Dear Indian Brook Families,
As you know, F&W is transitioning to a 7 week summer schedule this year. At IB, this has afforded us the opportunity to re-evaluate and refresh our program. We’re really excited about what’s in store for this summer and we wanted to let you know what to expect and look forward to!
Community building and skill building have always been two of the things that make Indian Brook such an empowering place for campers. Given the time constraints of a shorter schedule, we want to make sure that the experience of completing meaningful, hands-on, community-based projects is preserved, and we want to make sure campers have as many opportunities as possible to learn and practice new hands-on skills. Although the general flow of the day will remain the same, we will be re-emphasizing these two elements in our morning and afternoon activities.
Campers will spend their mornings engaged in age-appropriate, skill based work projects that benefit the community. Just a few examples of things one might do include planting a kitchen herb garden, making cheese, building a new kybo, clearing and blazing trails, processing wool, harvesting and preserving food, building bonfires, building cob ovens, building canoes, … and the list goes on. With more time dedicated to morning activities, campers will be able to really invest in projects and have the time to complete them.
In the afternoon, campers will choose from a wide variety of activities that will allow them to work toward the skills they are most interested in. This might be silk screening, rock-climbing, canoeing, pottery, orienteering, carving, knitting, learning to play the guitar, dancing, soap-making, painting murals…! We look forward to celebrating as campers achieve milestones along these many skill building pathways, and as they use their skills to make IB a more productive, exciting community!
Whereas swimming lessons for all campers used to be part of the morning schedule, this summer most swimming activities will take place in the afternoon. We will be evaluating each camper on arrival day to determine who meets the baseline level of swimming proficiency needed to participate in waterfront activities. Those campers who do not meet this skill level will receive instruction from WSI certified staff and can participate in other waterfront activities once they are able to demonstrate improved skills. In other waterfront news, we are excited to offer not one, but TWO general swims per day on most days. Waterfront activities will also be among the activity options during every afternoon activity time. This will include canoeing, kayaking, distance swims, games, snorkeling, diving, and swimming instruction for those who are already a swimmer but want to improve their skills. Note that all lessons and waterfront activity time will take place in the afternoon when it’s a bit warmer 🙂
Whew! That sounds like a lot, but don’t forget about trips and all camp games, cocoa house and Adventure Days, morning singing and Silent Meeting, delicious meals and morning barn chores, wonderful friends and a whole team of counselors and staff who can’t wait to meet you. IB summer 2009 is ready to go, and now all we need is YOU!
Best,
Nicole Sutherland-Maiden