Last week, I tagged along for our end-of-season homeschool showcase. The three flocks were scattered throughout camp, putting the final touches on their presentations and eagerly preparing to show what they had learned over the season.
I wandered first to the youngest flock, where they were busy building fire structures. In small groups of three, the kids gathered sticks of all sizes, arranging them into tiny log cabins with care. When the parents arrived they were all super excited to show off their fire building chops. Each child took turns lighting matches and blowing to start up the flame. Soon every group was able to build a cozy small campfire!
The middle flock’s presentation centered on “The Sacred Order”: shelter, water, fire, and food. Their shelter group proudly showed off lean-tos and A-frames built from leaves and harvested logs. The water group showed off their knowledge of boiling water with certain types of stones. Only non-sedimentary stones can be used to boil water, since stones containing trapped water can explode when heated.Using tongs homeschoolers placed the hot rocks into a hollowed out log filled with creek water. The hot rocks boiled it demonstrating a super useful method of purifying water! The fire group demonstrated their skill at the two person friction fire method. The middle flock wrapped up by demonstrating stick-throwing skills and explaining how they harvest and prepare acorns for food.
I spent much of the season with the oldest flock, and their bond is unmistakable. Many of them have been part of the homeschool program for years, and it shows in the way they move and work together. When I arrived, they were exchanging handmade wooden and crocheted gifts in their newly built shelter at harth camp. Inside their impressive structure, they reflected on the challenge of hauling massive logs back to camp. Because the trees were still living, the water inside made them incredibly heavy, and it took the entire group—moving together, step by step—to carry them. When parents arrived, the group shifted gears, leading improv games and then joining voices in a song.
The afternoon ended with all three flocks coming back together, parents included, to sing some favorite Primitive Pursuits songs. Watching the homeschoolers laugh, collaborate, and take pride in their skills was a joy—and a beautiful note to end the fall session. We’re already looking ahead to winter, excited to see what the next season will bring.
