]> -just the facts- what: Not Back to School Camp who: About 100 unschoolers ages 13 to 18. An adult staff of 13-22, led by Grace Llewellyn and Taber Shadburne. when: Session 1, August 25-September 1, Session 2, September 4-11, Session 3, September 25-October 2. where: Sessions 1-2, Camp Myrtlewood, approx. 120 miles from Eugene, Oregon, Session 3, Buffalo Gap, approx. 75 miles from Washington DC. how much: $485. $25 additional if you register after March 18, 2003. An additional fee (about $25) for an optional field trip. 12 half-price scholarships and 5 work-trade scholarships are available. We may also have some flexible, extra scholarship money, which may be used for full scholarships, possibly even travel stipends. why: To change ourselves and the world, teach each other great things, and sleep under the moon.... how to reach us: P0 Box 1014, Eugene, OR 97440. Phone 541-686-2315. (If you have questions, our office hours are 9a.m. to 2 p.m. Mon and Wed., Pacific Time.) Fax 509-696-3310. Email NBTSC@aol.com web site: http://www.nbtsc.org Start your unschooling year with high hopes, new interests, a big bang, a loud splash, and a tribe of new friends! Don't miss the eighth annual Not Back to School Camp 2003 for unschoolers ages 13-18. Camp Myrtlewood, Oregon Buffalo Gap Community Camp, West Virginia Session 1, August 25-September 2, Oregon Session 2, September 4-11, Oregon Session 3, September 25-October 2, West Virginia -Parents say- "[My son] has never experienced such openness, such honesty and such love- and he is renewed. He feels accepted, uplifted, empowered and, above all else, valued! .You are working magic at NBTSC..nurturing wings. I applaud you and thank you." "My kids really love NBTSC and all of their new friends. It makes homeschooling a lot less lonely for them when they meet a diverse group of open-minded homeschoolers. .Thank you for your part in helping my children achieve strength, confidence, and independence." "I have seen so many of the Vancouver kids come back from camp with subtle (or not so subtle) changes in maturity, confidence etc. I can't thank you enough for what you do by giving these kids the chance to be together and spread their wings like this." "The camp was fabulous for [my daughter] and the kids were too -- very different from her high school friends, in maturity, drive, self- assuredness, openness and vulnerability." "Just a quick note of appreciation from a very pleased parent! .I know [my son] had one of the best weeks of his life and he's had a lot of excellent weeks in his 17 years. back he comes from camp with a zillion new friends- he promptly hooked us up to email and in the last 3-4 weeks has written well over 100 letters!" "My son returned from your camp with renewed enthusiasm for life and learning! Thank you so much for having this get-together of, apparently, some of the most gifted and interesting people on earth!" "[Our daughter] returned to us full of self-assurance, excitement, and positive loving energy. The revelation that there are other teenagers out there with her unschooler ideas was a delightful awakening for her." "I should tell you that [my son] had a wonderful time at NBTSC. It's resulted in some significant changes in how [he] approaches life, and he's enthusiastic about going back next year." Hello! This booklet contains lots of information about Not Back to School Camp, so you can make an informed decision as to whether you want to join the ruckus. We've had a blast during our first seven camp seasons and plan to do so again in 2003! If you have questions, please check first to see whether we've already answered them in this booklet or on our website (www.nbtsc.org). If we haven't, feel free to phone, fax, write, or email, and we'll get back to you ASAP. -What's new for 2003- We're trying a new experiment for Sessions 1 and 2 in Oregon. Both because we want to try out some new ideas and because so many people come to both sessions of camp, we are going to make the 2 sessions a little different from each other. The new session 2. We'll spend two days working on really cool projects together-you'll have about 7-10 to choose from and will join a group and a project leader to make something nifty happen. Because this is a new twist to camp, we'll ask each person to fill out a simple application essentially verifying that they want to participate in our new experiment. As usual, we only want people at camp who freely and fully choose to be there, and we want to make absolutely sure that everyone who comes is aware of the changes. We'll have a field trip Session 1, but not Session 2. Buffalo Gap NBTSC will be 2 weeks earlier, so we hope to be warmer and drier! For Session 3, most of us will meet at Buffalo Gap or in Winchester, Virginia, rather than in Cumberland, Maryland. However, we will still pick up Amtrak folks (if any) in Cumberland. We'll start off Sessions 1 and 3 with a project fair, in which each person who wants to will give demonstrations or post visuals related to his workshop, talent show act, or to any of his other interests or goals. We'll start off Session 2 with a fair in which each project leader shows and explains what her project is about. We're considering trying out a new activity instead of the Power Shuffle (probably similar), particularly (but not necessarily only) in Oregon. There are several reasons for this; if you're wondering why, you can email me (Grace) at GraceLlew@aol.com and I'll explain our thinking. -Who- You: Unschoolers/homeschoolers from anywhere on this planet are invited, if they speak English and are between