Cedarsong: Summer Camp for Girls

My friend Erin Kenny is a naturalist that runs a school based on Nature Immersion.  What this means is that the entire school is outside--rain or shine (which is saying something being in the Pacific Northwest).

The preschool is one of the few of this nature in the United States and has been written up in the media many times including this article from People Magazine:   http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20467566,00.html

In addition to her work with young kids, Erin has camps for adults, older children and one for pre-teen/early teenage girls.   She was telling me about her camp for girls and how she has a zero exclusion policy.    She also told me that it's very student-directed in terms of what the girls do and what they explore.   According to Erin, the girls learn just by being in nature and the compassion and empathy follow.

I decided to check this all out for myself.  My three year old daughter Mira and I were lucky enough to participate in the Wednesday night campfire.   We found the site called Camp Terra and explored the small but special trail system.  There were secret alcoves, a campfire in the shape of a heart with painted rocks and areas filled with colorful flags and dream catchers.  There is a forest stage (though Erin explained to me that it hadn't been used that session because that's not what the girls had chosen to do), a monkey tree, a fort, and many other special features that speak of a magical fairy land.  

When we arrived several of the girls were at main camp playing with a bunch of interesting instruments.  Another group was camped out in the forest talking under the trees (and many of them were wearing a lot of make-up which was kind-of charming).   Everyone was very friendly and welcoming.  

As we were walking around the camp, Erin would stop and point out something interesting in the natural world.   It was captivating.  I loved the interplay between conversations that were about culture (movies, school etc.) versus this noticing of the natural world.   With Erin's eye for finding interesting things in the forest coupled with her knowledge, it was hard not to get swept up in the excitement.

For example, I was quizzing one of the girls about the camp---did she feel like everyone was respectful?  Did she appreciate the no exclusion policy?    When suddenly, Erin discovered a millipede and told us all that it smelled like cherries and almonds when it gets scared.   My question was forgotten as the girl, Mira, Erin and I all sniffed the millipede and carefully put him back down on a leaf.   We were no longer a mom, a preschooler, a teacher and a preteen, but rather a bunch of naturalists completely immersed in the forest. 

I think that it's important for girls to have these types of experiences.  If the going gets rough with their friends or at their school, they can fall back on these moments where there is no social hierarchy (or at least not of the middle school variety), where there is a certain kind-of self knowledge and peace.   If a girl does experience relational aggression sometime in her life, it is important that she has some strength and some resources.

I am reminded of the Jewish holiday T'ba Shavat, the holiday of the trees.  Several years ago, I went to a party and we each got to tell a story about a tree that was special to us.  One man there told us that he moved to a new school and had no friends for a while. Every day at recess he went out to the corner of the playground and talked to a special tree.  It kept him sane during a very rough time. 

One last thing,   to that great group of radiant, funny, interesting, beautiful girls, thanks for letting Mira and I visit your campfire!

For more on Cedarsong:  http://www.cedarsongnatureschool.org/