Geek and Proud30thMarch
30th
March
Village and collaborative skills by Tony Deis on Mar 30, 2012
Two-months ago I received a rather unexpected email from an individual who coordinates another local camp/school program (that shall not be named)… "Speaking as a professional Outdoor Educator, I feel that it is extremely important to connect kids with nature. I am concerned that if your organization begins to incorporate a media focus (like Hellboy Camp), you will lose the ability…
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Trackers Earth: An Origin Story (in Verse)29thFebruary
29th
February
Village and collaborative skills by Tony Deis on Feb 29, 2012
Well, I wish it was actually a history in verse. That's really my dream, to one day write and direct a theatrical musical. But I digress (sigh). I recently had conversations with some Very Awesome Parents (you know who you are) about the history of Trackers. In our village, legacy is the heart and hearth of a family. There are many vital…
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Silent Wednesday: Dumb Idea (or Genius)? 7thFebruary
7th
February
Village and collaborative skills by Tony Deis on Feb 07, 2012
I realize much of this blog is spent crowing about Trackers. I freely admit my bias. Yet a wise man once wrote, “Show me a completely smooth operation and I'll show you someone who's covering mistakes. Real boats rock.”* For those not in the know, last summer our entire summer camp went silent every Wednesday. Every group, every camper…
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Once Upon A Camp18thJanuary
18th
January
Village and collaborative skills by Tony Deis on Jan 18, 2012
Camp was once a doorway into ancient skills and outdoor lore. Modern camps, especially nature based programs, now primarily focus on scripted games, a soft curriculum such as "Meet a Tree", "Songlines", "Elbow Tag" and "Eagle Eye". Why has this happened? Bottom line, "camp by the manual" is easier. Not "phoning it in" involves canniness,…
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Knives11thJanuary
11th
January
Village and collaborative skills by Tony Deis on Jan 11, 2012
A woodcarving knife is a tool. Many of us grew up with one. As a kid, it was your pocket-knife, you carried it with you and whittled the sticks you found. For many parents, it's an intimidating and scary thing. That's understandable. Here's a fact: even experienced adults get cut. People with extensive training in safe carving skills occasionally…