the ages of 13 and 18. Can you still come if you go to school part time? Or if you're not yet a homeschooler, but are about to become one? Or if you've "graduated" from homeschooling and now attend college or hold a job? Or if you have smelly feet? Sure. The maximum number of campers possible is about 105 in Oregon, 115 in West Virginia. Your staff: Your hosts are Grace Llewellyn and Taber Shadburne. Grace is best known as the author of The Teenage Liberation Handbook: how to quit school and get a real life and education and the founder of NBTSC. Taber is a psychotherapist and personal growth workshop leader. He's worked at NBTSC since 1998 (with a sabbatical in 2002) and this will be his third year co- directing. We will be joined by a terrific staff of approximately 11 in West Virginia, 20 in Oregon. (Non) religious orientation: NBTSC is a non-denominational, non-religious camp. We strive to honor each person's religious beliefs or lack thereof, and ask that all campers do likewise. Not Back to School Camp welcomes diversity. We are open to homeschoolers and unschoolers of all races, ethnic backgrounds, genders, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, economic backgrounds, and physical capabilities. -Where- Sessions 1 and 2: We meet in Eugene, Oregon. Our buses will deliver you to our home for the week, and back to Eugene at the end of the week. Camp Myrtlewood is near the tiny town of Bridge, Oregon. It's about 120 miles Southwest of Eugene, in the coastal mountain range. Session 3: Buffalo Gap is nestled in the mountains near the tiny town of Capon Bridge, West Virginia. It's a few hours' drive from either Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or Washington (75 miles West of Washington). For people who can't meet us at Buffalo Gap, we can pick you up in Winchester, Virginia (about 20 miles East of camp), or (if you're taking the train) in Cumberland, Maryland (about 80 miles Northeast of camp). Lodging and facilities: You'll stay in a clean, simple cabin. Girls and boys have separate cabins; all ages are mixed together. Bathrooms are in separate buildings a few yards away. (Some of the Buffalo Gap cabins have their own bathrooms.) Staff generally stays in separate cabins. Both sites have all the facilities we need for a great week, plenty of room for eating, workshops, dances, games, sports, hiking, and enjoying nature. Camp Myrtlewood offers a pretty creek with a swimming hole; Buffalo Gap offers a 2-acre spring-fed lake with a diving platform and sandy beach, a sauna, an outdoor dance pavilion, and a huge gym for basketball, dancing, and other stuff. -Weather:- In both Oregon and West Virginia, chances are good we'll have warm weather with coldish nights. It may rain a bit-it often does, but we just keep on playing anyway. -What We're Gonna Do- Swim; talk; sing; drum; dance; hike; stare at the sky; play volleyball and softball and soccer; take creative, emotional, and intellectual risks; encourage each other to do amazing things; have talent shows; teach and learn from each other. Each camper will be encouraged to contribute both creatively (teach a workshop, lead a sport or group singing, etc.) and not- quite-so-creatively (wash dishes, cut vegetables, pick up trash, etc.). -Daily schedule:- Each day we have a morning meeting and a brief evening meeting; everyone is required to attend both, during which important announcements are made and campers and staff are able to raise concerns. Everyone is also encouraged, but not forced, to participate in evening group activities. And we share mealtimes, of course. Beyond this, there are many scheduled daytime activities, sports games, and workshops-led both by staff and by you and your peers. Usually, you can choose among these daytime activities-or nap, talk with a new friend, or create your own fun. -Session 2 projects:- For two days during Session 2, all campers will cluster in groups and undertake nifty projects. We haven't yet decided on specifics, but you can expect a wide array to choose from-perhaps a conscious communication workshop, a sculpture intensive, a field biology extravaganza, a community service project for Camp Myrtlewood, a mural, a musical production, a wilderness awareness workshop.. Probably the way we'll handle this is to ask you to make tentative choices before camp, but then at the beginning of the week have most leaders give a brief presentation, at which time you can probably change your mind if you want to. Some projects may be limited in size, so you may not get your first pick, but we're pretty sure that there will be enough inspiring choices to go around. Workshop leaders will include NBTSC staff and 1 or 2 outside guests. Also, if any campers want to lead a project, we'll consider that too. Contact us or check our website around mid-January for an application form. -Evening events:- are special-sometimes simple, sometimes elaborate... .a campfire sing-along, talent shows, dancing, and other good stuff. -Workshops: a sampling- We'll have literally dozens of workshops to choose from during the week. They'll reflect the talents and interests of all staff and campers. At previous camps, we've had about 100 workshops per week, including breakdancing, solar cooking, kung fu, orienteering, yoga, cob-oven building, web-page designing, surrealist games, co-counseling, VW engine fixing, drama, poetry, getting published and self-publishing, origami, art booklets, swing dancing, youth rights, tree identification, beading, and photography. Except during the Session 2 projects, you can decide each day what you want