We started camp with a quick run around and a few songs then off to explore and create. Our project this week was our take on Tibetan Prayer flags. I’m sure you’ve seen these flags flying in different places around town or maybe seen pictures of them flying on mountain tops in Tibet…one of our moms has been to Tibet and has seen the flags there first hand. The colors of the flags represent different things: yellow-earth, blue-space (spirit), green-air (wind) etc. Each flag has a prayer or good wish for healing, happiness in the world. The idea is to hang the flags where the wind will catch them and blow the good wishes ’round the world……..wonderful! Our flags were made on unbleach muslin, decorated with permanent markers then dyed by dipping in a solution of koolaide, vinegar and salt. This “dye” is not permanent on cotton but was fun to work with and safe. The kids hung their flags on the clothesline to dry then we strung them together so they could take them home and find a place to hang them so the wind will catch them.
As you can see in the slide show a couple grown ups found a moment to themselves to create. I love when parents have a moment to themselves. When you have small children that is often hard to come by. Most parents don’t have a chance to create and play with art so when they can do it here at camp I think it’s a special treat. While I set the projects up for the kids and ask parents to let the kids do their own thing I love the bonding that occurs when parent and child work side by side; parent available to help if needed, child free to explore as they choose.
Our neighbor horses came for a visit at the fence and all the kids who wanted to fed them watermelon. I usually instruct the parents on how to help their child feed the horses but today I helped the kids. I learned this from a “horsey mom”….hold the food by the end with plenty sticking out for the horse to get…carrots, long pieces of watermelon etc. The child holds the food and the grownup covers the child’s entire hand with their own (protecting the child’s fingers). I’m not comfortable with the method of holding the food on my out stretched palm….too many little fingers to get in the way!
After feeding the horses we buried the rest of the watermelon rinds in the compost pile. This was another object of fascination. The kids love looking at all the wiggly worms. We’ll be making a worm farm in the next couple weeks…..the kids will love that!
