Session 2 Projects, 2008
This page is mainly here for people registered for Oregon Session 2. They'll know what to do with it. If anybody else is just looking out of curiosity: these are descriptions of projects that we'll be spending most mornings (about 9 hours) on, working in small groups.
Important notes
1) As you can see, 7 of our 8 projects are currently described. Our 8th project will probably be "problem-solving," with Nick Walker, who loves and excels at problem solving on many levels. (See his bio in the staff bio pages.)
2) If you read about a project that you are not specifying as one of your choices, but you can imagine getting to camp and then wanting to do it, consider bringing any recommended supplies (musical instruments, clothes you can get down and dirty in, etc.), just in case.
3) Although some people change their minds about what project they want once they get to camp, the best way to ensure your spot in a particular project is to sign up ahead of time, via your online questionnaire. (Usually, though, most people get their first choices even if they change their minds at camp.)
4) Everybody goes to the first 15 minutes each day of their project group, and checks in daily with their project group after advisee time. Aside from the first morning and that brief check-in: a few projects are open to people who may decide not to attend all sessions, and the rest require that everybody commits to all sessions, to better build trust within the gr oup and work toward a common goal. (You can probably change your mind about which project you want once you get to camp, but once the projects begin, if you're in a committed project your group needs you, so you must show up for all sessions.)
OK to drop in and out:
- Art and the Samizdat (zine making)
- Build a Cob Prayer and Meditation Hut
- Frisky Yoga
Committed participants only:
- Theater
- Music
- Redefine Yourself
- Wilderness First Aid
2008 Projects
Theater with Marina Moses
Build a cob prayer and meditation hut with Dawn Smith
Redefine Yourself with Jasmine Sheldon
Collaboratively write and perform a song with Nathen Lester.
Wilderness First Aid with Blake Boles
Frisky Yoga with Abbi Miller
Art and the Samizdat(zine making) with Caity Vail
Problem Solving with Nicholas Walker (details at camp, but see Nick's bio on the Session 2 staff bios page, too)
Art and the Samizdat:
Refine Your Artistic Skills, Develop Your Writing Style, and Create One Mean ‘Zine!
led by Caity Vail
The term Samizdat, literally “self-published” in Russian, originally referred to the underground writing, publishing, and distributing of otherwise regime-suppressed literature during the Cold War. Since then, the concept has grown into what is now known as a “’zine”. ‘Zines are simply self-made, self-“published” (often made via photocopiers and distributed by trade or non-profit means) works of art, writing, and pretty much anything else you can imagine fitting in a 5-50 page booklet.
The aim of this project is two-fold: for the first half of each meeting we’ll work on either art or writing, discussing whatever feels relevant or interesting to you and making fully developed pieces of art or short written compositions. This can include, respectively: drawing, collaging, painting, and poetry, rants, short fiction, etc. The second half of the meetings we’ll work on putting some of those ideas into your own ‘zine, which you can work on outside of the meetings and even after you go home! By the end of camp, you’ll have your own masterpiece of a zine to bring home, copy, and give out to your friends or distribute at zine fairs (they’re all over the country, and there’s websites that carry them too). You’ll also have developed some of your artistic and literary skills, and made some great pieces of art to bring home too!
When we meet to make art we’ll refine some technical skills, working on portraits and nature drawings and learning some ideas in realism, abstraction, color, style, expression, light, and composition. For the writing meetings we’ll read aloud some favorite quotes, passages, poems, and song lyrics and talk about why they appeal to us and what about good writing makes it “good”. We’ll finish each meeting by working on our zines, putting whatever’s inspired you into your own samizdat.
Things to bring:
- if you have paper and art supplies you particularly like, you're welcome to bring them. (There will also be materials provided.)
- your favorite book, poem, writing, art, etc. to share
- a couple bucketfuls of creativity.
Caity’s relevant experience: Caity has four years of rigorous fine art study at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachussetts, two summers at Castle Hill Center for the Arts in Truro, Massachussetts, figure drawing and working as an artist’s model, worked as an artist’s assistant for two painters, has curated and exhibited in several gallery group shows, and worked as a gallery assistant in two galleries. She’s also a compulsive scribbler, writing fiction and essays on whatever paper she can find, including a bajillion little receipt slips and post-it notes, and she won the Best Poetry Award for the Word/Image Journal in 2006. She self-published her own ‘zine Atomic Sands for three years, distributing at ‘zine fairs in the Boston area. She’s currently illustrating a children’s book and working on a biography of the eccentric Dr. Bronner.
Frisky Yoga
led by Abbi Miller
Whether you can touch your toes to your head like a human pretzel, or can't remember the last time you saw your toes, this project will rock your socks off. Abbi's approach to Yoga is one of unbridled play and encouraged experimentation. She just completed her training at Karma Kids Yoga, NYC.
WHO: Curious, silly, audacious, introspective, and potentially-bendy beings. Or, anyone who would like to connect their mind, body and breath with uproarious fun!
