Stories & Testimonials
The camper and parent testimonials below are taken directly from feedback forms that are filled out at the end of each summer. The creative spelling and grammar have been left intact, edited only for clarity.
From Campers…
What’s the most fun thing that happened for you?
“Learning to survive without electricity & working to help the community survive b/c it helped me become a better person.”
What do you miss most about camp?
“The whole entire camp. Flying Cloud is the best. I’m going to go for as long as I can. "
"I miss friends and activitys the most. I miss the activitys because we could do what you wanted to do like carve, make a fire with a bow drill or make a neklas from noble bosh.”
If you wanted your friend to come to camp, what would you tell his/her parents to convince them to send your friend?
“F.C. is one of a kind place & it would change his life forever.”
Tell us about the most memorable thing you learned.
“How to make a gourd canteen.”
“I learned that everybody should be treated like equals and shouldn’t be judge because in the end it all counts and that every ounce of work is worth a pound of good.”
“I learnt that if you get your mind to something and never give up you can accomplish it. I learned that and how to make a fire with a bow drill, how to make a shelter and much more.”
What are you most looking forward to next summer at camp?
“Seeing new and old faces from past and future years.”
“I am looking forward to making more friends and carve more, have fun too!”
From Parents…
What has changed in your child’s behavior? Do you like the changes?
“My son came back talking about tolerance and acceptance of others’ differences. More independent and confident in his skills – hiking & survival. Yes, I loved that he learned to live well without TV, Video, Gameboy, etc.”
“Calmer. Happier. Content. Love changes - - even his teachers have commented on how he started school on Day 1 ready to be a leader in all classes especially chorus – typically hard even for a smart kid due to peer pressures but not hard this year.”
What in camp activities did your child report to you? Was he satisfied with the in-camp program? Are you?
“He isn’t that talkative about his experiences in general, but he showed the things he made at camp quite proudly. Satisfaction is far too weak a word. Overjoyed? Cup runneth over? Ecstatic?”
“Chores – all eight of them! Naming ceremony – esp. the fire! Spoon carving, hikes, moose-poo necklesses (?) games, read aloud – fire in the tipi, Interdependence Day, visits to other F&W camps. Yes!/Yes – I appreciate how F&W has campers involved in meaningful work for the well being of the whole group. I also highly value the hr of silence each day.”
What out-of camp activities (camping, service trips, farm trips) did your child tell you about? Did he enjoy them?
“His initiation trip – the day he went out only w/water & sleeping bag & fasted all day. He seems to have gotten a real pride in having completed it.”
OVERALL EXPERIENCE - How did it all add up for your child? Please make any additional comments on your child’s experience not covered by the above questions.
“FC was a life-changing experience for our son – it had a profound effect on him – he felt very supported by the community & that whole idea of community became very important to him. He made some wonderful friends, too.”
“The FC values and daily life harmonize very well with him. His best qualities were affirmed and found meaningful expression, camp was fun, too. Bare feet, no clocks, huge fires, positive attention from young men to look up to, real work, space to be dirty.”
