Queer Spirit: faerie scout camp

queer spirit: faerie scout camp!

Finally!
The Scout Camp you wished you
had gone to when you were a kid!

July 31, 2008 from (3 PM)
until August 3, 2008 (2 PM)

Queer Spirit will be hosting the First Annual Faerie Scout Camp. This is a camp of YOUR (the participant’s) creation. The goal of this camp is to create a loving, nurturing community of queer men with willing hearts to explore and support each other in personal growth and in relationship to each other.

Historically Queer Spirit conducts several guided and structured retreats in an effort to create self-awareness and mindfulness. The monthly gatherings have been an attempt to keep the energy of retreats moving in a positive direction. Although a summer retreat was not planned, the interest of a summer gathering was repeatedly requested, hence the creation of Faerie Scout Camp! And we are inviting you! If you're reading this and a gay man this camp is for you!

Faerie Scout Camp is unique in that we will be camping in the cedar forest of Wind Walker Ranch. We will create our own campsites, meals and focus on a collective community experience. The guided workshops/activities are the result of your input and suggestions. DOWNLOAD MAP (PDF)

This event is a fundraiser with a suggested donation of $100 per participant. This event does have a cost to Wind Walker Ranch in order to host this event, proceeds will then be used to fund future Queer Spirit Activities, support the website and fund scholarships for future retreats. We are a community that supports each other in our interpersonal growth, awareness and joy in who and what we are. Do not let funds prevent you from attending this event as we may have resources to support your attendance.

Who Should Attend?

Gay Men, Queer Men, Bears, Twinks, Jocks, Young, Old, Middle Aged, Balding, Hairy, …You're getting the point right? This is for you! We all hold a piece of the queer story and you being there will enlighten and encourage us to expand our own interpersonal stories. In essence your very presence makes this gathering unique and important to all of us!

Drugs and Alcohol: This is a DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE event. Bring YOUR spirit, your soul and your mind….

Got an idea? As you will see below the workshops are interesting, unique and provoking. Perhaps you have an idea you would like to add to the schedule? Please contact us and we will get it added to the agenda. You may want to have a particular discussion or explore your own unique relationship with gay men, spirit or whatever it is you want to explore. We can make room for this to happen. We anticipate over 50 participants at this camp and can easily exceed this count. We have room for you! Some of the activities are small group exercises by nature, while others will involve the whole camp. You’re invited to test your limits, cross your edges and step into a new and interesting place in your life. The intent of this camp is to establish a nurturing and safe place to make these explorations. You can sit by your camp, joke and laugh at the campfire, enjoy the pool or plan participation at the various events and activities. This is about community!

Below are some of the proposals and workshops anticipated at the Faerie Scout Camp. These are not in any particular order.

Workshops and Events

DOWNLOAD WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS (PDF)
DOWNLOAD WORKSHOP TIMETABLE (PDF)

Heart circle: (community)— is one of the central traditions of faerie community. Faeries come together in a circle to speak from the heart, and to listen to one another through our hearts. Usually a talisman of some kind (a talking stick, a shawl, a day-glo bubble wand) is used to identify the faerie that is speaking -- as long as that faerie holds the talisman that faerie speaks, without interruption or feedback, and everyone else listens, with as much attention and compassion as we can muster. In some heart circles the talisman is passed around the circle and each faerie has that opportunity to speak or to pass the talisman. In other circles when one faerie is done speaking, any other faerie may ask for it. Either way, passing the talisman is an intimate exchange, often accompanied by a hug or a kiss. Speaking from the heart is difficult to define, but we know when we're doing it, and when we're not. The quality of a heart circle comes as much (or more) from the listening as from the speaking. Many of us have had some or our most deeply emotional, healing, transformative experiences in heart circle. (Various Guides to facilitate circle)

Opening Ceremony/Setting up the Altar: (Community)— retreat tradition has it we will establish a Queer Spirit Ancestor Altar. Bring something fabulous for the altar to hold our intentions and focus for the weekend… finding beauty in all we see are and becoming. Typically the altar has held sacred items of objects that speak to the beauty of being queer in our culture and what being queer represents to you.

Heart Circle: Sobriety, Sexuality and Surprises (Workshop)— Often Queer Spirit attracts men in different stages of substance abuse recovery. In doing so, We would like to offer this space for the men in recovery to have a place to share, support and sponsor each other’s dream and vision of a life free of drugs or alcohol. This group is meant to acknowledge the ghost of drugs and alcohol in our community and explore the implications spiritually, sexually and in whatever sense it shows up in our lives (surprises). Come and support your friends in finding joy in sobriety. (Various Guides)

Bon Fire: (Community)— Lets start our journey with a mind-altering rouse of music, dance and release with the bon fire. We create with the fire and sound the caldron for the magic of being free, liberated and joyously engage in a rebellion of all we repress and let it sound out clearly and profoundly… WE ARE HERE NOW AND WE ARE BEAUTIFUL!

