Summer Camp 2018 Program Coming Soon!
See our 2017 program below.
See our 2017 program below.
Theme: Exploring Power, in Love and Authenticity
Power is the ability to shape our world, to create the experiences that we want to have.
Power can involve domination or abuse (“power-over”) – out of empathy and outrage for those dominated, many reformers have wanted to renounce power altogether. But power is also our life force energy, and we can use it harmoniously, to create what we want in partnership or community with others.
This year at camp we will explore:
- Claiming our personal power - our birthright of joy and ecstasy. (Turn Your Heart On, Exploring the Pleasure Channel in Community, Melting into Movement, Tantra & Empowerment, Dance Freedom, Heartivist Practice)
- Healing our wounds around authority and power structures. (Boundaries, Going Deeper)
- Making our power structures clean, clear, effective, and flexible. (Exploring Rank)
- Understanding hidden biases and dynamics so we can make effective choices. (Unconscious Bias, Who’s on the Allyship?)
In this exploration, we aim to create a field of love and radical acceptance, where every voice is welcome. In this field, we will learn to claim and then navigate with our power, giving and receiving feedback about how our choices impact each other.
- What is it like when we can tell our deepest secrets to each other? When we can say “friend, here is how it is for me,” and be heard and understood?
- What is it like when we find the deep witness in ourselves, the one who can hear and hold other people’s truths?
- What is it like to feel so in love with ourselves and the world that we are delighted in any feedback we receive?
Diving Into Connection – Indigo Dawn, Friday, July 7
Let's find out who's here and what we have to offer each other! We’ll spend much of the time moving around, meeting new folks and deepening existing relationships. Participants can engage with the group and get quick, direct feedback on issues they care about. We'll also have time to go deeper in one-on-one connections. This is a quick, fun, easy way to meet lots of people, get a sense of the diversity of the group, and explore opening up to each other.
Opening Circle – Saturday, July 8
The community gathers to share vision and intention for creating a New Culture.
Going Deeper – Multiple presenters, throughout camp
Over the years we’ve been building a culture that supports intimacy by teaching skills for healthy boundaries, handling painful emotions, holding space for others’ process, and so on. Now it’s time to take it to the next level. When the need arises to give difficult feedback or address something that’s getting in the way of getting close to another person, many times we still let it go, not wanting to ruin a happy moment or create a rift. But in reality, we’re keeping ourselves from intimacy when we could have it. When we’re willing to tell another person what’s keeping us from getting closer, we actually get closer.
In the “Going Deeper” spaces, we’ll have a chance to share difficult truths, intimate appreciations, and vulnerable parts or ourselves. Let’s get beyond this kind of sharing being an extraordinary experience, to where it’s an ordinary everyday thing. Every day we deepen our connections. Consider the possibility that we have no idea who our closest friends could be once we start sharing at this level. We have no idea what could happen when we really give our relationships our deepest attention.
Safe Sex Conversations – Michael Rios, Saturday, July 8
In a sex-positive and body-honoring community, we have a responsibility to educate ourselves on how to keep ourselves safe while having fun. This workshop presents up-to-date scientifically and medically sound information on how to manage health issues for anyone who has multiple sexual partners--including how we can have *safe* sex, not just "safer" sex. We cover specific techniques, brands, and concepts that allow responsible sex without damaging pleasure or intimacy.
Boundaries & Cuddles – Sarah Taub, Saturday, July 8
Mmm, that glorious moment when we are giving exactly what our partner wants to be receiving! Sometimes we find that “sweet spot” spontaneously—but more often, we find it through clear communication and feedback. How many of us say “yes” to things we don’t actually want out of guilt or a fear of losing connection? In many ways, “no” is the most daring and intimate response possible – if I can hear your “no”, I can trust your “yes.” Sarah helps us practice finding that sweet spot of mutual “yes” through a series of juicy experiential exercises … leading into a nurturing, non-sexual cuddle gathering focused on connection and consensual, loving touch.
ZEGG Forum – the Forum Team, Daily
Forum (http://www.zegg-forum.org/index_en.phtml) was created at ZEGG, an intentional community in Germany, and its sister communities as a way of promoting transparency and mutual understanding among community members. ZEGG members found that decision-making meetings often got derailed because of emotional conflicts and undercurrents that were not known to or understood by all. In Forum, each individual’s experience could be seen and understood, leading to greater empathy and creativity in the community. Now, many residential and non-residential intentional communities have adopted Forum as a way to maintain ongoing connection, intimacy and understanding.
The goal of Forum is to reveal what is alive but not known to all. The community sits in a circle, forming a stage for one person at a time to stand and show what is true for them. Facilitators may assist the person (or “presenter”) to reveal themselves more deeply. Afterward, community members may offer reflections, or “mirrors,” on what they saw.