to do. We do offer a lot of really good workshops and we expect that each of you will go home with new skills you're excited about. But the point is not to be frantically busy, and it's fine if you don't want to participate in lots of these organized activities. The sun and the forest will have plenty of suggestions of their own. -Your workshop or sport:- Each camper is strongly encouraged to lead a workshop or coach/teach a game/sport. Most workshops run 1 hour, and many groups make plans to get together again later or to continue a discussion over lunch. You do not have to be an expert in your field to teach a workshop. As many campers have discovered, even if you are a beginner, you can be a good workshop teacher. If you need supplies, we can provide basic art and office supplies, a boom box, sports equipment, and a few other items, but you will need to provide most other materials. -Sports:- We typically play volleyball, basketball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, and softball. If there's another sport you want to play, volunteer to start a game. -Unscheduled activities:- Most of the time you're free to make your own fun if you don't feel like participating in a group activity. You can swim whenever the swimming hole or lake is supervised, hike on trails, talk with new friends, read, nap, swing, practice a new skill... -Show and tell nights:- Talent shows are a great highlight of camp. You can play music, balance on a ping pong ball, dance, sing, show your artwork, do stand up comedy, turn cartwheels, juggle forks, tell us the wildest thing that ever happened to your family, swallow a sword, read your poetry or a very short story, or just stand up and tell us what makes you tick. You might consider getting up and performing or sharing something related to your workshop. You'll have up to 4 minutes if you're going solo, or up to 7 minutes if you're in a group of 2 or more. -What parents should know about NBTSC- The vast majority of feedback we get from parents is glowingly positive, and we do our work in the hope that it contributes to the health and strength not only of our teenage campers, but also of their relationships with the families that they return to after camp is over. But it is possible that some of the things we do may not be consistent with what you want for your family, or for a particular individual because of her maturity level or background. It is never our intent to mislead anyone about what happens at camp. Here are a few things you may want to consider: Like other teenagers, many of the kids who come to camp are interested in learning about sexuality. The majority of campers are not sexually active, but naturally they are beginning to experience themselves as sexual beings. So, they initiate workshops and discussions on various aspects of relationships and sexuality. Most of these are pretty serious in nature; a few are silly. It is not our policy to censor any of these. Sometimes staff attends and participates in discussions, adding an adult leadership dimension. Other times, campers prefer to talk amongst themselves without adults present. We honor these preferences. Also, occasionally staff offers workshops related to sexuality. The most common scenario is for a female staff member to give a workshop on women's sexuality and body image, with an empowering, feminist slant. Staff have also offered workshops on birth control, relationships, and on larger topics-such as conscious communication-that can include sexuality. We do not, as a camp, endorse any particular expression of sexuality; nor do we encourage campers to seek out sexual experiences with other people. We also have a clear and firm expectation that campers not have sex while at camp, and we stay in dialogue about this issue with the group as a whole and with individual campers who get into romances during camp. We take steps to promote an overall atmosphere that is group-oriented, affectionate, uplifting, and wholesome. Some parents may also wish to know that some of our workshops and evening activities tend toward the realm of personal growth and even somewhat therapeutic processes. Sometimes staffers offer workshops in topics such as Radical Honesty, intimacy, meditation, peer counseling, learning to love and accept oneself, etc. Also, one evening we typically do a fairly intense personal growth exercise, called a "Power Shuffle," that a few campers brought to NBTSC a few years ago after doing it in another summer camp. Basically, it involves self-disclosure on issues ranging from what socio-economic class each person identifies with, to whether each person has been the victim or perpetrator of abuse. This activity is not mandatory, and in fact we don't even encourage campers to come, but most campers and staff usually do participate. For most people, it is a positive and moving experience, and we offer support and debriefing afterward, but over the 4 years we've done the Power Shuffle there have been a few kids who chose to participate but may not have been emotionally ready to deal with feelings that came up afterward. For this and other reasons we're strongly considering modifying the Power Shuffle in 2003, or replacing it altogether with another potent bonding exercise, but we mention it here because it is an example of one of the kinds of activities that go on at camp. The majority of the time you'll find most people making music, hanging out in relaxed groups talking about traveling or favorite foods or how to make the world a better place, learning to juggle or make zines or write poetry, applauding