Jim Kelso

EarthWalk in Balance

If humankind is to recover its balance on the Earth I’m convinced that it will require a profound rekindling of our collective love for and intimacy with nature. It is, of course, impossible, despite our best efforts, to separate ourselves from nature; it is writ in our DNA. However, we have gone very far down the road of denial and exploitation.

About two years ago I was invited by some dear friends to attend a family day at EarthWalk which their son attends. I was very taken with the program and was honored to be invited to participate as an elder. I was never told what the qualifications for being an “elder” are, but from my side, coming away from each visit filled with kinship and a smile on my face are all I need.

Much has been written about the benefits of immersing children in wild nature. My hunch is that most people still view the idea as an amendment to real life. To me, regular, near daily immersion in nature is as essential as food.

EarthWalk is exactly the kind of program necessary to rekindle the tinder of Earth-based knowledge, skill and community, so that we may yet again walk in balance.

The Village School program is for ages 7-12 with kids attending one day a week through the school year. The Teen Land project is for ages 13-17, again with one day a week attendance. There are a variety of summer programs, including mentor training.

Information on curricula, philosophy and programming can be found at   EarthWalk website

What could be better than:

1. Teaching of earth based skills, knowledge and respect relating to the practical as well as the mysterious
2. Engagement in multi-generational community
3. Sensitive adult guidance with unimposing universal behavior codes

A few photos speak volumes. (arranged roughly in seasonal order)

 

Winter community day photo: Angella Gibbons

Winter community day
photo: Angella Gibbons

 

Winter Community Day photo: Angella Gibbons

Staff morning gratitude circle
photo: Angella Gibbons

 

Village School - Atl-atl photo: Angella Gibbons

Village School – Atl-atl
photo: Angella Gibbons

 

Village School -sit(lie) spot photo: Eve Bernhard

Village School –  sit(lay) spot
photo: Eve Bernhard

 

Village School body sliding photo: Eve Bernhard

Village School body sliding
photo: Eve Bernhard

 

Village School photo: Eve Bernhard

Village School
photo: Eve Bernhard

 

Village School photo: Angella Gibbons

Village School
photo: Angella Gibbons

 

Playful, creative storytelling Village School photo: Eve Bernhard

Playful, creative storytelling
Village School
photo: Eve Bernhard

 

Summer Campers photo: Angella Gibbons

Summer Campers
photo: Angella Gibbons

 

Wild summer camper in camo photo: Angella Gibbons

Wild summer camper in camo
photo: Angella Gibbons

 

More summer campers photo: Angella Gibbons

More summer campers
photo: Angella Gibbons

 

Streamside Village School photo: Kelso

Streamside Village School
photo: Kelso

 

Bow-drill firemaking Village School photo: Kelso

Bow-drill firemaking
Village School
photo: Kelso

 

Tinder into flames Summer Camp photo: Angella Gibbons

Tinder into flames
Summer Camp
photo: Angella Gibbons

 

Copper Engraving 10th Anniversary Celebration photo: Delia Gillen

Copper Engraving
10th Anniversary Celebration
photo: Delia Gillen

 

Ash basket making 10th year Anniversary Celebration photo: Deiia Gillen

Ash basket making
10th year Anniversary Celebration
photo: Delia Gillen

 

Village School photo: Kelso

Village School
photo: Kelso

 

Elder Jane sharing how to harvest Goldthread medicine photo: Angella Gibbons

Elder Jane sharing how to harvest Goldthread medicine
photo: Angella Gibbons

 

10th Anniversary Circle photo: Jane English

10th Anniversary Circle
photo: Jane English

 

The following five photos show the Village School ritual Drum-stalk in which three groups are blindfolded, led to a distance and make their way blindfolded, individually and silently, to a drum-beater who is stationary in an undisclosed location.

Village School DrumStalk photo: Kelso

Village School
Drum-Stalk
photo: Kelso

 

Drum-stock photo: Kelso

Village School Drum-stalk before drumming starts
photo: Kelso

 

Drum-stock returnees photo: Kelso

Drum-stalk returnees & drummer
photo: Kelso

 

Drum-stock drummer photo: Kelso

Drum-stalk drummer
photo: Kelso

 

Village School last day 2015 photo: Kelso

Village School last day 2015
photo: Kelso

 

Village School jump photo: Eve Bernhard

Village School jump                          photo: Eve Bernhard

 

 

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