One of the gifts of ZEGG Forum is that it allows us a space to appreciate every perspective without taking it on as “truth.” Every voice has its own poignancy, its own wisdom, its own truth, that does not negate the wisdom and truth of other perspectives. Allowing all voices to surface and be known can lead to a profound and unexpected integration within a community. We tend to think that events leading to painful experiences and conflicts are bad, because they feel bad in the moment. However, when we open ourselves and compassionately witness what is happening for everyone, these experiences can be gateways to greater closeness, understanding, and love. When conflict emerges, whether or not we are in a formal Forum space, we can choose to listen in this way. This deep listening sustains and nurtures community life and relationships.
Unconscious Bias – Eric Peterson, Sunday, July 9
Whether we know it or not, there are internal unconscious processes that affect our decision-making every day. Every human being gets triggered- either positively or negatively- when exposed to different kinds of people. Cutting-edge recent studies point us to the conclusion that most "biased" decisions are not made by bad people with bad attitudes, but rather by well-intentioned people who are unaware of the internal workings of their minds.
In this workshop we will:
* Examine our own background and identities to interact more authentically with our intimates, friends, and the larger community;
* Explore how the brain functions to recognize Unconscious Bias as a natural function of the human mind;
* Expose patterns of Unconscious Bias and its impact on decision-making processes;
* Confront internal biases to practice conscious awareness in our lives.
We will create space for this exploration to occur in a safe and authentic way.
Sensual Playspace Orientation & Opening - Sunday, July 9
The Sensual Playspace is a warm and inviting space to explore connection and intimacy by engaging all of the senses. This is a space to lounge together after spending the day learning communication and intimacy tools - the perfect place to practice communication and share affection in a relaxed and sex positive atmosphere. Sarah will give an introduction to the space and we will practice the “Safe Sex Elevator Speech.” The introduction will take place in our main meeting area and is open to everyone.
After the Playspace Orientation, those who wish will proceed to the Playspace for its official opening. All are invited to explore the Playspace – the opening activities will be sensual but nonsexual, and there will be a clear transition when the space becomes open for sexual connection.
"Turn Your Heart On" Puja – Crystal Dawn Morris, Monday, July 10
This ritual is dedicated to opening our hearts and allowing our natural radiance to shine. It is an opportunity to come together as a community and recognize the love and freedom that is present in every moment. This ritual supports you in connecting with others in a heart-full, playful and compassionate way. A Puja is a celebration of the Divine within all beings. Using breath, sound, movement, guided visualization, and conscious communication we will open and expand our hearts. Together we will create a safe, relaxed environment to connect and share as a group. Your healthy boundaries are honored. Please bring a water bottle. We will begin with a short practice to open and connect to our subtle energy awareness. At the end there will be time to share our experience as a group.
Exploring the Pleasure Channel in Community – Crystal Dawn Morris, Monday, July 10
This powerful ritual is an active meditation that allows us to connect our heart energy and our life-force energy in a variety of ways. The meditation is guided and has music that supports the experience. We will begin by using breath, sound and movement to open our Central Channel. Next, we will move into a group process in which share energy as a circle. Then we will shift into a dyadic process as we stand and explore sharing two waves of energy with others we choose to engage with. Then there will be an opportunity to explore sitting in dyads with a focus on shifting to the inverted breath and creating one wave of energy moving back and forth between two people. The focus of this practice is to help you experience Oneness as you integrate breath, sound and movement and share an experience of subtle energy awareness with others. Your healthy boundaries are honored.
Cacao Ceremony & Melting into Movement – Atticus Mooney, Monday July 10
Melting into Movement is an embodiment laboratory for playful spirits, creative expression and opening hearts. Upon entering the dance floor portal we are transported; we are open to alchemy and receptive to union with Source; inspiration and sensory delight. In this space we're no longer bound to social constructs and expectations, or workplace personas. Plus, it's a damn good + sweaty time. We'll activate our journey with ceremonial cacao, a creativity-awakening and potent heart-opening medicine. With the guidance of an intentionally curated setlist, we'll move through what calls to be expressed, released and renewed. Emotions, patterns, thoughts and beliefs may all be challenged and alchemized through the movement itself. Leave transformed!
Who’s On the Allyship? – Oblio Stroyman & Crystal Byrd Farmer, Tuesday, July 11
Each of us is on a journey toward more power and freedom, but mainstream society systematically puts more obstacles in the path of some people based on their culture, race, gender, and/or physical abilities. Though we may desire to foster inclusion and acceptance, sometimes our internal blind spots get in the way of being a true ally to people who encounter more obstacles than we do. In order to be more effective at welcoming and supporting all people, we must examine our unconscious use of power and the way it can unintentionally cause harm to others. Our personal growth depends on recognizing the nature of privilege and our own participation in oppressive systems.
