Wildcraft and Wild Beings present……
Be Wild Village Gathering SUMMER
17-20 January 2024
Monday to Friday
EARLY BIRD PRICING TO 1 December 2024
Held at Wangat Lodge nestled in the rainforest at the base of the Barringtons, near Dungog.
Adventures, sit spots, parent time, family time, bush skills, sharing circles, crafts, songs, dance, music, story, smiling, laughing, physical challenges and more, with everything optional.
The idea is to relax our shoulders, be ourselves, become part of a village, and feel alive and well. It is about respecting ourselves, each other, kids, elders, our ancestors, the earth, everything and finding a way to live and let live with a little wildness thrown in. The hope is that we all get to experience what it feels like to live in community, to learn new skills and to be a creative part of this amazing ecosystem we all live in.
Overview
This is a 4 day gathering, starting with a welcome on the first evening. Day 2 and 3 have morning activities, bushwalks, swimming, crafternoons and fireside sharing on offer. The final morning has a shorter adventure on offer and a closing circle to finish just before lunch.
Each day, older kids can go on morning adventures with the support of experienced mentors and have a break from their parents. Teens can push themselves, learn new skills and mentor the younger ones if they chose to. Adults can learn new bush crafts and skills, connect and have time to do their own thing. Bubs and toddlers can stick with their carers and either go adventuring with the older kids or hang with the adults.
Every night we celebrate the days journey by the fire with fun, song, story and/or dance, with the odd challenge.
Bush Skills
Here are some possible skills that we will be sharing with both adults and kids. Awareness, bird language, tracking, shelter building, fire by friction, weaving, making rope from nature, knots, camouflage, natural movement, whittling, bow making, tool making. What we actually cover will depend on who comes and what peoples interests are.
How it works
We encourage everyone to tap into what brings them alive and bring that to the village with a culture of acceptance, support, flexibility and flow. The village is one group and within the village there are smaller groups aka ‘clans’. Each clan takes responsibility for one of the basic needs of the village each day to keep things functioning. This can involve things like collecting firewood, filling up tubs with hot water for washing up, tidying up, and serving dinner. Clans are also the space for communication, creating short feedback loops so we can deal with things as they arise. The village is supported by an amazing team of mentors. These mentors are people who care for the earth and those on it, who have capacity to support parents, children, the village to help everyone function from their best state.
AGE SPECIFIC DETAILS
Children (aka ‘Wildlings’)
- ‘Roo and Joeys’: (A ‘Roo’ is an adult with any ‘pouched’ children (Joeys’) ie children who want their carer close by, so this is generally kids 0-4 years and any others who want the support of their carer): The ‘Roo and Joey’ program is a flexible one, as we know how hard these early years can be and everyone’s needs are different. Generally, it involves nature-based activities close to the main hub with some short adventures. Roo and Joeys sometimes happens right next to the adults program so adults have a chance to join with the skills or activities on offer if their little one is happy hanging with the other Joeys. Adults can take their ‘Joey’ on the adventures with the older kids if that would suit them better.
- Bounding Joeys: These are those kids (often around 4 years old) that are nearly self-sufficient, that still have some life lessons to learn e.g bit wobbly when in challenging terrain, still finding about water and swimming, still mastering the toileting adventure. For safety and care, 4 year olds keep their carer close by and they can join the older kids on the morning adventure. There may be times when the child feels safe and supported for the parent to have some time out.
- ‘Saplings’ (5-12 years) Each morning adventures will be offered and supported by a skilled team of mentors with opportunities for wild play, earth skills, movement and awareness. According to ability and interest, there will be increasing levels of difficulty and challenges.
- Young Warriors (Tweenagers 11-14 years)
Morning adventure and opportunity to learn key earth skills with challenges (fire, shelter, tools and crafts, stalking, ‘hunting’, navigating, and ecological knowledge) aimed to build confidence, awareness, and a sense of growth and accomplishment and place in the village. After the evening fireside a tween/teen circle will be on offer and one night there will be a night challenge. - Warriors – Teens 15 years +
These older teens can go where feel they most want to be. They can join the adult activities, learn bush skills and follow a particular interest path if they want, or chill screen free somewhere. Warriors can also become part of the teen mentor gang and support the younger ones at getting out there and amongst it on the morning adventures. After the evening fireside a Teen Space will be on offer with chat space, games and fun. One evening a night challenge will be on offer for adults and teens.
