discuss the issues they have dealt with throughout the year with Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden, 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow and licensed psychologist.

Unity amongst the campers began to form on Sunday night, and by Monday, the day of the Opening Ceremony and Spirit Journey, genuine connections were becoming apparent. The solemn respect, acceptance, and love of these campers seemed to permeate the circle surrounding the campfire.

To develop their physical selves, campers participated in various high adventure activities like Creek Freak 鈥� a zipline that sends campers soaring over an expanse of rocky creek, Tower Zipline 鈥� a higher version that catapults the truly courageous from the top of an enormous tower, the Giant Swing, and a high ropes course. Some of the more leisurely activities included fishing, archery, canoeing, and Hammockville 鈥� a glorious conglomeration of trees where campers set up hammocks and relax.

Every Yunasa evening offered a special camp-wide activity. The leadership campers organized a beach party and subsequent campfire…

A movie-themed social…

And a Variety Show.

An ice cream social and the Closing Ceremony were held on the final night of camp.

In a post-camp survey, one of our fabulous leadership campers articulated, “The friendships I have made and inner confidence I have gained has made this year’s Yunasa experience totally valuable in a way that I couldn’t ever have imagined. Even though the past five Yunasas I have been to were amazing and life-changing, this one left me truly speechless.鈥�

For me, watching these incredible kids emerge from their comfort zones to reach out, forge deep friendships, grow emotionally, and take physical risks was an inspiration and a delight.

See more photos from camp!

鈥淚 am happy to be in a room of too鈥檚,鈥� said Betsy Jones, 优蜜视频 President, as we concluded 优蜜视频’s Summer Spotlight this year. 鈥淲e are all too鈥檚 鈥� too emotional, too smart, too intense鈥�.鈥�

Tuesday, June 8, was a bright evening of community, learning, and friendship as 优蜜视频 and its community gathered at the University of Southern California for dinner and a time of sharing. Eight 优蜜视频 Apprentices, who studied Industrial Design under Stan Kong at Art Center College of Design, displayed their impressive concept design sketches 鈥� pieces of art that would later become final projects. Posters, books, and sculptures created by Academy students, Caroline D. Bradley Scholars, and Yunasa campers were also scattered about USC鈥檚 Vineyard Room, along with plenty of photos of Academy kids at The Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens; Yunasa West campers frolicking in Colorado; and CDB Scholars who convened for the Bradley Seminar in April.

After dinner, 优蜜视频鈥檚 Program Coordinators introduced speakers from each of 优蜜视频’s programs. Min-Ling Li, the valiant leader of 29 Apprentices, began by announcing both Alex T., who is studying shock waves with Dr. Eliasson at USC, and Robert, an Industrial Design Apprentice.

Alex鈥檚 speech was an expounded acrostic he created from the letters of 优蜜视频: I 鈥撯�淚 am Alex,鈥� he began. This is Alex鈥檚 second year as an 优蜜视频 Apprentice, and he thanked the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship program for introducing him to an opportunity that would change his life. 鈥淥nce you are a part of 优蜜视频, you support it, and it supports you,鈥� he said. E 鈥� 鈥淓ager. That is what the students here are,鈥� Alex continued. Finally, A 鈥� 鈥淎pprentice…we are all Apprentices, because every day we learn something new. One thing I learned while I was here is of all the gifted children being overlooked by teachers. 优蜜视频 works to find them and help them come to terms with their giftedness鈥nstitute for Educational Advancement: intelligent, eager, able,鈥� he concluded.

Robert, who came to the Los Angeles-based Apprenticeship Program all the way from Miami, is a first-year Apprentice who described his experience as a time of extremely hard work and the unbelievable opportunity to 鈥渟tudy at a school he hopes to get into in a field he hopes to make a career out of.鈥�

One of 优蜜视频鈥檚 earliest Caroline D. Bradley Scholars, Ryan, spoke next: 鈥淚t鈥檚 much more than a monetary gift 鈥� it鈥檚 a community,鈥� he said of CDB. According to Ryan, CDB helped him develop the confidence to be whatever it is he wanted to be. When it was time to apply for college, the CDB coordinator helped him apply. Ryan opted for Harvard, where he began by pursuing an education in engineering, ended up in neuroscience, found himself in musical theater, and finished his degree in creative arts. Now Ryan produces movies 鈥� Lego movies, of late.

