Greetings Blog Readers!
I’m experiencing a bittersweet feeling to be typing out this final blog post for our 2014 season. It seems like only a few days ago when we were walking up the road for the first time this summer, imagining our adventures ahead. These adventures turned out to be as incredible, challenging, and invigorating as I have ever seen in these forests.
Although a couple weeks have already passed since I last wrote, the memories are as fresh as though they were yesterday. We had the usual closing to every Farm & Wilderness summer — Fair! This year, Flying Cloud brought everything we usually do to our Fair offererings and a whole lot more. If you weren’t there to see for yourself, I’ll fill you in on what wares we had for sale. There were the usual offerings of apple-wood smoked beef jerky, hot sauce, and crickets. This year, we added sourdough bread (including a gluten-free version), Jun (a drink similar to Kombucha), balm made from wild harvested ingredients, and handmade belts. These belts were fashioned out of cow leather, laced with buck skin, and tanned by our campers and staff using natural methods and ingredients. It was the most comprehensive booth I have ever seen from Flying Cloud.
Just before the Fair though, there was some serious adventure afoot at the Cloud. For the third year, we sent our Senior Campers through Earthwalk, which is a closing ceremony for campers who are finishing off their time at Flying Cloud. The group, about 18 campers and five staff members, left camp for two full days. In the past, we’ve allowed them to bring the clothes they were wearing, a knife, and anything they had hand crafted at camp. With the bare minimum, they experience the realities of survival situations; how to get shelter, water, fire, and food. This year, we decided to take another step by not allowing the group to bring knives or rope. The group still excelled and it was that much more rewarding to see them accomplish so much with so little.
As usual we closed our summer with another Friendship Fire. Campers and Staff were given the opportunity to appreciate all of their community through their words and giveaways. There was also a space for everyone who had to words to share to speak for Flying Cloud. Wrapped inside all of the love of the night we were also able to announce the Camper Leaders of Flying Cloud Summer 2015. So please join me in celebrating and recognizing these four young men that will be responsible for leading the camper community in ceremony and daily life next summer:
As Speaker, Riverbed Sage
As Fire Keeper, Maple Marten
As Spirit Keeper, Voyager’s Embrace
And as Drum Keeper, Owl Reads the Night
I am so incredibly excited to work these gentlemen next summer as they step into these challenging positions. I am equally excited to experience all the adventures that we will have next year and in all the years that follow. Over the year, I will post pictures on our Facebook Page and more photos will become available in the Flying Cloud Photo Section on our website. There may be the occasional blog post as well. Don’t forget to check out the upcoming Farm & Wilderness Interim too! Consider coming to a work weekend such as Harvest Weekend in October, Ice Cutting in February, and Spring Planting in May.
May the paths of our adventures cross soon.
~FF~