each other enthusiastically during talent shows, hugging, laughing, playing Frisbee, laying in the sun, or helping in our fragrant, peaceful kitchen. But we do have intense moments too, and we do tend to talk about just about everything at camp. Campers tend to find their own appropriate level; for instance, when male campers initiate a "men's group" to talk about issues related to masculinity, most who attend are older campers. But sometimes younger campers come and listen to such workshops out of curiosity. Overall this seems healthy and appropriate to us, but we want to make sure we're not misleading you as to the nature of what goes on. If you have any further questions about any of this, please contact us and we'll gladly talk with you. Please also see "an important note for parents and campers on bedtimes and sleeping arrangements," at the end of this brochure. -Staff- Our multi-faceted, caring, funny, altogether delightful staff is one of the best things about NBTSC. They teach outstanding workshops and coach sports, lead group singing, facilitate discussions, cook great food, and those who aren't exhausted sometimes stay up late and join in the after-midnight revels. For the most part, our experience is that the staff adores the campers and the campers adore the staff. -Advisors:- One staff person will be your designated "advisor" during the week. Although you are welcome to talk with any of us about concerns or questions, this person is responsible for checking in with you regularly, making sure you're accounted for several times a day, etc. You'll also meet briefly with your advisor (and about 10 other campers) each morning as part of our meeting, to check in, discuss concerns, ask questions. -Food- Three yummy, simple vegetarian meals each day. Vegan alternatives for people who request them in advance, and we can usually accommodate wheat- free diets too. People with numerous allergies or other special diets may need to supply some of their own food. (In Oregon, we prepare our own food and use mostly organically grown ingredients. In West Virginia, the Buffalo Gap staff cooks for us, and unfortunately, organic ingredients would knock the price tag of camp up too high. In future years we hope to find a site where we can provide our own food as we do in Oregon.) money The cost of NBTSC (including supplies, food, local transportation, staff salaries, labor, lodging, overhead, etc.) is $485 per person. The camp fee includes just about everything: travel from and to Eugene or Winchester (or Cumberland), hearty meals, lodging, almost all activities. (Some campers or staff may plan workshops with a small additional materials fee, and we'll offer an optional day trip, which will require a $25 transportation fee. In Oregon, our field trip goes to the coast; we'll let you know our West Virginia destination later.) You'll also receive a directory of all campers and staff, and a "bliss book"-a zine full of notes on workshops and other stuff people feel passionate about. -Registration- Please register (with a deposit) by March 18. After that date, your cost increases by $25. You may want to register much sooner to get into the session of your choice. A $75 non-refundable deposit is due with your registration. The balance is due 6 weeks before the start of camp, and it is very important that you get it in on time. If your balance is not received on time, we will add a $25 late fee, and if it's not in one month before camp starts we'll have to drop you from the roster and give your spot to someone else. If your plans change, the balance (if paid early) can be refunded up until 6 weeks before camp starts. If you prefer, you are welcome to pay the whole camp fee at the time of registration. A plea/about registering for Session 3: Please register early! In 2002, our first year on the East Coast, we had only 66 campers. Our contract (and our own internal budget) was based on more campers, so even though the Buffalo Gap managers kindly gave us a partial break at the last minute, we still lost money, largely because we paid for meals and beds that we didn't use. We can't afford to do that again in 2003, so if we don't have enough people registered by March 18, we will need to cancel our contract in order to receive a refund on our substantial deposit. Of course, our hope and expectation is that since most people had a great time in 2002, we'll fill up quickly in 2003. But we can't take a big financial risk again. -About refunds:- While in the past we had a strict policy of not giving refunds of deposits at all, and not of other camp funds past a certain date, we now charge enough money for camp that we generally cover all our costs when all sessions of camp are full, and are therefore able to give partial refunds in some cases. In a nutshell: we do not give ANY refunds until after camp is over. At that point, we will give refunds in this priority: anyone who got contagiously sick enough at the last minute that we asked them not to come to camp gets a refund of all but $40 of their camp fees. (We may require a written and signed statement from a healthcare provider. And, sorry, but we are talking only about contagious diseases here, not broken legs or non-contagious illnesses.) if all sessions of camp were full, then we may give some partial refunds with priority going to people who canceled earliest. We will always retain a $40 processing fee, but at our discretion may refund everything else, including the initial deposit. Be sure to make a written request (email or fax is fine) if you want a refund; otherwise we will keep