The INTERIM
Thriving in Many Ways
Fall 2010 Volume 71 #1
Published in the interim between camp seasons
by the Farm & Wilderness Foundation
own skin nothing feels like a greater luxury than just being
yourself, in your own body.
By Tulio Browning, Timberlake Director
It’s easy to visualize garden analogies when the words flourish
and thrive are mentioned. But also consider:
Flourish: “To make bold and sweeping gestures”
“Dressed as a pirate, he entered the stage flourishing his
sword.”
(That certainly has a place at TL)
Thrive: “To progress toward or realize a goal despite or
because of circumstances —often used with on <thrives on
conflict>.”
illustration by Prill Hinckley
Now, being Quaker-based camp, we choose to thrive on the
challenge of peacemaking and cooperation. At camp, that’s
a process involving a lot of fun and playing hard, as well as
being still and open.
I think children grow best and are most joyful when they
are encouraged to make or take part in “bold or sweeping
gestures” and we do this best and sustain it when we have
familiar places where we rekindle ourselves: Our bunk, our
Meeting Circle, the abundance of our kitchen. With this
balance of boldness and security we can flourish, or grow
luxuriantly. Curiously,
I think we feel most
luxurious not when
we’re inside a limo or
How we flourish, thrive and live
silk suit, but when we
joyfully at F& W.
are most present in our
Inside Interim
I want to dedicate this article to the staff of Timberlake. They
were everywhere, doing everything for everyone. They ran the
activities with creativity and dedication. They incorporated
treasure hunts into swimming lessons, helped kids build
new structures around camp, and created innumerable other
magical moments.
They were our Trips Leaders, who planned and played in allcamp games and events such as Spy Night, Interdependence
Day, F&W Fair and our Banquet. In the cabins, they strove
to gracefully and appropriately handle campers reluctant
to fully recline into bed at night or rise up in morning.
They juggled Band-Aids and bedtimes stories, conflict and
exuberance. Parents know that the tools needed to do this are
no more than a handful of tricks and an enormous resource
of patience and persistence. Thank you to all the TL staff of
2010. You are incredible and gave so much this summer, we
all grew and flourished because of your spirit and integrity.
And thanks to all the campers for being the inspiring young
men you are – just by being yourselves and getting into life
at Timberlake, you become the windstream that lifts us and
lets us soar.
Finally, thanks to the parents – you are the bedrock that
makes this whole venture possible.
Have a wonderful Fall.
Tulio Browning flourished this summer at Timberlake.
Farm & Wilderness 2011
Calendar
Overnight Camps
Full Summer Session
June 29- August 14
July Session
June 29- July 22
J1 Session
June 29- July 10
August Session
July 24- August 14
October 2010
Greetings to our Farm & Wilderness Community,
Autumn is our time of year for celebration and reflection.
As we marvel at the glowing red leaves around us, we read
camper, parent and staff surveys and reports to assess: Did
we provide a safe, challenging and rewarding experience
for our campers?
While there will always be room for improvement, the
message from these surveys confirms what we have felt this
summer on the ground: Farm & Wilderness is flourishing,
and the joy of our campers is felt throughout the valley
and the world.
I just had the opportunity to spend a few weeks of vacation
with our own young campers (Spruce Catherine and
Teale Cedar, Indian Brook Big Lodgers; and Silas River,
Barn Day Camp Beaver). As a parent it sure is great to see
your children thriving! Corky and I can both see a huge
increase in their self confidence, their skills in the woods,
in canoes and swimming, and most importantly, in how
they communicate with each other, their classmates and
in the community.
Please join me in profound appreciation for our staff, who
create this experience each year; for F&W parents, who
entrust their children to our care; to our campers, for their
brave adventuring; for our alumni for holding F&W in
the Light; for the forests and lakes and mountains; and for
all the joy and fun we have in our lives.
Have a bountiful Thanksgiving!
A1 Session
Fair and August Visiting
Family Camp
July 24- August 5
August 13-14
August 22-28
Barn Day Camp
Session 1
June 27-July 8
Session 2
July 11- 22
Session 3A
July 25-August 12
Session 3B
July 25-August 5
Session 3C
August 8-12
F&W Events
Ice Cutting Weekend
February 18-21
Spring Planting Weekend
May 27-30
Fair
Harvest Weekend
August 13
October 7-10
About the Interim
The Interim is the newsletter of the Farm & Wilderness
summer camps.. We welcome submissions from
everyone. You may submit writing, drawings, cartoons,
photographs, or other work. We may edit for content
or space. To submit your work to the Interim, email
interim@farmandwilderness.org OR postal mail to
Interim
Farm & Wilderness
263 Farm & Wilderness Road
Plymouth, VT, 05056.
