The angels of rain did not hold back today! We got well and truly soaked. And the Woolly Bears had a ball!
We charged up the hill and had an opening circle around the lighting of the fire. After some fun playing in the forest, we came together to begin our craft projects. Split in two groups, we began burning our burn bowls as the rain poured down. The Woolly Bears used hot coals to burn a crevice into pieces of cedar for future bowls, periodically scraping away the ash to form the hole.
The other half of the group continued their work practicing flint and steel lighting a fire of tinder bundles made of cat tail and birchbark—with mixed success and maximum enthusiasm!
Before lunch, with dark clouds looming, we ventured downhill, following the flow of the rainwater to the lowlands. As we trudged, the heavens opened up and poured down on us a deluge of monumental scale! Our little Woolly Bears soldiered on with big hearts and made it back to a hot fire at camp. We listened to a story told by Red Fox of mice and baby teeth, played rhythmic games around the fire, and celebrated the arrival of our black walnut–dyed T-shirts.
—Asher, Julie, Michael, and the counselors
November 12, 2021