The Source: Eywa

Jan 9

This is a somewhat lengthy read. So if you’re anything like me and want to get to the clear what to do, scroll down to the ‘bite sized takeaways’. But, if you’re really like me, an avid connoisseur of the dramatization of a good story, please just continue along! You won’t want to miss this!

In the age of retweets, and #hashtag this or that, we are encumbered by mediocrity and overstimulation. The other night, it came to me, like a distant dream - but so present...

I was alive and 35, and I had a revelation that it's really all about the source.

Eywa, also known as the All-Mother or Great Mother, is the guiding force of life and deity of Pandora and the Na'vi. The Na'vi believe that Eywa acts to keep the ecosystem of Pandora in perfect equilibrium and that all things return to Eywa.

This up and coming holiday season, the new wave of AVATAR will hit the big screens across the country. As I think back on the original Avatar movie that aired in 2009, we were introduced to Jake Sulley, our main character, who is thrown into a whole new world of purity, instinct, nature, community, vibrations, and connectedness. He describes a world that is abundant, a direct converse of a world in which he came from.

He saw for the very first time, a place in which things happened organically, and at worst, a place that had rules and doctrine that supported order, righteousness, and vulnerability. He said that he was escaping the world of the machines, because that's what we, the humans of the future, destroyed.

I want to introduce my very first blog post about the ways in which summer camps (also known as ‘the biz’) help to perpetuate and uplift the world we want to see. A world that is connected to earth, to nature, to human connection, to truth and transparency - growth, love and joy.

We all came into the biz with a shared goal: we believe in the power of SUMMER CAMPS and the authenticity of human connection and truth that thrive there. So, I want all of us to continue to live by that; to forever believe in our very own 'Eywa', your source - whatever or whoever is driving us to do this work.

There's so much ENERGY in connectedness. That is why our campers come back year over year. They feel charged by their ties to the community. Whether it be the mission, mantras, mentorship or special moments, camp is connectedness. As members of the biz, I urge you to tap into it, sit with it, absorb it and lean into the moment, wherever or whenever it strikes. Let that authenticity and instinct take control. It is within you, it is within all of us - our team, campers, families, and those that have perceived and believe in us.

Bite Size Takeaways

These are some of my sources, maybe they will work for you!

What awakens and deepens the shared source of connectedness during camp?

Bite 1: Shared mindfulness through group meditation

Try this exercise

Bite 2: Shared camp song (please include sound effects - claps are hella tight!)

Bite 3: Inspirational 'speeches' that come from the heart. Let the moment, time and space do the rest. Trust yourself!

Try starting a whole camp moment with gratefulness

”I just want to say that I’m grateful for all of you..here’s what’s on my heart…”

Bite 4: Tap into ‘Eywa’, absorb, and let your inner self lead you. You have all of the tools. For the other dull pieces that you need sharpened? We have a whole membership program for that. Tap in, and charge up!

want a community to tap into?

Think about becoming a member of The Summer Camp Society. You get members-only resources and videos, virtual courses to share with your staff, a community of people working together, and so much more.

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