Pieter Bohen is F&W’s Executive Director
You can receive the Interim electronically instead if you
wish; just let us know.
If you get too lonely for camp between Interims, visit the
website at www.farmandwilderness.org for recent news
and photos. Also visit our Facebook page!
Interim Fall 2010 page 2
Farm: Flourish and Thrive
By Chantal Deojay, F&W Farm Manager
The F&W farm hit all three themes – flourish, joy, thriving
- multiple times this summer. And, for me, the F&W Farm
Manager, I get to experience these themes all year-round.
In the abundance department, here are a few figures that
might make you smile: In the summer alone, we produced 640
gallons of milk, 168 dozen eggs, 332 bunches of carrots, 230
pounds of beans, 336 bunches of chard, too many summer
squash to count and a ton more vegetables that are still being
harvested, including amazing tomatoes and potatoes. We
also had a plethora of weeds
that we’ve composted and will
help the soil flourish for next
year’s crops.
for one counselor, Ricki, and convinced him and a camper
to paint a splendid new gate for his pen. And then there is
Mr. Rupert, from the Barn Day Camp, who not only greeted
his people calmly and quietly and lay down at their feet, but
would carefully take string beans out of my hand when I fed
him. I repeatedly witnessed little campers coming to scratch
his belly and I even saw the Family Camp kids giving him
a buttermilk bath. At all times, Mr. Rupert was the perfect
gentleman. So, after deep deliberation, we’re naming him the
winner of this year’s Friendliest Pig contest. Congratulations
Mr. Rupert!
The F&W farm brings so
many good things to the table
on a daily basis. The produce,
eggs, milk and meat all help
nourish us. The animals
give us the great joy of their
companionship. And, of
course, I can’t forget the fun
people I get to work with –
truly a joy!
The farm has thrived in more
than just numerical ways.
Along with the quantifiable
abundance, the joy of the staff
and campers who worked in
the gardens was a sight to
behold. Well, okay, there are
the occasional few that don’t
enjoy weeding. But many folks
feel there are few things that
give such satisfaction as looking
at a bed of growing carrots or
beets, setting down to do the
weeding, and then looking back
at your handy work to marvel
at what you have accomplished.
We also loved seeing our food
so clearly appreciated by the
cooks in the kitchens, and then
right on down the line into
the bountiful serving dishes
and onto the plates of hungry
campers and staff.
There are some things on the
farm that can seem unpleasant
or unfriendly and, to some,
maybe even a bit cruel. And
then there are those days when
the spinach dies in frost, or the
sheep escape their pens and
scamper down the main roador
a pesky swarm of late-summer
flies leave us all exasperated.
But, there is also the sweetness
of our newborn goats, the
naming of our docile calves and
the unequaled contentment of
our jolly pigs.
I love the fact that I am able to
give my care and commitment
to growing food (be it veggie or animal) at the farm. I can’t
think of a more worthwhile or satisfying occupation. In turn,
I feel the farm gives right back to me. Even on the hardest
days, when I would gladly give my job to someone else, the
joy that my job brings clearly outweighs the difficult things I
MUST do but REALLY don’t want to! I suppose it is like any
job in that way. Those challenges help me personally flourish
and thrive and all the fun stuff helps to keep me going.
Mr. Rupert prepares for a buttermilk bath at the Barn Day Camp.
While we’re on the subject of
joy, I also think that it is time to announce the winner of the
Friendliest Pig contest. I know that all three pigs held special
places in the eyes of their respective camps.
Halifax, the mama pig at Tamarack Farm, currently holds the
title (even after her few unsanctioned walkabouts). The three
finalists are (drum roll please!) Charlotte, from Indian Brook,
who was very excited to see friends and often came running
up to greet anyone who happened by (which, admittedly, can
be a bit frightening if you are not used to being greeted by a
very large pig); Russell, from Timberlake, had a special love
Interim Fall 2010 page 3
F&W Staff Recipes from
the CSA BOX
Courtney’s Zucchini Bread (1 loaf )
Dry ingredients
¾ cup whole wheat flour
Every year, the staff at Farm & Wilderness reaps the autumn
bounty from the F&W farm and gardens. Our farmer,
Chantal, and gardener, Kristen, have organized an F&W CSA
(Community Supported Agriculture). Anyone who wants to
join the CSA pays a lump sum at the outset, and then receives
a weekly box of fresh, seasonal vegetables, plus milk and eggs
in the amount desired. In this issue of the Interim, we have
included some favorite staff recipes that take advantage of
our beautiful bounty. Try these at home!
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
Moist ingredients
Sam’s Chilly Fall Evening Potatoes
1 egg
1 cup sugar (reserve 1 tablespoon)
1. Wash and cut potatoes into large bite sized pieces to
make a total of about six cups.
