Of all our programs this summer, Big Bear Village is the closest to my heart. This is the camp that I wish I had when I was thirteen years old. The first time I went with Anna and Rees to see the site at Big Bear Camp I was in awe. I felt like bragging to our other nature education friends that we had found our shangri-la. Big Bear Camp is a new facility and as the lodge is nearing completion in preparation for our arrival in August I am really impressed with what they have done with the place. It features a beautiful fireplace in the center with a huge common area facing it. Above, there is a loft where one can relax and peruse a field guide for those tracks that were found by the creek. The camp is working toward being off the grid and everything possible comes directly from the land there. Outside, the historic orchard eventually gives way to riparian thickets woven with trails and eventually an almost continuous wilderness all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Even more inspiring than the land is what we are planning to do for this camp. Our village will learn to work as a team as we slowly develop the skills to sustain ourselves from the land and from the support of our village. Our staff will lead kids on foraging trips where students blend learning botany and plant ID with developing personal relationships to the plants around them. Each student will spend the week working on a wooden bow and arrow which he or she can test out at our archery range. In the evening we will go on night explorations where we get to know the nocturnal life as well as hone our night vision and balance. Students will learn the principles of building a warm, dry shelter from natural materials and each student will have the opportunity to sleep in his or her shelter.
In short, this camp is not to miss. Take a look at the full camp description and hopefully we will see you out there.
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