, stood upon a chair to reach the microphone and talked about how, in the past year at 优蜜视频, he has taken a Shakespeare class from a professional actor, advanced his math skills with a teacher who made it fun, made his first short film, painted himself blue using ice and an infrared camera in his first Physics class, and was introduced to the Spanish language for the first time. 鈥淚f that wasn鈥檛 enough,鈥� he said, 鈥溣琶凼悠� has given me this opportunity in public speaking!鈥�

Finally, 10-year-old Alexander A., who also stood on a chair to speak, described Yunasa as a place where he is able to be himself, a place where he feels loved and accepted by all the people around him. At Yunasa and Yunasa West, Alexander has learned practical ways to help him calm down when he feels tense and emotional. He talked about Senior Fellows Patricia Gatto Walden, Ph.D., and Michael Piechowski, Ph.D., who have given him hugs and engaged him in conversations about deep and interesting things. Alexander鈥檚 favorite Yunasa activity is the low ropes course because, he said, 鈥測ou get to work as a team to get through obstacles.鈥�

When the young brilliant pundits of 优蜜视频 finished their enlightening speeches, Betsy Jones told a story of a girl she met at Yunasa West this year. This young lady explained to Betsy that when she feels sad, she spends time with her 鈥淭oo People.鈥� She has always been told that she is 鈥渢oo intense, too distracted, too talkative, too quiet, too much,鈥� so her stuffed animals became a family of 鈥渢oo鈥檚鈥� who provide a safe place where she can exist without feeling chastised. 优蜜视频 has been around for 16 years, and it is still one of the only organizations in the world where, as Betsy said, these young brilliant individuals 鈥渃an grow and learn and be and do whatever it is they want to do.鈥�

Summer Spotlight was an evening of illumination 鈥� a light shone upon a community of 鈥渢oo鈥檚鈥� and the programs that help them to grow, succeed, learn, and feel safe to be themselves.

Take a look at more photos from Summer Spotlight 2014!

Are you interested in learning more about 优蜜视频 programs and our impact? Sign up for our email newsletter, which provides regular updates on the work we do as well as resources on giftedness.

优蜜视频鈥檚 pioneering unite highly able youngsters with experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children. Campers explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives.

In June, 39 campers from across the country came together for Yunasa West at Camp Shady Brook in Deckers, Colorado, for a week of intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical growth.

The week started off by introducing this year鈥檚 优蜜视频 program theme: The Common Good. As we talked about The Common Good, campers shared what the theme meant to them and how they thought it would be relevant to their camp experience. They described the Common Good as acting unselfishly, doing things for other people rather than yourself, and behaving in a way that promotes the health of the group, even if one鈥檚 own best interest is at stake. We proceeded to establish our rules as a group to prepare for the week as part of a community. Each camper exemplified The Common Good in their actions towards others at camp, respecting one another and making efforts to ascertain that everyone felt accepted.

One exciting highlight at Yunasa West this year involved a workshop on energy healing, which dealt with ways to heal the body using pressure points. The campers engaged in a group discussion with our guests, Dr. Sheila Abichandani and Dr. Arin Balbinder, and then partnered up to put what they learned into action.

Each year, 优蜜视频 Senior Fellows and Yunasa Fellows lead a variety of workshops on topics of high interest to campers, and this year was no exception.

Senior Fellow Stephanie Tolan taught eight participants Reiki, the ability to help or speed healing by putting one鈥檚 hands on the person who is sick or in pain. Campers met in two workshops at the beginning of the week to learn this ancient tool to help others, and the participants actually received certification for their training!

Dan Tichenor, Yunasa Fellow, led a workshop in Mindful Walking through the Labyrinth, which was built by Yunasa West campers in 2013 and resurrected this year. Nature Art was another popular workshop with Dan where campers made cairns, or stacks of rocks, as a protection and landmark for the labyrinth.

Campers experimented with sending and receiving messages nonverbally to other campers and nature using their energy in a popular 鈥淩eaching鈥� workshop led by Senior Fellow Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden.

Senior Fellow Michael Piechowski led an Intensities workshop where campers discussed intensities and overexcitabilities and how they manifest themselves in the life of a gifted person. Campers broke into psychosynthesis groups to talk about their own personal experiences; after the workshop, many campers said they felt more understood, accepted, and authentic.

And of course, campers took part in traditional summer camp activities such as trail rides, ropes courses, and campfires!

Overall, the week was a fun, successful exploration of campers鈥� unique personalities and a time of growth for our amazing community.

Click on the button below for more photos from camp!

Do you know of a gifted youngster who would be interested in Yunasa or Yunasa West next year? Sign up for our email list to get details on Yunasa 2015 camps as they become available!

1. We moved into our new home!

Thanks to a generous gift by a longstanding 优蜜视频 supporter and friend, we are excited to be in our new home!

2. was awarded the inaugural NAGC Global Awareness Network Annemarie Roeper Award.

优蜜视频 is the first organization to receive the Annemarie Roeper Award presented at the 2013 National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) National Convention by the NAGC Global Awareness Network. The award, in its inaugural year, is presented to one individual and one program 鈥渨hose efforts further develop global awareness for and by gifted children and those who are concerned with them. Annemarie Roeper, co-founder of the Global Awareness Network, held profound insights into the multifaceted inner world of gifted children and deeply understood the need to foster global awareness to reflect the unique perspectives of gifted children and to respond to their inherent concerns about the world they live in.鈥� We were honored to receive this award and to be in the amazing company of the first individual recipient, Dr. Linda Silverman.