your full deposit or camp fees and use them for miscellaneous camp expenses-or, if there are none, your fees will go into our scholarship fund. Scholarships and work trade positions: We offer 12 half-price scholarships for families who couldn't otherwise afford NBTSC. Also, we have 5 work- trade positions available. These, too, are for families who would otherwise have trouble paying for camp. If you'd like an application for either a scholarship or work-trade, send a SASE to our office or see our website. We may have a few additional scholarships available also, of varying amounts, thanks to our scholarship fund (see below). The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 18, 2003. However, we may also have some additional scholarship money available after that point. -Important note:- this may not always be the case, and we certainly can't predict how things will go in the future, but in the past, almost everyone who has requested scholarship money has received it. Specifically, in 2001 everyone who applied for a scholarship on time received either a worktrade or a scholarship (many of them were for more-than-half the cost of camp), and in 2002 everyone who applied for a scholarship, even late, received either a worktrade or a scholarship. Now that we've made our public service announcement, there may be more competition for these resources, but we really want you to know that if (lack of) money stands in the way of your attending NBTSC, you shouldn't give up without trying! -Fundraising:- People earn camp money in all kinds of ways-one girl sells candy in her yard, right after the nearby school gets out in the afternoon, while kids are walking home. Some people get jobs. One girl earned all of her 1999 money by playing her violin on street corners. You could also ask for a group of your friends and relatives-or your local homeschool support group-to sponsor you, spreading the cost among lots of people. Some people earn money by selling copies of Grace's books (The Teenage Liberation Handbook, Real Lives, and Freedom Challenge) to friends, relatives, school friends, local homeschoolers, whoever. (Several campers have sold over 50 copies of the TLH to their friends.) You earn approximately 35%, or about $6, for each copy. (This is after paying shipping costs.) Contact us for more info. Sorry, but Genius Tribe book fairs are no longer an option, since the Genius Tribe catalog is pretty much extinct. -Donating to our tax-deductible scholarship fund!- Thanks to the Self-Education Foundation, you or your parents or your fairy godfathers can give money that will be in turn given to people who couldn't otherwise afford to come to camp. This fund is in addition to our standard practice of offering a set number of half-scholarships and work trades each year. With this fund, we do whatever feels most appropriate-in one case that means contributing $100 to someone's camp fees; in another case it could mean a full scholarship plus a $200 travel stipend. Please consider giving to this fund, or asking other people to, now or in the future. (We know a lot of you are gonna get rich 10 or 20 years from now, and we hope that when you do, you remember your good old alma mater in your hearts and your wills and your checkbooks.) To support this fund, please make out your check to the Self Education Foundation and mark in your check's memo line (or in an accompanying note) that the money is specifically for the NBTSC scholarship fund. Mail to us or to the Self Education Foundation, P.O. Box 30790, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Thank you!!! The Self-Education Foundation, by the way, is a fantastic philanthropic organization. (It was founded by Billy Wimsatt, who was a NBTSC staffer in '96 and '97 and is the author of Bomb the Suburbs and No More Prisons, 2 of Grace's favorite books. And I, Grace, serve on its board.) It works to build and support a cohesive movement, across cultures and disciplines, of people initiating their own education. It funds, supports, and networks unschoolers and education mavericks from tough backgrounds who have added barriers to successfully educating themselves, their kids, their communities, and the world. For more info, check out www.selfeducation.org. You should also know that another source of scholarship donations is our beloved NBTSC staffers-occasionally a staffer gives up some or all of their pay, and it goes directly toward camp scholarships instead. -The Fine Print- -Responsibilities:- Each person contributes to the spiffiness of camp in two major ways: * fun, possibly creative work which draws on your unique talents. Each of you will be asked to coach a game or sport, lifeguard for an afternoon at the swimming hole, teach a workshop, lead the singing around the campfire one night, or some such. * You'll get to perform a few grungy, possibly even disgusting menial chores too! We help prepare meals, clean up after them, keep the bathrooms clean, and clean our cabins before we leave. You may have to scrub a toilet or 2, but hey, you'll have partners and you can whistle while you work. Each camper has about 4-5 hours of chores during the week. -Travel- -Travel arrangements Sessions 1 & 2:- You can drive, train, bicycle, fly, or bus into Eugene. Eugene has a small commercial airport serviced by several major airlines including United; many campers fly into Eugene directly. Others fly into Portland, 100 miles north, and take the bus or train to Eugene. Our buses pick campers up at the Greyhound bus depot, the airport, the Amtrak train station, and Monroe Park near downtown. You