WHAT: A week-long Yoga Party! Most people associate yoga with quiet posture work (Asana), but that is really just one layer of the Yoga-onion. While we will most assuredly tackle daily poses, our attention will also be lent to: Jungle adventure, healing laughter yoga, mindful meditation, pajama yoga parties, emotional expression, musical yoga games, themed play, yummy breath work, you-are-what-you-eat day, and other charming relaxation techniques. And did I mention you will get a free foot rub?
WHERE: Everywhere! With the varied content of this project, we are likely to utilize just about every location that Camp Myrtlewood has to offer.
WHEN: During the allotted project time slot.
WHY: Because Yoga deepens your mind-body awareness, helps build strength and confidence, and provides a myriad of great party tricks.
Abbi's relevant background: Abbi has studied dance
since age 7, and is in love with movement. She began
practicing yoga in NYC at the Laughing Lotus Yoga
Center, and felt a mind-body connection that was
unparalleled in dance. Since then, she has studied
all over the globe from the beaches of Maui to classes
in Korea. She recently completed her training, and is
now a Certified Karma Kids Yoga instructor!
Abbi is super excited about this project. She is
astonished at how yoga is constantly transforming her
life, creating the tender balance between movement and
stillness. She also loves to play, and thinks that
yoga is the perfect playful way to express your inner
body.
Photo of Abbi by Anna F., NBTSC 07.
Theater
led by Marina Moses
I imagine this project starting out starting out with improvisational
theater games and culminating in a performance. In between, anything could
happen, including investigation into creating characters, storytelling,
shaping performance around place, saying yes to the world, cultural
mythology, social justice, gender, personal growth--anywhere campers want
it to go!
More specifically, my plan is to learn a whole lot about building
characters, building a story, and expressing no more and no less than what
you want to express. We’ll spend time trying to copy each other’s walks,
being coherently spontaneous, playing with status, accepting everything,
being really loud, and laughing ourselves sick. In addition to the
hilarious parts of theater improvisation, though, we'll also spend some
time improvising more serious scenes. I believe theater is a powerful tool
for exploring some of the things that are most important to us, so we'll
go into that side of things too.
People who have never done any theater stuff and people who’ve been on
stage their whole lives are equally welcome.
This is a committed project, because improvisation requires taking risks
and being vulnerable, and maintaining a cohesive and supportive group is
extremely important in creating a space where we can do that. On a more
prosaic level, we’ll be building particular skills, and the more you’re
there while we’re learning about character physicality and scene
structure, the more fun putting together a performance will be.
Marina's relevant background: A lifetime of being obsessed with theater,
including lots of scripted and improvised performance, designing and
running lights, painting sets, playwriting, leading workshops, taking
classes, and minoring in Theater for her BA.
Redefine Yourself with Intention
(or: How to Live Your Ideal Life in the Present)
led by Jasmine Sheldon
(photo from Jasmine's similar 07 project)
What’s the point?
Are you ready for a change in your life? Are you trying to figure out how to do what you love AND live on your own for the first time? Are you breaking out of childhood and into young adulthood with feelings of uncertainty, apprehension and/or excitement? Do you have a million ideas of what you would spend your time doing in an “ideal” world? Would you like to learn how to live in that world now? Would you like to create a support network that continues after NBTSC ends? Would you like to work out these questions (and more!) within a supportive group of your peers?
If you answered YES to any of those questions (and perhaps even if you didn’t), you should join us for a project about redefining ourselves with intention. During this project we will explore the transition between childhood and young adulthood in a variety of ways.
You will: gain (and hone) skills to become more actively involved in your own decision making, create a personal life philosophy/mission statement, determine where/how you need support and find ways to meet those needs, renew and solidify your self-awareness and reflection skills, build a support network of people who will journey with you and continue to support you as you live your passion.
My vision for this project is one that works with you to create an experience that helps you move forward with a solid foundation in knowing yourself and the things that are important to you. We will use a mix of art, spoken word, poetry, creative writing, hiking, playing, deep thinking and many other means to answer (and ask) questions, explore, discover, and come away with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and knowledge that will begin (or continue) your journey into young adulthood with some clarity and perspective.
Here are some things and ideas we might experiment with, talk about, or do…
- Challenge Course
- Seeking a question
- Our childhood self identity (how is it evolving?)
- Where are we and where do we want to go?
- Daily challenge
- Moving away from childhood
- The roles we play
- Awareness Class
- Silent vigil time
- Writing a personal mission statement
- Naming your passion
- Getting there from where you are now
- Building a support network that works
- Celebrating where we are and where we are going
- Welcoming ceremony
Jasmine's relevant background: In my own life I spend a lot of time trying to live with intention; this is an ongoing process for me. I first wrote a personal mission statement when I was 14 years old and have pretty much revised it every year since; it continues to be a useful exercise for me. Over the past several years I have been mentoring youth and young adults in many different ways. Most recently, I spent 2006-2007 working with homeless youth and young adults in the Seattle area by supporting them in figuring out what they needed in order to lead the lives they wanted to live; I did this by taking folks kayaking, camping, sailing, rowing, rafting, snowboarding, climbing, and bicycling while engaging them in meaningful reflection about their lives. Over the past two years I have also been working with a non-profit organization in Seattle called Passages Northwest in the roles of mentor and courage project facilitator for their girl’s rock climbing program. I have been an Advisor at NBTSC for several years and learn so much after every session of camp from y’all that it takes me months (and sometimes years) before it all sinks in. After NBTSC 2007, I spent two weeks on a personal vision quest in the Wenatchee National Forest where I spent 3 days alone and fasting; and yes I wrote a lot of menus of food I would like to eat!, but I also came away from the experience with a powerful sense of self determination and belief in myself, recognition of how far I’ve come and where I wanted to go. Hopefully I can pass on some of these experiences to you as you continue on your own journey.
