Staff - 2011 Vermont Session 2
Advisors
Advisors do lots of things: teach workshops; lead games, sports, hikes, fieldtrips, and other activities; help out with logistics; and other stuff. But most essentially, they connect with campers--individually and in small groups. Each advisor meets daily with his or her group of 11 or so campers, and is generally available for support, hugs, and conversation.
Evan Wright, 30
Seattle, Washington
When he was 15, Evan read The Teenage Liberation Handbook and began unschooling. Outside of high school he was able to re-establish a direct, personal relationship to learning and education. He explored the British Museum; raised orphaned harbor seal pups in California; volunteered at a London homeless shelter run by nuns; trained villagers in Mexico to disentangle sea lions from fishermen's nets; and assisted in research of 5 ft. long green sea turtles in Costa Rica. Without school he studied the life of Albert Einstein, eventually correcting an error in a Princeton University Press book on the scientist. Attending NBTSC for the first time in 1998 was an inspiring and affirming experience.
At camp Evan has led or co-led workshops and discussions on: Stone Sculpting, The Supreme Court of the United States, How to Get What You Want, Speaking (to others) about Unschooling, How to Build an Underwater Robot, How to Change the World in 90 minutes, A Tidepooling/Marine Biology Fieldtrip, Scavenger Hunt, Investing for People who are Scared of Money, How to Make Homemade Pasta, The Life of Albert Einstein, How to Organize a Big Project or Event, A Local Farming Tour/Fieldtrip, Barn Raising (a networking activity), Blues Dancing, and The Effective Unschooler.
Abbi Miller, 26
Kansas City, Missouri
Advisor and project leader
Abbi has worn the hats of a creativity coach, competitive figure skater, professional dancer, actress, singer, yogi, chef, waitress, nanny, photographer, hair stylist, yoga, pilates and dance teacher, travel adventure guide, makeup artist, casting director, and choreographer. But hands down, her favorite and most exquisite hat is the one she wears at NBTSC.
After harassing her mom about the trials and tribulations of being an autodidact, (Read: "How am I going to learn ANYTHING if I don't have a desk?!"), 8 year old Abbi was promptly absorbed into what has become lifelong unschooled-dom. (Her mother caved and bought her the desk, and she has thus been able to function in normal society. Thank god.)
After years as a competitive figure skater, she left the ice and moved to NYC at age 19 to pursue her love of the performing arts. She nannied for broadway stars, ravaged Sephora on a daily basis, and learned how to roll out of bed at 6am and apply false eyelashes with unparalleled speed. She boomeranged from the east to west coast acting in regional theatres and circled the globe performing in the international tour of GREASE.
Abbi holds a Karma Kids Yoga Teacher Certification where she learned how to sniff her toes like an intoxicating floral bouquet and "pee" while in downward dog. She studied dance in Chicago and then moved to SF with some killa NBTSC graduates while she completed her Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training at the dreamy Laughing Lotus College of Yoga. She then taught at the nation's largest private art university.
Abbi's partiality to the wonderful world of alternative education led Abbi to attend Not Back to School Camp in '01-'02. She was instantly smitten, fascinated by the unbound creativity and infectious inspiration running rampant in the incredible teenage unschoolers of our beloved world! This is her 6th year on staff. She still squeals when the school buses arrive.
Abbi likes to think about face painting, swinging from a trapeze or climbing silks, running away with the circus, writing a one woman show, acting in a leading role in a shakespearean play, connectivity between muscles and chakras, raw food concoctions, ways of speaking through her body, traveling the world, kissing guys, making big things happen, and facilitating inner change in sticky places that feel stuck.
Eugene, Oregon
Advisor, counselor, and project leader
By NBTSC 2011, Nathen will be a graduate of the Couples & Family Therapy masters program at the University of Oregon. That means he will be enjoying his first break in two years from 70-80 hour work weeks consisting of attending lectures about therapy, reading scholarly books and articles about therapy, writing about therapy, and conducting therapy with clients.
In his spare time, Nathen writes a blog (www.nathensmiraculousescape.wordpress.com), writes music for his band (www.abandon-ship.com), keeps in touch with his family (www.lesterfamilymusic.com/about.html), video-Skypes with his long-distance fiancé, Reanna, dances Lindy Hop, and practices meditation and co-counseling.