2. Toss with two tablespoons olive oil, a half teaspoon
salt, and a pinch of black pepper.
¼ cup canola or vegetable oil or ¼ cup unsweetened
apple sauce
1 cup to 1 ¼ cup shredded zucchini—skin and all
3. Bake on a cookie sheet, stirring occasionally, at 375
degrees for about half an hour.
More options and alternatives:
4. When checking for doneness, be sure to check several
different varieties of potato.
Add ¾ cup raisins or currents
Mix in ½ cup chopped nuts, such as walnuts or pecans
Replace zuc w/ 1 ½ cups shredded apples or combine ¾
cup zuc & ¾ cup apple
Recipe NotesWhy not head to your local farmers market and see how
many varieties of potatoes you can find? Purple, golden,
red, white, sweet…etc.
Kids will want to pull out the catsup right away, but see
if you can sell them on one of these combinations:
-Rosemary and chopped garlic sautéed in olive oil
mushrooms and onions with
Grease bottom and 1 inch up the side of bread pan
Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
A non-stick cookie sheet will work best.
-Sautéed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
thyme
-Oregano, a little cinnamon, and cubed feta cheese
-Lemon juice, cumin, and yogurt
Mix moist in small bowl (if you choose reserve 1 tablespoon
of sugar to sprinkle over top of batter before baking)
Pour moist ingredients into dry ingredients and mix just
well enough to blend all of the flour into the batter.
Pour batter into bread pan (if you reserved 1 tablespoon of
sugar to sprinkle over top of batter…now is the time. This
will create a nice finish on the top crust of the loaf ).
Happy eating!
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, bread is done when a butter
knife inserted in the center and comes out clean. Let baked
loaf rest in the pan for about 10 minutes on a cooling rack.
Allow bread to fully cool before wrapping in plastic wrap
or storing in a container. Store at room temp for 3 days,
fridge for 5 to 7 days, or freezer for up to 3 months.
Interim Fall 2010 page 4
Kristen’s Potato Leek Soup (feeds six)
Development Office News
3 cups leeks
By Kurt Terrell, Chief Development Officer
7 cups potatoes
One of the strategic priorities of F&W is to become a
carbon neutral organization. We recently received a $25,000
sustainability challenge grant from a family foundation
that will match, dollar-for-dollar, all gifts received for
sustainability by Dec. 31.We plan to use these funds to
install a wood gasification furnace to heat the Tamarack
Farmhouse and the greenhouse, build solar panels to heat
water, and insulate the walls and roof. Please contact me if
you would like to join this year-end challenge.
6 cups water
3 teaspoons sea salt
1 tablespoon oil or butter
1 tablespoon garlic
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
pinch of ground nutmeg
sprig of fresh dill
In a large pot cover 2 cups of the leeks and all the
potatoes with the water and bring to a boil. Add the
salt, reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes or
until the potatoes are tender.
Meanwhile, sauté the remaining leeks and the garlic in
the butter or oil in a skillet. Set aside.
When the potatoes are tender, blend together half of
the potato mix with the milk until creamy and smooth.
Return the mix to the pot and add the reserved leeks
and garlic, pepper and nutmeg.
Simmer for at least 10 minutes, garnish with dill and
serve.
PHOTO
Farm & Wilderness has advanced to the final round of the
BrightBuilt Retrofit selection process,which will award a
New England non-profit organization with a deep-energy
retrofit valued at more than $100,000.The final four
organizations now advance to the next phase, where the
public has an opportunity to vote online for their favorite
project. F&W is thrilled to be on the ballot and encourages
you all to cast your vote at www.BrightBuiltRetrofit.com
before the Nov. 2 deadline.
We are pleased to report that we have raised over $200,000
towards our goal of $300,000 for the Annual Giving
campaign. Thanks to over 350 donors who have responded
so far and thanks in advance to all who will be renewing their
support by year end. Your Annual Giving contributions go
directly to campership, program enhancement, leadership
development and facilities. You can give online at www.
farmandwilderness.org
Plans unfold for the 70th Anniversary Indian Brook
Reunion, slated for September 9-11, 2011. Mark your
calendars and watch for updates on the Facebook site,
Indian Brook 70th reunion 2011.
So long, Peggy!
Joy’s Quick Vegetable Saute
I saute the zucchini, yellow squash and garlic in olive
oil until tender. Toss with cooked pasta or rice (use
veggie or chicken broth for extra flavor), parsley, dill,
goat cheese, salt and pepper to taste. If you happen to
have leftovers, you can make veggie egg-drop soup! Add
chicken or veggie broth to leftovers & bring to simmer,
add chopped fresh spinach (or chard) &, while stirring,
slowly drizzle in lightly beaten egg. YUM!