3. 优蜜视频 community members gathered to discuss 优蜜视频鈥檚 strategic plan.

In September, 30 优蜜视频 staff members, board members, parents, and alumni gathered to discuss the direction of 优蜜视频. It was a fun and productive weekend, and we look forward to the next steps in this process as we plan for 优蜜视频鈥檚 continued growth. We greatly appreciate all of those who took time out of their busy schedules to help us with this crucial part of the strategic planning process. Keep an eye out for more information as we continue this process in the coming year.

4. and alumni celebrated a wide variety of successes.

Laura Ball, a CDB alumna from the class of 2006, received the prestigious Thiel Fellowship. Several CDB Scholars were named to the U.S. Math Olympic Team, and several will be on teams representing the U.S. in history, math, and science at an international level. 2013 Scholar Vinjai gave a . 2011 CDB Scholar Anirudh was selected as the winner of the United States Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP). 2010 CDB Scholar Kiran was selected as a Montage Memory Maker for his creation of web-based nonprofit Waste No Food. Fifteen new young students were also named .

5. 优蜜视频 honored two valued members of the 优蜜视频 community, Dr. Henri Ford and Mr. Stan Kong, at the .

In October, we hosted more than 90 guests at the home of 优蜜视频 supporters Kate Duey and Bob Malchione for the Moonlight & Stars Benefit Dinner. The evening brought together program alumni, Mentors, parents, board members, and supporters for a lovely evening celebrating 15 years of 优蜜视频 and honoring Dr. Henri Ford and Mr. Stan Kong for their service to 优蜜视频鈥檚 Apprenticeship Program and the Los Angeles community. The event raised more than $11,000 to support 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs for gifted youth. Thank you to all who attended and all who supported this event!

6. We launched Genius Day, a new initiative for our continuously developing Academy program.

These days of deep learning give students the opportunity to work with an expert in the field as they uncover the contributions of a person we consider a genius. The first Genius Day focused on Charles Darwin, while students in the .

We also offered听15 new Academy classes over the course of 2013 and gained many wonderful new Academy instructors. New classes included: Academic & Personal Strengths Coaching, Chemistry Lab, Egyptian Mythology, the Female Hero in Myth & Literature, , Primary Advanced Language Arts, Primary Advanced Math, Rube Goldberg History & Creation, and many more!

7. The gifted community found new resources and support in 优蜜视频 social media.

Thousands of visitors viewed the 优蜜视频 blog over the past year, with many resources for parents of gifted kids proving helpful and popular. 鈥溾�� was our most popular blog post, as it struck a chord with many who identify with the beloved children鈥檚 book character. On , 优蜜视频 also reached a milestone of 1,000 fans.

8. 优蜜视频 hosted seven free .听

优蜜视频 hosts monthly talks to explore ways to meet gifted children鈥檚 particular needs and learn more about this amazing group of young people. These meetings are intended primarily for parents of gifted children to provide support and community in the midst of the joys and challenges of raising a gifted child. In 2013, speakers included 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden, parent Sharon Duncan, gifted expert Dr. Joanna Haase, 优蜜视频 President Elizabeth Jones, past program participants, and college counsellor Kate Duey.

9. Students, parents, and supporters gathered for .

In July, 115 students, parents, and supporters of gifted education gathered at USC for 优蜜视频鈥檚 Summer Spotlight 2013, an event designed to showcase gifted students and the programs we offer to meet their needs.

10. saw a second successful year in Colorado.

Twenty-four campers from across the country joined us for . This was the second year of Yunasa West, a second location for our pioneering Yunasa summer camps, and it proved to be yet another memorable and magical year!

11. Three new staff members joined our team.

• Lauren Albrecht, Development Coordinator
• Louise Hindle, Academy Coordinator
• Min-Ling Li, Program Coordinator working with Apprenticeship

12. Forty-two high school students from across the country came to Los Angeles to work with eminent Mentors through our .

These students worked in fields such as biomathematics, ethnomusicology, architecture, physics, pediatric medical research, industrial design, and more. Apprentices gained hands-on experience in their area of study. Sneha, a Media Relations and Social Media Apprentice at USC, .

13. And, most importantly of all, 优蜜视频 programs supported more than 200 bright young minds!

As you can see, 2013 was a great year for 优蜜视频, and we could not have done any of this without your support.

Philanthropic support for 优蜜视频 was extremely strong in 2013. We continue to receive tremendous support from families who have benefited from 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs as well as from friends of the work we do. Thank you to all who contributed this year and to the numerous volunteers who assisted in our programming, marketing, and fundraising efforts. Thanks to you, we are able to deliver our unique and highly customized programs to even more bright and eager learners across the country.

Thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to an amazing 2014!

Interested in 2014 programs? Applications and information for all 2014 优蜜视频 programs are now available .