If You Build It30thDecember
I've written a lot about the "Guilds" of our new Houses & Guilds curriculum; yet we've purposely revealed very little about the "Houses". In starting this conversation I'm going to need patience and a willingness to "play the game" from the parents we work with. Its helps to be excited about the Mystery and All The Possibilities that new experiences bring.
We need to consider "Houses" to be the organic side to the structure of our "Guilds", the yin to the yang and the wild sensibility that deftly holds everything we do. Houses are That Which We Cannot Overly Planned. Which makes them Very Important indeed.
I remember in the movie "Field of Dreams" the driving whisper repeated over and over again, "If you build it they will come." In the movie it was a baseball field and a common love the game. For us we hear a herald to create grand places for families to gather, both literally and in forums that foster community support. We need welcoming landscapes for aunties, uncles, grandmas, grandpas and friends. We need physical spaces where children can truly play in nature and be raised in a village.
Yet what do people do when they arrive at this epic Gathering Hall? Well, that has to be completely up to them. Its not rocket science, its intuitive to all of us. They will do what families naturally do: work hard, celebrate, share and support.
Am I being vague, yes. Do we have a clear vision of what Houses will look like, absolutely yes. Yet its an agile vision. One that accommodates diversity, new ideas and a greatness we can never predict. Its a vision of community not isolated but connected to vibrant neighborhoods, networks and a land base. Thus, we need our families to be the ones to decide what their "Houses" will accomplish. This means purposely leaving it open. Its a leap of faith in the community we work with.
So please be patient and don't try to "track" this trail like its a riddle. Think of it more like flowing down a river, one that starts out as a trickle and eventually meets the sea. Houses are where the organization of Trackers relinquishes control in an effort to develop even more trust. Its letting the genius of the good folk we work with help us be our best.
If you want the literal translation...
Houses n pl [ˈhaʊzɪz] Groups and connections of families tending to the needs of the village
Nature of the Village Family Camp Summer 2010 For every journey there are many beginnings. Our family camp is one. Bring your family, bring your friends and share a week where we explore the act of creating Houses. Learn nature skills, homesteading and much more with your children, peers and Trackers instructors.
After School Update We had many parents request a pre-care option because their school releases earlier then our 3pm start time. So here is what we've done...
- Added a pre-care option that runs from 2pm-3pm
- Made clear if you choose transportation from you school, then pre-care is included
- Extended pick-up to 6:30pm
To sum it up, the program new runs from 3pm-6:30pm (same price). Transportation from the school and/or pre-care is available from 2pm-3pm.
Home School Begins February The winter session represents the first major release of our Guilds curriculum.
BTW We are looking for someone who is skilled and has the equipment to help us make embroidered patches for our Guilds program (it would nice to give the business opportunity to someone local and our community).
