And In the End

Many of you have asked me to speak specifically about the architecture project itself, as I used alot of this blog for personal thoughts. Here goes:

I was amazed at how quickly 10-14 year olds learn and process. I was even more amazed that I was able to teach them much of anything in such a short amount of time. It makes me wonder why architecture isn't taught in public schools. Its a common thread in which all kids, regardless of socioeconomics, have equal opportunity to excel. We all use buildings. And if kids were introduced to design concepts at a young age, wouldn't that make for a more beautiful built environment once they became adults who made decisions regarding architecture?

The model for the project got quite a bit of attention, but the photographs stole the show. The kids learned to look at buildings in a whole new light and found some beautiful details to capture. Our oral history listening stations weren't particularly popular, but those who took the time to listen learned quite a bit about the changes at camp in the past 50 years, and what is to come.

Its impossible to find the words to sum up the experience I've just had. So I'll let my friend Wes do it, as I share this feelings on the matter: :"Its funny - at camp my normal real-world agenda became something of a chore. We were so well taken care of that I usually found it a hassle to deal with, or think about anything but the present moment and the kids I was teaching. The Farm is seductive like that. A little slice of (insert place of myth here) that pulls the artistic wool over your eyes. A place for free-range artists to run around and be happy."

And that I was.

Short post

I'm back home but with little time tonight, so I'll share a link to my final photo installment, then write my final entry tomorrow night-

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=59922&l=778b0&id=611842138

Too Cute

This is Marco - my favorite camper. He is the sweetest little guy and we spend lots of time together. He wrote me a poem, as I am leaving tomorrow. Here's an excerpt:

Susan Susan-
You are as nice as a girl out of one of my love stories-
You are as magnificent as a peacock with all its wings out-
....

Too cute!

Exhibit is tonight, wish me luck! So far its shaping up nicely.

Exhibit Planning

My campers have just about finished their projects and now I find myself with the enormous challenge of mounting an exhibit. Its been a smooth experience so far - just lots of coordination between various department heads as far as who will be responsible for various tasks. We've reserved the Art Gallery and 2D Room of the Art Barn, and will have an open house for folks to walk through on Saturday at 5pm. Campers will stand next to their projects and answer questions. We have a set of photographs which are enlarged architectural details around camp, 2 models, some process drawings, a site plan of the entire camp, and oral history recordings and a "Name that building" challenge for all campers.

I won't lie. I'm pooped. I've avoided the (crappy) camp coffee up until now, but I think I've got to get any boost I can to make it through tomorrow night! At least after the exhibit I can celebrate at the camp dinner/dance :)

Probably no photos today. No time! I will take lots at the exhibit though.

This has been a really rewarding experience. I've actually enjoyed teaching (10-13 year olds). Who would have thought.

S.

Growing Up

A couple of nights ago I was sad. I was having a hard time adjusting to life back here. I wasn't a camper, I wasn't staff, my camp friends weren't here with me, and was no longer experiencing all this as a teenager with her close friends. There was a bit of culture shock involved. It was just one rough night and I've been a happy camper (haha, funny choice of words) since. That night I wrote an email to my friend Adrienne, a former bunkmate here in the early 90s who knew of my return. I tried to explain my sadness, and she wrote back the most beautiful note - I wanted to share it with all of you:

Susan my love...

Growing up is the greatest gift your childhood ever gave you.

You have not changed and aged, but you have grown. The big dreams we had when we were young are all coming to reality. You are married to what sounds like "the perfect man", who loves and supports you, and watches you dream.... You are beautiful (always were), and you finally know it.... You are smart (always were) and now you are able to apply that knowledge to something that matters in life. It has given you a rewarding career, and best of all, the chance to share your knowledge of your profession, and knowledge of yourself with young Appel Farmers.

Appel Farm gave you one of the greatest gifts you've ever received...those summers we learned how to love ourselves, how to love others, how to share, how to give unconditionally, and how not to judge. I have never forgotten something Shoshanna Bobkoff said..."Just because someone calls you something, doesn't make you what they called you." We learned to accept ourselves, and to accept others...Who was the girl who always read...had no friends? was it Janis? She had frizzy hair and looked like she didn't care, and no one liked her, but we did, turns out she was a real gem. If it's the girl i'm thinking of, she's on facebook...and is beautiful, and engaged. Did that summer of acceptance from the "cool girls (us)" give her self confidence to find her inner beauty?

