FC Newsletters 2023

Summer 2023

Checking in on FC!

Letters from the director

A collection of updates from FC Director Elliot Siegrest Jones, organized from most to least recent. Enjoy!

We also post photos about once a week. Check it out!

July 1st | Sparking Community

We are 24 hours into session one (not that we're counting), and already I'm feeling the hum of excitement from a quickly forming community.

We started our first evening together with our traditional big pasta dinner before settling into our Friendship Fire opening ceremony: This is a time to set and share intentions the session ahead. I am always moved by the depth, insight, and thoughtfulness that comes from a group so early in forming their trust with one another, and I would like to share some of the musings of our group from the three questions we ask campers:

1. What are you bringing with you to FC?

Folks said: Good Vibes, Open-Mindedness, Calmness, Curiosity, Sense of Humor, Excitement....

2. What do you want to leave behind now that you're here?

Folks said: Anxiety, Self-Doubt, Worry, Social Expectations, "The sense that us humans have it all figured out," and "The ever-growing want I feel for technology."

3. What do you want to take home with you when you leave?

Folks said: Sense of calm & peace, appreciation for natural world, better sense of self, self-confidence, sense of independence, “The feeling of calm I feel out here in the woods," and "Humility & gratitude for experience I am gonna have, because not everyone gets to."

Today was our first full day of orientation. We woke up to sunshine in the clearing, and had our first morning gratitude circle. Next, we had an orientation to camp — which we've dubbed "Chorientation." Campers learned knife & fire safety rules, how to use our tools, and played games in the warm summer sunlight.

After a yummy "Samwish" lunch, we spent the afternoon doing some community construction, including creating our In & Out list. The In & Out list illustrates what we do want to see & what we don't want to see in the community of our creation.

One of my favorite "Ins" is “Assuming best intent," and the agreement that we will always try to see the good in other people's actions, understanding they will extend that same grace to us.

It's such a joy to have the clearing full of curiosity, laughter, and purposeful work once more. I look forward to sharing more stories from Flying Cloud as they are formed.

Peace,

Elliott

July 11th | Glowing, Rain and All!

Hello, FC Families!

After a long day of heavy rain, I am please to report that we are warm and dry here in the clearing today. Sleeping bags and socks are hung and drying in the sun, and while our leadership team works with Resource and other folks at the main office to adapt to circumstances in the surrounding towns, things feel just about normal here in the clearing.

We prepared for the heavy amounts of water through camp by using one of our regularly-scheduled chore periods to have a camp-wide trench-digging party! We did the same thing during rains in 2021, and strategically placing trenches around our lodges helps to keep key living areas mostly dry. It's a great bonding experience, and prompted some vigorous conversations around hydrology! The rivulets of water criss crossing through camp fascinated our campers and staff alike, and gave a new perspective on water and earth alike!

There are some classic FC activities that are perfect for a rainy day: Dungeons and dragons, Magic the Gathering, and a staff member busted out an enormous set of Legos that have been an absolute hit.

We took time to inform campers about the surrounding damage and flooding in Vermont. They were assured that their families are alright, and informed on how this will impact some of our activities here. You can read more about how Farm & Wilderness is addressing damage and adapting camp programming HERE.

In the meantime, we are doing the safest versions of all our activities and minimizing risk as much as possible. Whittling & knife use have been put on pause, and campers are learning how to very carefully navigate our muddy trails.

In the sunlight of today, we've enjoyed working on our bow drill fires, tending to our garden, and getting back to some projects started before the storm.

I'm also so elated to share that, despite the downpour, in the glow of a very tenaciously-coaxed bonfire, seven new campers received their Flying Cloud words. We were able to play our usual games, sing, dance, and celebrate amazing new additions to our family.

Thank you for your trust, for your resilience, and for sharing you amazing campers with us. Flying Cloud is a spectacular place to be, rain or shine.

Peace,

Elliott

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