Session 1, Week 2
We often talk about giving 100%âwhether in effort, focus, or commitment. But when it comes to accountability, we set our sights higher. At CHOICE, our heroes aim for 200% accountability: 100% for holding themselves to a standard of excellence and keeping the promises they make, and 100% for holding others to that same standard. Not to punish or shame, but to lift, support, and help one another grow. As heroes begin to master this, something powerful begins to form: a culture rooted in trust, courage, and shared purpose. This kind of accountability isnât easyâbut itâs essential. Itâs what allows systems to function, contracts to live, and relationships to thrive. This session, our driving question is: How does 200% accountability help us on our treasure hunt? As the journey unfolded this week we saw each studio taking steps toward this shared goal and meaningful moments emerging along the way:
âš In the Spark Studio
The Spark Studio is actively practicing 200% accountability by continuing to create systems where heroes hold themselves and each other responsible for their space and actions. When cleaning habits slipped this week, Sparks adjusted their studio maintenance system so every hero cleans and then gets checked off by anotherâdoubling the accountability and the care they put into their environment. Heroes are deciding together what they want the studio to look, sound, and feel like.
Emotional growth is also a key part of their journey. Sparks are learning to name their feelings and communicate them through I-Messages, offering empathy and support in real moments of hurt, frustration or sadness. One hero was really sad and looked a little unsure what to do during clean-up. A fellow Spark noticed and said, âI can sweep. Do you want to follow behind me and dustpan?â
Another favorite moment happened outside when a hero got stuck in pokey plants. They yelled for help, and a Spark hero ran over to pull the plants away from their legs. When that didnât work, the hero stood up and carried their stuck friend out.
Moments like these show how 200% accountability means caring for each other beyond just rulesâitâs about true connection.
On Thursday, the Sparks had an exercise class! They jumped, stretched, and lifted weights to exercise their bodiesâand then talked about how they choose to exercise their minds. They are practicing not just how to set goals, but how to have fun doing things that are hard. One hero melted down over language work early in the week, but by Thursday was smiling and asking if he could do more. Another hero who had been less engaged in Montessori works set and completed all three of their challenging goals.
Through these experiences, Sparks are creating a culture where failure is common, support is abundant, and compassion is endless.
đ„ In the Fire Studio
This week marked a big milestone as Fire Heroes completed their Treasure Hunt to create the learning environment they want the studio to be this year. That included discussions and voting about the Rules of Engagement, the Contract of Promises, the Studio Maintenance System, the Accountability System (Moolahs), and Freedom Levels. Whewâthat was a lot of decisions and compromising for young people and they rocked it. It is a huge milestone reflecting their shared commitment to 200%.
In Quest exploring Japan was a pretty great place to be. We explored the Japanese art of Kintsugi, the practice of repairing broken pottery with gold to highlight and celebrate its flaws rather than hide them, discovering that beauty lies in the broken and mended. This process mirrors their own studio work as well: piecing together their studio culture through patience and persistence. For example: During lunch, a hero paused to talk with someone who was sad after being asked a moolah for accidentally breaking something. She explained the tools available to appeal and shared about a time she went through the process herself. Several heroes also stepped up to help others navigate computers, and one acted as a mediator in the resolution room, where participants entered upset and left smiling. These moments highlight how Fire Heroes practice 200% accountability by supporting each other with kindness and empathy.
While in Japan heroes also made beautiful Hagoita paddles and played Hanetsuki, which might explain why your Hero came home covered in Japanese Kanji! đ They also engaged in a storytelling game to inspire the idea of Japanese storytelling: taking conflict and creating balance with imagination. A challenge for extra points was to write a Haiku that tied into their story – itâs pretty impressive when 7-10 year olds know how to write a Haiku – try to write one with your Hero this weekend!
Heroes didnât shy away from the messy partsâsometimes glue didnât hold, some pieces were discarded, just like friendships and systems sometimes get tested. Yet through kindness, mediation, and honest conversations about mistakes and moolahs, Fire Heroes showed what it means to hold themselves and each other accountable with compassion. These steps are helping the Fire Studio build a culture where excellence is a team effort, and every challenge is met with gold-lined resilience.
đșIn the DELTA Studio
DELTA Heroes have made tremendous strides in embracing 200% accountability this week by turning spirited & chaotic discussions into structured discussions. This transition came as they implemented the systems they created the previous week. It isnât perfect, but it was incredible to see the change that occurred so quickly. The heroes also launched into their daily huddles where heroes reflect at the end of the day on how they can improve, showing courage both in giving and receiving feedback. This shared accountability is strengthening their tribe and deepening their bonds.
Recognizing that accountability flourishes alongside connection, DELTAâs adventure this week was designed to build those relationships. Whether through engaging with a unique art exhibit, playing freely at the park, or bonding during bedtime, heroes are learning that holding one another accountable is also about caring deeply for one another.
On our challenging hike, heroes pushed physical personal limits, supported one another, enjoyed listening to a symphony and discussed how these physical experiences can help us learn to do hard things in other areas of our lives. We returned satisfied, tired, happy, hot and dirty young people to their homes that evening.
The quest for the Delta Studio heroes is moving along; the heroes have been working diligently, staying focused, and holding each other accountable. This week weâve turned our attention away from the stars and begun looking down below our feet with challenges about Earthâs structure.
There are also a few updates within the game portion of the quest. Every squad has now selected an exoplanet to research, and with their progress on the questâs challenges they have unlocked a lot of the information about their exoplanet. We have already seen a little bit of preparation for the exhibition taking place, and we hope to see more in the weeks to come.
As this week wraps up, itâs clear that 200% accountability isnât just a lofty idealâitâs something our heroes are living out every day in big and small ways. Whether itâs lending a hand during clean-up, stepping into tough conversations, or pushing themselves through physical and mental challenges, theyâre learning what it truly means to hold themselves and each other accountable with care and courage. In the Core Skills studio, when asked what accountability means, one hero summed it up beautifully: âBeing accountable means that your friends can rely on you to do what you said you will do.â That simple but powerful idea echoes through every studio, guiding our heroes as they build a culture of trust, resilience, and shared purpose on their treasure hunt.