Sometimes we have to say goodbye to a longtime friend and
colleague who has decided that it is time to move on from
F&W. In September we bade farewell to our dear friend,
Peggy Whiteneck, who had been an F&W employee
since 2005. Peggy wore many, many hats in the office. She
could be found writing grant proposals, entering data into
the camper or development databases, generating thank
you cards and receipts to our donors, helping parents and
campers with camp transportation, answering the phone,
fielding parent’s questions about camp, helping with Fair
preparations, catching spelling and grammar mistakes in
various written materials, or simply making us all laugh.
We wish Peggy the best of luck in her future endeavors. We
will miss you and your contagious laugh, Peggy!
Interim page 5
Thriving After His Accident
Indian Brook Campers to the Rescue
Mike Backman said he’s steadily healing several months after
Indian Brook campers and counselors rescued him during
his solo kayaking trip to an island in Lake Umbagog on July
31st.
Backman, 48, of Quechee, VT tripped while walking around
his campsite and fell on a log, shattering his left arm. He said
he ended up marooned for more than 17 hours – unable to
hike or kayak back to the mainland. In his emergency kit, the
distressed Backman had just four packets of expired Tylenol
and ibuprofen, which helped alleviate his pain temporarily.
On Sunday morning, Aug. 1, when Backman woke with a
dull throb to his arm, he waited hours before he heard the
shouts and giggles of four canoes filled with Indian Brookers
paddling home from a trip on the large lake near the New
Hampshire/Maine border. Backman waved them over and
asked them to summon a park ranger.
The two counselors, after some deliberation, instead decided
to ferry the badly injured Backman three miles to shore in
their canoe. In separate canoes, the seven 12-year-old campers
sang songs, giggled and buoyed his spirits.
“They were my little saviors, they were my rescuers,” Backman
recounted. “I was in such immense pain and the paddle home
was very entertaining. The girls were chatting and singing and
the 1 hour and 45 minute trip to shore just flew by. Seeing the
girls have so much fun in their canoes was very uplifting.”
“When I heard this was their fourth and last day of the trip ,
I couldn’t believe that no one complained. Not one girl said,
‘I’m tired of paddling.’ They were in such good spirits the
whole time it was just amazing.”
heartened by the actions of the Indian Brookers.
“These exemplary campers and counselors demonstrated the
power of our core value of empathy,” Bohen said. “And their
effectiveness demonstrated the power of good training.”
Indian Brook Counselor Anna Williams, who received
training as a Wilderness First Responder, said the campers
relived the rescue with a skit after returning to camp.
“There was definitely a Good Samaritan lesson there,” she
said. “The girls were pumped to be able to help Mike and
get him back to safety.”
The Indian Brookers rescue, which was a front-page article
in the local paper, The Valley News, on Aug. 4, was also
transmitted by the Associate Press wire service throughout
New England. Backman has received some teasing from his
colleagues at Dartmouth who say – ‘oh, you had to be saved
by little girls.’ To that, Backman responds, “‘You’re darn
right and I’m proud of them.’ They wonder why I got so
much press, I tell them, ‘if you’re rescued by a boatload of
12 year old girls, you’d get press, too.’ I’m not the real story,
the girls are.”
He’s already planning his adventures for next summer.
“I have every intention of going back, in fact, I plan to book
the same campsite in January,” Backman said. “I have to go
back for my own sanity and kind of say to myself, ‘I’m not
letting this stop me or change my life.’”
Reflecting on his experience, Backman said; “What a great
group of girls. This was the first time I visited Farm &
Wilderness. I’d seen and was aware of the camp, but had
never been there.” After hearing about some of the philosophy,
the attitudes and commitment to diversity, he said, “What
a great camp to have rescued me. This is a camp that I will
definitely support.”
They dropped Backman off at the shore to his car, where
he was able to drive himself to the hospital, and the Indian
Brookers made their return trip to F&W.
Backman said he had surgery Aug. 4 on his arm, broken in
six places, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. He
now has a “big bolt” in his arm and does daily exercises and
weekly physical therapy sessions. As an outdoor enthusiast,
he is eager to resume his adventures and hopes to do some
cross-country skiing by mid-winter.
He said he is very grateful for the Indian Brook rescue. To
show his appreciation, he donated $250 online to Farm &
Wilderness on Aug. 2 after he returned to Quechee. On
Aug. 7, he visited Indian Brook to share a pizza dinner with
campers and staff. The IB campers and two counselors, signed
Backman’s cast, ate pizza and were in high spirits during the
dinner festivities.
Pieter Bohen, F&W’s Executive Director, said he was
Interim Fall 2010 page 6
Mike Backman pictured with some of his rescuers at IB in August.
Lead, and Grow
Reflections on time at Indian Brook
By Nicole Sutherland-Maiden, IB Director
to support you and answer any questions, but YOU will be
leading the trip.”
