​Children are an essential part of any community. ​

At Elements, your children are an honored, respected and loved part of our Village. 

Wouldn’t you love to bring your child to an event where they feel welcomed and there is just as much fun stuff for them to do as there is for you?

Wouldn’t you love knowing that while your child is having fun, they're ALSO learning self-sufficiency, cooperation, building confidence, exploring, being creative and learning more about who they are through practicing the skills our ancestors always relied upon?

Here's a sneak peek at what your child can look forward to at Elements: 

Cub Program
(Ages 0-5)

​For many, the idea of camping with young children can be daunting. But at Elements we know how to make it just a little bit easier. Families with babies, toddlers and young preschoolers are encouraged to gather each morning to support one another on their journey. Meet, engage and connect with others who are camping under similar circumstances, and allow your children to foster relationships with others their age. 

The Cub Program is an optional parent/kid meetup and will not be facilitated by a mentor. 

Coyote Program
(Ages 6-9)

Your Coyotes will enjoy a focused class each morning and free play with crafts and games in the Kid's Tent each afternoon. 
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This year's schedule will include: 
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• Circus Camp
• Cordage 
• Fire making
• Plant Walk
• Cooperative Games​

Wolf Program
(Ages 10-15)

Some of our mentors will be providing instruction specifically geared toward our Wolf Pack.
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Some Classes they might look forward to: 
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• Flow Arts 
• ​Fire making 
• Cordage
• Stone Age Fishing
• Building a 5 C's Survival Kit 
• Bow making 
• Atlatl and Archery Skills
• Plant Walk 

**While the Coyote and Wolf Programs are available for drop-off we ask that parents please respect the needs, desires and limitations of their children. Wild Child programs are neither compulsory nor designed to be a camp daycare. They are open air, free flowing programs with support and direction from our incredible team of mentors. Our mentors are not responsible for your children. Please keep this in mind while planning your week with us. Participation in Wild Child parent meeting (held on the first morning of the program) is required. 

​Meet your Wild Child Mentors

CHAR CHRISTIAN

Coyote mentor

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CHAR CHRISTIAN

Coyote mentor

Char Christian works as a graphic designer and illustrator by trade and is based in the Beach Cities of Los Angeles. She has two homeschooled daughters, and uses a non-violent communication, attached parenting, and child-led philosophy.

Between work and home-life, she’s busy being a Girl Scout troop leader, and operating her local homeschool group with over 1000 families. She organizes and leads everything from group field trips, quaint crafting circles, story time with nature walks and hikes, book clubs, family backpacking adventures, plus holistic and nature based workshops.

Char is currently a volunteer interpretive guide for El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach and has volunteered for many nature restoration projects including a Halstead Meadow restoration project in the Sequoia National Forest. She is an avid hiker, backpacker, and car camper, and is passionate about teaching and exposing children of all ages to the great outdoors.

VANESSA SKOPEO

Wolf mentor

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VANESSA SKOPEO

Wolf mentor

Vanessa Skopeo (Aka "Morning Glory" or "Earth Elf") is a grown unschooler from Southern California who is passionate about life, freedom, creativity, curiosity and connections.

Vanessa has worked as a youth theater's assistant director, performance coach and stage manager; Assistant summer camp director; web designer, creative project director and branding coach among other things and has been getting more involved in groups and projects she believes in such as The Burrito Project LA, Authentic Relating Game Group, The Cuddle Sanctuary, AcroYoga and other things.

She currently works for Vitamix as a certified trainer for new reps and as a product demonstrator at different events, fairs and venues, and as a connectivity consultant part time for small startups and soloprenuers. She is in pursuit of growing her skills in Photography, Jewelry Making, Salsa Dancing and Sleeping, and greatly enjoys hugs, hikes, sunlight, catnaps, pillow fights and being piled on by books, blankets and small children!

Natalie Brejcha

FAMILY CARVING CIRCLE

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NATALIE BREJCHA

Spoon carving

Natalie Brejcha is a musician, artist, and naturalist who’s love of wood carving originated with her love of hiking and connecting with the natural world. She started about 4 years ago by taking a hike in her local mountains, picking up a stick, and whittling a small and very primitive spoon. The joy of creating that first functional and beautiful tool spurred her onto carving and creating many many more, and inspired her to learn as much as she could from other master carvers. Implementing new techniques she’s learned, and using tools like hand chisels, has enabled Natalie’s skills to become more refined, but still connected to the earth and the beauty and functionality of each piece of wood she picks up.

Natalie runs her own woodcarving, kitchen wares and custom vintage knife restoration business from her studio in Pasadena Ca, called Arroyo Seco Woodcraft. For examples of her work please visit her Instagram page @arroyosecowoodcraft

Family Carving Circle

Natalie will be hosting a family carving circle. In this class you will learn how to use a knife and to carve. The art of carving is one that requires us to slow down and enjoy the beauty in a simple utilitarian object but one that can be filled with intense beauty and satisfaction.

You will learn about wood selection, design and functionality, different knife and chisel techniques, and sanding and finishing options. I will provide chisels and have a number of basic carving knives, but feel free to bring your own VERY SHARP knife if you like. I recommend the Morakniv 106 as a basic carving knife if you want to purchase one. They're about $27 on Amazon. I will have sandpaper and finishing oil to share with everyone.