Wilderness First Aid
led by Blake Boles
Here's the scene: Half-way through a 8 mile day hike in the local mountains, your friend suddenly complains of pain on her thigh and sits down. She immediately begins having difficulty breathing and soon begins wheezing. You brought a first aid kit—but what do you do with it? A single treatment could save her life.
Here's another scene: On the second day of your three-day rock climbing trip, your trip leader falls 12 feet while bouldering and lands head first. He remains conscious but suffers a bloody facial laceration and complains of neck pain. How do you stop the bleeding, and how do you evacuate the victim? Do you help him walk out to get to an ambulance faster, or do you keep him still and send a friend?
Wilderness first aid is not just about slinging arms or stopping bleeding: It's about thinking rationally and calmly in an emergency. Though not intended to replace a full-length training course, this project will make you a more confident and competent outdoor leader.
You'll learn:
- The patient assessment system
- Basic CPR and rescue breathing
- How to take vital signs
- How to treat bleeding, musculoskeletal injuries, and spinal injuries
- How to identify basic cardiac, respiratory, neurological and abdominal emergencies
- Treatment of hypothermia, hyperthermia, altitude sickness, bites and stings
- First aid kit building principles
- Where to find high-quality additional training and certification
This project will be half lecture and half hands-on practice. Expect to take lots of notes which you will compile into a personal wilderness first aid mini-guidebook (for use on your own trips).
This is a committed project where each day builds upon the last, so full attendance is expected. For our final presentation, we will be abducting, injuring, and subsequently giving first aid to Grace. Just kidding! Maybe.
Blake's relevant background: Blake is an AAOP Wilderness First Aid instructor and Red Cross CPR instructor, and he is a NOLS Wilderness EMT. He has led backpacking trips, taught outdoor sports, and trained instructors for 4 years at Deer Crossing Camp near Lake Tahoe.
build a cob prayer & meditation hut
led by Dawn Smith
~This is last year's (2007) description, but it's the same project for 2008, just further along.~
(The photos are from our 2005 cob project.)
Come get your hands muddy and learn about cob construction and natural building! A prayer hut at Camp Myrtlewood is under construction (started at NBTSC 2005!), and you are invited to help build it. It will be a small simple structure, mostly made out of cob (a mixture of sand, clay, straw and water) for use as a meditation retreat. Along with constructing the hut, we will explore the principles and reasons behind Natural Building- the way of building with the earth instead of against it.
Anyone is encouraged to attend this workshop--no experience necessary!
Check out http://www.sgnb.com/intro.php for more about cob houses.
Make sure you bring a water bottle, and clothes--ideally including work gloves--that you are comfortable getting muddy in.
Dawn's relevant background
Dawn is a former NBTSC camper (and staffer) and a life long unschooler. Dawn worked for a straw bale construction company in Canada for four years and is currently an Intern at The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center in Northern California. Dawn enjoys studying all aspects of natural building, including composting toilets, passive solar, hot water heating, and water collection. Dawn believes that we can make the world a better place by building better houses.
Collaborative Songwriting
led by Nathen Lester
~the rest of camp dances while the 2005 music project performs~
In this project our group will create a piece of music to perform for the camp, arranged specifically for whoever signs up and whatever instruments they bring. In the process, we'll hone our playing and listening skills. In the past four years it's been really fun--everyone ends up with a part that suits their skill level and that adds up to a cool sounding song. Often, the whole camp spontaneously dances while we play!
Nathen's relevant background: "I've been playing in bands for over 30 years and writing music for about 15 and it's been one of my most consistent sources of joy. It's been especially gratifying to do this music project and learn how to play with other musicians. Some of the participants have gotten inspired to start bands of their own."
It is not necessary to bring an instrument but it is helpful. It's not necessary to have any experience playing music with other people. Consider signing up even if you haven't played music before, but be willing to work hard at it for the hours that we have together.
Archival moment: what Nathen said about his first-ever music project (2003):
Last year the music project went wonderfully! We had a group of about twelve musicians with skill levels varying from beginner to accomplished, many of whom had never played with others before. We had all kinds of instruments including electric and acoustic guitars, bass, violin, hand drum, tap shoes, voice and ukulele. Over the course of a few days we learned to listen to each other and play together and wrote a song called “Dancing Frogs” which we performed for the NBTSC concert to great applause. Each participant played a part that challenged them and added to the feel of the ensemble and the piece. It was very fun.
Nathen's 2003 music project playing their song "The Dancing Frogs," photo by Dawn Smith