Meditation for Families and Youth

Upcoming Family & Teen Meditation Events

Mountain Stream Meditation Center in Nevada City started a small Family Program in June 2013. Initially developed & led by Heather, this program is designed for families with children ages 2-early teens.  The group now meets once a month on a Sunday morning.  For details, visit www.mtstream.org, and send an email.

In addition to Heather’s training in meditation and Buddhism, she also has more than twenty years of experience teaching youth, from the ages of 2-20.  In 1998, she earned a California teaching credential (K-8th). 

Heather brought her many years of experience in the classroom with her educational and meditation training to her decade of work (2000-2010) as the director and teacher for the large and thriving Family & Teen Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Her work in the Family Program included an annual schedule of organizing and teaching two Teen Residential Retreats, one Family Residential Retreat, four Family Daylongs, and numerous meditation classes for students in elementary school, middle school, and high school, as well as parents. She has individually trained dozens of teachers at all grade levels how to teach insight meditation, as well as having trained large groups of teachers about teaching mindfulness at a number of workshops and conferences. She has contributed to three different curriculums teaching mindfulness to children and teens.  She has also written several articles about the intersection between the teachings behind insight meditation and families and youth.   

Though no longer directing the Spirit Rock Family & Teen Program, Heather continues to enjoy teaching youth of all ages, and families. Below are a few of the skills she offers as an experienced consultant:

  • She consults with communities who want to set up a Family or Teen Program.
  • She teaches events for families and teens upon request. 
  • She offers private consultations to parents or teachers who want to bring the teachings of mindfulness and insight meditation into their families or classrooms.
  • She trains groups of teachers about how to use the tools of mindfulness in the classroom.
  • She visits elementary, middle school, high schools to speak at assemblies, and in individual classrooms.
  • She works with schools and insight meditation communities to create curriculum manuals teaching mindfulness and insight meditation grades K-12.
  • Sorry, but Heather does not do individual work with children or teens at this time.

Heather is flexible with her consulting fees, and will work with you to develop a fee structure supportive to everyone involved. Please contact her for more information at: info@heathersundberg.com.

Written Curriculum:

  • Contributing editor for 3rd-8th grade mindfulness curriculum, Impact School, 2004.
  • Author of chapter on teaching mindfulness to children, Growing Up Easier, 2008.
  • Author of Spirit Rock Family & Teen Program comprehensive curriculum manual (yet to be published through SRMC).

Conferences & Trainings:

  • Led workshop that trained teachers to lead mindfulness meditation at AHA conference for teens, 2001.
  • Co-led training in mindfulness meditation to therapists at Kaiser, Oakland, 2001-2002.
  • Co-led two workshops training teachers to lead mindfulness meditation in the classroom K-12, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, 2006 & 2009.

Schools & Organizations Served:

  • Between 2001-2010, Heather has taught mindfulness meditation in schools grades K-12 in assemblies, and individual classrooms for the following schools:
    • In Marin Country:  Drake High, Redwood High, Marin School, San Domenico High, Sobriety High, Laganitas School.
    • In San Francisco:  Bay School, St. Ignacious School.
    • Taught two class series (8 classes each) on mindfulness meditation to psychologically challenged teens and young adults through Buckaloo Program in San Rafael, 2009-2010.