Wow! I can’t believe that camp is almost over. In the past few weeks I feel like I’ve achieved all of my objectives and learned more than I even expected or hoped. Leading, organizing, and having fun with a large group of kids is by no means easy. Finding that perfect balance between disciplinarian and fun is equally essential and difficult, if one side overpowers the other everything can quickly go south, but I feel like I’ve been growing as a leader. Taking kids out into the woods to identify insects (must have 6 legs!) and trees (hackberries have bumpy bark!) has been a testament to the necessity to both be in control (and prevent poison ivy affliction) while still be adventurous and exciting. I’ve found that making connections between what we see in the woods to what the campers create and build in the studio is also crucial. If we’re designing bug houses for instance, choosing a specific bug that we’ve seen just outside the studio screen door makes it all the more cool, and of course educational.
I’ve definitely gotten a greater sense of the New Orleans performance and interdisciplinary art scene. One of the instructors at camp introduced me to a “farm jam” festival at a blueberry farm owned by a family from Mexico in Mississippi where she performed. I went to support her and it was truly magical. It was nice to get out of the usual 10 mile radius of New Orleans that I tend to stay in and to explore the art and farming scenes across state lines!
I’ve been journaling about everything as a way of monitoring my growth and experiences. It’s nice to compare my expectations, excitements, and fears with the reality of what camp has been like. I’m especially excited about a solar oven project that I did with the kids. Together we altered an old pizza box (#upcycling) and used tin foil and plastic wrap to turn chips and cheese into solar nachos. It was a really simple and fun way to teach the kids about the potential uses of solar power. The kids were so invigorated by it and came to the conclusion that the nachos were decidedly sunny and delicious.
I’ve had to earn my respect as a leader to these kids in some ways, which has been a both laborious and rewarding process. A Studio in the Woods, and the summer camp as well, is nearly entirely run by women. Being surrounded by these independent, strong, organized, and awesome women has been wonderful and provided me with such an opportunity to learn. Each has such distinct skills and interests, and together they work so well to support each other and by extension A Studio in the Woods. Becoming a stronger leader, learning about the ins and outs of youth environmental education, and gaining a stronger insight into how an environmental nonprofit like this runs are all incredibly vital experiences. I think that every learning experience, even if not directly to a career path I might take such as youth education, applies to anything I may do in the future.