Welcome to the Bo Tree Blog!

As we've traveled to different places, we've often dreamed of creating a unique business that builds upon the bookstore/café model by incorporating diverse elements for all ages: a greater range of dining experiences, indoor & outdoor theaters, educational opportunities, health and fitness practices, environmentally friendly products, and more.

It'll be 2019 before we can make this a reality so we're not as concerned with making realistic plans right now. Our focus now - and on this blog - is to incubate divergent and creative ideas with YOUR help.

So, we'd love for you to read a section at a time. They're organized along the right side of the screen & when selected, will appear below this introduction (you'll have to scroll down). Then let us know what you think (good or bad) through the blog comments or by emailing us at botree@gmail.com .

Thanks!
Jason & Jennifer

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Theater/Classroom

Education is a key component of achieving our vision.  Class fees will be minimal but the promotional value will ensure their overall contribution to our social, environmental, and financial goals.

These services are limited only by our imagination.   Teachers will come primarily from those staff members with demonstrated expertise.  Other subjects will be taught by volunteers (possibly compensated by discounts to other products/services) or by paid instructors.

Bo Tree will continuously work with the community to provide classes that are useful, entertaining, and insightful.  Some ideas include: 

Ø  College Prep class (ACT/SAT, applications, interviewing, study/test skills, scholarships)

Ø  Job Prep class (interviewing, resume writing)

Ø  Leadership / Mentoring

Ø  Time Management

Ø  Critical Thinking

Ø  Writing / Journaling

Ø  Literacy

Ø  Nutrition / Cooking

Ø  First Aid

Ø  Finance 101 (saving, investing, loans, budgeting, record keeping)

Ø  Civics 101, History 101, Philosophy 101, etc. (reviewing all the information adults wish they would have remembered from school)

Ø  Being “Green” 101

Ø  Simplify the Holidaze

Ø  Parenting (Positive Discipline, Nutrition, Le Lache, etc.)

Ø  Meditation

Ø  Gardening / Landscaping

Ø  Foreign language

Ø  Art / Photography (for all age groups)

Ø  “Brown Bag” lunch presentations

Ø  Planning / Design Charettes

Ø  “Pecha Kucha” (presentations of 20 slides, 20 sec each slide: http://freethinkr.wordpress.com/page/16/) 

Other educational opportunities will include guest speakers, summer camps, youth leadership workshops, and a mentoring forum.  Some options will be developed into regular clubs (instead of just a set number of classes).  Reading clubs were already mentioned but other ideas include: 

Ø  Chess Club (or Checkers Club for youth)

Ø  Socrates’ Café

Ø  Walking/Running Club (originating from the store)

Different classes or clubs will take place in different venues throughout Bo Tree but the chief space will be a small theater with stadium seating and tabletops across each row.  The theater setup will also allow for us to provide our customers with entertainment, such as: 

Ø  Small scale theatrical productions

Ø  Comedy/improvisation shows, including movies with live comedic commentary

Ø  “Dinner and a Movie” theme night

Ø  Movie marathons

 

 

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1 comment:

  1. Terp2it/Chris TrewApril 21, 2009 at 7:51 AM

    I like this- with the right marketing and energy behind the classes, there can be a "campus" feel to it, where people are not only signing up because they want to learn, but because the atmosphere and community is attractive. This is something I learned while running two improv training centers - I'll explain more in person.

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