SUDBURY SUMMER CAMP
PRESENTED BY
ARTS & IDEAS
SUDBURY SCHOOL
Frequently Asked Questions
How will the kids know what to do with their time? What if they are new to the Sudbury model?
We seem to forget, in this day of over-scheduling and over-supervision, that kids have been creating their own fun and adventure since the beginning of time. It's what they are hard wired to do. Not too long ago, kids were advised to "come home when the street lights come on," and enjoyed having control of their time; that autonomy is so crucial to developing important life skills.
At Sudbury Summer Camp, kids will be with other kids and staff who will bring their own interests and experiences to camp. We almost never see kids at a loss for what to do, even if it takes a day or two to get into the swing of things. Camp members will also have an opportunity to offer suggestions for activities, and will even have a budget to work with, perhaps to plan a field trip, or puchase something for a special activity.
Camp will be attended by kids and staff with a range of Sudbury experience and knowledge. so your child should not worry if they are new to the Sudbury model or democratic process. Kids and staff who are more familiar with the way things work, will be able to help out and guide less experienced campers through the process.
My child needs a lot of structure and I'm afraid they will be unsafe if given too much freedom.
Safety is our number one priority. What we see at our school is that kids want to be in a safe, reliable environment. When they have a say in what the rules are, they are invested in following them; the environment is actually safer if it is not just up to the staff to keep everyone in line. When there is ownership (in the form of having a vote and making decisions) the kids remind each other to follow the rules, and take pride in following them. In school, the rules are generally about safety, using resources responsibly, age-appropriate levels of freedom, and balancing the rights of the individual with the needs of the community.
Who are the staff at camp?
The staff are experienced Sudbury School staff who have respect and a deep appreciation for the abilities and energy of young people! We have enjoyed years of working with children in this type of democratic environment. Staff also bring their own skills and passions to the age-mixing scene. We dance, play music, make art, create special effects with video, conduct science experiments, write fiction, sing, cartoon, play sports. There will always be at least two adults present at Sudbury Summer Camp (current Arts and Ideas Sudbury School staff members), but that does not necesarily mean that your child will be directly supervised throughout their day.
Why can't I sign up for only one week of camp?
Because of the structure of Sudbury Summer Camp, we believe that spending only one week at camp will not give your child the ideal camp experience. Camp is founded on the basics of a working democracy: campers will get together at the start of each of the sessions to decide the rules for camp, and then meet again as needed for the next two weeks to amend, delete, and change those rules. To fully experience the beauty of that kind of responsibility, and to see it's results fleshed out, we feel that two weeks is needed.
I don't get it - why don't you provide activities for the kids?
We believe that children are capable of coming up with brilliant, creative, and innovative ideas and projects all by themselves. That's how our school runs, and we see the amazing results each day. By pre-planning activities, we take away the chance for kids to figure out what they would like to create on their own or with their friends. With some time and space, your kids will come up with all kinds of activities that keep them busy and engaged all day long. Pastimes and projects will be generated based on the ideas the campers and staff bring to camp. Campers can always go to Camp Meeting to request a specific activity, and part of the fun is figuring out how to get it done.
Is this an arts camp?
No, Sudbury Summer Camp is not specifically an arts camp, though art or the arts will be among the activities campers may choose from. We choose the "arts" in our school's name, Arts & Ideas Sudbury School, to evoke a meta meaning of the word. The arts is the universal language as well as a child's natural language. The art of something means an equisite execution of almost anything. We appreciate the approach an artist has to life and work which could be described as playfulness, an openess and a diligence. We also fold the art of mathematics; the art of debate; the art of problem solving; the art of...(fill in the blank) into our definition of arts. Sir Ken Robinson wrote of the arts as addressing the aesthetic experience. He said, "An aesthetic experience is one in which your senses are operating at their peak; when you’re present in the current moment; when you’re resonating with the excitement of this thing that you’re experiencing; when you are fully alive.” When kids are given the time and space without judgement to pursue their passions, one sees a child fully alive. It's thrilling to witness.