“It’s Not The Mountain We Conquer, But Ourselves” -
When we reached the trailhead, the girls all jumped out of the
van, and started to sort out their belongings. One camper had
her backpack on and was ready to go within 30 seconds of our
arrival, anxiously waiting for her peers to be ready. Another
was receiving reassurance on her ability to do the trip, while
another was trying to decide if her stuffed animal should be
strapped to the outside of her pack or within. When they were
set to go, I gathered the group around and said: “Remember,
embrace one anothers’ weaknesses, celebrate one anothers’
strengths, and
try not to focus
only on the final
destination, but
the journey
i t s e l f.” A n d ,
with that, off
they went. They
returned five
days later with
broad smiles
on their faces.
These campers
spoke about
their trip during
our closing
silent meeting.
Three years ago,
these same girls
would never
have spoken up,
but on that day,
they found their
voices and spoke
proudly of their experience on their trip and of their time at
Indian Brook.
Edmund Hillary
At the end of each summer, I look back at the seven weeks
of camp and ask myself, “how did Indian Brook grow?” This
reflection was especially poignant this year, as I had five days
of non-stop driving to California to start my own new chapter.
My journey took months of preparation and the help of many
friends. After the initial flurry of unpacking, setting up home,
and sending the
children off to
new schools, I
went to pick out
some thank-you
cards for all of my
wonderful friends
I stumbled
across a card that
struck me. Three
women standing
at the peak of a
summit with a
caption; “It’s not
the mountain
w e c o n q u e r,
but ourselves.”
This summed
up everything I
have loved about
Indian Brook, not
only for campers
and staff, but
also for myself.
Very rarely is the camp director afforded the opportunity to
go on a trip. So, when the opportunity arose this summer
for me to drive one of the senior lodge trips to the White
Mountains, I leapt at the chance. On the drive, I listened to
the trip leaders carefully explain to the campers how the trip
would be run. Three camper leaders would be assigned to each
day; one in charge of navigating the map and the terrain, a
second to set up and break down camp, and a third to manage
the food and cooking for the day. Together, the whole group
would decide when to wake up, eat and would determine the
length of the day’s hike, etc. I could see the apprehension
on the faces of some campers as I glanced in my rear view
mirror. One of them asked her counselors, “aren’t you guys
leading the trip?” “No,” replied one counselor, we will be here
I know that I, too, have grown during my time at Indian
Brook, and I am so very grateful. Thank you to everyone at
Farm & Wilderness for allowing me to be part of this special
family for three wonderful summers, as it has helped me to,
above all else, conquer myself.
With love to you all.
Nicole is Indian Brook’s departing Director. She has moved to Truckee,
California with her two children, Emma and Ethan. For now, she can still be
reached at nicole@farmandwilderness.org.
Interim Fall 2010 page 7
F&W Building Green
By Pieter Bohen, Executive Director
On Oct. 23, we will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the
new 4,200-square-foot Resource Maintenance Facility at
Farm & Wilderness. While this will be an historic occasion
for F&W, and our resource and maintenance staff is thrilled
to have a new facility, it is also significant because of the
“green building” approach we took toward the design and
the construction.
Our Project Manager, Bob Owen (TF staff ‘62, ‘65-67,
Camp Parent ‘84-87, Former Trustee) was also the Project
Manager for the Woodward Reservoir Dam and for the
Tamarack Farmhouse, and has had a career of developing
college campuses all over the world. Bob used his expertise to
ensure that our building design would function for the needs
of upcoming generations of F&W Resource staff. He was
matched with the leadership of Paul Stone (TF ‘55, TF staff
‘56, ‘69, ‘73-76, TL staff ‘71, Trustee ‘04-10), our Board Clerk
of the Buildings and Grounds committee, whose core values
were simplicity and frugality. These are qualities that Paul
emulates as a farmer, pacifist and leader in our community.
Working with our architect, John Berryhill (NBF Architects
based in Rutland, VT), our site engineer Ralph Michael, and
landscape architect Sonya Johansson, we learned that the
most sustainable building is one that sits well on the site, is
well insulated, is built with local materials, and is made to
last for many generations.
That’s the theory, anyway. What does it mean in practice?
For those of you who like to geek out on building specs,
here are some of the design standards we used to create an
energy-efficient building:
• The building sits just west of the soccer field (on the
road to Esker House) and faces south. There are many
windows on the south side (and almost none on the
north).
• We have radiant heating system in the concrete slab,
which is insulated on all sides, including underneath,
with 4 inches of rigid foam. The south and east windows
are oriented to provide supplemental heating of the slab
during daylight.
View of the new Resource Center from the southeast.
garage, the office, the workshop and storage all different
temperatures. It’s likely we will keep the storage at 40
degrees during the winter.