Nathen has been an advisor at every session but three of Not Back to School Camp since 1999. He is famous there not only for being sincere, friendly, enthusiastic, and sometimes potently amused, but also for the zeal, intellect, and originality with which he teaches workshops on subjects such as the human digestive system, partner dancing, and Einstein’s theories of relativity. He says, "What I love about camp is the people who come--the staff, the campers--and how they interact, how they share their excitement and inspiration and how they form friendships and communities with each other."
Among Nathen's plans for NBTSC 2011 are a workshop on what to do if a friend is thinking about suicide and a seventh reprise of his Music Project, in which a group of musicians -- with a wide variety of skill levels and instruments -- co-create a piece of music and perform it for the whole camp.
Vergennes, Vermont
Ethan is a scruffy-looking gentleman who likes to work with stone, ideas, and paper. He collects questions. He has spent most of the last two years taking care of his lover, who got (and beat) leukemia. They have spent quite a while “in the valley of the shadow of death,” as the old dude said. This has given him the opportunity to acquire and hone many new questions.
Ethan is eternally inspired by unschoolers, and yet remains somewhat suspicious of unschooling. He does not believe robots will take over the world, but he wants to see them try. He puts his trust in the mystery of love; igneous rocks, sharp tools, grammar, the endless growth of fungus, and the way water moves. He is strongly opposed to mayonnaise, fascism, scritchy noises, the easy way, and the fear of doubt. He writes too much, and he is secretly proud of his insomnia. He is a much better cook than he used to be. He mostly wears pajamas, and a surprisingly large number of them have caught on fire. He is currently trying to build a logarithmic abacus, and draw a map of metaphors, and build a spiral-shaped wardrobe. He worries about whether or not he sets a good example.
In five or so sessions at NBTSC, Ethan has taught workshops on the history of unschooling, statistics, the Bible, stonecarving, alternative currencies, natural history, and he can't remember what else. He also teaches at the Pacem homeschooling center, and the Walden Project (which is an alternative program “within” a public school, although it meets out in the woods all winter long, and generally feels quite more un than school). He also had the opportunity to teach a few classes at North Star homeschooling center, and he recently quit a job teaching special ed in a public school. And he has a few other gigs.
In those capacities, he's taught classes on algebra, biology, bread, computer programming, corn, Darwin, economics, finance, giraffes, heavy metal, heavy metals, human trafficking, Jesus, Lovecraft, Massachusetts, Mormonism, Nixon, obstetrics, philosophy, prostitution, Quakerism, quantum physics, robots, sculpture, the Spanish Civil War, statistics, Tesla, universities, violence, X-rays, and zombies. To the best of his knowledge, he's never taught a class on anything beginning with I, K, W, or Y. But he likes a challenge. At NBTSC this year, he's planning to teach a class on plumbing, and on how to ask questions, and on something else.
Caity Vail, 24
Northampton, Massachusetts
Caity has made it her personal life mission to be a jack-of-all-(creative)-trades. After a tumultuous 10 years in the public school system, she was handed the Teenage Liberation Handbook at 15 and promptly left school to attempt sating her creative hunger. Since then, she has had more than her fair share of truly odd jobs, including cryptozoological illustrator, bicycle rickshaw tour guide, annoying pop-up ad actress, and magician’s assistant (and still doing the latter after 6 years!). Because college is way more fun than public school, she has attended community college, art school, and an ivy league university. After moving from Boston, Caity now resides in Northampton, MA, where she spends her time chasing toddlers around as a nanny, running and co-producing several regular community art events, and painting and drawing constantly.
In her previous two sessions as an advisor at NBTSC, Caity was truly awe-struck by the inspiring community of campers and staffers, and is so excited to return this year for more “you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll throw a big pillowfight and meet dozens of amazing people.” She hopes she can be a friend to campers that might feel self-conscious, shy or caught in a difficult life transition. And she’s always happy to talk to anyone about ideas including (but not limited to!): art, sexuality, relationships, college, science and spirituality, treading the path that is true to you, theatre, writing, confidence, depression, dealing with difficult family or friend issues, and planning/producing successful community projects.
