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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250930
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DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20250715T012454Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250802T045227Z
UID:2827-1759190400-1759622399@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Firekeepers Spring Village Camp
DESCRIPTION:Kookookookookahkahkahkah!!! \nDo you hear the call\, wild ones? The kookaburras are singing us home – back to country\, back to community and back to connection! \nFrom Tuesday 30th September to Saturday 4th October\, we will return to beautiful Wurundjeri Country to reconnect with nature\, ourselves\, family and community. A few rich days immersed in the wild\, heeding the call\, catching stories\, sharing songs\, skills and\, of course\, adventures! \nThis is a family friendly\, drug and alcohol-free event\, and everyone is welcome – from the freshest joeys to the wisest elders – diversity in the forest and the village is what we’re all about! There’ll be mentor programs for the young ones\, fire-by-friction\, sharing circles\, shared meals in the Willum\, stories\, songs\, games and more! \nFind out more about what Village Camp entails here or by navigating to Firekeepers Village Camp in the menu bar above. \nDATES AND LOCATION\n30th September to 4th October\nRowallan Scout Camp\, Riddells Creek \nTICKETS\nTickets on sale at this link from Friday 8th August at 8am. \nAll tickets for program participants (adults and children) are the same price\, with a lower price for joeys (children who are still in or stick close to the parent’s pouch and too young to participate in the kids’ program). \nPrices for this camp are:\nAdult: $330\nChild 4+: $330\nJoey 3yo: $125\nJoey 0-2yo: $50 \nAll tickets – including volunteer tickets and joey tickets – include a contribution towards the Village Fund. The Village Fund celebrates the diversity of our community by acknowledging that not all of us have equally abundant access to funds. While some of us are able to support the village\, others – including many of the essential volunteers and mentors who make camp possible – need the village’s support to be able to gather with us and share their gifts. If this is you\, and you need the support of the village\, you can enter the code ‘fundme’ at checkout to have the Village Fund discount of $50 per ticket applied. For those finding themselves in a place of abundance\, you can also make an additional contribution to the Village Fund at checkout. \nKEEN TO VOLUNTEER?\nIf you are excited to jump aboard as a mentor or member of the village support crew\, please fill out an expression of interest form as soon as possible. Follow the link below according to the type of role you are interested in. This is important as it will help us to determine how many tickets we release. We can’t wait to see you there! \nMentors \nAs a mentor you will work with a team of mentors to guide a group of children or young people on morning adventures in the bush. Bring your playful curiosity\, your imagination and strap in for a wild and wonderful adventure!\nREGISTER HERE \nCrew\nHelp out by playing an essential role in the ticking over of village life. Support the village to tend the wellbeing of the hearth.\nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/spring-village-camp-2025/
LOCATION:Rowallan Scout Camp\, Riddells Creek
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Camps,Community,Mentoring,Young Adult
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ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250825
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251118
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20250715T015351Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250723T012334Z
UID:2834-1756080000-1763423999@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Firekeepers Mentor Immersion