• Efficiency Vermont (the only Efficiency Utility in the
U.S., go Vermont!) reviewed all of the light fixtures and
gave us rebates for most of them. The exterior lights are
L.E.D.’s, which use very little energy. All of the lights have
occupancy sensors so they automatically turn off when
there is no one in the building.
• The boiler and hot water is 95% efficiency, on-demand.
This means there is no tank of hot water sitting around
losing heat!
• All of the siding is from F&W forests near Lake Ninevah,
and is milled at the Gagnon mill in nearby Pittsfield, VT.
The total transportation of the wood and lumber is less
than 50 miles from tree to building. This means we were
able to support local jobs with this project!
These are just a few of the features of the Resource
Maintenance Facility. We would not have achieved such an
efficient building without the leadership of our Board, our
Community and the efforts of our Resource Director, Jay
Kullman, to help us Walk our Talk. Good job Green Team!
• The parking lot is partially grass and partially gravel,
which helps capture storm water and prevent erosion.
• The exterior walls have 8 inches of dense pack cellulose
and 1 inch of rigid foam, equaling an insulation rating
of r-35 (building code in Vermont is r-19!). The ceilings
have 18 inches of cellulose equaling r-55 (building code
in VT is r-38).
• The heating system has four zones, so we can heat the
Interim Fall 2010 page 8
The new Resource Center from the southwest.
Len and Mary
Ann Cadwallader
enjoying the 2010
Fair
What We Are Doing
We received this email from Terri Sheetz (IB camper ‘50’51, IB staff ‘54): Norm Sheetz (TL staff ‘54) and met at
camp in 1954. Norm was the truck driver that year having
been introduced by John Cornelius, (TL staff ‘54) who later
became our best man. After I discovered we both had the same
birthday, I decided I needed to get to know this handsome
guy better. We courted for 4 years and were married in June of
1958. Another successful camp marriage! We have 3 grown
children and 7 grand children. We are both retired now:
Norm from the federal government as a research Aerospace
Engineer and me from the medical field. Now retired, I have
been working for a trade show for 15 years as the Ambassador
(volunteer) coordinator. Norm now travels with the show and
also works with the Ambassadors. Norm continues to enjoy
his computer time and many hours with the sodoku puzzles.
In addition to the Expo, I enjoy spending time at my sewing
machines. We hope to be able to attend the IB reunion.»
Contact us at tsheetz@aol.com, or at 4708 Pebblestone Drive,
Colesville, Maryland 20905, 301-384-8414.
Jack Hunter (Archivist, Founder of SAM, first F&W
Executive Director, and many other roles) sent this: Tom
Fisher (TL ‘61, TF ‘66-’67) called after a minor accident on
a sentimental return to hiking the Long Trail. He had pulled
a tendon and needed to take it easy. After a brief stay with
Nash Basom (camper in the ‘50’s, staff ‘50’s-recent years)
with whom he had worked at Tamarack Farm, he came to
stay with me and Ruth in Woodstock. He then returned to
the trail, hiking Killington and rediscovered the Shrewsbury
trail. He remembered his first overnight hike from Timberlake
to the Upper Northam Shelter and that he had worked on
the trail from camp up Shrewsbury. We spent several evenings
reminiscing about camp and discussing world politics, and
then he traveled down to Boston to see some other F&W
alum, including his brother Rob. Tom now lives and teaches
in Australia.
Emily Bass (IB 84-87, TF 88, IB staff 95-98) and her husband
Liam welcomed Sebastian Joseph Bass-Flaherty into the world
on December 16, 2009. Starting in September 2010, we're
looking for folk-song singing, outdoor-loving, kid-hugging
childcare for Seb (who'll be 10 months), in the Big Apple.
If there are NY-based or -bound F&W alum out of college
looking for regular work in this arena, please let me know at
embass@gmail.com. (I'd love to hear from IBers, too.)
Miriam Silman (IB camper ‘70-73, Dark Meadow camper
‘75) writes; «I recognize myself in the IB photo on page 3 of
the Spring 2010 issue! I am the fourth face from the left,
petting the dog. This photo was likely in 1971 when I was in
Six Pines cabin. I think the front left is Margaret Lipshutz
(IB staff ‘71) and the front right with the braids is Alice
somebody. A few other faces are familiar but I cannot conjure
up names. It was fun to see the photo and certainly brings
back lots of great memories. I remember all of my camp years
fondly. I have lived in Appalachian Eastern Kentucky for the
last 25 years, working as a clinical social worker and teaching
and, more recently, doing research in the area of childhood
trauma. Rural living in these hardscrabble mountains has
many of the joys of rural life at F & W but also many more
challenges and a little less romance. The old time music brings
back fond memories of the String Band and Square Dances at
the Farm. I hope to get back to the Fair one of these days.»
