Coyote camp is an opportunity for teens to experience the innerstillness of the wilderness mind. Through this experience of inner and outer stillness and sharing their insights with other campers and staff, they discover their unique strengths and come to feel their inner power. Campers come to know that they can care for themselves, successfully face difficult challenges and even set their sites on solving seemingly impossible problems. All of this learning is facilitated through a metaphor or reallife wilderness survival and group living challenges which includes intense practice of the awareness and survival skills of the native scouts. In the process, campers develop important lifeskills like teamwork; thankfulness; patience; common sense; self confidence; and respect for self, each other and nature.
Fun and adventure are only part of the story. Important tangible and intangible skills like teamwork and communication; thankfulness; awareness; inner stillness and patience; common sense; self confidence; respect for self, each other and nature; and problem solving are woven invisibly into each day. For example, campers might learn inner stillness through the need to sneak up on another group. They might learn teamwork and communication through talking circles or the need to quickly build a group shelter. Our focus is on helping campers to build skills that will serve them for a lifetime.
Returning Campers
Personalized attention ensures that returning campers are fully engaged. They have the opportunity to learn advanced skills such as bow making, advanced fire making and shelter building techniques; take a greater responsibility for group decisions and projects; participate in their own advanced challenges; and assist the staff in teaching the skills they have practiced to new campers.
Coyote Camp has two week and three week sessions for teens 13-17 years old . Younger campers who may be away from home for the first time experience a gentle introduction to our curriculum. Older campers are given the opportunity to challenge themselves as a group in creating their own wilderness camp and preparing many of their meals.
2005 is our second year with an optional third week for campers who want an extra level of challenge.
Teen Camp 2001
Making
Fire without Matches
Sunset Meals on the River
All-night Scout Games
Rites of Passage
Team Work
Tool Making
Animal Tracking
Rising to Real Challenges
Sleeping in Natural Shelters
Immersing Yourself in Wilderness
Carving a Soapstone Bead
The Finished Products