Adults
This includes Wanderers (adults without children), Village Trees (parents/carers) and Elder Trees (grandparents/elders):
Each morning an adults program will be on offer for 1-2 hours while the Wildings are adventuring. Adult morning activities includes things like movement, sit spots, mindfulness, sharing circles and walks. Then in the afternoons a bush skill or activity will be on offer – the crafternoon. Adults are also welcome to share skills or create with the village. A night challenge will be on offer one night.
OTHER ROLES:
Mentors
Mentors are involved in the generally running of the program, taking care of the village and for making things fun. During the morning adventures the mentors support the Wildlings to learn, grow, explore, express, create and reach their potential. Mentors can offer a crafternoon skill of something they are interested and passionate about. In the evening, mentors help the village celebrate the day by encouraging story, humour, song, music, movement at the evening fireside. And after fireside mentors can support the adults and older children in sharing circles and a night challenge.
If you are reading this and thinking I would like to mentor, we’d love you to apply. Mentoring is so rewarding as it fills the missing link for many people in today’s world. It develops your skills, builds confidence, pushes your limits and is a lot of fun. Mentors are what makes the camp thrive.
What are the requests for those wanting to Mentor?
- to have a regular sit spot practice leading up to the program.
- to camp onsite as the accommodation is limited.
- to arrive Thursday evening or by 9am Friday Morning latest to connect with the team, get to know the land and to finalise preparations.
- to participate in a morning check-in at 8am, to support the kids for their morning adventure, and participate in a lunchtime debrief.
- Mentors can offer an afternoon craft or activity if they are keen to.
- to stay for a mentor debrief at the end of the program.
- to register on the booking page to apply.
Mentors with children under 4 years will need another adult with them to support.
New Mentors price is $150. This helps cover your training, dinners and camping. If mentors have attended a Wild 101 or have bush skills, outdoor leadership qualifications, WWCC and first aid, or have mentored at a previous camp, they can register as a return/experienced mentor.
Teen mentors
Are you a Teen 15-18 years old who can relate to younger children and help them to explore and learn? Can you do some things like set up a tent, use a knife safely, keep a fire going, collect wood, play acoustic music, sing, make things from the bush? Do you know things about animals, plants, water, soil, rocks, the bush, traditional culture, landscapes, nature? Are you keen to build on your bush skills and take them to the next level? Are you willing to share what you know and like with others? Are you keen to connect with other teens who also enjoy being out in nature? Teens who are independent and savvy can come without their parents. Parents are welcome too. Teen mentors camp with the other mentors unless their family books accommodation.
Teen mentors register via the booking page too.
LOCATION DETAILS
This will be held at the wonderful Wangat Lodge – simple yet comfortable accommodation, situated in a beautiful rainforest setting with amazing swimming holes. Wangat Lodge has 10 bunk style rooms, 2 camp sites, a hall and commercial size kitchen, deck, mountain bike trails, bush walks,
Food
Dinners will be provided each night. All other meals – breakfast, lunch, snacks are self-catered. Cooking wise there is a commercial kitchen that is well equipped to creating anything your tastebuds desire, as well as an outdoor BBQ and a large outdoor fire. There are 2 large fridges for storing cold items and a plastic tote per room for non-perishables.
Pricing, Access and Inclusivity
We have attempted to keep pricing to a minimum without sacrificing essential resources (particularly our wild team, a number of whom volunteer their time and energy). There is a gift option for those who can donate extra, which will be passed on completely to those who would miss joining in otherwise.
Numbers are limited so best to book early.
If you have any queries, needs or concerns, feel free to get in touch.
Email: wildcraftaustralia@gmail.com
Nikki 0412216485
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