This workshop will offer us all an experiential opportunity to dive deep in a supportive and real container. Our intention as presenters is to hold a space of love and compassion as we explore these tender topics. In this space, all emotions are welcome – any contraction is just an invitation to more empathy, more compassion, more empowerment. No one will be “made wrong” or shamed – this is an opportunity to take in information, see with new eyes, and potentially make new choices.
Oblio Stroyman / Crystal Byrd Farmer
Fundraiser Auction – Tuesday, July 11
Expect to be amused and surprised by the variety of unusual items and services donated by fellow campers for bidding. Previous auctions have included such offerings as "1000 kisses" and "a morning serenade." Auction proceeds help to provide scholarships and improve future camps.
Tantra & Empowerment – Crystal Dawn Morris, Wednesday, July 12
Discover a new path to power, sex, and intimacy! Laurie Handlers will help you give yourself permission to fall totally in love with yourself and embrace everything about yourself. Then you will be able to define your personal integrity. Integrity allows you to stand strong in your life in the face of fear, anger, judgment and resistance.
We'll take a close look at people’s inability to permit themselves anything like love, pleasure, abundance, health. There is a direct connection between the Sacral Chakra (sexual energy center) and the Throat Chakra (center of self-expression). If you do not have permission to speak and get what you want, you probably have no permission to experience pleasure - and vice versa. So, where is the blockage? We will work on this issue from both ends, literally and figuratively.
During this experiential day you will:
· activate, clear and balance the Chakras (energy centers) of the body
· learn to work with your intentions to manifest what you desire
· learn 6000 year old Egyptian, Indian, and Tibetan practices that teach our bodies to expand to more pleasure and agelessness
· learn and practice emotional release
· discover sex techniques and conscious connection
Here are some other possible benefits:
1. Feel great about yourself – happy, more attractive, self-confident, increase your capacity for more pleasure, experience joy and fulfillment as a way of life.
2. Empower well-being – eliminate toxins, eliminate stress – accept yourself for who you are & release deep painful cellular memories; feel safe and whole.
3. Focus – set intentions, do the practices and watch the laws of attraction bring what you want i.e. life partner, more $, career change
4. Uplift relationships – see others for who they really are, relate to their deep divine nature and trust your intuition
5. Experience the expression of your deepest emotions. Know rapture, love, passion and beyond! Become your own beloved!
Exploring Rank – Sarah Taub, Thursday, July 13
We can define “rank” as our ability to exert power in a particular situation. There are many types of rank –some rank is earned by our hard work and development, some is derived from our individual character and charisma, and some is given to us based on the family, country, social class, race, etc. we were born into.
Whether we acknowledge it or deny it, rank is present in all group situations. It is fluid and can shift in a moment from one situation to another – a person who is high rank in one group or context might be low rank in another. For example, in a typical workplace, the employer would outrank the employees … but if the power went out, the employee with electrician’s skills would outrank the employer.
When the rank differences in a group are hidden or denied, there is a sense of confusion and lack of integrity. Power still gets exerted, but only a few people know how or why. In a healthy group, the rank structure is transparent, flexible, and in service to the group’s intentions – the whole group knows that high and low rank positions do not define a person’s worth, but are simply roles that people continually step into and out of in different situations.
In this experiential workshop, we will explore rank in all its forms, uncover hidden rank and rank conflicts in our communities, and learn to acknowledge and gracefully embody the rank and power that we already possess.
Heartivist Practice – Sheya Grace Wind & Owl Grateful Wind, Thursday, July 13
Heartivism… is Love-based creative activism. An invitation to use our human powers in service to life, bringing our creational abilities and gifts together to each make a form of art for the expression / protection of some aspect of the living world. All welcome, no art experience necessary. Many possible mediums. from prayer paintings, flag making to song medicine. High level fun…
Dance Freedom – Sheya Grace Wind, Friday, July 14
Dance Freedom is a free form, authentic movement practice. Integrating elemental waves of music and magic, we give body to our prayers. The process is lightly facilitated, mainly self-directed. Sheya's gentle directions help you unlock your body's wisdom - your spontaneous movements magically create exactly the inner state you need to take your next step in healing, empowerment, and joy. A recipe for community coherence and human rewilding. Welcoming to all.
Open Sessions – Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15
Join in as the entire camp self-organizes for concurrent events, inspired by your own passions and interests. Open Sessions are an opportunity for campers to convene dialogue groups on topics they've been wanting to explore, or create group massages, or do a music jam together. Participants are free to move from session to session, honoring their instincts and natural enthusiasm. /wiki/Open_Space_Technology
Open Mic – Saturday, July 15
Come one, come all, and show us more about you! No talent is required – “if you can walk, you can dance; if you can talk, you can sing!”
Closing Circle – Sunday, July 16
Honoring the experience of the past ten days, we will connect, reflect, and bid farewell to this incarnation of our community.
Lighter Side - as the mood strikes us!
Participants create and perform skits to illustrate humorous events that they have observed or experienced at camp.