Miriam can be reached at msilman@foothills.net
Art Einhorn (FC staff ‘64) writes: As the person who started
Flying Cloud for Ken Webb in1964, I thought Flying Cloud
campers might be interested to know a piece of FC history:
'Flying Cloud' was named in memory of Mr. Bill Cook, an
Akwesasne Mohawk who was the first Indian Lore Counselor
at F&W. Art can be reached at aeinhorn@twcny.rr.com.
Passings
Michael P. Bird (TL 1971, TF 1973 died Saturday, April 3,
2010, at home. Michael is survived by his wife, Lydia, and
their daughter, Grace E. S. Bird, and other family members
including his sister, Elizabeth Rebecca Bird (IB camper ‘78’80).Those who wish may make memorial contributions
in Michael Bird's memory to Spring Lake Ranch, a small
residential facility in Vermont, providing a therapeutic
community for adults with mental illness and/or substance
abuse. He served on the board of directors: Spring Lake Ranch,
1169 Spring Lake Road, Cuttingsville, VT 05738.
Interim Fall 2010 page 9
Preparing for the
Unexpected
F&W Staff take the WFR Course
At camp, as elsewhere in life, we have an opportunity to
practice the art of the possible.
What if a canoe capsizes? Will a three-night backpacking
trip challenge or overwhelm this youngster? How do we
handle a windstorm that knocks out all power and drenches
our campers?
At Farm & Wilderness, we’re justifiably proud of our 1-to-3
ratio of summer staff to campers, which is among the best in
the industry. Already, our counselors have extensive training,
including a ten-day skills week and a nine-day staff week at
the beginning of each camp season.
However, about two years ago, there was a collective sentiment
to push beyond our current certification of CPR and Basic
First Aid for our staffers, Red Cross Lifeguard Certification
for our waterfront counselors and Wilderness First Aid for
our trip leaders. Each year about 230 people are hired and
refresh their training as needed.
As a result of this preparation and planning, in early June
we hosted the rigorous Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
class for nine days at F&W.
Twenty-three people traveled to Plymouth for the intensive,
80-hour course provided by Stonehearth Open Learning
Opportunities based in Conway, NH.
Their goal? To gain the confidence, technical skills and
hand-on practice in wilderness medical training for leading
backcountry trips. The scope of the SOLO course ranges
from allergic reactions or diabetic emergencies to splinting
fractures and dealing with other medical emergencies.
Participants experienced a blend of hands-on, outdoor
scenarios and traditional classroom learning ranging from
exercises in bleeding control to coping with soft-tissue or
spinal cord injuries. People fanned out on the Tamarack Farm
lawn, practicing their knot tying, bandaging and other skills.
The course culminated with a successful mock search-andrescue operation involving five patients.
For F&W, ratcheting up our training helps our counselors
refine and hone their skills. And campers and parents may
take an extra measure of comfort in the hard, technical skills
of our participating staff.
This class also helps us recruit and retain employees. Ten of
the 23 participants began the training as F&W staffers. And
we were able to hire two highly trained and qualified people
Interim Fall 2010 page 10
F&W counselors practice carrying an “injured” friend in a wilderness
style litter during the June 2010 Wilderness First Responder class.
for this year’s camp as a result of WFR.
As part of the retention and incentive program, staff received
a 50% reduction on the course fee this summer and will be
reimbursed for the balance when they return as staffers in
2011. The WFR certificate earned through the completion
of this course is a requirement for many of our trip leaders
and is highly desired by staff and employers in the outdoorrelated industries.
This course was a huge success and dovetailed with many of
our strategic plan goals—growing our programs, building a
culture of leadership, improving professional development
of staff, promoting staff retention and providing financial
incentives for returning seasonal staff.
Read more about the WFR and WFA on the
next page!
WFA or WFR?
The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and the Wilderness
First Responder (WFR) courses, taught by SOLO and
other outfits, are becoming a standard for those who work
as backcountry trip leaders, camp counselors, mountain
guides, river guides, and ski patrollers. Here is a brief
explanation from the SOLO website:
WHO IS THE WFR COURSE FOR?
WHO IS THE WFA COURSE FOR?
WHAT IS TAUGHT?
The WFA is the perfect course for the outdoor enthusiast
or trip leader who wants a basic level of first-aid training
for short trips with family, friends, and outdoor groups. It
also meets the American Camp Association guidelines.
The WFR is 72-80 hours long (7-to-10 days), and is a
comprehensive and in-depth look at the standards and skills
of dealing with: Response and assessment, musculoskeletal
injuries, environmental emergencies and survival skills,
and other medical emergencies. Similar to the same, basic
topics covered in the two-day WFA course, the issues are
covered far more extensively, and there is much more
hands-on practice. Additional topics, such as CPR, are
also included.
