25th Anniversary Reunion
at Wilderness Awareness School
25th Anniversary Reunion
August 29—Sept. 1, 2008 (Labor Day Weekend)
Camp River Ranch in Carnation, WA
What Kind of Fire Will We Build With a 25-Year-Old Coal?
Bring your family and friends and re-connect with us as we “gather the tribes” and share our stories...25 years of students, mentors, family and friends together for a weekend of play, learning, great food*, and laughter!
Activities, Workshops and Play!
Picture yourself and your family taking part in some of the following proposed activities...
- Fire Circles & Storytelling
- Scout Games
- Naturalist Challenge
- Primitive Crafts
- Tracking
- Swimming and Boating on the lake, with kayaks and canoes available
- Building a Storytelling Bundle
- Nature Mentoring Activities
- Roundtable/panel discussion: Running a Nature School
- Animal Forms & Movement
- Music & Dance (bring your guitars, drums and other instruments!)
- Early bird sit
- Night-time bug catching
- Games & Activities For Kids
- Voices of Our Elders
Some highlights from our plans for the weekend's program:
- An opening ceremony including a ceremonial fire with ashes from Malalo Ya Chui
- Jake Swamp will be invited to offer the Thanksgiving Address
- Jon Young's captivating stories and other's exciting tales from the early years of Wilderness Awareness School, including some of our misadventures over the years...
- Honoring of long time staff and alumni from the past 25 years
- Lots of music making—bring your guitars, drums, and other instruments
- Family activities and kids games--be sure to bring your family!
- A shuttle to Linne Doran for those that want to visit the land during the weekend
- A closing ceremony with blessings and visions from our founders and elders
(See draft weekend schedule below)
Food
What will the food be like? We are working with the Camp River Ranch staff and local farmers to make sure we provide delicious food that is healthy for our bodies and the earth--all organic and/or naturally grown (and locally grown!) vegetables, grains, and fruit; organic milk and dairy; local, hormone free, and free range meats; and organic juices, fair trade coffee and teas! Our staff and volunteers will be helping prepare hand cooked meals; fresh, hand baked breads and other baked goods; and plenty of snacks in between meals to keep everyone well fed and happy...
We are putting a lot of effort into the food because we know that meal times are special times to share community and conversation while enjoying fabulous food...So bring your appetite!
Accomodations
All reunion attendees are highly encouraged to stay at beautiful Camp River Ranch in Carnation, Washington. With open-air bunk-style rustic cabins, each sleeping 4-6, (and the limited option of indoor cabins for those that need them), a mature and diverse 500 acre forest crossed by the Tolt River, and with Lake Langlois nestled at its center (bring your suit!) this promises to be a weekend steeped in culture, nature, and community. Tent sites also available...bring your own tent.
Costs
We want everyone to be able to attend reunion, and are only charging at all to cover the costs of putting on this event, which include the high quality organic and natural food described above; rental of the beautiful Camp River Ranch facility with it's great day and overnight accommodations; supplies for activities and events; flying Jake and Jon out to be with you for the weekend; and providing scholarships for those alumni who need them most.
Draft Weekend Schedule
Friday, August 29, 2008
2 PM - Check in begins
5-7 PM - Dinner
7:30 PM- Opening Ceremony, Introduction and Games
Night - Fires, storytelling, and reconnecting
Saturday, August 30th
Early AM - Animal forms and movement, Bird Sit, First Tracks, etc.
7-9 AM - Breakfast
9:30-11:30 AM - Activities and Programs
12-1 PM - Lunch
1:30-3:30 PM - Activities and Programs, or siesta
5-7 PM - Dinner
7:30 - 9 PM - Celebration! Music, Dancing, Fire
Night - Informal gatherings
Sunday, August 31st
Early AM - Animal forms and movement, Bird Sit, First Tracks, etc.
7-9 AM - Breakfast
9:30-11:30 AM - Activities and Programs
12-1 PM - Lunch
1:30-3:30 PM - Activities and Programs, or siesta
5-7 PM - Dinner
7:30 - 9 PM - Closing ceremony
Monday, September 1st
Early AM - Animal forms and movement, Bird Sit, First Tracks, etc.
7-9 AM - Breakfast, check out
See more photos of the reunion site
Questions?
Email Laurie Nelson Alexander or call 425-788-1301.