should arrive by 2:30 if possible, and 4:00 at the absolute latest. On our last day, we'll return you to your pick of those same locations by around noon. You can also drive yourself, or have someone else drive you, directly to Camp Myrtlewood. -Travel arrangements Session 3:- Most people drive or carpool directly to Buffalo Gap. You should arrive between 5:30 and 6 p.m. If you can't do that, we'll pick you up between 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. in Winchester, Virginia. (Locations TBA later, but will include the Greyhound Bus Station.) Or, if you're taking the train, we can pick you up between 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. in Cumberland, Maryland. For air travel, you'll want to fly into a larger nearby airport (such as Pittsburgh, Dulles, or Reagan) and then take the bus or train or catch a ride with another camper. We'll provide more details, particularly for people flying into DC, in our spring mailing. On the last day, we'll return you to Winchester (or Cumberland if necessary) by noon. Or, your parents may pick you up at Buffalo Gap if they can arrive by 10 a.m. -All sessions:- if you have a car with you during the week, you absolutely may not drive it--no matter how old you are--and we may ask you to turn your keys over to us until camp is over. -Travel complications:- If you can't arrive early enough on the first day, or leave late enough on the last day, we can make arrangements for you to stay in a hotel room with other campers and a staff person; cost will be approximately $35. Please do not take advantage of this offer unless your travel schedule really requires it! It is a pain for us to supervise hotel rooms and play taxi. Be aware that hotel rooms may be supervised (at times in the past, the hotel we have worked with has required that) and we will enforce a curfew. A logistical note for people attending both sessions 1 and 2: You may either ride the buses back to Eugene in between the two sessions, or for about $80 each, up to 20 campers can stay at Camp Myrtlewood for the 3 extra nights. You'll need to do some chores, be mellow-staff will be in long meetings and deep comas-and move temporarily into a different cabin. You'll have a chance to do laundry and we'll feed you. If you go back to Eugene, you're on your own-sorry, but we can't help you make hotel arrangements or provide any transportation except for the bus ride from and to camp. -If you have special needs:- Both Camp Myrtlewood and Buffalo Gap can accommodate wheelchairs, though like any outdoor setting they can pose challenges to anyone (including people in "normal" physical condition). Educate us about your needs, and we'll do our best to make your week comfortable, safe, and exciting. -Health and safety:- We usually have no camp nurse or other medical person on staff. There will, however, be at least one staff person trained in first aid and CPR. In case of emergency, you will be taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital. (The hospitals that serve both Camp Myrtlewood and Buffalo Gap are approximately 45 minutes away, but the ambulances are local, so they can arrive quickly.) You must basically be responsible for your own health, bring any (regular) necessary medications with you, etc. Your camp fee does include insurance for accidents/injuries that take place on the camp grounds. -What if you get sick when it's time to come to camp?- Depending on how sick you are and what you have, we may ask you not to come. We will consider on a case-by-case basis whether people who are already sick (and contagious) should attend. If we ask you not to attend, we will give you a refund of all your money, minus a $40 processing fee. (Before sending the refund we may request that you send a signed statement from a healthcare provider.) -More information later- Approximately 3 months before the start of camp you'll receive a handbook, which includes a list of what to bring and plenty of other information to help you prepare for camp. In the meantime, hang onto this booklet. -Answers to questions some people ask- Why can't each session of NBTSC be longer? * Because that would make it too expensive for many people. * Because that would make it harder to find staff (many staff people come to NBTSC on their vacations). * Because the staff gets tired and needs a break. -Why is NBTSC vegetarian?- We do not intend to make any kind of moral or political statement about diet. NBTSC staff includes vegetarians, vegans, and carnivores. Your co- directors, Grace and Taber, have at different times in their lives been vegetarians, vegans, raw foodists, and carnivores. But for our purposes at camp, meat is both too expensive and too unsanitary. We are sticklers about providing healthy, mostly organically grown ingredients whenever possible, and organic and chemical-free meat is way expensive. Also, because many campers are vegetarian, our vegetarian menu helps us to satisfy the largest number of people without preparing a ton of different dishes at each meal. You are welcome to bring your own meat supplements (jerky, tuna in cans, dried fish, etc.) if you want. (At Buffalo Gap, our meals are not be prepared by NBTSC staff, and are not organic.) -How is the West Virginia camp different from the Oregon camp?- We have a big swimming lake rather than a sweet little creek. There are more (and larger) indoor spaces available to us. Their staff cooks for us- they serve vegetarian and vegan meals (they don't, unfortunately, use organic ingredients). If it's anything like 2002, we'll see lots of new folks and a much higher proportion of east coast folks. -Can people who are younger than 13 or older than 18 come?