I've long since forgotten about the clothes ruined by the laundry service, or the bad meals, or the great corn (oh what i'd give for Jersey Silver Queen right now...YUM!!)...but i've never forgotten who my time at Appel Farm made me, and what I learned. Do not yearn for the past, what is essential is still with you. At the end of the summer after going home, i used to not want to wash the smell of the Farm off my favorite things. I thought "but this is Appel Farm dirt, I wanna keep something that was from there". I felt that way after coming home from living in Africa...no, don't wash away the Africa dirt!!! T...What I realized is that what was "from there" was something no soap could ever wash off...Me...plain and simple. My experience was all I needed. It was in me heart.

My first summer at the Farm, Shoshanna read us "The Little Prince".

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye."

It was a very special time in our lives, and unlike any other. It is still with you, and you do belong there...with chocolate cake all over your face (i need to find that picture!!).

Appel Farm is a part of you, and you are a part of it. Enjoy this time you have together (cause i'm so jealous)!!!

You don't need us to be there with you. We may be all over the world, but we are together in your heart.

Adrienne

Thank you, A. I'm so lucky to have you back in my life :)

Today's photos: the new buildings at Appel Farm
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=59396&l=6622a&id=611842138

A quick hello

Today was Beach Day (I know, poor me) so I don't have much to write since classes were shortened. Last night we went bowling for a staff excursion (poor me again) so I've had some time to enjoy myself and re-energize for the week. Its going on day 4 of architecture week and now I definately feel like part of this wonderful community. Staff and counselors know me by name, and vice versa. I'm still stunned by the beauty of this place - its such a caring, supportive environment to explore the arts.

Today's photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=59296&l=2c6ab&id=611842138

A day in the life

7:30 Wake up, get everything together for morning class
8:30 Camp breakfast and announcements
9:30 Majors. I'm with visual arts and photography campers
12:30 Lunch
1 Rest Hour - prepare for afternoon class
2:15 Minor 1- I'm with photography
3:30 Snacktime!
3:45 Minor 2 - I'm with journalism
5 Free Choice- I have an open architecture studio
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Evening Activity

So there you have it. Not much different than the schedule when I was a camper.

I'm so so busy with these kids! Not only am I teaching majors and minors, but a number of them have expressed interest in meeting with me during free time to do a small project, learn more etc. I'm amazed how smart and creative these kids are. We're going to have a great exhibition Saturday. The visual arts kids are model making their new design for a courtyard at camp, the photography students are documenting all sort of odd nooks and crannies found in/on the buildings, the journalists are doing interviews today of the camp founder, and a longstanding counselor. They are just such quick studies and genuinely interested in architecture- its working out so well!

Last night's fun activity was the staff concert, where staff show off their talents in the fields other than what they teach. I remember as a camper, how I adored these people, even had crushes on them. And now they are my co-staff, and perhaps even 5-10 years younger than myself. So that's an example of one of the stranger moments I've had here - when I genuinely realize my time spent here was half a life ago (14 vs 29).

Yay!

Holy cow, teaching went SO WELL this morning! I spoke with 50 visual artists (age 9-17, ceramics/sculpture/painting/drawing), and had a group discussion about architecture - we made a collective definition, talked about buildings at camp etc. At the end of the hour-long talk, 7 people expressed interest in doing an architecture project for the rest of the week. So we spent another couple of hours choosing our building and talking about design/materials etc. We have selected a building and will divide it up into components - the campers each choose a piece and will build/draw/paint their own ideas about it. Afterwards I lectured to the photography students and they have decided to do a series of detailed photos of one of the oldest buildings on grounds. I'm thrilled, it really couldn't have gone any better!

As a side note, I attended a bonfire with 11 year old girls last night. Too funny.

More photos of familiar places posted today:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=58844&l=d661d&id=611842138

Sniff, Sniff

No, I'm not crying. I've been smelling. And no, its not me that smells. This camp smells. So glad that's been cleared up.

When I imagined being back here, it was very visual. I could picture the places I spent my time, the buildings, the people. What I didn't account for were the smells. I had read that our olfactory sense was our strongest, but hadn't really experienced that for myself. Until now.

There are many distinct aromas here which I haven't had the pleasure(?) of smelling in many years. Again, this should jog the minds of old campers/staff:
1. The Theater. I'd describe it as musty.
2. Walking past North Senior bunks. A combination of perfume, sweat, and laundry - both clean and dirty.
3. The Conference Rooms. Moldy. Distinctively different than the mustiness of the Theater.
4. The Media Center (now camp office). Can't put my finger on that one, but perhaps it has to do with building material offgassing?

The funny part is that all these sound quite horrific. But because of the associated memories I have, I daresay they give me the warm fuzzies. Granted I wouldn't want to spend a huge amount of time in any of these places....

