Hello again, Flying Cloud Blog Readers!
Our second session is fully underway and rolling by quite quickly. We’ve been able to get the full season group acquainted with the august session group and it is now a happy family. Campers of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds are spending time together and new friendships are blossoming around every corner it seems.
We had a great chain of activities offered in the first days of camp. So many campers have made bow drill kits or spoons. We’ve gotten plenty of them all muddy for some great camouflage and stalking. Some of the campers have even started making wooden bowls, and a few have successful carved bows that can loose a real arrow! Of course, we’ve been learning all about the woods as well, from tracks, to birds, to trees, to wild edibles. Campers are seizing opportunities left-and-right to grow closer to the land where we live together.
So what better time than now to send them on some adventures. We sent out six trips for this session. For those who were ready to put some miles into their boots we offered the Breadloaf Wilderness hiking trip and the Little Rock Pond hiking trip. If hiking wasn’t for them, we thought we’d give them a choice of canoe trip, too. We have campers exploring the Raquette River in the Adirondacks of upstate New York and the Green River Reservoir here in Vermont. It wouldn’t be a Flying Cloud trip week if we didn’t send out a couple trips focused on expanding our skills. We of course sent our classic Survival Skills trip, and this year we added a little bit of Interdependence with the new Woodward Service trip! I look forward to telling you all about the trips when they get back soon.
In other news, we’ve had the first Naming Ceremony of the second session. It started out as a rainy day and we weren’t sure if the clouds were going to give us any break. By the time we were done eating breakfast the skies looked about as dark as dusk. Through cold rain and windy weather, the campers came together though to build an awesome fire. I’m sure all this round’s questers are feeling very honored.
So, I’ll skip to the part your curious about. We sent out eight of our community members for their vigils. The following seven names are those that were given. In one instance a staff member chose to not be named, but to be honored by the community through the same process, just without a Flying Cloud Name being received at the end.
Shapes the Yew
Otter Swims the Seasons
Willow Listens
Badger Seeks
Sunshower’s Gift
Hawk Clears the Clouds
Tide Pool Brother
We also took the time to honor our staff member, Juniper, for all that is great about him as we do with all of our brothers.
Well, I’m feeling the need to get back to the woods. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at Zach@farmandwilderness.org and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Be well and much love,
~FF~