Bestselling Author - Performer - Journalist - Educator - Adventure Dad |
|
Camp Creative "No
Child Left Inside!"
2008 Registration opening in the fall of 2007 What
Is Camp Creative? An
Oregon based charitable Summer Camp (with many traditional camp
activities) expanding to a year-round Outdoor Program including
writer's workshops, residencies, Everyman Olympics, retreats and
special events. Our emphasis is on the arts (especially literary) and
safe, exciting project themed expeditions: Bicycling - road and
mountain Bike trip camping expeditions will be our primary way
of exploring. In addition, we'll have hiking and backpacking trips,
horseback pack
trips, canoe, sea kayaking, rafting and sailing programs. Operated
under American Camping Association standards. Where
is it based? While
100-150 of our campers will be on expeditions at any given time, we are
working with area farms, retreat centers and state parks to provide
quality programs at these locations during our first season. We are actively shopping for
a
permanent reclaimable site (our mission is to distrub no pristine land)
in Oregon Gorge, Oregon. This site will become our permanent home and
base of operations for our programs beginning in 2008. Who is it for? Our
programs at
full capacity will be for 250 kids, 7-18 yrs, with separate adult
programs and full family sessions. Everyone, really, who wants a
project based recreational experience is invited to attend. We'll offer
sliding scale
tuitions and scholarships. 30 percent of our participants will receive
scholarship assistance. We will attract a diverse ethnic and
socio-economic population from the NW with a portion of our camper
slots available to kids/adults/families through out the United States. What
is the Project Based
Approach to
Recreation and Experiential Learning? On top of having fun,
building friendships, being in the moment and learning new skills, we
want campers to have a project based approach to life. Project Based
Education takes one theme and explores it from many angles - an
inclusive approach to something. Each Cabin Group and Expedition Team
will have a common set of daily activities: sports, meal prep,
campfire, words on wheels mentorship's, swimming etc. Additionally,
they will choose
from a menu of
PROJECTS related to where they are going or what they are doing that
week. They will explore one project ( Natural homebuilding, Wildlife,
boat building, or bike touring the covered Bridges of Clark County)
from various angles: historic, environmental, scientific, economic,
social, folkloric, etc. - while using various skills and mediums that
appeal and interest each individual camper - photography, drawing,
block printmaking, video, poetry, journalism, cooking, etc. Example:
while bicycle touring through 15 covered bridges in Clark County during
a five day bike camp expedition -the project might be to create a
presentation of each bridge using a variety of media from different
perspectives - digital images, video etc. one camper might discover why
the bridges were built in the first place and do an illustrated display
of this, another might interview locals for stories about the bridges,
another camper would find out what different bridges were made out of,
why and how this related to the economics, ecology of the area, the
technology of the era, - expressing this in a tactile display of art
that incorporates these materials. Another camper documents the
wildlife found at or around each bridge. The overriding goal is to
explore and learn how our world is connected and our sustainable place
in it. Each
cabin group/team will
present these
projects completed or ongoing - back in camp at an end of the week
festival. These projects will be open ended so that future teams can
build on them and the program creates a well of knowledge, perspective
and expressions of talent and models for learning that are hands-on,
alive and fun. Camp
Creative's project based
approach will
actually feel like an adventure of a high order rather than days of
study and work. We'll have a sense of exploration, whimsy and fun in
every activity we dive into. What
Will Camp Cost? Camp
will be divided into one and two week
sessions (6 days per session) with in camp sessions costing less than
our trip camp - project based expeditions. In camp fees will range
between $350-$500 per week. Expeditions $500- $750. This will include
all food, equipment, lodging, special events, and take home creations
and projects. Expedition fees will cover all of the above plus NW
transportation fees during sessions. Some expeditions to other parts of
the country will have additional travel fees. Two week sessions will
range between $700-$900 in camp, $900-$1400 for expeditions. 2008
Camp Schedule Will
there be
scholarships and sliding scale fees? We
will offer
a significant number of camper scholarships and a sliding scale fee
based on need. Camp Creative is not a program for need based campers
only. It will be a diverse mix of ethnic and socio-economic
populations. Who
is organizing Camp
Creative? Joe
"Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie is the founder and director of
Camp Creative. Author of two bestselling story collections and the
recently released book "Momentum Is Your Friend", Joe has been a
newspaper editor, book reviewer, travel writer and world traveler by
bicycle. In his other life, Joe has directed nonprofit organizations
and summer camps. With two decades of experience in this field,
including Camp Thunderbird in Florida, Bearskin Meadow Diabetes Camp in
California, Camp Oakes, Camp Courageous and a four year stint as the
executive director of MRAC: a New Mexico arts council, he brings a
wealth of specialized training and expertise, channeling his energies
and skills into creating an American Camping Association accredited
program in Oregon. When not writing books, a nationally syndicated
column, or articles for Backpacker, Men's Journal, Details or
Bicycling magazine, Joe teaches writing programs through Literary Arts
Inc. and
Community of Writers (COW) He Also tours the country with his one man
performances. He is putting together an advisory board of educators,
community leaders and artists to help make Camp Creative a success. Support
Staff include bicycle tour guides, genius grant nutritionists,
professional writers and artists, biologists, recreation specialists,
doctors and teachers. How
can I sign my
child/my family/myself up for camp? We
are beginning the
application process now for
four, one week sessions of expeditions during the Summer of 2008 registration opening in the fall of 2007. |
Session 1
June TBD
(Sauvie Island) Kids $495 Session 2
June TBD (Columbia
Gorge Loop)
Kids $495 Session 3 June TBD (Columbia Gorge Loop) Family Camp Kids 3-8 $250 Kids 9-17 $395 Adults $495 Session 4
July TBD (Olympic NP Washington) Family Camp Kids 3-8 $250 Kids 9-17 $395 Adults $495 |
Contact
Joe | Fan Club
| Cowboy
Blog
| Newsletter
| Press Kit
| Guestbook
| Employment | Site Map
| Privacy |