Earlier this April, I had the incredible privilege of participating in the Guiding Star Cycle Show Instructor Training held at Eagan Hills Alliance Church in Minnesota. Over the course of three enriching days, five women—including myself—were trained to bring the Cycle Show to new regions across the U.S., making our class the fifth trained group of American instructors. We left empowered and inspired, ready to bring this transformative workshop to girls in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Vermont, and South Dakota.
“We had the privilege of hosting the first ever “Agents on a Mission” program for 9–12-year-old boys.
The boys had a fun time on their mission to save humanity!”
—Kari Beadner, National Guiding Star Cycle Show Coordinator
One of the most moving parts of the training was witnessing the first-ever U.S. presentation of “Agents on a Mission”—a puberty and fertility education workshop for boys ages 9–12. Taught by Nicolas Witte, the only English-speaking My Fertility Matters (MFM) Project instructor from Switzerland (currently living in Australia with his wife and family), the workshop was playful, respectful, and deeply impactful. In a world where boys are often left out of thoughtful fertility education, “Agents on a Mission” provides a vivid, role-play based experience. Boys embark on a “mission” as sperm cells traveling through the male and female reproductive systems, learning about puberty, periods, conception, and respect for the opposite sex—all in a lighthearted and age-appropriate way. Witnessing this program in action—typically reserved for male instructors and boy participants—was a rare privilege and I feel so grateful to have gotten to be a part of this.
Nicolas Witte of Australia presents “Agents on Mission” workshop to a group of 6 boys ages 9-12 for the very first time in the United States.
After Nicolas wrapped up the workshop with the boys, we jumped straight into the “Women’s Cycle Show”—an engaging presentation tailored for young women in training. This unique experience allows us to “travel back in time” and envision ourselves one year prior to experiencing our first period.
We then immersed ourselves in two days of intensive training, aiming to absorb all the essential information we would need to share with the girls. You might be curious about the origins of the Cycle Show so here is a bit of background: The MFM Project was initiated in Germany by Dr. Elisabeth Raith-Paula, MD. Many of her female adult patients expressed astonishment, asking, “Why haven’t we been informed about this before?” This prompted her to create a book designed to educate young girls on the signs of fertility.
To enhance this educational effort, parents’ evenings were organized to help parents understand their daughters’ impending puberty. During these sessions, the concept for a training program aimed directly at girls emerged, leading to the development of this comprehensive and well-received European initiative. The MFM Project’s signature program for girls aged 9–12 made its way to the U.S. through a partnership with the Guiding Star Project in 2017. This interactive, multimedia fertility awareness workshop showcases the wonders of the female body and menstrual cycle, employing vibrant props, scarves, music, and role play.
I absolutely love how we get to teach the girls about their amazing female bodies through a fun, respectful, and wholistic approach. They even get to “become” hormones like FSH and estrogen, as they learn to understand the monthly cycle as a hopeful process of hospitality.
With each cycle, she discovers that a new Luxury Suite (the lining of the uterus) is preparing for a potential guest (a baby). If the guest doesn’t arrive (which is explained that this is something that shouldn’t arrive until she is older) she won’t fret over this loss. Instead, she understands that her body prepares a new one each month because her healthy body can easily accommodate such luxury. The workshop also helps girls to recognize the different key fertility signs their bodies are giving off, including the presence of the “magic potion” (cervical mucus). The importance of menstrual care, body literacy, what to expect during her first bleed, as well as respect for her own natural body are all woven naturally into the experience.
A key aspect of both workshops is the integration of parents. Before a Guiding Star Cycle Show workshop, parents receive an overview and tools to continue the conversation at home, helping ensure that family values are reinforced and respected.
“Guiding Star Cycle Show is the basic biology for the start of many conversations to come between daughter and parent. It’s a shared experience—one that facilitates knowledge and confidence in the incredible design of the female body.”
—Lisa Fuchs, Guiding Star Cycle Show Instructor Intern
From left to right: Lisa, Margaret, Sarah, Valarie, and Meghan are starting their internships and will soon present the Cycle Show
With five new instructors beginning internships, the Guiding Star Cycle Show is poised to reach even more girls around the country. And thanks to the success of Agents on a Mission, there’s hope that the boys’ program will soon spread as well as the process of training instructors in the U.S. get’s started.
“I really enjoyed the training! Kari was very thorough and detailed which I really appreciated. I think the most eye-opening aspect to me was the integration of a brief description on reproduction. I think that connecting the dots between reproduction and fertility is crucial in helping our younger generation understand the power and value of their bodies and their fertility. When we separate the two, we do a tremendous disservice because without understanding the significant “why” behind fertility, girls do not fully appreciate the significance of the incredible and intelligent design of their feminine body.”
—Margaret Schay, Guiding Star Cycle Show Instructor Intern
Over 1 million children participated in MFM Project workshops globally last year, and with your support, we can continue expanding access here in the United States. If you’d like to help bring these life-changing programs to more families, please consider becoming a donor to The Guiding Star Project. The future of fertility education in the U.S. is here—it’s joyful, respectful, and rooted in truth and dignity.
To learn more about Guiding Star Cycle here or email Kari Beadner at cycleshow@theguidingstarproject.com. The American English Edition of the companion book to the Guiding Star Cycle Show is now available from Lumen Press and on Amazon.
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