Superhero Training Academy Taps into the Power of Play

You probably already know Black Panther and Wonder Woman. But have you heard of Lightning Ninja and Radiant Rain? I hate to break it to the Avengers and the Justice League, but I’ve discovered a team of heroes who are even more powerful— and they’re real.

These champions of creativity and empathy all hail from the same place: the Superhero Training Academy. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit transforms children’s lives through the power of imaginative play.

Recently, I had the chance to talk with Laughing Moon and Water Wolf (aka Michael Mallon and Hayley Burns), two of the grown-ups who are cultivating this new generation of heroes. They shared the story of the Training Academy and how we can become part of their important quest. #MovementMaker powers—activate!

 

From Imagination to Impact

Long before the academy again, Michael discovered that imagination was his superpower. “I was a shy little kid, but I found my courage through play,” he says. He and his neighborhood friends made up their own superhero identities, which Michael says helped him through some hard times in childhood.

As an adult, Michael kept his imaginative spirit. He taught elementary school and also became a “humanitarian clown” with The Gesundheit! Institute, founded by Patch Adams. (You may remember the Robin Williams movie about Adams’ life.)

Michael started Superhero Training Academy as a small after-school program. From there, the Academy has just kept growing and helping more kids discover the unique ways they can change the world.

 

Heroes and Villains

So how do everyday kids transform into superheroes? The process isn’t just about capes and masks – it’s about profound self-discovery.

The Academy draws inspiration from The Hero’s Journey. Even if you’re never heard that name, you’re already familiar with the Journey— it plays out in stories ranging from ancient myths to “Star Wars.” Through creative, immersive play, kids come up with their superhero names and identities.

Take Lightning Ninja. “His superpower was to light up laughter with puppets, play and pretend,” Michael says. Radiant Rain could “heal others’ hurts with empathy and art. She would sit down and listen to your feelings. Then she’d watercolor them for you, and give you back your feelings as a painting.”

Of course, wherever you find superheroes, super villains aren’t far behind. In the Academy’s programs, the “villains” are actually the shadow side of the young heroes. For example, if kids discourage themselves or each other, “then that’s a villain that they that we want to create outside of them so that they can transform that through play, but also heal that part inside of themselves,” Michael says.  

Other villains have included characters like Mind Bender (a master manipulator who confuses stories), Pandemonium (the chaos villain), and the Polarizer (who isolates others).

 

Powerful Transformations

It’s immediately clear in talking to Michael and Hayley that kids have a blast in Superhero Training Academy programs, and so do the “Special Ops”  adults who guide their adventures.

But the joy of pretend play also drives real impact. According to Academy data, 94% of participants express more positive ways of dealing with and there’s an 88% increase in positive peer relationships.

“They’ve had a pretty significant transformation,” Michael says. “There’s usually a real strong increase in belonging. They feel tighter knit as a community with their peers. They feel really courageous in their creative purpose, like they are activated and that they can make a difference in the world.”

Since the Academy has been training superheroes for 18 years now, the difference it makes for kids is also clear when Michael talks to alumni. “It’s one of those touchstone moments, where they have this big adventure with their friends,” he says.

If you’re based in Michigan, your kids can join in the adventure at Superhero Training Academy’s summer programs. Just check out the Academy’s website for details on upcoming quests.

 

A Vision for Growth

Superheroes are always taking on bigger, more epic adventures, and Superhero Training Academy is no different. The program is at a pivotal moment as it looks toward reaching a larger audience.

“They’re ready,” says Hayley, a member of the Academy’s Leadership Council and a parent of her own heroes who have trained at the Academy. “They’ve got this rich history of curriculum, and now a lot of cred because they’ve been in such a varied and diverse spectrum of learning environments and have successfully executed all of them.”

As it grows, the Academy is building the processes and structure that will enable them to serve more kids. But they also need your help. Both paid and volunteer positions are available, and donations are always welcome. Most importantly, they want to hear from foundations and corporate partners who share their vision for empowering kids with courage, creativity and compassion.

If you’re an educator or other advocate for kids with heroic potential, just get in touch with the Academy. Michael and Hayley say their goal is to expand the program mindfully and deliberately. So they want to make sure the program is “implemented with fidelity, or it loses its magic,” Hayley says.

In a time where we need more heroes, the Superhero Training Academy has answered the call. Let’s join them on this mission!

 

 

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