Essential Information

If you're new to NBTSC, do start with this page, but also read our complete (13 page) 2008 brochure (in pdf format). Need a paper copy and don't have a printer? Please send us $5 and we'll mail you a packet containing the complete brochure, plus other important information from this website (refund policy, Not So Frequently Asked Questions, Is NBTSC for you?, registration form, etc.)

 

Contents

 

key facts for 2008

 

 

What is Not Back to School Camp?

Not Back to School Camp is unique.

We come together to savor and support each person's gifts, and to build and celebrate community. Together, campers and staff co-create a week-long smorgasbord of workshops, spontaneous events, and special evening gatherings. We seek unschoolers who are excited about life, eager to share in what NBTSC offers, enthusiastic about offering their own workshops and other contributions, and willing (even if also terrified) to be themselves and to bravely reach out and connect with the rest of us. Most days, most of the time, campers make their own decisions--whether to attend a workshop or talk with a new friend, whether to go to sleep at 11 p.m. or stay up till 2 playing games, whether to linger over lunch or hike up the mountain or have a nap in the sun or start a soccer game. We come to camp to change ourselves and the world, teach each other great things, and sing under the moon....


What happens

We swim; talk; sing; drum; dance; hike; stare at the sky; play volleyball and softball and soccer; make nifty things in crafty workshops; take creative, emotional, and intellectual risks; encourage each other to do amazing things; have talent shows; teach and learn from each other.

Session 2 projects: Campers cluster in groups for 4 mornings (9 hours total) to undertake nifty projects. Past options have included natural building, conscious communication, drawing, an elaborate underwater robot, collaborative songwriting, primitive skills, ritual theater, dance improvisation, and wilderness first aid.

AbbieWorkshops--a sampling: We have dozens of workshops each session, reflecting the talents and interests of all staff and campers. They range from kung fu to cob-oven building to Zimbabwean singing to college applications to surrealist games to VW engine fixing to human digestion to youth rights. Usually, you can decide each day what you want to do (or want not to do).

Sports: We typically play volleyball, basketball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, softball, and anything else anybody decides to initiate.

Unscheduled activities: Most of the time you're free to make your own fun if you don't feel like participating in a group activity. You can swim whenever the swimming hole or lake is supervised, hike on trails, talk with new friends, read, nap, swing, practice a new skill...

Talent Shows: Evening talent shows are a great highlight of camp. You can play music, dance, sing, show artwork, tell jokes, turn cartwheels, tell us the wildest thing that ever happened to your family, swallow a sword, read your poetry, or just stand up and tell us what makes you tick.


What parents should know

NBTSC is not as tightly structured as most other youth camps. For example, people choose their own bedtimes and sleeping locations (which include some public spaces, although girls and boys also have separate cabins and most people sleep in their own beds most of the time). We have clear rules which we firmly expect campers to observe, but they nevertheless have a great deal of freedom. Most of our campers are already accustomed to taking a lot of responsibility for themselves, so this works well overall, but some people feel a bit challenged by the open schedule. Feel free to talk with us if you're not sure whether NBTSC is a good match for your family. More on all of this and related stuff on the rest of this website.


Staff

Our multi-faceted, skilled, caring, funny staff is one of the best things about NBTSC. They teach outstanding workshops and coach sports, lead group singing, facilitate discussions, wrap twisted ankles, support people who are feeling challenged in any way, cook great food, and those who aren't exhausted sometimes stay up late and join in the after-midnight revels.

One person is your "advisor" during the week. You'll meet briefly with him or her and about 10 other campers each morning to check in, play games, and get to know each other.

For more about staff roles and the specific individuals who have worked on staff (and are likely to do so again), see our page of bios here.

 

food

Three yummy vegetarian meals each day with vegan alternatives. We prepare our own food and use mostly organically grown ingredients.
money

If you register early (before March 31), your cost is $530 per session. After that date, the cost increases to $580. A $100 non-refundable deposit is due with your registration. For details on our refund policy, click here.

 

how to register

You can register online here. Or, ask us to mail you a paper registration form, but it is important that you read the details about camp here on the website. (For $5, we can mail you a paper copy of that information.)
miscellaneous good stuff

Jam(Non) religious orientation: NBTSC is a non-denominational, non-religious camp. We strive to honor each person's religious beliefs or lack thereof, and ask that all campers do likewise.

Not Back to School Camp loves diversity. We welcome campers of all races, ethnic backgrounds, genders, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, economic backgrounds, political affiliations, and physical capabilities.

If you have special needs: Educate us about your needs, and we'll do our best to make your week comfortable, safe, and exciting.

Health and safety: We always have at least one staff person trained in first aid and CPR. Typically we have one or more staffers with higher-level certification, such as wilderness first responder or EMT. In an emergency, you would be taken by a local ambulance to the nearest hospital. You must basically be responsible for your own health, bring any (regular) necessary medications with you, etc.

 

If you're intrigued, please read the full text of our complete brochure. Thanks and we hope you'll join us!

Key changes & important reminders for 2008

For a printable pdf version of our short brochure (mostly the same text as on this page, minus the section called "key changes & important reminders for 2008"), click here.