Neighborhood Strategies for a Child's Freedom6thMarch
How far did you roam when you were a kid? Were you a "Goonie" or a "Hobbit"? Did you journey all around the neighborhood streets and surrounding hillside? Was your circuit the family room, the kitchen and the TV? If you grew up in the latter half of the 20th century, you more likely fell in between these two. If you're a child today, you're most likely limited to the rooms in your home and the grass in your backyard.
Freedom in our youth is critical for developing self accountability and problem solving as adults. How do we help it happen in a modern world that challenges us with safety of our children? Soccer practice is not enough, neither is TrackersKIDS camps. We need neighborhood and community strategies on how to meet the real concerns of parents while we also let kids "be kids". Here are some initial thoughts...
1) Get to know your neighbors. Ask them how they would feel about taking down the fences, both literally and figuratively. If your neighbors are elderly, all the better. Let them become grandmas and grandpas, no matter how grumpy they may be. Make clear agreements to give back for this extra room to roam. Maybe the kids mow the lawn or weed their garden for their benefactors. Let them know freedom is earned by responsibility.
2) Commit to the buddy system. Make it a religion. In fact make it a truddy (groups of three or more). Let kids know that it is their job to bring their peers back home safe. This is a principle of effective teams. When you're watching out for the larger circle of your peers, the edge of your awareness expands and you naturally watch out for yourself.
3) Take 2 classes: First Aid and Self Defense. First Aid lets kids know how they can be responsible for taking care of others in a crises. Being put in the role of caretaker gives a child more responsibility to prevent unnecessary risks. A good self defense class empowers children to set boundaries for one another's safety in a modern world. Remember, with both these classes the goal is not to foster fear, but offer realistic tools children need to take care of themselves and their peers
These are just a few ideas of how to expand the ever shrinking borders of a child's world. Please reply with you ideas and we will add some of them to the next blog. Also if you are interested in self defense classes for kids or women, contact molly@trackersnw.com
Spring Break Camps are still open Register and learn more here
A new summer camp for week 2! Little House in the Big Valley
We added a camp for Week 2 for ages 4-10. We are very excited about it. Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic series of books have inspired children and adults for generations. During this week we explore homesteading skills: wild plants, gardening, candle and soap making, whittling (for older kids), teas and tinctures and much more. Also, every camper will get a piece of slate and chalk and lunches will be eaten from real lunch pails. At the end of the week we will make our own ice cream and have a down home fiddle party. July 29-July 3, 2009
Register or learn more, visit the week 2 page
Teen and Tweens Camps are Here
We respect the competency of teens and tweens. While our camps are fun adventures, they are also an intelligent conversation and exploration of new ideas.
Learn more about or register for teen camps here
June 28-July 3, 2009, Ages 11-13, The Tribe: Middle School Village
Come together for 6 days to form a tribe in the wilds.
July 25-31, 2009, Ages 11-13, The Umiak: Build a boat
Help us build a traditional 30 person traditional whaling boat, called an umiak.
August 2-8, 2009, Ages 14-19, The Tribe: High School Village and reality web cast with TrackersTV
Come together for 10 days to form a tribe in the middle of the wilderness. Tribe members also produce a daily web cast that regales their adventures to hundreds and thousands of viewers.
August 9-22, 2009, Ages 11-13 Build your own Kayak
Build and take home your own traditional skin on frame kayak on a permaculture farm.