@arroyosecowoodcraft

Gaby Gamino

POTTERY

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GABY GAMINO

Children Ceramic Art

Gaby lives in Orange County and is a mother of 3 kids who she homeschools. Most of her passions began as a result of her kids. Her journey with ceramics started 14 years ago when she began to do clay as a hobby and then learned to do her son's baby handprints with clay. She then began doing baby handprint art pieces as a business and taught homeschool children ceramic art classes.

Her newest passion is learning to help others regain better eyesight. Her journey again began when she discovered that her son had developed myopia (nearsightedness), and to avoid putting him in glasses for the rest of his life, she made it a mission to find out how to help him regain his (and her own) eyesight naturally. Through intensive research, she learned that one can regain perfect eyesight without glasses. She is continuing to learn more and recently went (along with her 14-year-old son) to train in Colorado to be a natural vision coach to teach others to improve their vision.

She cares deeply about children/youth rights and loves mentoring parents for free on how they can transition into homeschooling so their children can learn by interest and in nature rather than the typical school system. She also gives free nutrition advice on healing through food. Early in her son’s life, she learned to heal her son’s conditions through a change in healthy diet and she also healed her colitis through healthy natural lifestyle, vitamins and diet.

Children Art Exploration (no fee)

Children will learn to do coil pots, pinch pots, animals, and make ceramic art and have lots of time to explore using clay. All ages welcome!

Older kids will have the opportunity to explore with clay as well and make ocarinas that may be fired in the pit. Adults are welcome to join as well.

Natural Vision Workshop (no fee)

Workshop will be offered to those interested in improving their eyesight naturally. Participants will learn that the body and mind can heal even the eyes by using different eye yoga techniques to learn not to strain the eyes and at the same time improve eyesight and see better naturally. No fee for workshop. Those interested in doing a personal appointment, donations welcome.

RILEY RAINBOW FAMILY CIRCUS

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RILEY RAINBOW FAMILY CIRCUS

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS:
FAMILY CIRCUS CAMP:
Our family circus camp is a gateway for children and their caregivers to create a sacred space together that is judgment free. The space created provides an opportunity to foster the deep family tradition of Circus Arts as a powerful tool for incorporating intention, communication, and trust to an artistic expression into our Family Daily Living. This intimate interaction will provide you with you yet another in valuable tool to cultivate empathy, trust and healthy emotional communication with your young person. The Riley Rainbow Family Circus will demonstrate and facilitate safe and effective ways for you to be a well grounded, confident support person for your child while experiencing this age old family tradition together.

GO WITH THE FLOW:
This special play shop introduces young people to the warrior within as a personal guide and flow artist. Working with the staff Jai and Sean Riley conduct energy to channel self confidence, personal growth and interconnectedness with the space around us all Bringing each participant present to go with the flow in his or her life. Some staffs provided. Staffs hand made by The Riley Family available for purchase.

SACRED MOVEMENT:
This unique workshop introduces young people to channeled interpretation of music and allowing archetypal and ancestral movements to flow through. Working with ancient dance moves Isabella and Mariana Riley create a space for use to remember the moves encoded In our very DNA of the oldest recorded dance form in his/herstory.. Some hip scarves provided. Hip scarves also available for purchase.
Dress comfortably.
​Ages 9 - adult

RED TENT:
The Red Tent is a space to GET REAL and show up Authentically. We welcome any who identify as a woman and/or bleed.

PLEASE BRING:
* A sarong to wear, to share our Authentic Selfs with one another (some provided)
* A cushion to sit on if you have one
* Any ALTAR items or TOOLS OF DIVINATION, special stones/crystals
* BRING YUMMY FOOD TO SHARE!!! Something healing for our Body Temple. Chocolate is highly encouraged!
**NO drugs or ALCOHOL so We may be Present with each other.
**The PURPOSE of this gathering is to Unite the Sisterhood! We are sharing our connection to the Dark Moon, The Collective Womb Grid, The Blood Mysteries and Blood Magic!
Ages 14 & up. Babies at the breast are welcome.

www.oftheearthaz.com
www.facebook.com/therileyrainbowfamilycircus
www.instagram.com/therileyrainbowfamilycircus/

WILD CHILD ARCHERY AND ATLATLS

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WILD CHILD ARCHERY AND ATLATLS

with Mark Smith

Mark has been teaching traditional archery craft and skills for over 10 years – crafting several types of North American traditional longbows, tuning the bow & arrow designs for quiet flight and guiding folks to their shooting style.

Bowmaking - Mark teaches a how-and-why awareness of knowing the wood to begin the process of creating a partnership between bow and archer. We bring the stories of the wood and crafter together through our primitive skills. The proud result is “that’s my bow”, and in turn, the bow remembers you.

Archery training - Mark and his family are nationally certified instructors thru USAA, NFAA, and are members of Bowhunters Unlimited. They teach at local schools and organize shooting events - all ages all levels all fun.

Mark brings his full workshop to Buckeye Gathering every year and teaches at his home shop year-round when he isn’t backpacking or yardening with his family. ArcheryForAllAges.com in Santa Rosa, CA.

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