DESCRIPTION:Do you want more of the magic of nature and community in your life?\nDo you ever wish you felt more confident heading out into the wild with the kids in your life?\nDo you want more tools in your nature connection toolbelt?\nAre you looking for inspiration and guidance in a community of supportive\, nature-loving folks? \nJoin us this spring for a deep dive into nature-based mentoring. Guided by Steph and Becky\, experienced mentors passionate about sharing what truly works\, we will explore tools and practices that cultivate curiosity\, build connection\, and invite belonging — both in yourself and the children you mentor. \nBook here to join us! \nWHAT WE WILL EXPLORE TOGETHER\nAwakening Wonder and Awe\nThis course invites you to slow down\, tune in\, and reconnect with your own sense of wonder. By following your curiosity and noticing what lights you up in nature\, you’ll rediscover the joy that inspires and ignites the children you mentor. \nGuiding Principles  \nThroughout the course\, we will explore our emerging Guiding Principles of nature mentoring\, foundational elements that we have found support meaningful and responsive mentoring. \nMentoring Tool Bundle\nThroughout the course\, we will explore simple\, powerful tools to support your mentoring practice. These resources will help you shape a mentoring style that’s true to you and responsive to the children you guide. \nMentoring in the Wild\nYou will have opportunities to step into real-world mentoring roles offering a chance to interact with the principles and practices of nature connection with children in nature. \nMentor Peer Support Hub\nYou’ll gain access to our ongoing Mentor Peer Support Hub — an online gathering space designed to nurture\, inspire\, and support you throughout your mentoring journey. \nWHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?\n\nMentors\, educators\, homeschoolers and parents wanting to support children’s connection to nature\nThose wanting to start their own nature-based mentoring program\nMentors wanting to deepen their practice\nFolks working with kids of all ages (including adults!)\nYou\, if this awakens your curiosity!\n\nCOURSE STRUCTURE\nThe course will begin in the last week of August and run through spring. It will consist of: \n\nEight online sessions on Monday evenings\nA full day in-person gathering in Melbourne in mid September\nA weekend camping immersion in early November within an hour or two of Melbourne\n\nParticipants will also receive: \n\nAn invitation to mentor at Firekeepers Village Camp during the September school holidays\, as well as several other in-term opportunities to put their mentoring into practice\, supported by experienced mentors\nWeekend camping accommodation with some meals catered\nResources to support your learning and ongoing nature mentoring journey\nAccess to our new Mentor Peer Support Hub\, a gathering place for folks to share ideas\, raise questions and cheer each other along on their nature mentoring paths\nPlenty of tools\, including games\, activities and strategies\, to carry in your back pockets when you’re going bush with kids (or adults)\nImmersive and playful approaches to learning and connecting\nHopefully\, a good dose of inspiration and confidence to carry you forward on your path of nature mentoring!\n\nCOST\nThe cost for participants of this pilot program will be $300. \nBig gratitude to the Growing Healthy Communities grant from VicHealth\, which is supporting this program and significantly subsidising the cost for participants. \nBook here!! \nNote: Bookings close 10th August. \nCOURSE DATES\n\n\n\nDate\nTime\nLocation\n\n\nMon 25th Aug\n6.15pm – 8pm\nOnline\n\n\nMon 1st Sept\n6.15pm – 8pm\nOnline\n\n\nMon 8th Sept\n6.15pm – 8pm\nOnline\n\n\nSat 13th Sept\n10am – 4pm\nMelbourne\n\n\nSat 29th Sept – Sat 4th Oct\nVillage Camp (optional)\nRiddells Creek\n\n\nMon 13th Oct\n6.15pm – 8pm\nOnline\n\n\nMon 20th Oct\n6.15pm – 8pm\nOnline\n\n\nMon 27th Oct\n6.15pm – 8pm\nOnline\n\n\nMon 3rd Nov\n6.15pm – 8pm\nOnline\n\n\nFri 7th Nov – Sun 9th Nov\nFriday dinner to Sunday afternoon\nOutside Melbourne\n\n\nMon 17th Nov\n6.15pm – 8pm\nOnline\n\n\n\nTHE TEAM\nThe course will be facilitated by Steph and Becky\, nature-based mentors dedicated to reconnecting kids with wonder\, wildness\, and their inner spark. We’ve worked together for nearly 5 years designing experiences that blend storytelling\, bushcraft\, wandering\, song and adventure in the wilds of northeast Victoria\, as well as through Firekeepers camps and programs. We believe this work is rooted in connected relationship to self\, each other and the natural world and feel excited about the possibility of continued learning alongside you! \nCONTACT\nReach out with any questions: steph@firekeepers.com.au \nMentor Max at our Spring 2024 Village Camp
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/mentor-immersion/
LOCATION:TBC
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Community,Mentoring
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ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250411T120000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250415T120000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20250205T045746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250314T021451Z