- We generally let 12 year olds in when they and their parents clearly understand and accept and feel ready for the fact that this is basically a teenage camp, full of all kinds of lovely, wild teenage energy. We also occasionally make exceptions for folks who are 19+, though usually only for people who have previously attended camp. Again, we want to know that you understand that this a camp geared for teenagers, and all campers are expected to live with the same agreements and other policies. -Rules- An overwhelming number of past campers have commented that with our policies and attitudes they felt free, trusted, and yet safe and well cared for. The rules we do have are very important-designed to protect everyone's safety and peace, and to ensure that we can continue to have NBTSC, yet without limiting freedom unnecessarily. Please do be aware that for any serious rule infractions, we always contact parents. Our past experience has been that for the most part, we get along superbly and people respect each other and the rules. Our rules are relatively lax compared to those of most other camps and youth activities. In particular, we have very few required activities on the schedule, and we do not have a set bedtime or require you to sleep in your assigned bed. Instead, we ask you to use your time well according to your own values, and we ask you to create, and then use, a "bedtime policy" that serves your own particular needs and goals at camp, and regardless of where you sleep, we expect you to honor our "no sex at camp" rule. We often refer to our rules as agreements. Camp is not something we, the government, your parents, or your friends require you to do-it is something you choose to do. (In fact, our most important rule is that you cannot come to camp unless it is your own free choice to do so.) In choosing to be there, we expect you to agree to act in the way that we ask you to, in order to help co-create the best possible camp for you and everyone else. -an important note for parents and campers on bedtimes and sleeping arrangements- We want to clarify a few things in light of some questions and concerns expressed by parents, and in light of some (rather different) questions and concerns expressed by campers. We have carefully considered and reconsidered our goals for camp, and at least for 2003, this is where we continue to stand: As in the past, we do not plan to enforce a bedtime at camp. We will continue to require lights out/quiet in cabins from approximately midnight to 8 a.m., but allow people to stay up later in the lodge, at the campfire circle, etc. We do, however, ask each camper to write up a personal policy that they will use to determine when to go to bed each night, based on what they understand about themselves and what is important to them during the camp week. This is a relatively new program, which we started in 2001; overall it has been effective and received good reviews from campers. We do this because while we don't want to unnecessarily limit freedom, we do want campers to take good care of themselves and get enough sleep. And, we want to encourage more participation in daytime workshops and activities. Also (and as in the past), we do not plan to require campers to sleep in their assigned beds. (We don't allow girls in boys' cabins or vice versa, though.) Most campers sleep in their beds most of the time. Some campers, however, sleep in groups (which are often mixed-gender) in public spaces or outside. Sometimes these groups are affectionate and cuddly. To be a little more blunt, at times they are just heaps of people-to those of us on staff, they sometimes look quite uncomfortable. While we firmly expect campers to observe our "no sex at camp" and "no nudity" rules (and initiate plenty of dialogue when that seems called for), we do not police these groups. Our observation (borne out by many candid reports from individual campers) is that while occasionally there is some mildly sexual behavior, by and large these "people piles" are innocent. We feel that while they do make it possible for people to bend the rules, there are other ways for people to bend the rules who have decided to do so, and that to tighten our policy in this regard would be more of a detriment than a benefit to camp and campers. Because we know that some campers may not be fully ready to make their own healthiest choices about this (and other) matters, and because as parents you know your kids better than we do, we suggest that you talk about this subject as a family, and perhaps clarify your own expectations or agreements independently of camp rules and policies. In other words, we do stand behind the rules that we set, and take reasonable steps to ensure that they are followed, but we cannot be responsible for making sure that your kids behave the way that you think is best for them. In the past, we have swung to different sides of the pendulum-tightening things up at parents' requests, then seeing (and hearing from campers) that we've caused more harm than good, preventing innocent affection more than anything else, and so swinging back to a looser stance. We're hoping to strike a better balance, in part by asking you-the parents-to get involved by having your own family discussions. (It might also be helpful for you to talk, as a family, about what kind of a bedtime policy might work best. In our spring mailing we will include some examples of previous policies that have worked well.) -Grace says:- If your