Archive for June, 2009

Dear Indian Brook Families,
As you know, F&W is transitioning to a 7 week summer schedule this year. At IB, this has afforded us the opportunity to re-evaluate and refresh our program. We’re really excited about what’s in store for this summer and we wanted to let you know what to expect and look forward to!

Community building and skill building have always been two of the things that make Indian Brook such an empowering place for campers. Given the time constraints of a shorter schedule, we want to make sure that the experience of completing meaningful, hands-on, community-based projects is preserved, and we want to make sure campers have as many opportunities as possible to learn and practice new hands-on skills. Although the general flow of the day will remain the same, we will be re-emphasizing these two elements in our morning and afternoon activities.

Campers will spend their mornings engaged in age-appropriate, skill based work projects that benefit the community. Just a few examples of things one might do include planting a kitchen herb garden, making cheese, building a new kybo, clearing and blazing trails, processing wool, harvesting and preserving food, building bonfires, building cob ovens, building canoes, … and the list goes on. With more time dedicated to morning activities, campers will be able to really invest in projects and have the time to complete them.

In the afternoon, campers will choose from a wide variety of activities that will allow them to work toward the skills they are most interested in. This might be silk screening, rock-climbing, canoeing, pottery, orienteering, carving, knitting, learning to play the guitar, dancing, soap-making, painting murals…! We look forward to celebrating as campers achieve milestones along these many skill building pathways, and as they use their skills to make IB a more productive, exciting community!

Whereas swimming lessons for all campers used to be part of the morning schedule, this summer most swimming activities will take place in the afternoon. We will be evaluating each camper on arrival day to determine who meets the baseline level of swimming proficiency needed to participate in waterfront activities. Those campers who do not meet this skill level will receive instruction from WSI certified staff and can participate in other waterfront activities once they are able to demonstrate improved skills. In other waterfront news, we are excited to offer not one, but TWO general swims per day on most days. Waterfront activities will also be among the activity options during every afternoon activity time. This will include canoeing, kayaking, distance swims, games, snorkeling, diving, and swimming instruction for those who are already a swimmer but want to improve their skills. Note that all lessons and waterfront activity time will take place in the afternoon when it’s a bit warmer

Whew! That sounds like a lot, but don’t forget about trips and all camp games, cocoa house and Adventure Days, morning singing and silent meeting, delicious meals and morning barn chores, wonderful friends and a whole team of counselors and staff who can’t wait to meet you. IB summer 2009 is ready to go, and now all we need is YOU!
Best,
Nicole Sutherland-Maiden

June 9, 2009

Dear Indian Brook Parents,

Hello to all of you from Indian Brook. We are quite busy getting ready for camp, and will be welcoming all of our seasonal staff at the end of this week to begin staff training. The gardens are planted, and we are already being treated to some fresh greens at our Staff lunches. The animals are all healthy and the babies are doing well. We will have a Milking Cow at Indian Brook this summer, which provides all of us with such a wonderful program piece to offer the children. In addition to the cow, we will have, laying chickens, meat chickens, goats and pigs.

I hope you are all doing well and are beginning to think about getting your child ready for Indian Brook this summer. I strongly recommend that you read through your parent hand book carefully, so that you and your child is prepared for camp.

There are a few things that are imperative to happen before you arrive.

Firstly, your child must have had a physical exam within the12 months before the start of camp. The health form must be completed and returned via mail before camp starts … please note that the third page of this form needs to be signed by your child’s physician.

Please go over the packing list to ensure that your child has the equipment and clothing necessary to have a comfortable experience at camp (page 14 in handbook) .

We recommend considering the purchase of a rectangular mosquito netting for when your child goes to bed. We suggest looking at www.campmor.com .

Please do not pack any valuables unless necessary for transportation (plane tickets, identification, etc.) IB can not be responsible for keeping track of valuables other than these which will be held in a safe.

Early next week, I will be sending out the trip and senior apprentice choices for camp this summer. This will provide you and your camper with the opportunity to read through the trips descriptions and respond to us with your camper’s top choices. The trips will be divided into the three lodges. First Lodge (9 & 10), Big Lodge (11 & 12) and Senior Lodge (13 & 14). Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions in this area.

Campers are always thrilled to get a letter and or package from home. Again please see the guidelines in handbook (Page 12) as to what is appropriate to be sent in the mail. Candy and electronics may not be sent to campers. All packages received are searched and contraband will be confiscated. Please send to the following address:

Camper’s Name

Indian Brook (and cabin name if known)

263 Farm and Wilderness Rd

Plymouth, Vt. 05056
For Parents of Campers arriving July 1, camp is now only weeks away, so please do not hesitate to contact me with any additional questions you may have.

Warmly,
Nicole