NBTSC history: Advisor and Project Leader in Oregon 2008, Advisor in Vermont 2010
Cooks
At camp, our fabulous cooks prepare 3 meals a day, harmonizing with each other and with the many campers who help out in the kitchen. Food at NBTSC definitely does not happen in a factory atmosphere; while making dinner, the kitchen crew is liable to sing together and to discuss life, the universe, and everything--or garlic, blackberries, and pizza crust, which often amounts to the same thing. Anyway, because they have so much interaction with campers we consider them unofficial advisors and hire them with that in mind--they are advisor-caliber folks who can also make magic with potatoes and other miracles of nature.
Putney, Vermont
Kitchen Coordinator
Dalia is an artist, cook and writer living in Putney, Vermont. She lives in a little cabin up in the trees with her longtime sweetheart, Saturn, hundreds of books, and their mouse assassin, Ruby. She was recently published in The Sun magazine- very exciting! She and Saturn are working together on a graphic novel.
A self-taught chef and baker beginning at age 16, Dalia has cooked in many different places. It’s been all over the map- everything from wilderness skills workshops, a 24-hour gay diner, a silent Christian meditation retreat, direct action trainings, a sweet girls' summer camp, head chef at an artist’s colony, bread baker, pastry chef, and lots more.
In addition to these cooking adventures, Dalia has worked as a personal care attendant, farmer, artist’s model, nanny, science museum guide, used book seller, and H.I.V. prevention/sexual health educator. She LOVES to read, and will talk forever about books, zines and comics. She is always looking for new jokes. She is thrilled to be coming to NBTSC for her first year.
Milford, New Hampshire
I'm the mom of Anna (15) and Molly (13) and am married to my college sweetheart, Jeff Barlow. Anna and Molly have been unschooled for around 5 years. We live in a smallish town in Southern New Hampshire in a ramshackle Victorian house. We have indoor cats, outdoor rabbits, and Molly's had a flock of backyard chickens since she was 7 years old.
This is my first year at NBTSC, and I'll be serving as a head cook while Anna and Molly attend camp. At home I coordinate a twice-a-month free community supper that's prepared by a group of teens. We typically serve 130-160 people at each supper. I also work part-time as a reference librarian at a public library.
I'm looking forward to working with everyone this year!
Josh Nicoson
Albany, Vermont
Over the last 5 years I have mostly been a movie projectionist living in the city of Albany, New York. Since last year's camp, though, I've been running a gorgeous farm in the northeast kingdom of Vermont-- ironically Albany, Vermont. What do I do all the way up there? Grow tomatoes, hundreds of plants; raise and eviscerate chickens, hundreds of birds; maintain apple orchards, yes more than one; haying, logging, building furniture, concocting an array of hot sauces, pickle everything I can get my hands on, raise a murder of crows, and daily invent devices to make the farm run as smooth as a nice glaze of glass. Free time? sure. I run fifty miles a week through the hills and bike at least twice that, rage it with my son Emmett, listen to birds, build giant fires, throw dominoes, read, listen to jazz, study architecture, and well there are the pigs. More on that if you ask. As a post script - last year I had a raging time at camp and throughout the past year nbtsc has jumped 'round the brain synapse regularly resulting in firework explosion anticipation for nbtsc 2011. See you there!
NBTSC history: last three years head cook, year before that hangin' with Nicole's daughter Lou & guest kitchen presence
Philadelphia
Kaylyn would apparently rather cook than write. Says:
Likes: Knitted hats. Dislikes: Hungarian fish soup. Wonders: Doesn't that sum it all up nicely?
NBTSC history: Camper 2006, 2008, Junior Staff 2010.
Harrison, Maine
Lauren stopped going to school after third grade. That year she joined 4-H, started raising sheep, and discovered and fell in love with the violin. She spent the next few years visiting libraries as often as possible, making lots of plans for herself, cooking, knitting, sewing, playing violin, and keeping up with lots of penpals from all over the world. She tried school again for seventh grade, left after two days and immediately became passionate about unschooling. She read and thought a lot about education, started writing in her journal every day, wrote a novel or two every November during NaNoWriMo, volunteered at the library, dreampt about tiny houses, gypsy wagons, natural building and self-sufficiency. She spent late nights playing fiddle, discovering new music, and jamming online with musicians from all over North America and Europe. Lauren wanted to be a teacher since as far back as she can remember, and for a while after she stopped believing in school she had a hard time rethinking her lifelong dream. She started teaching fiddle/violin when she was 15. She spends much of her time now thinking and reading about different ways of learning and sharing music. She's learning to make violins, and to play guitar and ukulele. She loves collecting and sharing books, contra dancing, going barefoot, taking off on road trips as often as time allows, and dreaming of a money-free world. She's spent most of her life in small towns, very little time in cities, and especially loves places with lots of sky.
