The Young People's Program (YPP)
The YPP offers a welcoming and vibrant experience for youth 4-14, and older if appropriate. Our experienced teaching-staff will provide a safe, inclusive and playful environment for all, allowing parents to explore daytime workshops on their own.
Youth programming will run 2:30 to 6 on Monday,
9am to 12:45 and 2:30 to 6 on Tuesday, with the 4:30 Realms of the Archetypes being an all ages adventure in which everyone can join.
Info For Ages 3 and Under
Children under 4 can attend free of charge. If you plan to join us with children 3 and under, please let us know, and we can discuss what sort of support is available, like pairing you with other parents with kids in similar age ranges.
Our Teachers
Below is a list of our confirmed staff and class descriptions of their offerings.
Oohna Hwyl is a certified Early Childhood Waldorf teacher with 20 plus years of experience working with children of all ages in a variety of settings including as a Theater and Arts in Nature camp instructor, after-school teacher, camp developer and coordinator, and currently a Waldorf lead teacher and family support specialist serving families experiencing homelessness.
In addition to facilitating a Wild Arts workshop for the youth program, they will also be Co-Directing this years program with Raven Nolan.
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Raven Nolan has worked with kids in various settings for 15+ years. She is trained in the art of Coyote Mentoring, a style of teaching that is led by curiosity. She is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and has a background and passion for wilderness connection. Raven has experience working with all kinds of children and is especially fond of working with kids who are neurodivergent or who have strong emotions and robust life energies. Raven brings her passion and playfulness to everything she does and strives to create a world where kids are able to feel at home in themselves through play, movement and nature.
Raven will be teaching a Forest Fascination workshop in addition to working with Oohna to spearhead the program.
Sandy Jocylnn Flesher has over 11 years of experience providing warm, loving and creative care to children, including as a beloved teacher in past Dance Camps. She has worked in daycare centers, schools, summer camps, and is currently a program director for childcare at a YMCA in Olympia. Sandy loves free form dancing, being in nature, and watching her 1yr old grow and learn.
V Calvez is a kid in an adult's body with an inner parent who can actually show up on time (finally)! Kids are the best because they "get" silly and don't need an explanation for why silly is "valid". V has many silly and heart-centered offerings for kids of all ages, including: The Sacred Fool Festival, The Mobile Playshop,... and a bunch of other fun stuff, he can't remember right now. V co-hosts Undersky Dance on Bainbridge Island, The Cauldron ritual witnessing space, improv sound making, facilitates men's work and builds composting systems made of garbage.
Class Descriptions - Schedule Link
Class: Rhythm’s From the Heart
Teacher: Sandy
Join us as we embark on a quest of earthly songs! This class will focus on voice, sounds and singalongs. We’ll journey into the woods sharing stories, finding paths that lead us to a sacred space. There we will circle and share songs from our heart to the Earth.
Class: Dance Games Galore
Teacher: V
For this class, V Calvez is bringing a super-fun high-energy outdoor dance playlist combined with silly costumes and a game invention playshop. V will offer a bunch of fun movement games built into the dance and encourage the kids to create and offer their own games.
Class: Wild Arts
Teacher: Oohna
Let the Wild Rumpus Begin! Maurice Sendak's Where the WIld Things Are will be our magic portal into exploring our natural surroundings with all of our senses and inner wild things. There we will play in the movements, arts and stories our encounters inspire.
Class: Forest Fascination
Teacher: Raven
We will embark on an unforgettable journey as we are guided through a wondrous Forest Bathing experience. We will take a meandering adventure through our imaginations and the beautiful world around us, exploring every magical being that mama earth reveals to us. This experience will be wrapped with a delightful tea party and the chance to dance it all out!
Class: Dreams from our Ancestors
Teacher: Sandy
This class we will weave into my native roots! We will Acknowledge the land we dance on and dive into the history of DREAM Catchers. We’ll spend time gathering Earth pieces to create our very own Dream Catchers. As we weave I will share stories from my Tribe Cherokee Nation.