Families & Children

At the Denver Shambhala Meditation Center, families are an integral part of our community.

Shambhala wishes to cultivate and celebrate the wisdom, delight, and dignity of living in family relationships, becoming parents, raising children, and caring for our elders.

Family is the most intimate, on-the-ground social organization we have, the nucleus of our human relationships. Children are our future, and it is through this human connection that a culture of kindness and virtue will be passed on. Relating to the everyday challenges of family life with trust in basic goodness offers our children and society an example of an awake and joyful way to live.

Families play an important role in our annual community celebrations of Harvest of Peace, Children’s Day, and Shambhala Day. There will be time for the children to be in programming where they will prepare offerings to bring to the greater community celebration — whether that is through song, art, or just connecting relationships and offering hugs to others. We honor families, and especially appreciate how children bring rich and vibrant energy to the Center.

Our Coordinator for Families and Children

Juliette Jack Banerjee joined the Denver Center from Washington D.C. While training in warriorship at the DC Shambhala Center, Juliette co-facilitated their Children and Families Program and led classes for youth in nature-based mindfulness activities, breathing and meditation techniques, and Kid’s Yoga. In an earlier life, she taught skiing and racing to kids of all ages, and led backpacking trips with teens throughout the Southwest. In her role leading the Dragon Club at SMCD, she continues to embrace all opportunities to synchronize the body and mind, and connect with the magic of the natural world. She loves to share this way of being, the dharma, and Shambhala principles with her teen son and the vibrant tweens of the Dragon Club. Juliette currently is the SMCD Children and Families Coordinator, and you may reach her at [email protected].


These onsite programs are currently on hold due to COVID.

Shambhala Kids

The Shambhala Kids program uses meditation, yoga, art, music, drama and other sensory-rich activities to help children:

  • develop inner strength, confidence and compassion,
  • realize the basic goodness of all sentient beings,
  • come to know the six paramitas and the four dignities of Shambhala, and
  • relax in coming to know themselves.

 

The activities offered in the Shambhala Kids program are engaging while also allowing for spaciousness, seldom permitted in today’s world. Children can be who they are in that moment: creative, active, joyful, frustrated, pensive, sad, or simply just quiet and observing.

Ages: 4-8 (Older children are welcome to serve in a leadership role. Please contact [email protected] to get connected)

Cost: $10 drop-in per child.

Drop-In – No registration Required.  Parents are invited to register for Parenting as Path (Child participation in programming is included in Parent’s registration fee) during this time or attend the Center’s Open House or Open Sitting Meditation Offering.  Parents are also invited to stay with young kids that want to participate as a family during these ages (4-8) for Shambhala Kids.


Dragon Club

The Dragon Club is a space for tweens to come find their voice.  In a space that allows for everyone to slow down, check-in and reflect on self and the world.

Ages: 9 – 12 (Older children are welcome to serve in a leadership role.  Please contact [email protected] to get connected)

Cost: $10 drop-in per child.

Drop-In – No registration Required.  Parents are invited to register for Parenting as Path (Child participation in programming is included in Parent’s registration fee) during this time or attend the Center’s Open House or Open Sitting Meditation Offering.


Parenting As Path

Parenting as Path is a monthly opportunity for parents to come together to meditate, contemplate, and discuss with others on the path of being a parent.  


Regional Events for Families

Family Programming at Boulder Shambhala Center

Family Camp at Shambhala Mountain Center