The weather today hinted at the coming winter, which was fitting. Light snowflakes enchanted the landscape and made for a nice backdrop to our final day together this fall. It’s been a full semester—building a village in the woods, crafting, engaging with the forest, and building connections with each other.
We played some games to warm up, headed to camp and got busy with cleaning, decorating, and getting a nice fire going. We then sent the students out on a sit spot away from camp for a chance to soak up the beauty of this place and ponder the end of our time together (for now). When the sit spot was over, they undertook what we call a blindfold drum stalk. They put on a blindfold and made their way carefully back to camp, in the process dialing all their other senses up a few notches and riding the edge of being in an uncomfortable position and trusting themselves. They carefully made their way back to camp, navigating the difficult terrain of fallen trees, standing trees, branches, and other obstructions. They did great and we celebrated their return. Why do we do this? To hone our other senses and as a result, become more finely attuned to our surroundings.
Once we were all settled in, we took turns being honored by the group for all the good stuff they see in each other. It was very sweet and everyone left feeling appreciated.
After lunch, we launched into an epic game called Life and Death in the Forest, a simulation game involving Herbivores, Omnivores, and Carnivores. A Forest Fire rages through the landscape and wildlife are driven by a human hunter as well! We learned a lot about the lifeways of these animals through direct experience such as the effectiveness of herds, and the balance of stealth vs speed. Such a fun time!
We ended our day with a warm cup of Chaga (Inontus obliquus) tea, made from a fungus that primarily takes up residence in birch trees and makes for a healthy tea.
After reviewing the semester among both groups at the end of the day, we sang a song and bid each other farewell. We will miss these great kids, and look forward to reconnecting soon.
—Josh, Alana, and the counselors, December 2, 2020