We strive to create an atmosphere of authenticity for our campers, following the Quaker concept that, “the Light of the Spirit is in every person.” In practice, this translates to an environment of mutual respect and care for the unique qualities of each person. IB is traditionally a girls camp, and we are first and foremost dedicated to living in alignment with the Quaker values of Farm & Wilderness, which means fostering an environment of genuine equity and inclusion. In doing so, we provide a judgment-free community for youth who identify as cis-female, trans, gender-expansive, non-binary or genderqueer away from the forces within the media and greater society that seek to define them. In line with our feminist history, we strive to help kids think more deeply and freely about their own gender identity and cultivate empathy for others. Safe spaces for identity exploration are one of the many benefits of life at camp, and we believe this should not stop at gender.
We look forward to getting to know the unique, multifaceted YOU in one of our camps. You can look forward to hearing everyone practice using pronouns, finding ways to create an environment that promotes each person’s expression, and developing an environment where feminism and empowering children to learn about who they are and how to challenge the boxes our culture would like to put them in.
Camp is a place where girls and gender non-binary kids can explore the fullness of their identity with the care and guidance of diverse staff. We know adolescents go through significant biological and social changes that guide them into adulthood. We provide a fun, educational, and reflective space away from the forces within the media and greater society that seeks to define them. Gender common spaces are beneficial because of the freedom they provide to youth. By being exposed to peers that are confident, capable and in other leadership roles, girls are inspired to look at their own capacities in a positive light.
We believe it’s powerful to celebrate each other’s strengths to eliminate low self-esteem, poor body image, objectification, stress, and unrealistic expectations. These qualities decrease when youth are part of healthy environments in which they are valued and heard. I’m so glad you signed your camper up for this growth experience!
F&W strives to provide a gender-inclusive space for all. You may see name tags that display preferred pronouns or hear someone asking what pronouns they prefer to use upon a greeting. F&W recognizes gender as a social construct; a person may identify with a gender different from their biological sex or may express their gender in a manner that does not fit with society’s expectation of what a particular gender should look and act like. Because gender is so fluid, it’s not only acceptable but also necessary to ask each other what pronoun each of us would like to use. We need to do pronoun introductions because we can’t make assumptions about how people want to be referred to based on their appearance. The goal is to prevent misgendering and support our whole community.
To be as welcoming as we want to be, we have moved away from language that refers exclusively to those who identify as female. Indian Brook will always be committed to empowering girls and women, but we are also invested in being inclusive of trans folk and others with marginalized gender identities. The WoodsWoman certification program is now known as OWLS, or Outdoor Wilderness Living Skills. Wild Women of the Woods is now Wild People of Woods. The IB birthday song was re-written in 2016 so that it does not refer to the birthday person’s gender (or use Body Talk). Instead of assuming that everyone at Indian Brook uses “she”, “her”, and “hers” as pronouns, we teach campers and staff to introduce themselves with their preferred pronouns and to ask others about theirs.
We may be brother/sister/cousin camps but TL and IB are different on purpose! We believe strongly that girls/gender non-binary ages 9-12 are figuring out their identity and areas of interest that they may love. To help each camper figure out what activities they may thrive in, they will participate in each of the program areas: Barns & Gardens, Outdoor Living Skills, Work Projects. Each morning, our first and big lodgers (ages 9-12) go to one of three activity areas with their activity group for three or four consecutive mornings. In these four areas, we’ve set up some goals (or purposes) and focus areas from which our summer staff can work. Our morning activity areas are designed to improve each child’s confidence and competence as well as connection and contribution to the community.
While most of the senior lodgers have been progressing their way to learning a variety of skills, they choose one apprenticeship for their morning activities. Some of these specialties are Barns & Gardens, Pioneers (outdoor living skills), Canoeing (some acquiring a basic rating), Kitchen, Rock Climbing, Creative Arts (sculpture, puppetry), Rockstars! (guitar and songwriting), Fire Building (for the fair fire), Work Projects, and Ceramics. Our 13 and 14-year old campers gain a deep level of skill and appreciation in the area they choose. They use the skills they develop to give back to the community whether it’s through a performance, a lesson taught for younger campers, a meal prepared for all of camp, or a piece of art left for our community.
If you are interested in learning more about the goals in each activity area, projects or apprenticeship focuses, please email the Indian Brook Director or the Red Spruce Grove Assistant Director.
On our “working” F&W farm we have these types of chickens: Laying Hens: Red Sussex, Buff Minorcas, Red Starts, Araucanas. Meat Birds: Freedom Rangers.
Each summer campers pick out 20 chickens to take care of in one of the fields (apple orchard). During its good short life, they are fed, given water, and people interact act with it daily. At the end of the summer, campers and staff are offered the opportunity, with guidance, to slaughter and prepare a chicken, voluntarily, to be eaten at the meal that celebrated the farm harvest (there is no pressure put on campers to participate)
Most campers and staff have participated in the care of these chickens at some point during the summer. The experience of engaging with the intentional death of an animal for food raises a profound awareness or responsibility issues for individuals and the community. Ultimately, the feedback from campers and staff has proven that this experience enhances their discernment about their effect on the lives of animals, natural cycles, and the sacredness of life/death in general. A compost pile, perhaps better than anything, illustrates how biological cycles require death in order to produce life. After we recognize death as a part of life, we can understand that animal slaughter epitomizes what occurs every day in the soil and in our bodies.
