Fall Rendezvous Commitments

In the Fall of 2003, during the Brattleboro Art of Mentoring, Twenty-Three students attended a regional gathering of the Vermont Wilderness School called The Fall Rendezvous. All of these young people ranging in age from 10 -16 years old, have been mentored in Wildeness awareness and survival skills in a long term native fashion. Many of these students have been mentored for 3 or more years, demonstrating great passion for the wilderness. Groups of students came from communities across the Northeast with their families and Mentors who have helped them along the way. Programs that participated in this Rendezvous include: Deep Wilds Summer Camps, (VT), Flying Deer Nature Center, (NY), Vermont Wilderness School and White Pine Programs, (ME).

The Rendezvous turned out to be a week of hope and inspiration as the students and mentors shared in the power of unifying all of our individual journeys. To be at a gathering of that size of like minded peers, for the youth and staff alike, filled everyone with a belief that yes, this is possible to reclaim our native sense of self, place and community

At the end of the week the youth returned to sit in front of the Art of Mentoring elders, and were asked to report on what they learned. From there, the elders aske them how they would keep their newfound hopes, dreams and visions alive when they returned home.

The Rendezvous participants each made a commitment to be completed by the winter solstice at a ceremony in front of the entire Art of Mentoring Community. Each wrote a letter to the elders describing how successful they had been at keeping their commitments and what they had learned in the process. Here are their commitments:

  1. "I will go to my Sit Spot once per day from now until the Winter Solstice."
              --Cam, White Pine Programs, Maine
    See Cam's letter to the elders

  2. "I will spend an entire day tracking on my own between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Noah, Flying Deer Nature Center, New York
    See Noah's letter to the elders

  3. "I will practice the hand drill 2 times per week between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Dakoda, Vermont Wilderness School,
                 Deep Wilds Summer Camps, Vermont
    See Dakoda's letter to the elders

  4. "I will go to my Sit Spot every day between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Tom, Flying Deer Nature Center, New York
    See Tom's letter to the elders

  5. "I will practice bow drill once per week between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Niall, White Pine Programs, Maine
    See Niall's letter to the elders

  6. "I will teach my younger brothers and sisters about fire, shelter and secret spots between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Becca, Deep Wilds Summer Camps, Vermont
    See Becca's letter to the elders

  7. "Between now and the Winter Solstice I will learn to sit still for 1 hour."
              --Eli, Vermont Wilderness School,
                 Deep Wilds Summer Camp, Vermont,
                 Flying Deer Nature Center, New York

  8. "I will build a Jedi Training Center, play on it and go to my sit spot 4 times per week Between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Ru, Deep Wilds Summer Camps, Vermont

  9. "I will spend an hour and a half in complete silence and stillness once a week, between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Tama, Deep Wilds Summer Camps, Vermont

  10. "I will go to my Sit Spot every day and watch the Sunrise twice per week between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Caleb, White Pine Programs, Maine

  11. "I will teach two native songs and tell one native story to two of my friends who have never gone to a wilderness program between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Jeannie, Vermont Wilderness School

  12. "I will build a Jedi Training Center and play on it before the Winter Solstice."
              --Wiley, Deep Wilds Summer Camps, Vermont

  13. "I will go to my Sit Spot 5 times per week and practice stalking in the woods between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Melodie, New Paltz NY

  14. "I will jump into the water 4 times between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Avram, Deep Wilds Summer Camps, Vermont

  15. "I will do cold training with minimal clothing one hour per week between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Devin, Deep Wilds Summer Camp, Vermont

  16. "I will go to my Sit Spot twice per week and do everything in my power to attend the New Paltz nature sessions with Vermont Wilderness School."
              --Talya, Deep Wilds Summer Camps, Vermont

  17. "I will practice stalking/scouting for half an hour once a week and have one scout mission per month between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Sarah, Vermont Wilderness School,
                 Deep Wilds Summer Camp, Vermont

  18. "I will walk in the woods for 15-20 min three times per week between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Bosch, Deep Wilds Summer Camp, Vermont

  19. "I will build a debris shelter by myself before the Winter Solstice."
              --Sam, Vermont Wilderness School

  20. "I will jump in water once per week between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Cody, Vermont Wilderness School,
                 Deep Wilds Summer Camp, Vermont

  21. "I will stalk up on someone and stalk away from them without them ever knowing I was there, at least two times per week between now and the Winter Solstice."
              --Luka, Deep Wilds Summer Camps, Vermont

  22. "I will teach my younger brother and sister what I have learned, to make fire and other wilderness skills."
              --Frank, White Pine Programs, Maine

  23. "I will practice my skills three times per week for at least 20 minutes."
              --Liam, Deep Wilds Summer Camps, Vermont

 

To register call 802-257-8570.

For more information, contact the Vermont Wilderness School.

Download a scholarship application.