SUMMER CAMPS 2024
camp participant // photo by Dave Hage
We are offering an array of summer camps in Sonoma County for youth ages 4-10 in 2024. This page has information about all of the camps — please read through the sections below for details. You can apply by clicking the application link at the bottom of this page. If you have questions, please contact youthprograms@weavingearth.org.
As educators, we are passionate about working with young people. In all of our youth programs, the local ecosystem of Sonoma County is the classroom. The woods, creeks, meadows, hills, plants, and animals come magically alive through exploration, interaction, and storytelling. We value curiosity as a guide for growth, and we strive for a cultural environment in which the youth learn to collaborate and support each other. As a part of this cultural environment, we aim to nurture a commitment to equity and eco-social justice.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATION
We organize our curriculum into four interrelated pillars. While we present these pillars as distinct, we want to emphasize that they are fluid and always interconnected in practice. That fluidity is symbolized by the water moving through each pillar. To learn more about how we approach education with kids, visit our Wild Tenders page.
EARTH INTIMACY
CO-LIBERATION
EMBODIMENT
prayerful action
II. PROGRAM DETAILS
Our Sonoma County summer camps this year are for youth ages 4 to 10, divided into 2 age cohorts. You can sign up for one or more weeks using the same application, linked at the bottom of this page. However, we do need a separate application for each child you are applying for.
1. LOCATION
15 minutes NW of downtown Sebastopol (Sonoma County). Specific location and directions provided upon registration.
2. SCHEDULE
The table below shows the Summer Camp schedule at a glance, broken down by age group. If you are interested in backpacking for teens, click here. NOTE: All camps run Monday through Friday from 9 AM until 3 PM. You can sign up for 1, 2, 3 or all 4 camps!
AGES 4-6
QUAIL
AGES 7-10
OTTERS
JUNE 17 - 21
(WEEK 1)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 1
PRACTICE and PLAY 1
JUNE 24 - 28
(WEEK 2)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 2
PRACTICE and PLAY 2
JULY 22 - 26
(WEEK 3)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 3
PRACTICE and PLAY 3
JULY 29 - AUGUST 2
(WEEK 4)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 4
PRACTICE and PLAY 4
AGES 4-6
QUAIL
AGES 7-10
OTTERS
JUNE 17 - 21
(WEEK 1)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 1
QUAIL
PRACTICE and PLAY 1
OTTERS
JUNE 24 - 28
(WEEK 2)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 2
QUAIL
PRACTICE and PLAY 2
OTTERS
JULY 22 - 26
(WEEK 3)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 3
QUAIL
PRACTICE and PLAY 3
OTTERS
JULY 29 - AUGUST 2
(WEEK 4)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 4
QUAIL
PRACTICE and PLAY 4
OTTERS
II. PROGRAM DETAILS
Our camps this year are for youth ages 4 to 10, divided into 2 age cohorts. You can sign up for one or more weeks using the same application, linked at the bottom of this page. However, we do need a separate application for each child you are applying for.
Full schedule and camp descriptions are detailed below. For the older group (Otters), the camp weeks have a theme. The themes are referenced in the table below and described more fully in the following section.
1. LOCATION
15 minutes NW of downtown Sebastopol. Specific location and directions provided upon registration.
2. SCHEDULE
The table below shows the Summer Camp schedule at a glance, broken down by age group. For a brief description of each camp, see section 2. CAMP DESCRIPTIONS. If you are interested in backpacking for teens, click here.
AGES 4-6
QUAIL
AGES 7-10
OTTERS
JUNE 17 - 21
(WEEK 1)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 1
PRACTICE and PLAY 1
THEME: TBD
JUNE 24 - 28
(WEEK 2)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 2
PRACTICE and PLAY 2
THEME: TBD
JULY 22 - 26
(WEEK 3)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 3
PRACTICE and PLAY 3
THEME: TBD
JULY 29 - AUGUST 2
(WEEK 4)
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 4
PRACTICE and PLAY 4
THEME: TBD
3. CAMP DESCRIPTIONS
Below, you’ll find descriptions of each camp listed in the table above. The age group is noted on the left side, and the title, date/time, and description for that camp are on the right side.
QUAIL CHICKS
AGES 3-4
June 19-23
FOREST FRIENDS
9AM - 3PM DAILY
Forest Friends will introduce young children to the many wonders of our local ecology through games, songs, short walks, stories and imaginative play. The camp will be a great, gentle and loving introduction to the woods, creeks, grasslands, and rolling hills of west county.
June 26-30
AMIGAS DEL BOSQUE
9AM - 3PM DAILY
Amigas del Bosque presentará a les niñes pequeños las muchas maravillas de nuestra ecología local a través de juegos, canciones, caminatas cortas, historias y juegos de imaginación. El campamento será una bella, gentil y amorosa introducción a los bosques, arroyos, praderas y colinas del oeste del condado. Este campamento se llevará a cabo íntegramente en español y se dará prioridad a los hispanohablantes nativos.
Amigas del Bosque (“Forest Friends” in Spanish) will introduce young children to the many wonders of our local ecology through games, songs, short walks, stories and imaginative play. The camp will be a great, gentle and loving introduction to the woods, creeks, grasslands, and rolling hills of west county. This camp will take place entirely in Spanish, and priority will be given to native Spanish speakers.
