I see it in a child’s face: looking intently at their canvas after gluing an image of ancient art to its center–some of the oldest art ever made. Our campers choose from dozens of black and white photocopies of art across the world, the creators now unknown. Reaching inside themselves for their own patterns, texture, story, they work to embellish and add to these ancient creations. I watch with fascination as four to fourteen year olds sit knee to knee in front of their canvases, immersed, focused and surprised at what emerges. Mixing colors – vibrant green-blues or orange-reds, holding their paint brush confidentially, their strokes thick and thin, our campers find unexpected joy in glossy paint being transformed into infinite designs, shapes, ideas. 

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By Shari Davis, Co-Founder/Director Camp Wildcraft 

Her wide black eyes watched us, without a blink. Four scaly orange and gray legs held up an oval shell, stamped with patterns of seashells, fossils, tree rings, stone. On a forested trail in upstate New York, after camp this summer, we met a turtle who at a distance looked like a rock in the road. We sat beside her (or him), its gray shiny face encircled in an orange folded hood. This turtle was in no rush so we spent some time observing each other before moving him to a safer place away from wheels, dogs and feet. 
    
What stories did this solitary turtle hold? How far did she travel to this spot in the road and where was she going? When did our new friend last have a meal and what was on the menu? Was there a mate or turtle children in the nearby woods? How old was she? Why was the shell imprinted with those ancient, circular, symmetrical designs?  Sitting with this patient turtle and asking these questions we didn’t (yet) have the answers for, expanded the narrative of our linear walk with images of this turtle’s imagined life. We came home eager to learn more about this beautiful creature. We discovered she was a rare Wood Turtle who lives near streams and hibernates in winter and that each turtle shell pattern is a unique identifying “fingerprint”.

Benny continuing his turtle drawing (from memory) that he started on the trail. ​

Every hike is a story. You don’t always meet a roaming Wood Turtle, but wherever you walk, whether around the block or on the trail, when you activate your eyes, ears and curiosity, there are small wonders everywhere: the industry of insects, the flight coordination of crows, the tenacity of trees as they rebound from drought and fire—the giant possibility of every acorn. The hike begins and along the way there are a series of encounters and discoveries and small dramas to be shared, “look at this!”—“did you notice how that ….,” “what do you think the (fill in the species) was thinking, feeling, doing?” 

As we observe and ask questions, we invite curiosity to roam the landscape of our imagination. When we shape and tell stories or draw what we see, write a poem or make a mandala of collected seedpods, stones and twigs, we allow ourselves to ponder, feel and make meaning of these small wonders. We animate and deepen the experience for our kids and ourselves and as the joy, connection and sense of belonging take root, we feel an expanded sense of home in the wild. ​

How do our experiences in nature restore our sense of wellbeing? Are there ways we can explore the natural world to increase our creativity?  How can we feel more at home in nature? These (and more!) are some of the big  questions that inspire our encounters with nature at Camp Wildcraft. In this blog, we’ll  share some of our experiences at camp, a little bit of the research that motivates us, and some ways you can create more awareness and connection while exploring nature with your kids. ​

At Camp Wildcraft we see how our campers are happier and their best selves after wading the creek, searching for crystals, pushing themselves up a hill with 25 other kids, or pondering a giant oak while drawing in their sketchbooks. By pointing out surprises on the trail we invite kids to see the functional design of seedpods or  hear the patterns of bird song. We share nature’s intelligence and gifts: such as the recent discovery that yellow and purple wildflowers grow near each other as their complementary colors draw pollinators. Or that the round oak galls that fall from certain oak trees, can be used to make the blackest ink– and have been used for this since ancient times. (We make and use this ink at camp :)  ​

Research shows that exploring and observing nature alleviates negative thoughts, lifts our mood and improves our focus. Being in nature fosters a process of restoration and what psychologists call “soft fascination", a kind of “passive attention" which is effortless and diffuse. This primes our brain to have unexpected connections and insights. Observing patterns, forms and colors in nature have a soothing effect on the human nervous system. It frees us from rumination and worry, allowing us much needed time to find calm and renewal. ​

At Camp Wildcraft we draw kids attention to the small wonders and interconnections they may not have noticed. Storytelling, scavenger hunts, drawing in our sketchbooks creatively  activate kids on the trail and invite them to notice plants and animals within the landscape. Working collaboratively to build big forts from branches or creating small worlds under the trees with sticks, rocks and leaves allow kids to engage with all our senses and feel, through our body, heart and mind, the interconnectedness of all living things. 

