SUMMER CAMP 2023
OVERVIEW
(Week 1) July 3 - 7 : Classic Sassafras Week
Our basic curriculum teaches kids the basics of ancestral, earth, and naturalist skills. We celebrate the start of our summer by getting to know the land at Sassafras intimately. We set up our campsites, explore paths, make new ones, and find secret places where animals like to hang out. We play lots of games, play, run free, be wild and enjoy a day at the beach.
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Dates: July 3 - 7, 2023
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Times: 9 am - 3 pm
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Cost: $425
(Week 2) July 10 - 14 : Fire Week
This week’s focus is on fire-making, in addition to our basic curriculum. Fire is a favorite of kids of all ages, and it contains so many valuable life lessons such as focus, safety, and responsibility. We learn how to gather and harvest good firewood, set up a fire structure, how to tend to it in a safe way, and how to tend to fires with different purposes. Learn the history and the respect for indigenous inventions like making fire by friction and the many other uses of fire. Older kids that are ready can carve their own bow drill set. Lighting your own fire is truly magical!
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Dates: July 10-14, 2023
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Times: 9am - 3pm
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Cost Teen Week: $425
(Week 2) July 10-14 : Teen Week I
Teen Week will be offered twice this summer for ages 12 and up. Teen Weeks are filled with fun adventures, challenging games, and outdoor experiences that help teens navigate today’s world. We practice outdoor skills, explore Aquinnah, and address truth in history, and today, we talk about indigenous wisdom, the climate crises, the hazards of social media, and things that you want to talk about! Our experienced mentors encourage you to dive into your passion for nature.
Teens can opt to work on their leadership skills during Teen Week, to attend additional weeks of Summer Camp as a Teen Helper. Participation in Teen Week is required prior to being a Teen Helper. Teen Helpers pay $125 per week. Please email Saskia to coordinate Teen Helper weeks.
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Dates: Teen Week I July 10-14, 2023/ Teen Week II July 31 - Aug 4, 2023
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Times: 9 am - 3 pm
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Cost: $425
(Week 3) July 17 - 21 : Games & Cooking Week
Sassafras games are a favorite of many youth, and time and time again we receive request for cooking. Indigenous cultures value playing games in many forms, as much as coming together in community around food. Games are an important part of developing skillsets for natural leaders. Cooking requires many different skillsets, such as fire building, harvesting and ID, safety, and building patience through food preparation. Both games and food strengthen community and helps youth to share in a natural way.
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Dates: July 17 - 21, 2023
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Times: 9am - 3pm
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Cost: $425
(Week 4) July 24 - 28 : Crafts & Creativity
In addition to our basic curriculum, this week’s focus is on crafting and being creative. Nature gives us endless inspiration to be creative, and this week we let our creativity flow. Let nature's beauty inspire us, go out to find things on the land, and express ourselves with our hands, our voices, and our ideas. Carving, basket making, cordage, drawing, music, and making up games or skits, the sky is the limit!
Dates: July 24 - 28, 2023
Times: 9 am - 3 pm
Cost: $425
(Week 5) Jul 31 - Aug 4 : Harvest Week
In addition to our basic curriculum, this week's focus is on harvesting from the wild. Learn about edible and medicinal plants, plant ID, and different harvesting methods. We will learn to respect and value Indigenous ways that have so much to teach us in today's world. Communicating with plants, appreciating their gifts, and learning to give something in return to our mother the earth. Some of our favorites are gathering herbs, and wild edibles, picking berries, processing, and making herbal teas and potions.
Teen Week 2 runs concurrent with this week, please see description of Teen Week 1 above.
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Dates: Jul 31 - Aug 4, 2023
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Times: 9 am - 3 pm
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Cost: $425
(Week 5) July 31 - Aug 4 : Teen Week II
Teen Week will be offered twice this summer for ages 12 and up. Teen Weeks are filled with fun adventures, challenging games, and outdoor experiences that help teens navigate today’s world. We practice outdoor skills, explore Aquinnah, and address truth in history, and today, we talk about indigenous wisdom, the climate crises, the hazards of social media, and things that you want to talk about! Our experienced mentors encourage you to dive into your passions for nature.
Teens can opt to work on their leadership skills during Teen Week, to attend additional weeks of Summer Camp as a Teen Helper. Participation in a Teen Week is required prior to being a Teen Helper. Teen Helpers pay $125 per week. Please email Saskia to coordinate Teen Helper weeks.
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Dates: July 10-14, 2023 AND July 31 - Aug 4, 2023
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Times: 9 am - 3 pm
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Cost: $425
(Week 6) Aug 7 - 11 : Ancestral Skills
Our last week of Summer Camp 2023 focusses on Ancestral Skills. Learn about the rich indigenous skills and practices that are needed to live and thrive in true balance with our mother the earth. Gathering edible and medicinal plants, shelter building, fire making, processing, and cooking, crafting items for use, and also communicating with the land and working together.
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Dates: Aug 7 -11, 2023
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Times: 9 am - 3 pm
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Cost: $425
