Campers say it's:
- A forum for talking about what really matters in education
- A time to connect with others in meaningful ways and share our stories
- A chance to relax and renew in a peaceful setting with kindred spirits
- A place to play, to sing, to be curious, to wonder, to laugh and get in touch with the kid in me again
-
Each year, it is up to you and what you bring to it!
We invite each of you to share your expertise, curiosity and wonder with the rest of us! This year's group of educators includes teachers, musicians, authors, artists, and leaders who work with all ages.
What would you like to wonder about with us?
Click the arrows on the image to cycle through a slideshow of GMTC.
What is it like?
Daily Schedule- sample
8:00 wake up bell
8:30 breakfast
9:30-12 Morning Presentations
12 lunch
1:30-3 Focus group
3:30-5 Focus group
5-6 free time
6:00 dinner
7-9 evening gatherings (campfire, singing, storytelling etc.)
Support Staff
We are pleased to announce that Laura Perry returns as our beloved cook with Garrett Langer as sous chef.
The Visionaries; Stephanie Kraus, Cecelia Puleio,Vicky Senni, Lana Hayden, Katrina Ellis-Ferrara, Betsy Langer, Billie Slade and Cathy Martin have been busy behind the scenes as coordinators.
We also offer a limited children’s program with trusted staff during the morning presentations.
Nature instigator: Jessica Clayton
Jessica is a NJ certified teacher who taught in bilingual public preschool programs in both New Brunswick and Trenton before opening up my state licensed home daycare for 12 years. Now, she works as an early childhood educator in a Preschool through 12th grade private, progressive, Reggio Emilia inspired, outdoor school. She is also an advocate for nature play & playschools, a founding board member or the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS), professional development consultant, former Brick board of education member, environmentalist, avid reader, and beginner ukulele player.
Camp Instigators
Jessica is wondering:
"What does an ideal setting for children look like?
What do we need to teach the way we want to, with the support that we need, in settings that are designed for children?"
Music instigators: Cathy Martin & guest Annie Patterson
Cathy Martin is back again for her 12th year as our music instigator, with her guitar, banjo, piano, percussion, ukulele etc. Although a classical pianist and guitarist, she loves making music of all kinds and leading people in singing as a form of expression! Much of her time is spent playing jazz with a jazz sextet and doing gigs on piano and vocals in the area. Cathy is also the music director at Green Mountain Camp and plays and sings in various local nursing homes. Whether singing with children or elders, (or anyone in between), Cathy knows the power of music to create and reconnect with memories that sustain us!
Annie Patterson will also be a morning presenter, you can find her bio on the presenters page.
Focus Groups
We are so looking forward to “keeping it going” by creating a new event together that builds on a solid foundation of what came before, every year it's own creation, depending on who comes to collaborate!
Play instigator: Nettie Lane
Nettie’s interest in theatrical clowning led her to study, and apprentice with, Italian Maestro Giovanni Fusetti. Her approach to Clown is somatic, energetic, and process-based. Teaching locally, across the U.S., and in Ireland, she has been guiding students for over 14 years, and has 'midwifed' close to 200 clowns. She directs and produces the yearly Clown Soiree and firmly believes in the power, play and humanity of the Sacred Fool as a way of excavating inner wisdom. When she isn't clowning around, you can find her walking in nature, gardening, writing, yoga-ing, and studying bioenergetics and the invisible mysteries of life.
Nettie is wondering:
" How does the path of play, vulnerability and joy lead us 'Home' to our hearts and authentic expression?"
Art Instigator: Kathy McBride
After a hiatus of many years, we are excited to welcome Kathy McBride back as our Art Instigator! Kathy has been an Art teacher extraordinaire whose passion has been to inspire the ideas and art skills of children grades K-12 in Wisconsin for over 30 years. “My goal was that students would find their own creative spirit and abilities to enhance their joy of learning. I discovered and learned right alongside my students. I honestly believe I learned more about making art from teaching art than from all university studies combined."
Kathy concluded her formal teaching career as Adjunct Professor at Carroll University where it was her job to help education students understand that arts integration into the general classroom is directly linked to a student learning to read & write. Kathy knows that these college students also gained new confidence in their own creative abilities, thus shaping their future classrooms in a positive way.
Today she enjoys collaborating with other creative souls,as well as volunteering in memory care art activities at the Museum of Wisconsin Art. She is looking forward to returning to GMTC to collaborate with other souls who want to come into the woods and create something! Her own artwork reflects her artistic & media skills, observations & ideas about nature & life issues. She closes with these three guiding principles...#1, Share your gifts, no matter what they may be, #2, Art Saves Lives and #3,. Living a creative, giving life helps people find comfort, solace and joy, often leading to healing, peace and a fuller life.
Kathy is wondering
"How do we come to truly believe that we are all artists and what stands in our way of that truth?"