Bright Path's Blog

Reflections of a New Day

Well it’s that time of year as winter rolls in to spring the  flowers are blooming, sounds of birds chirping, kids at happy play, the rain has subsided at least for this week. Gearing up for summer camp is a really a busy time for us. We are attending as many camp fairs as we can to get out and meet new folks, visit with friends, and share what we do with the community in Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma and surrounding counties.  We attended our first camp fair of the season this week in San Ramon. We were busy all evening long with kids and adults alike. The sights and smells of camp filled the air as kids were for the most part trying to make fire by friction for the very first time. The atlatls were a big draw as well, intriguing even the avid sportsman. It was a great evening and we look forward to the next fair at St. Mark’s on April 27 and then on to the Renaissance Fair on May 20 at Salmon Creek and finally at Redwood High the week of May 23.. Hope you stop by to say HI!

11/8/2010

Bandit 4/1/1998 - 11/7/2010

He is loved and missed.

Oct. 22, 2010

Wow I can't believe so much has happened since I last updated you here on my blog.......Even more amazing is how quickly the days are flying by. It is now fall and the colors on the trees are beginning to turn into the most beautiful fall colors here in N. Ca.

I was a part of a garden party work team in Bolinas putting in swells and beds of various vegetables. We took a piece of land that has been overlooked and turned it in to a thing of beauty, a future food forest.

I then headed off to orientation for a week in Bolinas for my master's degree program. What we covered and learned over that week is still spinning in my head from new systems, new software, setting expectations, all while making a lot of new friends.

We concluded the week with us all attending Bioneers at the Marin Civic Center. If you have not attended Bioneers (as I had never before)....it's a must! The keynotes were all amazing delivering their own world change messages. The breakout sessions were equally amazing. I have attended many conferences over the years with world renowned speakers....but I have to tell you this one is special. This one makes you stop and think about what we are doing to our world on a daily basis. Critically important world changing/saving information. Makes all us better people.

Since Bioneers I've been exhausted and sick (still), obviously needing rest that I have not allowed myself to get with the schedule King WOG and I have had since really January, running constantly. All great but exhausting! I've actually been doing almost nothing these past few days and my body is thanking me. By Monday I should be well rested and ready to head off on Tuesday to a networking luncheon in Walnut Creek with The American Camp Association. I'm looking forward to meeting with these folks especially after a long conversation with their Executive Director of N. California on Thursday. Then off to Pescadero to RDNA through Thursday late afternoon.

Sept. 28, 2010
It’s my first day back with my new RDNA family at Commonweal in Bolinas. It’s been two weeks since we were all together during the permaculture design classes at DQU. As I pulled in people were busy setting up their tents and greeting everyone with hugs and smiles. Getting caught up on what we have missed since last together.
Even before the program started people were around the main fire circle each with fire kits working on developing their fire making skills. King WOG was the first to bust a coal placing his bundle in to the fire ring of the awaiting teepee of kindling. The fire was warm and beautiful as dusk was upon us. This was an evening of introductions as Native Eyes, Cultural Mentoring and Essentials were all together for this week. Then off the bed as we were getting up early for our 1st bird sit.
The next morning we were awakened by singing which was a wonderful way to wake up. We all very sleepily got to our morning circle for some sense meditation before heading out on to the land for our 1st of many bird sits. Boy it didn't’t take long once we all got settled in the meadow for the birds to provide quite a show. From kites to a cooper’s hawk the birds were singing and alarming as the day unfolded before us. After about an hour I’d guess we were called back in to map our 1st bird sit. That was really exciting to get together with a group of 8 others to bring together what we had seen and heard on paper. It was a busy busy bird sit.
We then had breakfast and listened to Jon Young reviewing our maps in the yurt. They told quite a story. We had some lunch then got ready to head out on a hike to tour the facility at commonweal and then out on the land for a swim in the lake. All while building relationships with not only the land but the other students within the RDNA program.
We concluded the day around the camp fire listening to Jon Young speak on Peace Maker Principles then broke in to groups to discuss peace making in greater depth.  Lectures, fire, song, dance and laughter concluded the evening. Tomorrow we are hiking to bass lake.