And as a reward for reading through this post you get to see more photos: these are of old places that are still alive and well at the Farm:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=58599&l=3f639&id=611842138

Tomorrow is my first teaching day - wish me luck!

Initial Impressions

Finally found a free moment to write. I've been spending most of my time in the camp office, preparing for class this week. Staff comes and goes all the time, which means that I am frequently distracted by folks who want to chat about the architecture program, and not getting a whole lot done of my own work. No complaints though - I'm flattered that there's been so much interest shown by both staff and campers. Formally, classes begin Monday which gives me the opportunity to meet people, tweak lesson plans and participate in camp activities before the real craziness begins. I anticipate 12 hour days between the actual classes, group meals, workshops and evening activities - most which are alot of fun. Things like improv theater, dances, concerts etc.

As for my initial impressions upon return - and I know alot of old campers want to hear this part - its still the same old Appel Farm we know and love. The supportive community, friendly people, oddballs, traditions - they're all here. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately - probably depends on which way you look at it - the built environment has changed quite a bit. And I think that has a pretty big effect on the experience of camp itself. When I was there, it was a farm, with fields. Buildings punctuated the landscape. Now, its more of a collection of buildings with fields at the periphery. And to boot, these new buildings are ugly. I was told by an unnamed inside source, that they hired an architect who was fairly easy on the wallet - and hence, not all that great with design. They should have called me :)

The specific changes to existing buildings (again, for those who knew camp in the early 1990s) are: the demolition of the Art Barn, replaced by a Pavilion, the Dining Hall is now a dance studio, the Coop was condemned and is now just storage, There is a roof over the grove stage, pigs are gone, South Seniors bunks are now staff housing. What perhaps is more striking are all the new buildings: New Dining Hall and Art Building, near the garden, across from the tennis court; a sculpture has been built between the Office and Tennis courts, there are Adirondack chairs which are additions to picnic tables outside for gathering spots, there are 2 new bunks built between the pool and old coop so that viewshed is gone. And there are alot more campers here. Probably a couple hundred!

And now onto the camp itself - the kids are great. They seem a little different than we were - and this is probably just a reflection of a generational change. The girls dress...ummmm...provocatively. I recall us in t shirts and shorts. The kids look so young. And actually, the counselors look young too! I guess that officially makes me an oldie, when 90% of the counselors are 10 years younger than myself. But as I said earlier, the Appel Farm spirit is alive and well. Everyone has been so welcoming. I am always invited to people's tables to share meals, to go to various events with them etc. The kids knew about my existance before my arrival and literally were jumping up and down when I was introduced at breakfast this morning as the guest architect. They are just so enthusiastic and talented. Very unlike the apathy I typically see in kids these days.

As for my personal experience, I feel so very lucky to have been invited back. Its nice to be able to enjoy this place again, at a different point in my life, with different experiences and perspectives. It feels like home to me.

First Day Photos

No time to write now - am busy trying to meet up with the heads of visual arts, photography and writing.

But to hold you over, here are some photos! You don't need a Facebook login to view.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=58459&l=8cab4&id=611842138

I'm Here!

Just a quick note to let you know I arrived this afternoon. What a surreal day! Its been a fantastic whirlwind and at the same time, such a comfort to return. I spent most of my time with Sarv, a counselor who was here when I was a camper 15 years ago, just getting caught up on the changes that have happened since I left. I'll write more and post pictures tomorrow. The biggest surprise is all the new buildings that have popped up which past campers can see on the aerial photo to the right. I'm off to a pajama dance party with the kids at the Pavilion (located where the old, very non-code-compliant Art Barn was).....and then back to my digs at Albert's Appel's House (with his roaming chickens in the yard - no more pigs though). Pretty superawesomecrazycool to be back.

Retrospective

Appel Farm. It was my childhood summer home, on a farm, with hippies and music and laughter and friends. I've been thinking about it ever since I last step foot there 14 years ago. On Friday I'm headed back for a week to teach. Its amazing on so many levels - the chance to revisit my childhood self, at the very place which influenced the adult I would eventually become. The realization that I am a product of this place - my awareness and appreciation for art, humanity, and nature began there. All my dreams for myself came out of those summers in the fields. Perhaps the most overpowering thought: I became the woman I hoped I would be. And its all because of this place, which I am returning to, 14 years later.

5 1/2 weeks and counting!

These days you're likely to find me camped out on the porch with my laptop, preparing lesson plans for my week at camp! This is my first shot at teaching, so its intimidating but exciting at the same time. Be sure to check out the camp link in the right sidebar to see where I'm headed in early July.