“Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in nature.”

~ Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods

Having finally come through the austere grip of Northern winter and its messy sister Springtime, these days of long light and plant respiration seem nothing short of miraculous. In summer, there is an added dimension to our reality – the vibrational hum of all things alive in their seasonal outward spiraling. It is the busy insects, inhabiting every inch of the summerscape, the movement of the leaves as they give gesture to the wind’s deep breathy ssshhhhhhhh, the smell of fecund earth and active decay, the water tumbling free from its winter suspension. And so too are we called forth to un-hunch our shoulders, stretch wide our chests, and let our cells recharge with solar sustenance.

NOBODY has quite such a knack for answering this call than children. The first few weeks of Farm and Forest Summer Camp have been punctuated by the ongoing squeals, laughter and play of campers as they open to the outdoors.

Egg collection (Credit: Jess Wimett)

The lightness of play in the summertime is enchanting. Gone are their tentative negotiations with the winter elements. There is no more bulky clothing, confining foot/hand wear, freezing temperatures, slippery terrain… Instead, the children are able to be as exuberant as the plants screaming green around them.

Each morning, the campers collect eggs and check in with the farm chickens that spend their days roaming the farmyard; scratching the earth, preening their iridescent feathers, gossiping, feasting on insects and begrudgingly being culled into a harem by the big red rooster who keeps station by the lilac bush.

One of these hens has been longing for the chance at motherhood and broods over her eggs. The children are hopeful for a clutch of chicks, but to no avail, as the impressive Rooster has proved to be less inspiring at his job…

Kathleen and her intern Emma have taken the campers on rambling walkabouts, spending less time hiking than they do probing at the black raspberry bushes, coming back to the farmhouse with red hands and mouths and looking like little lions after a lunch.

They also took to the gardens last week, where the children were able to harvest enough beets to take home a burgundy bundle apiece. They also collected fragrant chamomile flowers, which they dried in the July sun and made tea with.

They have made homemade lemonade with mint from the gardens and maple from our trees, as well as having a pizza party with dough that the children made, cheese that they carefully took turns grating, and fresh tomatoes from Fledging Crow farm.

On Tuesdays, Camp begins at Echo Farm where the campers help with animal chores, feeding and handling the chickens, pigs, and baby goats.

Searching for berries (Credit: Jess Wimett)

After all of this grass stained jumping, running, log-crossing, hiking, splashing in water, gardening, expansive movement of the day, the children are very content to sit at the farm table to eat their lunches, share stories and recite their verses.

From my upstairs office, I absolutely love hearing their clear voices puncture the stillness of the farmhouse.

After lunch, they move as group into the tree house. They have stories and rest time, as sunlight plays chase with shadows across the quivering branches of the trees surrounding them … as a parent of a highly active 5 year old, I am honestly amazed by how amiable these kids are to recharge and relax during this daily pause.

When they rouse its back to the business of play, where the campers spend the end of their day in and around the school play yard. Here they deepen their relationships with old pals, and create new bonds with the many fresh faces that make up the tapestry of our summer community.

For those who are interested, we still have limited openings for this Field and Forest Summer Camp available for last 2 weeks of July.

For enrollment information, or for inquires regarding Lakeside School programs in the fall, please contact me at: Admin@Lakesideschoolinessex.org.

Much Metta,
Jess Wimett
Lakeside School Administrator

Related articles

• Lakeside School: Farm & Forest Summer Camp (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Lakeside School: Fall Newsletter – Courage (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Lakeside School: Farm and Forest Summer Camp (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Lakeside School: May Day Celebration (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)