Pindaris: This week, Pindari’s days in the desert were filled with a lot of fun and laughter. We played ultimate frisbee with a tennis ball left by some campers and other fun group games. The group had a powerful bonding moment where they were digging their fire pit and ran into a HUGE rock and decided to dig it out and after and hour and a half of determination they unearthed the beast and immediately broke into dance.The therapeutic theme for the week being vision, we had many intentional gatherings and morning medications around goal setting, building daily routines, healthy coping skills and the four pillars of Pinardi: Brotherhood, Respect, Acceptance and Honesty. Multiple students were honored with tokens signifying qualities other group members see in the individual. Powerful Kodiak was honored with the Truth Speaker token, Compassionate wave received the Openness token, and Smoldering Snow Leopard received the Peace walker token. Two new members joined the group and the existing Pindari welcomed them in nicely. The group is in a solid place and continues to grow individually and as a group.
Lorikeets: This week the Lorikeets worked hard to increase their efficiency with completing camp breakdown and setup throughout all four hiking days. The group was energized and motivated by successfully getting into camp and completing chores before dark each night. Three lorikeets were able to share their life stories in the evening around the campfire, which allowed the group as a whole to see one another more deeply and honor each other’s experiences. In addition, the group spent time reflecting on the week’s theme of vision and how their values and self-concepts affect their view of the future. Four lorikeets were honored with tokens: Brightness, Openness, Winged Heart, and Vital Fire. A staff member was also honored with the token Strong Cord. Near the end of the week the group held a heartfelt trail name ceremony for a fellow Lorikeet, ultimately deciding on the name Iridescent Sunbeam. In addition, on Monday night, the group completed a busting challenge where each Lorikeet attempted to bust a coal using the bow drill method that is most difficult for them. Despite a few minor conflicts within the group, overall this week the Lorikeets were able to strengthen their group culture, bond with one another, and honor one another’s experiences in meaningful ways.
Goannas: The Goannas had a good start to the week by having a new student introduced to the group. He was excited and ready to join the rest of the boys as soon as he entered and the rest of the group reciprocated those feelings.Though the middle of the week became tough, the group continued to remain in high spirits and support those who were struggling the most. They worked hard on skills; some of the students even decided to make rings out of juniper wood and another started making a juniper box. They ended the week with a bonfire which lifted everyone’s spirits and had the group excited about finishing the week on a strong note.
Ulurus: This week the students in Uluru had a great time and a lot of growth. We worked on incorporating fun around busting and bringing back excitement for busting hour. The group welcomed a student back with open arms and he had a smooth and happy transition back to the Ulurus. He also got his trail name – Funky Sunrise. We spent our days working on skills and primitive projects together. The first campers began their journeys by settling in with the other students and beginning to work on their packs, first camp book, and pawaka. Two students got their first coals from busting and blew them into flames! The group hiked very well this week and did a great job getting to camp with daylight every day. Our evenings were spent gathering firewood, preparing dinner, and getting ready for gatherings. Overall, the Ulurus had a great week with a lot of support, meaningful gatherings, and moments of fun and laughter.
Check Out What’s Happening in 1st Camp @ outBACK
Students at first camp acclimated to the desert in their first few days at Outback. They learned some creative recipes to make meals out of the food they are given each week, learned how to safely tend to a fire, and got comfortable with sleeping in the group shelters. Their first task was to learn about intentional knife safety guidelines, after which they sawed green wood from nearby juniper trees and whittled them into their first spoon. Then they made a keeper pouch out of leather that can hold important objects close to their heart. They also made A-frame backpack frames out of juniper and leather, to which they will tie their equipment to when they get to their groups and start hiking. Lastly, they finished their first camp booklets and worked on bow drilling to get their first coal which some were able to blow into flames. Students were very excited to have the ability to be able to make fire using a primitive method!