NBTSC history: Camper 2006-2008, Junior Staff 2009
Dish Queen
Allie Hendrick, 24
Madison, Wisconsin
I rose out of high school at 16, because I was bored and fed up. I was inspired by the Teenage Liberation Handbook and real-life role models who were already unschooling. I didn't know quite what I wanted from life, so I started by reflecting on my schooling and how it had shaped me. The more I learned, the more curious I became. What started as a personal exploration has turned into a desire to work to transform the way we, as a society, think about education.
In 2008, I helped create the High Desert Center in Paonia, Colorado. It is a rural campus offering courses on defining sustainability for oneself, and learning the skills to implement changes in your life. In Spring of 2010, I visited Unitierra, an innovative activist organization, free university, and radical learning space in Oaxaca, Mexico. I'm inspired by grassroots organizations that suit the local ecology and community. From these projects, I'm trying to see where I fit into the educational world, and what work I can do in my own community.
I am currently organizing a project called the Madison Free School. It is a learning network and skillshare, offering free classes for anyone, by anyone, in spaces all around the city. Through this project I'm hoping to start a conversation about further community-based alternative education in our city.
To earn money, I am a nanny for a family in my neighborhood. It's great to spend 3 days a week with a 2-year old, exploring and learning together.
I like to crochet, draw pictures, make zines, and play games. I am learning Mandarin Chinese with a conversation partner and hope to eventually be trilingual.
I am excited to return to Vermont and meet/reconnect with all the amazing people at NBTSC.
NBTSC history: Camper (West Virginia), 2003-2005, Junior staff 2006 (Oregon), Dish Queen 2009-2010 (Vermont).
Night Owl
In early camp years, we had a few vigorous staffers--the most memorable was our beloved Billy (Upski) Wimsatt, also the author of a couple marvelous books--who tended to stay up all night right along with campers. More recently, as our staff aged and wrinkled, this niche didn't get filled as automatically, so we made an official position. Now, at each session somebody sweet and strong stays up late--until 2 or 3 a.m., depending on when most campers have nodded off--to be a reassuring and attentive adult presence.
New York City
Ben grew up in New York City and has been unschooled his entire life. Currently he works as the lead game designer for Playmatics, still in NYC. He started out interning in the game development industry at the age of 13 and has leveraged his connections from that ever since to consistently have design work.
Ben enjoys traveling, writing, reading (comics, fiction, informational/how-to), music, playing and thinking about games. He went to college at Eugene Lang for 1 semester before deciding to continue pursuing his career in game design. While he isn't the best resource for information about college life, he is happy to talk about the daunting process of applying to college as an unschooler with no high school records.
NBTSC History: Ben went to NBTSC as a camper for the first time in 2003 and he's only missed one year since then. In 2010 he was Junior Staff for the 2nd Vermont session. Ben has taught workshops on karate, ballroom dance, and game design.
Junior Staff
The junior staff does all kinds of logistical and grunty stuff that frees up the senior staff to focus on caring for campers directly--they scrub lots of pots and pans; supervise bathroom cleanup, the dish-line, and other chores; wake people up in the morning; count heads twice daily; cook; and do all kinds of other important stuff. We really appreciate and love our junior staffers! Their week on jr. staff also enables us to get to know them in a different context and find out how we think they might do in the future as potential senior staff, and it helps them see what being on staff entails. (Lots of fantasies are dashed, actually, when people discover for themselves how hard the staff works, so not everyone ends the week begging to join the senior staff!) Almost always, junior staffers are 19-21 year olds who have come to NBTSC previously as campers. Once in a while, they are folks completely new to our community. (As a bit of historical trivia: Matt, Nicole, Damian, and Jasmine all made their first appearances at camp as junior staffers.)
The 2011 Vermont Session 2 Junior Staff team is Laura DeLuca, Christian Holden, and Geneva Mollins.
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