By Morgan
So, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we hosted a Campference with Santa Clarita Valley Adventure Play in Val Verde, CA.
It went pretty well.
Playwork professionals, students and enthusiasts came from all over to swap stories, learn from one another, and spend time on a beautiful new adventure playground site. Our fondest hope was that people would make new friends, find mentors, and confess some of their own fears or longings.
It seems like that part was a success.
“So many takeaways, but while I process those, I will just share 3 words that were repeated roughly 642 times: Fun, Freedom, Flexibility.”~ Kelsey Langley
Also not sure if you were paying attention at the time, but there was a *little* bit of a storm happening. The worst storm in 22 years, dropping 5 inches overnight on our site and tents and carefully laid plans. We sought refuge in a church, and then a school. The content went ahead if a little bit reshuffled.
Most gloriously, people rallied. Across the whole four days, they transported baked potatoes in wheelbarrows, cut wood for the fire, raised tarps into the trees (and cut them down, when the wind gained strength). Children scurried around the site, playing all day long. Participants circled to discuss the politics of play and details of practice, breaking off into smaller groups to keep the conversation flowing. People who feel isolated at homemade community together, and for a short time we made a village.
“An incredible site, wonderful people….a bunch of weirdos in the most magnificent way….it felt like I was home.”~ Justine Walsh
This is part 1 of 3 reflections about our Playwork Campference 2017. If you’d like to find out more about us, check out our Facebook, Twitter or visit our website.
