This summer I decided it was time to create the village I was craving. If I keep waiting for the right property, the right time or for others to commit - it's never going to happen.
So, here's to making it happen, slowly, surely and one week/day at a time. Here's to creating the containers and the spaces we want to see. And since I write up these lovely schedules for camp and sometimes no campers come and it's just my own kids and I, I figured why not share them. There is no gatekeeping here - my goal is not to 'make money' from this - it is simply to be in community with others and thus Camp Mansfield nudged its way to the top of my priority list.
Without further ado; Week 01 // Birds, bees and bunnies at Camp.
At Camp Mansfield we are stewards of the earth; we care for a small flock of hens and we are beekeepers and gardeners. Come meet the chickens, collect eggs and taste honey from our very own hives! Mingle with the black and brown eyed Susies, see if you can spot our resident rabbit sneaking a treat from the garden and count how many different kinds of birds you notice throughout the day. Learn how to create a haven for native beings and become a good steward, too.
itinerary
- Arrival + CIRCLE TIME 9-9:30am // Verses, songs and movement games in the backyard. Say hello to the chickens and check for eggs. Since it will be so hot, I'll have a big pitcher of refreshing still water infused with lemon balm and mint for everyone to sip on throughout the day.
- MORNING FREE PLAY 9:30-10:30am // We will have blankets spread out in the grass, building blocks, (bird, bee and bunny) books and a curated morning basket.
- STORY TIME 10:30am // Story from the Burgess Bird Book for Children. "Author and conservationist Thornton W. Burgess (1874–1965) wrote thousands of animal stories for children, starting with the 1910 publication of Old Mother West Wind. Burgess's tales convey his fascination with wildlife and his concern for nature, teaching gentle lessons about ecology and respect for the environment."
- SEMI-GUIDED ACTIVITY 10:30-11:30am // Native Flora + Fauna Mural. Draw, color or adorn our first Camp Mansfield mural during story time.
- FREE PLAY + LUNCH PREP 11:30am // Practice cutting crunchy carrots and cool cucumbers. Nibble on snap peas and fresh lettuce and eat like a bunny! Wander and mingle until lunch is served.
- LUNCH 12:30pm // Charcuterie lunch - all the veggies, cheese, nuts, crackers and dips. We will picnic just outside the garden gate and sip on lemon balm lemonade.
- QUIET TIME 1-3pm // Naps for littles. Older children to assist in afternoon reset and set-up art table. Child-led art to last until about 4pm.
- ART until 4pm // Child-led art. During this time, art supplies will be provided for undirected creating. Kids will be free to cut, color, paste, pipe, calligraph, paint and play to their hearts content. When many individuals envision art, they often visualize a completed piece such as a museum painting or a sculpture. However, it's crucial to remember that art is a process. At camp, when engaging with young children, we prioritize art experiences that emphasize the process over the final outcome.
- SNACK 4pm // Birdie Berry Kebabs - We will practice fine motor skills and thread berries onto skewers to make a snack fit for a King Fisher. For extra deliciousness, we can thank the bees and drizzle our kebabs with some honey from our backyard hives! We can flip through our bird-watchers book and note any visitors we spotted.
-AFTERNOON FREE PLAY + Departure until 5pm // After snack we will tidy up and play freely until departure.
These itineraries are sent out weekly to a small group of local families. Feel free to adapt these schedules to your kiddos. Use it as a template for your daily schedule or simply use it for inspiration. I believe in itineraries as a guidelines to help keep track of ideas and plans. It's a foundation to fall back on if we need to recalibrate but I love creating spaces for the kids to have free rein and lead the way. Creating a container and providing a space for intentional, imaginative play is simultaneously simple and complex and I encourage you to give it a whirl.
There is an Einstein quote that I regularly check in with.
Take what you like, what works for you - leave the rest. My hope is that over time we will weave the threads of community into a grand tapestry that we can all draw on for support.
Next week, our theme is Thirteen Moons on Turtles back.