WHAT IS TAUGHT?
The WFA is 16 hours long (2 days), and focuses
on the basic skills of: Response and assessment,
environmental emergencies, survival skills and other
medical emergencies.
The 2010 FAIR, Redux
By Sarah Waring, Program Director
The WFR is aimed at anyone working in a position of
leadership in an outdoor setting or for individuals who want
a high level of wilderness medical training for extended
personal backcountry trips or expeditions.
•Tess Hobbs, Events Coordinator extraordinaire
•Jay Kullman, Kyle Watrous and our fab Resource crew
•Camp Fair Chairs, our internal camp organizers
Did you take a ride on Timberlake’s newly-improved
Aquachute or Ferris Wheel? Did you eat a burger, get a
pie in the face or sample some of the fabulous SAM Dew?
Did you find the gluten-free cookies from Indian Brook,
purchase snacks at the Barn or try a fried grasshopper from
Flying Cloud? Did you view the Tamarack Farm quilt, arts
concessions, or the work projects demonstration? We hope
you made it to see the Fair fire, lit by campers and hear the
F&W poem, “As Sparks Fly Upward”?
•Marianne, Joy, Linda, Jonathan, Courtney, Peggy and the
rest of the office staff
From the outside, the Fair might look like simple fun. From
the inside, it is an event filled with countless details and
hundreds of decisions. These range from printing Fair t-shirts
to arranging tents, from contra dancing to port-a-lets, from
van shuttles to ticket prices, from the six camps’ concessions
to their traditional activities. We had a few firsts this year.
Our Trustees generously donated their time to work in our
merchandise and ticket booths; a committee exploring Flying
Cloud’s Program Development gathered information from
Fair-goers throughout the day; and TF campers ran a social
activism booth about gender identity and sexuality. The Board
of Trustees also hosted a fun alumni party at the Salt Ash Inn
following the Fair. We have to thank many people for their
efforts! Here’s just a small list:
•Alumni and Trustee volunteers, you rock!
•Nicole, Tom, Andrea, Jeff, Valley Zephyr and Tulio; our
dedicated camp directors
•Talented Head Cooks and kitchen crews for all the food
•Summer staff from each camp for driving vans, moving tables
and chairs, setting up concessions, greeting parents and still
making sure campers were safe and happy!
With all the hard, behind-the-scenes work, many of us get
to simply enjoy the day. Future F&W campers will benefit
because, most importantly, the money we raise at the Fair goes
toward our campership funds. As we tinker and fine-tune our
future Fairs, we hope to both showcase our homemade and
hand-powered style (from rides to food preparation) as well as
offer our guests a sampling of what goes on at camp. We may
highlight demonstrations of work projects, barn and garden
activities, creative arts, or social activism. And, while Fair is
a major year-end celebration for us, we strive to get campers
and staff back for their closing camp ceremonies. We hope
you had a great time and we’ll see you next year.
Interim Fall 2010 page 11
Nationwide F&W Potluck
Ice Cutting is in February!
On Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 5:30 p.m., campers,
alumni, parents, and friends of F&W are invited to attend a
potluck dinner in their area. There will be a meal, fellowship,
time to share favorite stories from camp, and perhaps even
some singing. We are asking everyone to try to bring a favorite
camp item – canoe paddle, t-shirt, carving or photograph.
If you have never made it to an F&W work weekend, consider
coming to Ice Cutting weekend on February 18-21, 2011.
Members of the extended F&W community, as well as
newcomers, stay at Tamarack Farm and spend the weekend
working, playing, eating, singing and dancing. The main
weekend task is to cut ice blocks to fill the Flying Cloud ice
house. Where else do you get to take a leap back in time? This
action packed weekend will let you experience first hand what
life was like before refrigeration, when families joined with
their neighbors to fill their own ice houses. It is hard work
and COLD, but we guarantee you will come away feeling
exhilarated and have amazing memories. This is an all-ages
event and the F&W staff will take good care of you.
Space may be limited, so please contact the host or contact
person if you want to attend the potluck in your area. If
you have any questions - please contact Kurt Terrell soon at
kurt@farmandwilderness.org , office: 802-422-3761 ext 232,
or cell: 802-275-8936.
Potlucks will be hosted in the following locations:
Arlington, MA
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Atlanta, GA
Chapel Hill, NC
Oberlin, OH
Austin, TX
Denver, CO
Philadephia, PA
Blacksburg, VA
Glover, VT
San Francisco, CA
Jericho, VT
PLEASE go to our website www.farmandwilderness.org for
location updates, details and contact information for each
of the potluck hosts. Don’t forget to RSVP!!
This weekend does
tend to fill up, so
please visit the events
page on the website
soon to register. www.
farmandwilderness.org.
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