A few days ago (no one really remembers what the date is any more), 11 members of our community spent a day of reflection up on the flank of Saltash Mountain. The next day, they received their Flying Cloud names. While the counselors played D&D under the cherry tree (aka staff meeting), the campers fanned out into the surrounding woods, bringing back brush, chunks, and mini-base logs. The fire they built blazed through a real downpour, and the rain didn’t discourage Tells the Rhyme as he recounted the story of Rainbow Crow. As the night wore on, and the rain eventually lifted, we all danced and sang to celebrate 11 of our brothers’ new Flying Cloud Names:
Sees the Circle
Listening Spring
Summer River
Starlit Journey
Aspen Brother
Song in the Village
Voyager’s Embrace
Raven Holds the Spark
Brings the Dawn
Sunset Raven
Tending Quest
The morning after the naming, we hiked down to the Plymouth camps for Interdependence Day. The skits and songs were great (we rocked a sweet FC version of the Pokemon theme song) and the ice cream and dancing were lots of fun.
After two party days in a row, we took a slow morning sprucing up our lodges and got back in the rhythm of activities. We’ve been making birch bark baskets, practicing bowdrilling, going on fungi and tree id walks, and more. Tomorrow and the next day,we’ll be heading out on five trips (some photos of these departures are on the FC photo gallery, courtesy of our fabulous drivers):
Flagstaff—This longer trip for older campers is headed to Maine to canoe Flagstaff Lake before handing the boats off to SAM camp and hiking the Bigelow range.
White Mountains Hiking Trip—A hike along Franconia ridge through alpine zones in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
Green River Canoe—Exploring the beautiful Green River Reservoir in the Green Mountains.
Survival Trip—Working through the survival sacred order: shelter, water, fire, food, and going on a day hike to look for wild edibles.
Skills Bash—After setting up a base camp, and scoping the lay of the land, this trip will work on Tracking and Crafts.
We’re all having fun. Until next time!
-FF