While at camp, we avoid commenting on our own or others’ appearance, be it negative, neutral, or positive – with exceptions for health and safety issues and healthy body awareness building. The “body talk” guidelines are part of F&W’s larger culture to raise awareness, not a hard-and-fast rule. Coming always from a foundation of kindness, we work to create a space where we minimize the bullying, social cruelty, and inflated importance of appearance that arises from how we usually comment on bodies. Instead, we strive to cultivate our integrity by encouraging appreciation of one’s character and choices. We also seek to help youth become more aware of media influence on body image. These “body talk” guidelines are not intended to be a retreat from the outside world but rather aimed at helping campers sort out external “noise” from their own inner wisdom.
We focus on innovative, developmentally appropriate ways to bring social justice to our campers and most of our activities are based around some of the primary elements of identity with which all people explore; gender, sexuality, race, culture, ethnicity, and background. We work to create a space in which every child feels welcome and honored and comfortable in the knowledge that things which make them feel otherwise will be addressed. This past summer we engaged campers in discussions about Black Lives Matter, brainstormed support for the incoming Syrian refugees in Rutland, VT, led protest song-writing workshops, painted positive graffiti all over camp and learned about the Bill of Rights, among other things. Any moment at Indian Brook can be a teachable one, whether it’s a chance to discuss the history of a particular song, challenge a camper’s assumptions about race, or learn about the many women and trans folk who have carried the torch of feminism before us.
Most definitely! It is a time each day for the camp to gather for personal and community reflection. Also called Quaker Meeting or Meeting for Worship, everyone sits in silence (in speaking and in action) unless they are moved to address the community. Anyone can share their thoughts, either speaking, reading or in song, but is generally asked to share only once per day. After someone speaks, we allow for space (an envelope of silence—about a minute) before the next person speaks, so that the community can contemplate what was said. We appreciate what people share in silence, without clapping, cheering or otherwise applauding and refrain from discussions or negative comments during this time. While some view this time as a spiritual opportunity and might inwardly pray or meditate, others simply enjoy a chance to sit still and quiet.
Well, if I told you everything that will happen at camp, it may take out the surprises; however, we have developed our blacksmith program so more campers will be able to discover what it feels like to use a forge. We will be bringing “log rolling” to our waterfront so campers can test their balance skills with the help of their friends cheering them on while the sun’s rays try to push them off into the water!
IB…full of Integrity, we provide an opportunity for campers to think critically about gender norms and find ways to be more inclusive of those who don’t fit into the gender binary. We often find ourselves asking campers and each other, “Why do you think that?” to facilitate conversations, question values, and practice living with integrity. Another example is how our community is discussing the history of the Indian Brook name and how it serves the current community. Advocacy and critical thinking skills were the main drives in requesting the F&W community look at the name.
Our philosophy: At IB, everyone is encouraged to develop an appreciation of their strength, competence, and creativity. We provide a space where campers can explore the fullness of their identity, redefine failure, and build on success. During our time in the wilderness we strive to: learn new skills in the outdoors (fire building), work towards a goal (distance swimming), build structures that serve our community, encourage digital detox, promote healthy risk-taking, foster resiliency (trips), cultivate community (chores), support wellness, encourage critical thinking that leads to action and build friendships that will perhaps last a lifetime!
Our history is closely tied with other Farm & Wilderness Camps like Timberlake and Flying Cloud. Flying Cloud was named for Bill “Wakio” Cook, an Akwesasne Mohawk man from St. Regis New York. who ran an “Indian Lore” program based on wilderness skills and respect for nature at Timberlake in the ’40s and ’50s. Indian Brook got its name in 1941 from the Indian Village that was created by Wakio due to its location south of the Timberlake near the brook that came down the hillside to the lake. This history is noted from the writings of Ken and Susan Webb published in, Beyond Our Wildest Dreams.
In 2016, there were attempts to change the name, Indian Brook. Based on discussions over the course of 18 months with F&W Management Team, the camp director, campers, staff, alumni and community members, the F&W Board of Directors accepted Management Team’s recommendation to keep the camp name, Indian Brook. Each summer, efforts are made to ensure ongoing education, conversations and a raised awareness of the origin, the history and modern-day impact of the use of the word “Indian”.
The efforts of 2016 led to a renewed partnership with the Akwesasne tribe who now send a number of kids to participate in IB and F&W camp programs.
[The greatest benefit I received] was getting a whole different experience. Being among girls that might not have my same lifestyle was really cool and I have learned so much about myself and how lucky I am to live where, when, and how I do.
My daughter has come home completely ‘reset’ for the better. The Platinum Rule* has made a HUGE impression. She is much more present and kind with us (no whining or complaining) and voluntarily helping out with work projects around the house. She’s also being more mature and setting a great example for the younger neighbor friends. Thanks!
*The Platinum rule is an alternative to the Golden Rule: “Treat others the way they want to be treated.”