Retreat 2013

Yes folks!  We have booked next years retreat following the success of our first unschooling retreat earlier this year.

It was such a wonderful time, living together in a community and sharing inspiration, stories and time together.

Our venue for this retreat is quite different.  We are near a beautiful beach - just a walk over the sand dunes. There will be opportunities  for beach time,  horse trekking,  paint ball,  kite sports, tramping....

Plus shared meals, the popular womans and mens circles, chances for discussions, questions answered, stories shared.....

Watch this space!

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Thanks to the Multi-National Conglomerate Sponsors.

Thanks to all the people/businesses that supported the retreat!

• Bev, from Kereru. Kereru donated all the wonderful soaps and also supplied a huge range of products that were sold throughout the weekend.
• Steve and Judy from Steve's Wholefoods. They kindly donated dish wash and toilet cleaner for the weekend and supplied us with a delicious array of dried fruits and nuts that sold like hot-cakes through the retreat. Thank you!
• Thanks to St Mary's Ashhurst for the use of their blackboards.
• Huge thanks to Steve and Jenny for running one of their amazing Nature School sessions. 
• We're really grateful for the use of the marquee- thanks to Duncan for organizing this.
• Thanks to Ashhurst Red Cross op-shop for kindly lending us crockery and cutlery for the weekend. 

Photos!

Kids making pools next to the river, where we all enjoyed lovely swims, floating down the current and sitting in the sun chatting.

Paper, scissors, rock! A pre-game decider.

The epic game of Wink Murder on the first night. 

Introductory session in the marquee.

Steve Porteous introducing his bush-craft/wild-food walk [A highlight for many during the weekend.]

It was great to have so many older kids at the retreat.

Fred Dagg  leading the 'F' themed fancy dress party parade.

Limbo at the aforementioned party.

One of the many market stalls on Sunday morning. There were so many amazing and creative things to buy/taste/do, and business was brisk.

Rarunga [flax-weaving].

Chain tag.

Kids of all ages playing a game that involved chasing a ball in the shape of a watermelon- no idea what it's called, but looked fun!

The music critics at the final night concert. What a wealth of talent we unschoolers have!

What a wonderful time - thanks!

Thanks to everyone for such a restful, inspiring and fun time of  supportive and loving community!

The retreat was just perfect. 
The sun shone, we swam in the river, had uplifting discussions, met amazing new friends, hung out and played music, had a fire, danced, played, ate.....

As Mac (a five year old from Wellington) put it at our farewell....it was as though we all lived there and now we had to move house.

How wonderful that would be...I wonder what it would take....

Photos to come....

Arohanui to you all

Jane

Things to Bring

Food

• Your own breakfasts and lunches [take into account that there are pancakes for Sunday breakfast and possible leftovers for Sunday Lunch.
• Organic beans or tomatoes for refried beans, tortillas, other filling eg. cheese, sour cream, salad bits.
• Salad/bread for Saturday pot-luck.
• Small plate to share for supper at Saturday night party.
• Sunday night dinner, eg sauce, salad  to accompany rice or pasta (will be provided)
• Your own mug!

Cash- for pancakes, market, smoothies, juices, fruit [there will be a beverage and snack stall.]

Fun stuff

• Drums, instruments, fire sticks, board games to share, 'F' costume for Saturday night, items to sell at Market [if you want to], concert item.
• Any toys, activities for young children to play with eg. blocks.

Remember your swimming togs, sunhats, and insect repellant too.   :)

Activities During Retreat

Friday  17th Feb


12:00 noon.

• Arrive, 
• Settle in, 
• Swim
•  Flag making

4:00 pm.

• Sharing our stories and unschooling journey.

6:00 pm- Dinner- shared Tortilla, refried beans and salad.

Evening-

• Fire circle- drumming, music, singing.
• Sharing our stories- (continued if necessary)
• Glow Worm walk -.  for those interested

Saturday  18th Feb

7:30 am.

• Yoga [or similar]
• Breakfast.

9:00 am.

• DISCUSSION.

10:30 am.

• Wild Food Walk with Steve Porteous. [ http://human.org.nz/ ]

LUNCH

1:00 pm

• Dad's perspective on unschooling.

3:00 pm.

• DISCUSSION

5:30 pm.

• Shared pot-luck dinner.

7:00 pm.

• Parade with flags and drums
• Fancy dress dance party- theme- The Letter 'F' [fun, freedom, fairies, firemen,...??].

                                                    Let your imagination go wild!

Sunday  19th  Feb

7:30 am.

• Yoga/similiar.

8:00- 9:00 am

• Pancake breakfast- 50c each.

9:00-10:30 am

• Marketplace.

This is for children and adults to sell, trade and buy new, secondhand, handmade, craft, services [eg. massage]. Get creative!

10:30 am - 12:00 pm.

• DISCUSSION

Lunch.

1:00 pm.

• Women's circle.

3:00 pm

• Interactive Nature School with Steve Porteous.

4:30 pm

• Kids Forum- older children talk and answer questions about their life as an unschooled child.

DINNER [To be decided.]

7:00 pm

• Blackboard Concert. Come and share your talents! Music, drama, dance, poetry..

Monday the 20th

7:30 am

• Yoga or similar.

BREAKFAST

Pack up, clean up. 

Final group session and closing.

LUNCH

Short bush walk, group game/activity. (Capture the Flag)

River swims.

Fire/afternoon tea.

What are discussions?

We are running this retreat as an informal and fun way for people to discuss a variety of topics and connect with other unschoolers. Discussion topics can be roughly covered by "The Challenges of Unschooling" and there will be a blackboard to  add specific questions and topics to share.   There will be a microphone available and a facilitator.

 Topics may include

 - Meeting the different needs of different ages/stages of your children

 - How unschoolers learn to read, write and do maths

 - Meeting your own needs

 - Changing needs/older children/when they want to go to school

 - Reactions/questions/support from family, friends and the wider community

 - Unschooling philosophy as a holistic life philosophy

 - Children's role in your family - jobs, pocket money....

Funshops!!


Running alongside the discussions, women's circle and men's discussion there will be the following fun activiites....flag making, flax weaving, string games, stone painting, drum and shaker making, knot tying, making bull roarers, playdough, Poi (TBC), cricket.
We also have a lot of mad musicians so please bring instruments.

Fun fun fun!!!

Did you see unschooling on TV?

If you missed it you can still watch it!

Last March the Sunday programme filmed two families in the Manawatu and presented a great, positive story about unschooling in New Zealand.

To watch it go to the Sunday archives and look for "Free Range Kids".

Let us know what you thought.