Forest Camp 2026
We were so grateful for the cooler weather and gentle cloud cover that joined us at Forest Camp this year. Their welcome presence brought a sense of ease to our days and invited us to venture farther beyond basecamp this time around.
Every Wild Kin summer camp has its own unique magic, and this year the caves woven throughout our local landscape emerged as a central thread in our adventures. We explored caves, hid within them, built our own cave-like shelters, and ended the week with a journey through a dark wildlife tunnel, imagining ourselves as the animals who cross through that tunnel. What does it feel like to be an animal out here? This question accompanied us all week long.
On Monday, we began by getting acquainted with the land and its many inhabitants, past and present. After hiking in, we were greeted by Karla of Sol y Raíz, who guided us on a beautiful walk and introduced us to some of the plants we would be sharing space with. We carefully rolled plants into bandanas to be steamed and transformed through the magic of botanical printing, then set off in search of caves, wondering how many animals might call these places home. As our camp spread out into small groups, we practiced using our “deer ears” and animal calls to find our way back to one another.
Tuesday brought Tracker Rob and a day full of wilderness skills, especially shelter building! Together we gathered sticks and learned how to construct a lean-to from the ground up. We explored wilderness safety, thermoregulation, and more. At one point, Tracker Rob spotted a rattlesnake, and we gathered at a distance to observe this beautiful wild neighbor. Snake safety remained an important conversation throughout the week.
Wednesday invited us to really drop into the rhythm of camp and follow our own curiosities. Some children were drawn to crafting with willow branches, transforming bark into cordage and carefully whittling butter knives. Others felt the call of the caves once again and ventured back for deeper exploration. During lunch, a surprise hawk sighting lifted us from our blankets and into a moment of collective wonder as binoculars and field guides appeared and we worked together to discover who our feathered visitor might be. We ended the day by mixing a batch of homemade seasonal berry ice cream to enjoy later in the week.
Thursday began with a favorite game: Tracker Hide-and-Seek. Children became both animals and trackers, leaving clues and following signs in a wide-ranging adventure that carried us across the park. We discovered the remarkable camouflage of the Laurel Sumac bush and tucked ourselves into cool, shadowy crevices that felt like secret hideaways. Karla showed some of us how to whittle spoons with the willow, Kat worked on making beads from the Elderberry Tree, and Tracker Rob returned with more skills to share, teaching us how to build a sundial and introducing us to the basics of wilderness water filtration.
On Friday, we gathered to close our week together in ceremony. The scent of mugwort incense drifted through the air as we shared our gratitudes and reflected on our time together. We considered how we had cared for the land, for the animals, and for one another. We celebrated our strengths, acknowledged places where we could continue to grow, and made a promise to keep trying.
After a bit of frog-catching and easy play, we embarked on our final adventure. Guided by song lines—a navigational poem—we climbed up, up, up toward the wildlife tunnel, then journeyed down, down, down to our Nature Name Ceremony. There, we honored each child’s unique gifts, accomplishments, and growth as they received a special name from nature. Finally, we shared the berry ice cream we had made together, savoring one last sweet moment before saying goodbye to the land and to one another.
What a beautiful, wonder-filled week it was!