The Intimacy of Touch ~ Body Work: (Workshop)— Participants will be guided into an area of connectivity and appreciation for bodywork and their own bodies. Participants will learn to embrace bodywork from a nourishing, connecting and emotional basis. In addition, participants would recognize the value in touch in our daily lives and it's relationship between touch and our inner-self (physical) and (spirit/emotional core). (Jeff W)

Exploring Movement and Energy: (Workshop)— Different forms of traditions use dance and movement as a way to create and shift energy. Various movements will be taught in how to work with this energy. Our instructor will teach Indian dance, probably the Gujarati Stick Dance. This one dance could take us anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Depending on fast learners and endurance as the tempo quickens. Another offering will be Bangrah from the province of Punjab to the north. A Punjabi culture shared across the Pakistani boarder and is very energetic. Both of these are accompanied by Indian music, which in spite of its age is part of the wave of new age music so popular right now. (Michael H)

Drum Circles: (Workshop/Community)— Many men have expressed an interest in doing drum circles, which will be done on its own as well as in the context of the Bon Fire. Bring your instruments, drums, and rattles and join in the raucous! We will bring up and forth the magic of sound, dance and movement. Please bring a variety of instruments that you may have at your disposal. (Michael and Others)

Body Paints: (Workshop)— Groups of men will be encouraged to create living murals of body art. Guys who didn't know each other paint each other to the extent that they wanted to be painted and have some fun and get to know each other at the same time. Prizes for the most creative full body and half body art will be provided. (Mike F)

Body Sensual: (Workshop)— One of the areas we'd like to explore in Queer Spirit is our intimate relationship with others and ourselves. As we continue our growth toward a positive self-image as gay men, an important area to consider is our sensual and sexual beings.

Many of us may have learned that sexuality, particularly homosexuality, is a sin, immoral, wrong. This message only stunts the growth of the evolving gay man. If we have doubts about our sexuality, it creates yet another self-deprecating message. Further, this hinders our abilities to fully love others and ourselves.

Queer Spirit is dedicated to help the gay man find his true self. Help to change this and other false images we have created about ourselves.

We have designed a workshop called The Body Sensual that begins to explore these intimate and personal relationships with ourselves and those around us.

The Body Sensual puts us back in touch with our sensual, sexual, and even erotic selves. It explores our issues and stories about intimacy and relationships. Through dialog, we begin to discover the origins of why it may be difficult for some of us to fully love ourselves. Through guided touch techniques, we learn how to ask for what we want; know the things that make us feel good. We learn to say, "yes" to what we like and "no" to the things we do not like. We also learn to listen to what our partners need and want. With direct and honest communication, experiencing love and pleasure will be more appreciated and valued. What emerges is a fuller respect for you. (John C)

Pema Chodron Meditation: (Workshop)— based on the teachings of Pema Chodron. These meditations are fluid, interactive techniques that we can use to cultivate loving kindness, peace, wisdom and compassion within ourselves and in our relationships with others. (Shaun D)

Drumming workshop: (Workshop)— will focus on coming together around the living drums to learn and share our energy and songs with each other. Drumming is a powerful tool to move our energy and magic into places of awakening, joy and community. Many of the songs taught would be songs often shared in sweat lodge ceremony. This is a great time to learn these songs and inter relationships using the drums as a vehicle in that understanding. (Shaun D)

Talent Show: (Community)— Come with a talent to share or participate. Perhaps you sing, dance, comedy, drag, touches your tongue to your nose…. John Cottrell will be orchestrating the talent portion of the retreat. We encourage you to come prepared with something to share but we honor your ability to witness and offer support as well. (Community) We do have a sound system and will have a dance following the talent show.

Meditation & Movement (Community)— If you have wanted to try out meditation and learn how to move your body and discover the rhythm in it, come to the meditation and movement. We will briefly discuss both meditation and meditative movement and then put it in practice. (Duff D)

Sweat Lodge Ceremony: (Jerry) (Workshop)— Morning YOGA (John) Workshop Story Telling: (Workshop) "Once Upon a Time"- Sharing the hard story of my life in an intimate, safe setting Come prepared to share your life story (in general, not year by year!) with a focus on one or more of the "hard" or "difficult" aspects of your life that really had an impact on who or how you are. Please do not process this beforehand, just plan on letting it OUT and unloading this with your brothers! (Chet)

Pipe Ceremony Spirit Readings: (Workshop)— details to be provided soon.

Expression in Art: (Workshop)— We will be led in projects of art that will leave our mark on the ranch, details to be provided soon. (Dean)

Closing Ceremony: (Community)

If you have additional ideas or thoughts regarding the camp please make your suggestions now so we can make appropriate plans.

What to Bring

Camping gear
Tents, Trailers/RV’s (no hook ups available)
Shade devices encouraged
Sleeping Bag
Sarongs
Clothing/Drag and Campy fun
Journals
Flashlights
Talent
Food
Water for drinking
Drums, rattles, other musical instruments
Sense of humor and fun!

This is a camping event so whatever you require for your camping comfort. Bring items to make your camp PRETTY! Solar lights, pink flamingos, etc.

Planning on attending? Questions?
Please contact us