Wilder Children20thJanuary
In Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic Little House books we see children tending to livestock, mending clothes and planting fields. In many hunter-gatherer cultures youth had the skills to help harvest, hunt and scout the landscape, recounting what they observe to village elders.
My first job as an educator was in a grade school computer lab when I was 16 years. On ancient Macintosh IIE's, kids played the Oregon Trail by a 5 1/2 inch floppy and green pixels shot at squirrels. One day I commented on how the children of the real Oregon Trail often walked over 20 miles a day. Then I asked, "How often do you think we walk a day?" Later the principle of this private school said a parent was unhappy that I made such a comparison. They did not want their child to feel bad about what they "could not do." I knew had a really good rapport with those kids and suspected this was more a parent's issue then a child's.
In fact, being the "rebel" teenage teacher, I started bow drill fires with them outside during recess, read Tom Brown books and tried to plant a garden in the school yard. I started teaching when I was a kid myself. Consequently I've always ardently believed that children are capable of so much more then what this culture trusts them with.
"18" is an arbitrary number for real responsibility. A look at hunter-gatherer culture across the world tells you that families are not "nuclear" but a chorus of people working together to care for the land. Somehow I suspect that everyone reading this wanted to be a "Wilder" child. Its what we all share at Trackers. You have the power to give that to the children in your stead. We have the power to makes families real Houses of support.
New Camp Wilders Guild: Overnight Camps for ages 8-13 years Yes, this is the first TrackersNW full week overnight camp for kids ages 8 and over. We stepped into this realm with careful forethought and through the urging of many parents. The best of our best instructors will be assigned to the 2-weeks this camp is offered. It features all the homestead and permaculture skills of the Wilder's Guild. Plus, it takes place at the Fawnwood Farm, a CSA and home to two of our most incredible founding community members: June Rzendzian (one of our best educators) and David Jacobson (one of our best trackers). Also, look for a Rangers Guild overnight coming soon. Learn about our homesteading camp
Evening Open House for Home School, After School and Camps January 26, 6pm-7pm, Meet other Trackers parents, instructors and learn more about our home school and after school programs. Contact Molly to RSVP
Teen Intern Program Informational Night, January 26, 7pm-8pm (after the Open House), A work study program for teens ages 16 and older. Beginning in February, join us one weekend a month to train wilderness skills up at the Trackers Homestead. Then share those skills interning at our programs and camps. Contact Molly to learn more