family runs into road blocks in negotiating this territory (or any other, for that matter), or you simply want some help in creating a win-win agreement, I'd highly recommend a phone consultation with Taber Shadburne, my co-director. He's a psychotherapist and family counselor who specializes in this sort of thing and I think he's about as skilled and insightful as they come. If money is an issue, he may be able to work out a discount or partial trade or some such. You can reach him at 415-479-3340, or taber@nbtsc.org. One more note. Our experience at camp has always been that most campers are extremely mature-that is, cooperative, beyond the need to rebel for rebellion's sake, and kind and empathetic to staff as well as to each other. When we envision our policies at future camps, it is always with this kind of maturity in mind. In the unlikely event that we ever find ourselves with a different quality of camp community, we will need to shift the way we do things. We are committed to creating the best possible balance of freedom and caretaking, given the particular group of human beings that we find ourselves serving. -Campers say:- "I feel genuine kinship and community here. I'm going back to my usual home with feelings of hope and inspiration and a clearer vision for my horizons." "Wonderful people, and everyone following their bliss. Camp is an energizing bath of joyful energy that left me full of awe and inspiration for my own life." "Camp was one of the most inspiring and purifying experiences I've ever had. It makes me hungry for life again." "This camp was by far the best thing that ever happened to me. "The only thing I don't like about camp is leaving at the end. I mean I know that we have to leave at some point, but I wish we didn't. I just love camp that much." "I had never been in such a big group of people that were so open, nonjudgmental, loving, honest, and just wonderful to be around! The energy of it all was so incredibly awesome! It was the best experience I have ever had. "I will definitely be coming back next year and for both sessions!!! I had the time of my life at NBTSC!" "1 just want to let you all know how much of a great time 1 had at camp. I really think the people at camp were the most open, loving, fun and supportive group of young adults. Thank you all for the things I learned at camp. I really, really, really want to be there next year!" "Overall, I think this was the best week of my life. The energy of vibrant, thinking, life-loving people is the most intensely powerful thing I can imagine." "Camp is good for me. It's good for my spirit. It totally rejuvenates me, and inspires me. This is partly who Jam, camp affects everyone a little differently, of course. Don't send your kid here thinking they'll come home some kind of superkid. Camp isn't for the parent. It's for the kid. It's an experience they won't forget. But everyone processes differently, and every kid may NOT come home totally inspired. The majority will, I suppose...." "Never before has a camp had such an effect on me as this one. I was so at peace with myself and others, it was incredible. I never wanted to leave." "This camp gives you the feeling that no matter who you are or wherever you re from, you will always be welcome!" "Camp has been the best three weeks of the last three years of my life. Some of my very favorite people are the people I've met here in the last three years." "Every year it continues to amaze me how so many wonderful, accepting people there really are. I've made more lasting friends at camp than in the whole rest of my life put together." "I'm writing to say again how thrilled lam with camp. You get together such a great group of wonderful, talented people. I'm really amazed at your ability to make it work so well." "1 feel like a different and better person! I haven't even fought with my sister who also went to camp. Or my other siblings for that matter." "Camp is the high point of my unschool year. Each time I make new friends, learn new things, and leave with a beautiful feeling." "To be at NBTSC is a life changing experience. It sounds like a cliché but it's never been more genuine than in this case." "This was the funnest camp I've ever been to and everyone was so nice!" "Not Back to School Camp has consistently and persistently demanded that I try new things and challenge the way I look at the world. I have come across so many amazing people with amazing talents, I think I have a new family of 120 people!" "I was thrilled by everything: the idea, the staff the campers, the openness, the inspiration that lasts all year. Thank you." "Like last year, I came home totally inspired. 1 feel like the days are not long enough for all the things I want to learn/study now. 1 feel like I can change the world. I know I can change the world. 120 campers and advisors felt the same way that week, I think, and many of them have carried that feeling home. It was worth every bit of money and time-- I love camp. I highly recommend it, especially to those who are wondering if they're doing the right thing and to those who feel apathetic and unenthusiastic about learning, life, whatever. There is a joy in life at camp. A warning however: you can't get much out of camp if you don't put much in. The more you participate in things, try talking to new people, and explore, the better time you will have. And personally, I find that by the end of camp, what energy I put into being there has come back, multiplied, a hundredfold." "This camp totally changed my life. I feel confident and proud to walk the path I chose."