Remaking our world8thJuly
The kids camp for this week is called Welcome to Middle Earth for 4-10 year olds. Its pretty easy to guess what goes on there: a quest for the ring, donning elvin cloaks and fighting with swords. The actual results are what's really fantastic. In this camp, kids don't need to be "managed" or told where to go and what to be. In this camp they shape the story and that story reshapes them; demonstrating the fine line between our vision of the world and the actual life we lead.
Culture is a conversation, the stage and setting for our daily life. If the story of a culture is mundane, then each moment is about just getting by. If the tale is epic, with incredible aims and goals, with characters mighty and bold, then so shall our lives become.
This morning there are 10 kids in a self defense workshop taught by "Arwen" (our very own Molly Strand). Her question posed to the group: How do they defend themselves against the orc armies waiting for them in Oaks Bottom? They're elbowing pads, enthusiastically yelling "No!" and learning flying jump kicks (the latter not being the best self defense move, yet fun regardless).
Some may say, "Sure, role playing is great for kids but adult life needs to be practical." I ask all of us (including myself) to reevaluate this assumption. Why do we need to be so literal in our lives? What advantage does it actually give us? Who really needs Mondays? Maybe we could all use a little more live action theater in our day to day. Not pomp and circumstance, not more rules, but passion for living story. A mythology that not only crafts a quest for the days to come, but the ensuing years and even (yes its possible) centuries. Clarity of vision where one day maybe Cascadia (the Pacific Northwest) is its own version of Middle Earth.
Make our own 10th century german shoes Yes, they look like Dungeons and Dragons garb. And yes, they're probably the most comfortable and durable pairs of shoes you will ever wear.
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Teaser for upcoming TrackersTEAMS Immersion program...
Winter 2009 3 month seasonal program
• Winter and the Water People, a boat building apprenticeship and Taoist martial arts
• Spring and Earth People, permaculture and medicinal and edible plants apprenticeship and yoga
• Summer and the Fire People, rites of passage, expeditions across Cascadia, and hand to hand combat;)
• Fall and the Wind People, tracking, ecology and survival apprenticeship and stealth skills
Each program can be enrolled in individually to make a 3 month program or together as a 6-month, 9-month or 12-month program. Contact Tony to learn more
Watch our website: Launch date August 1, 2009
Fall 2010 Master degree program through Prescott College
• Do TrackersTEAMS and get your masters through Prescott College
• Class takes place at our 400 acre cabin in Sandy, Oregon with overnights in one of the most beautiful places on the planet
• Elective options such as Permaculture Design, Wildlife Research in Africa and Boat Building let you design your own course of study
Inquiries only to Trackers up until September 1, 2009. Contact Tony to learn more.
Watch our website Launch date September 1, 2009