​So how can families recharge together by finding wonder and wellbeing in nature ?
​Here are some ideas from our Camp Wildcraft experience: 

• ​Be present.  Give each other the gift of attention. Allow yourself

          a phone break.

• Bring along sketchbooks for both kids AND adults. Take pencils or colored pencils or watercolors….Stop along the way to look closely at details or the broader landscape. Take a breath and draw and paint. Find ochre (yellow colored rocks) to draw with. 
• Tell stories. Stop in a shady spot and tell a story about a favorite childhood memory of being in nature–the ocean, a trip, an adventure. Think about obstacles you encountered and overcame, surprises and mystery, conflicts and collaboration, wonder and awe. 
• Play “I spy” on the trail. As you’re walking, take turns noticing unexpected details which others need to find, “ I spy with my little eye….”
• Make rock cairns. impromptu sculptures of stacks and balanced rocks.
• Find a walking stick. Take it home and sand part of it. Add some paint if desired or wrap some yarn or string around the handle. 
• Print out one of our Camp Wildcraft Nature Journals (below) to encourage a closer look at the natural world.  

Share with us below some of your ways of recharging and connecting with nature!

By Shari Davis, Camp Wildcraft Co-Founder/Director

"Resilience is the capacity to bounce back from the bumps of everyday life. All children are born with natural resilience, but kids have different degrees of buoyancy."   Dr. Kenneth Ginsberg
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So how do we nurture greater buoyancy in our kids so they can bounce back in the face of challenges-- both large and small? I've spent much time researching, pondering, and observing the ingredients of resilience. I'd love to share some insights I've gleaned  directing a teen wellness program for a local non-profit,  training educators on this topic,  and of course observing our kids each summer at camp. 

Why do we want resilient kids? 
We all encounter challenges in our daily lives. It's part of being human. But resilient people see challenges as opportunities to learn. Resilience is a mindset that starts developing in early childhood, and fortifies children with the capacity to learn from and cope with difficulties,  At home and at summer camp, caring adults can coach our kids to think through and learn from the everyday challenges they encounter so they can move forward with optimism and confidence. 

Welcome to the first edition of our blog , "The Wildcraft Wonder Cabinet." Each month  we'll be sharing what we're learning about art and creativity, how nature helps us thrive, and growing compassionate and resilient kids. Our first edition explores CURIOSITY--one of the core values of Camp Wildcraft. We invite you to add to the comments; we're curious to hear about what you are  discovering  as well!  

Think about a time you found a mysterious seed pod or a  feather as you hiked a  trail or found a smooth shard of sea glass or a prized shell while carefully scanning the wet sand on the beach.  

​What drives the desire to find and collect surprising, unusual or everyday wonders  is a  heightened sense of curiosity, strong observation skills  and a love of the hunt! Benny, our Camp Wildcraft Co-Founder,  has a good eye for finding all things weird and wonderful--from fossils and feathers, to wire and metal objects, rescued from the road, after being twisted into random and amusing pattens by the tires of passing traffic! 

The impulse to seek, collect, categorize and display unique artifacts, or ordinary wonders, has compelled  us humans since ancient times. Cultures  around the world  have long collected and displayed sacred objects in shrines and alters to mark a holy or sacred place.  During the Age of Exploration from the 1400's  to 1600s, Europeans started traveling the world and brought back natural and cultural wonders: fossils and skeletons, plants and shells, that they considered unusual, rare and wondrous. These travelers built Cabinets of Curiosities, or Wonder Rooms, in essence, shrines to nature,  that are considered  our  our earliest   museums. 

Wonder and curiosity are similar, both focus our attention and enliven our existence. But curiosity is a shade different than wonder as it leads us to action – towards a next step to discover more. Indeed most educators believe that real learning begins with curiosity as this fuels motivation to know more, understand, and make connections. 

Our new Camp Wildcraft Newsletter is a great way to  stay up to date on Wildcraft discoveries, news and events. 

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