Creative Arts for Peace Camp
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Creative
Arts for Peace Camp "Come
join the dance of life..." |
Dear Parents & Families,
The Creative Arts for Peace Camp staff has been planning a delightful summer camp with you in mind! This is a perfect opportunity for loved ones to spend creative time together, as well as enjoying special times apart. If you believe “it takes a village” to create peace --and to raise a child-- come join us! The following gives an overview of what each age participant will experience at the camp.
Families Together
Families room together, as well as enjoy meals, open times, the early evening programs, afternoon workshops and art studios for families, and free-time exploring nature and the river nearby. In the mornings, children, teens and adults have separate programs.
Children’s Morning Programs
Children begin and end the morning with the adult circle, sharing in a playful ritual or dance initially, and teaching us something they have learned or created when they return just prior to lunch! The morning program for children ages 4 - 12 will include circle times with group games, music and heart-sharings to unite the group. We will then move into creative theater experiences, and a variety of choices in the arts and hands-on nature-based activities.
Children’s Afternoon Activities
We have two afternoon “angels” who will orchestrate the afternoons for children who are not playing with their parents. They will attend workshops for kids, have free play time and snack, journey to the art studio, and have a time in nature and more free play time before dinner. Parents may attend activities with their child, go to separate activities, or create their own family agenda in the afternoons.
Children’s Evening Activities
Children attend the early evening sessions with their parents, and then gather for a special bedtime story circle at 9:15-9:30 - then off to bed!
Very Young Children
Parents with very young children (birth to 3 years) may attend any adult sessions with their child (except late evening deep dancing and Friday evening’s adult program), come with their child to any of the children’s programs, share childcare with other parents in our parent co-op, and hire any available teen or young adult babysitters for a few hours at a time. Other adults in the camp community are encouraged to become “aunties and uncles” to our children, so that parents have the support they need and we all have an opportunity to express our inner child. At mealtimes, we have assigned guardian angels who assist families with young children and watch over the children on the playground as parents finish their meals. All families are part of a clan that spends time together each day learning, sharing and growing.
Parenting Sessions
Afternoon Spiritual Parenting sessions are offered by Tajali Theresa Tolan, our family counselor and children’s program coordinator. Very small children may be brought with you to these relaxed but focused sessions.
Teen/Tween Program
Teens/tweens, ages 13-19 spend the morning with teen counselors, who have a rich variety of arts and nature experiences as well as group and self-awareness processes to explore The teens as a group then plan their own afternoon agenda, choosing from an array of workshops, art studio experiences and free time activities, accompanied by a counselor. They join the rest of the camp for early evening programs, and then choose their late evening activity. They end the day in their own teen space, relaxing, doing crafts and music and talking, until 11:00 pm.
Solo Teens
Children and teens may attend with an adult family member or friend. The camp may arrange, on a case-by-case basis, a limited number of older teens to attend under the guardianship of one of our staff or participants. This will allow a teen to attend who otherwise may miss the opportunity. This involves an extra fee to bring on extra teen counselors. Contact us to discuss how this would work.
Adult Programs
Each morning, in the main session, we will weave sacred ritual, clan (small group) activities, creative movement, walking meditation, storytelling, and the Dances of Universal Peace!
In the afternoon art studio, we’ll have a variety of art experiences related to the theme of Creation!
Other afternoon opportunities for adults include a Spiritual Parenting group, massage or other healing modalities, workshops offered by our staff and participants on a variety of creative themes. You may bring an experience to share!
An early afternoon dance leadership training emphasizes skills for those working with all ages, giving us tools and experiences to share with children that encourage self-awareness, intercultural understanding, loving relationships and peaceful well-being. Written resources that detail many of the rituals, dances and creative activities at the camp are available through our bookstore. (I Open My Eyes To You and All My Relations are the two main booklets with accompanying CDs.) CEUs can also be arranged for educators, therapists and other professionals.
Late afternoon, there will be afternoon “Dance Evolution” session open to all camp participants. These sessions will feature a blend of old and new dances, experienced and beginning dance leaders, and musical apprenticeship. Feedback from mentors and group processing of the experience will happen after the circle, not during.
Early Evenings (7:30-9:00)
The early evenings bring the whole camp together for drumming, a family concert, a bonfire, a Friday evening Dance deepening (children will have a special celebration separately), and a Cosmic Celebration/Talent Sharing bringing in collaborative clan performances and reflecting our themes.
Late Evenings (9:30-10:30)
The late evenings, designed for adults and teens, offer Deep Dances of Universal Peace, and informal and arranged circles exploring sacred sound, poetry and music improvisation with a variety of instruments. Mentoring on guitar or other instruments can also be arranged. Participants may initiate other choices as well!
Healing Modalities
Parents and others may also avail themselves of the holistic therapists and healers available for massage and other healing modalities in the afternoons and late evenings.
Learn More!
By browsing our website, PeaceDance.org. You will see staff bios, introduce children and teens to their program counselors and schedules, see the adult schedule, read about our fabulous location and wholefoods menu, register online or download a registration form, fill out our pre-camp survey, and more!
Questions - inspirations? Let us know! We are ready to help make this one of the best weeks of your summer.
Uniting in peace,
Kathryn Ashera Sprowls, Camp Director
SpiralRose@aol.com
Dan Gallagher, Registrar
dan_with_plan@yahoo.com