QUAIL
AGES 5-6
June 19-23
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 1
9AM - 3PM DAILY
There’s no better place to play than willow thickets, manzanita tunnels, ash avenues, and rings of redwood. The rhythm of the Quail is to have a snack and then get to exploring — forts, fairy houses, stories, adventures and so much more await!
June 26-30
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 2
9AM - 3PM DAILY
Explore and Imagine 2 will be the same as Explore and Imagine 1, but also different, because every day brings something new and unexpected!
July 17-21
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 3
9AM - 3PM DAILY
Same as above 🙂
July 24-28
EXPLORE and IMAGINE 4
9AM - 3PM DAILY
Same as above 🙂
OTTERS
AGES 7-10
June 19-23
DUNGEONS! DRAGONS! NATURE! (OH MY)
9AM - 3PM DAILY
In this exciting mash-up, mornings will be filled with nature-based games and activities, while afternoons will be consumed by an epic journey into the D&D world-building of Chaise Rocco Levy — a naturalist, D&D lover, and WE Immersion graduate.
June 26-30
PRACTICE AND PLAY 1
9AM - 3PM DAILY
THEME: PLANTS AND HERBALISM
Plants are relatives with special — even magical – powers! As relatives, they offer us food, medicine, fiber, beauty and so much more. In this camp, we’ll learn about local plants and how to wisely use the special properties they contain. Most importantly, we’ll learn how to tend them and give back our care and respect.
NOTE: In addition to the themed content, all Practice and Play camps also focus on play, games, and core practices of developing relationship with the Earth.
July 17-21
PRACTICE AND PLAY 2
9AM - 3PM DAILY
THEME: WILD COOKING
Yeah, cooking is cool. But it’s even COOLER (and hotter) when you learn how to do it in a wild setting — safely! This camp will focus on all things fiery fare — we’ll use rocket stoves, coals, and even the sun! What to cook, how to cook it, what to cook it in, and when you know it’s done. Who knows, there might even be a bake-off, which would make this camp the Great But Not-So-British Wild Baking Show. Plus lots of games and other nature-based fun to boot.
NOTE: In addition to the themed content, all Practice and Play camps also focus on play, games, and core practices of developing relationship with the Earth.
July 24-28
PRACTICE AND PLAY 3
9AM - 3PM DAILY
THEME: NATURE GLAM
Do you want to look as f–a–b–u–l–o–u–s as the forest? You do?!? Then this is the camp for you! During Nature Glam, we will spend the week crafting arboreal adornment with materials from our enchanting ecology.
NOTE: In addition to the themed content, all Practice and Play camps also focus on play, games, and core practices of developing relationship with the Earth.
BOBCATS
AGES 11-14
June 19-23
PRACTICE AND PLAY 1
9AM - 3PM DAILY
THEME: PLANTS AND HERBALISM
Plants are relatives with special — even magical – powers! As relatives, they offer us food, medicine, fiber, beauty and so much more. In this camp, we’ll learn about local plants and how to wisely use the special properties they contain. Most importantly, we’ll learn how to tend them and give back our care and respect.
NOTE: In addition to the themed content, all Practice and Play camps also focus on play, games, and core practices of developing relationship with the Earth.
June 26-30
DUNGEONS! DRAGONS! NATURE! (OH MY)
9AM - 3PM DAILY
In this exciting mash-up, mornings will be filled with nature-based games and activities, while afternoons will be consumed by an epic journey into the D&D world-building of Chaise Rocco Levy — a naturalist, D&D lover, and WE Immersion graduate.
July 17-21
HANDMADE MAGIC (for girls, femme, + non-binary youth)
9AM - 3PM DAILY
Handmade Magic is an exploration of the beauty we can create when our wild imaginations, hearts and hands align. The camp will focus on a handmade craft that weaves together a number of basic skills, with an emphasis on wild materials. All skill levels welcome.
July 24-28
WOODWORKING AND WINGS
9AM - 3PM DAILY
Come for a hands-on and immersive week to explore how we can build simple birdhouses that mutually benefit us and our wild kin! This camp covers the basics of woodworking through the lens of connecting with birds, trees, and our natural habitat. Youth will leave this week with a basic knowledge of using hand-tools, construction principles, and working together in a safe and creative way.
III. PRICING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
1. PRICING
We offer a sliding scale tuition for these Summer Camps. The prices are per week of camp.
$350
< ---------------- >
$450
The true cost per participant for a single camp is approximately $390 per week. We offer this range because we know that some families can afford to pay a bit more and some need to pay a bit less. Our hope is that this will average out in a way that helps us to meet our organizational needs.
2. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
If your family isn’t able to pay on this sliding scale, please indicate that in your application and we will do our best to meet your needs. We have had families participate via 4Cs Sonoma County in previous years. For questions about financial assistance, please contact us.
3. DONATIONS
If your family is able to pay beyond the sliding scale and would like to make a donation to our scholarship fund, you can indicate that in your application — we would be grateful for your support! Any money you contribute above $450 will be considered a tax-deductible donation and we will send you a donation receipt for your records.
