Trailblazers Forest Camp 2025
A week at Wild Kin Trailblazers Camp flew by with days packed to the brim with exploration and fun in beautiful, wild Simi Valley.
The oak woodlands and sandstone caves were the perfect setting for getting to know each of the children for the first time, for a second visit, or deepening long time relationships. Our group quickly bonded over games like Deer Ears, Fire in the Forest, Head Honcho, Fire Keeper, and their all time favorite, Coyote Tracker, an epic team game of boundaryless hide and seek! When we circled up each morning, we felt the land and the animals around us, used all our senses, gathered clues from the land and sky and made a human compass, and sang songs. The days ahead were packed with play, adventure, learning and connecting - to nature and to each other.
As the basecamp blanket was unfurled under shady oaks, the kids gathered around for snacks and magical stories from Acorn Woodpecker (Teacher Kat). Field guides, natural paints, rope and string awaited on crafting blankets, which fast became popular places to unwind after running, climbing, and digging. Campers created necklaces from hand cut elderberry beads, sawed and whittled elderberry branches into whistles, crafted bowls and figurines out of wild harvested clay, and strung a swing from a downed log. We combined wild harvested elderberries with blackberries for a natural dye and tie-dyed canvas bags. The campers practiced with bowdrills creating friction for fire. Deep in the woodlands they tracked signs of animals, like hawk and acorn woodpecker feathers that littered the ground, and humans too, like a treasure pile. A pivotal moment was when campers were blindfolded and completed a rope walk leading to a special nature name ceremony. Our crew became the animals and plants of the oak woodlands, transformed from the land around them.
As our bond tightened, we challenged the explorers to a big hike. We navigated our way up switchbacks to our goal: a wildlife tunnel complete with wildlife cameras! Our last day culminated with fire ceremonies, both in our circle as we lit and passed mugwort, and through getting a coal with a bow drill and stoking a fire for a final treat of s’mores. Faces painted with our nature names in celebration, we all agreed we can’t wait to come together again next summer.
