Wisdom of the Earth TEEN CAMP!

July 17-22, 2023 6 days and 5 nights. Ages 14-18

Wisdom of the Earth TEEN CAMP is the beginning of a yearly gathering of peers who want to be out in the wild. Away from the mundane and distractions of everyday life, we get in touch with the raw reality and beauty of life.

Community living offers a sense of belonging, kinship and purpose. We will spend 5 nights camping together in the backcountry sharing stories, meals, games and songs. Here we will find a sense of belonging to a group and belonging to nature.

Overnight campers learn hands-on skills like knot tying, crafting quickie bows, arrows, and spoons. We make our fires with friction and put into practice knowledge of bird language as we move through the land.

Participants need to be prepared to bring their own backcountry gear including a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, personal dishes, suitable outdoor clothing and footwear etc. A more extensive list will be provided upon registration confirmation. All meals will be provided by Wisdom of the Earth mentors.

At our overnight outdoor camp, we find comfort and adventure in the darkness, playing fun big group games and receiving missions that have us out under the moon, learning to navigate with the stars.

Missions and challenges have teens climbing trees, moving on the land, sneaking and hiding. We observe how the animals move on the land and learn from them.

A big part of this experience that is the most meaningful for people is that there is challenge. We have found that the biggest growth comes from walking at the edge of what you thought you were capable of.

Potential challenges we will face together are:

• Nighttime navigation

• Running, crawling, climbing, jumping and using your body to its limits

• Nighttime scout games and missions

• Singing together

• Survival skills practice. Shelter, water, fire, food

• Being honest and vulnerable, and listening deeply to others

• Harvesting or hunting for wild edibles

• Working together with your group to complete challenging missions

• Some early mornings (birdsong and fresh air)

• Some late nights (starlight and adventure)

• Laying in a hammock and telling jokes

   

TEEN CAMP is by application, to assure that we have a group that can work well together in the wild.
If you are interested in participating in this camp, please complete this application form:

DATES: Mon July 17 9am to Fri July 22 6pm

AGE: 14-17 years old.

COST: $925 plus GST

Cost includes transportation from Salt Spring Island, camping and park admissions, specialized gear and materials, and hearty meals and snacks.

Can be paid in 2 or 3 installments.

Wisdom of the Earth is registered with Heartwood and SelfDesign distributed learning programs, and can accept funding through them for this program.