Sept. 23, 2010
Headed out early to a ranch in Trinity, the drive was beautiful but more impressive is the 180 acres of the ranch. As far as the eye can see are forest, hills, creeks and so much more. We eagerly got out of the car and began our exploration and what jumps out of the brush running right in front of us was a buck. That started our exploration with even more excitement.
This is the place we have been dreaming of for kids to explore and so much to learn on the land. Now we are really excited and only have to wait until Dec. 26 to have our first group of kids attend our winter intensive program on the land. How cool is that!

Sept. 22, 2010

Back at home for a few days going tomorrow to check out the new land for the camp. WOG will be back tonight he's been at his Native Eyes (tracking) classes since yesterday morning. Looking forward to hearing all about it. This land will be for the older kids with a more intense program in nature awareness and wilderness skills. I hear it's beautiful! Had my phone interview today and I'm so thrilled to say I have been accepted in to an MS program! I have orientation beginning on Oct. 7 for a week.

Sept. 13, 2010

Deep in the middle of my groups design project. Today I decided not only to sign up for Regenerative Design Nature Awareness for these next 9 months but to also enroll in a MS program, which will then take me in to 2 years at RDNA. Boy what a difference a few days make. Excited does not even get close. All to learn as much as possible to bring back to our campers. I know they will be just as excited over learning as I am!

Sept. 8, 2010

I am so grateful for being here. The speakers have been world class from a rancher in Mendecino to Brock Dolman at Occidental Arts and Ecology Center to Frank Lake from Research Ecologist, USDA Forest Service who taught us ethnobotany to making baskets from native plants to Tamara Wilder with her hunting tools talk. Amazing amazing people.

Sept. 5, 2010

Boy what an amazing two days here in DQU. The permaculture class is getting off to a great start. We are going to be breaking up in to groups to complete a design of the 640 acres here at DQU. A bit overwhelming so much to learn and put in to our design. Very exciting to say the least!

Sept. 3, 2010

Celebrating the opening circle with Native American elders this morning for the 2-week Peacemaking & Permaculture course in Davis, CA. Honored and Grateful! To be in the presence of the great peacemaker, Jake Swamp I felt as honored as when I was in the audience of the Pope in 2005. Very powerful!

Sept. 2, 2010

As WOG and I were designing our new website we were struck by a huge ah ha. To be able to offer our camp whenever local schools had a holiday or a day off would be not only an amazing service but know that the parents and kids would be so excited to have a place where the kids can go that they are passionate about, excited about and will learn in a fun, safe environment. So we began checking all the school calendars within Marin County to schedule those dates and post them on our website.How fun it will be to spend time with so many of the kids that have touched our hearts all year long not just a few weeks at summer camp.

We wanted a way to thank all of the parents and kids for their years of support while we were at DGES so we decided what better than a Summer Reunion Thank you Party hosted by King Wog and Bright Path. Check the website for updates etc. Evites will go out early in early 2011. Wog and I will start making phone calls so everyone knows about our Summer Reunion Celebration.

Aug. 23, 2010

Week two of our camp, just two kids but these two kids and their parents have truly found space in our hearts. What an amazing week we had. King Wog and I are deeply touched by what this week brought to us and the kids and parents who believe in us.

Aug. 16, 2010

Our 1st day of Wilderness Skills Camps we were greeted with smiles and hugs from kids and parents. What an amazing week truly having time for 1 on 1 activities etc. with these kids. Opportunities that we have not had in the past 7 years of camp. This is the way it is suppose to be. We are truly blessed....

Aug. 12, 2010

We’re driving home, my cell phone rings, I usually don’t answer the phone while driving but for some reason this ring was different. It was a parent asking for us to add a 2nd week on to our new camp, promising to have 4 kids attend if we could make it happen. Of course we will. Now we’re truly getting exited!

Aug. 6, 2010

Parents continue to ask if King Wog and I would consider starting our Wilderness Skills Camp this summer rather than waiting until summer 2011. We decided if there was a need we wanted to honor that parent and child and make it happen. Well today the first check was written for our new camp to begin on Aug. 16, 2010. We’re truly blessed by all of the kids and their parents who believe and trust in us. Thank you.

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