UID:2736-1744372800-1744718400@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Firekeepers Autumn Village Camp 2025
DESCRIPTION:  \nCoooeeee! Do you hear the village calling? Can you feel the warmth of the fire? Follow the sweet smelling smoke\, friends. Bring your wild hearts as we gather for Autumn Village Camp 2025! \nThe dates of 11th to 15th April are set for a magical time of coming home to nature and country\, to ourselves\, family\, and community. We will gather again within the towering embrace of the silver-leaf stringybark of Rowallan Scout Camp on Djaara country\, in Riddells Creek. \nCountry is calling us back. Native plantain reaches out their sticky fronds\, blue fairy wren twitches their tail feathers\, and native millipede waves their many armed hello! Our friends are calling and the village is coming! \nThis is a family friendly\, drug and alcohol-free event\, and everyone is welcome – from the freshest joeys to the wisest elders – diversity in the forest and the village is what we’re all about! There’ll be mentor programs for the young ones\, fire-by-friction\, sharing circles\, shared meals in the Willum\, stories\, songs\, games and more! \nBOOK HERE \nFind out more about what Village Camp entails here or by navigating to Firekeepers Village Camp in the menu bar above. \nTICKETS \nAll tickets for program participants (adults and children) are the same price\, with a lower price for joeys (children who are too young to participate in the kids’ program). \nPrices for this camp are:\nAdult: $330\nChild 4+: $330\nJoey 3: $125\nJoey 0-2: $50 \nVILLAGE FUND \nAll tickets – including volunteer tickets and joey tickets – include a contribution towards the Village Fund. The Village Fund celebrates the diversity of our community by acknowledging that not all of us have equally abundant access to funds. While some of us are able to support the village\, others – including many of the essential volunteers and mentors who make camp possible – need the village’s support to be able to gather with us and share their gifts. If this is you\, and you need the support of the village\, you can enter the code ‘fundme’ at checkout to have the Village Fund discount of $50 per ticket applied. For those finding themselves in a place of abundance\, you can also make an additional contribution to the Village Fund at checkout 🌱 \nKEEN TO VOLUNTEER? \nIf you are excited to jump aboard as a mentor or member of the village support crew\, please fill out an expression of interest form as soon as possible. Follow the link below according to the type of role you are interested in. This is important as it will help us to determine how many tickets we release. We can’t wait to see you there! \nMentors \nAs a mentor you will work with a team of mentors to guide a group of children or young people on morning adventures in the bush. Bring your playful curiosity\, your imagination and strap in for a wild and wonderful adventure!\nREGISTER HERE \nCrew\nHelp out by playing an essential role in the ticking over of village life. Support the village to tend the wellbeing of the hearth.\nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/firekeepers-autumn-village-camp-2025/
LOCATION:Rowallan Scout Camp\, Riddells Creek
CATEGORIES:Camps,Community,Mentoring
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ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20220920T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20220925T140000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20180215T185518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220816T185431Z
UID:2453-1663678800-1664114400@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Village Camp- Spring 2022
DESCRIPTION:~Tickets will be released HERE on Wednesday 17 August at 7:30am. ~\n(Note this time in your diary as they are likely to sell quickly.) \n\nIt is time to heed the call back to the village\, back to the land\, to a deep connection to self\, others and nature. Are you ready to play and explore in nature\, learn and practice earth-based skills and share the magic of stories and songs around the campfire? \nDo you hear that familiar call to feel the comfort of being in community around a campfire\, to hear kids’ voices trailing through the bush\, to relax into conversations with adults and friends old and new? \nAre you feeling the call to unwind and reconnect with a beautiful\, connective\, earthy community? \nWe are excited to announce our Spring Village Camp!! \nFirekeepers are running our first ever 6-day village camp this September. Did you hear that right?! Yes\, 6 days!! That’s a whole extra day of games and stories and adventures. A whole extra day of unfurling into connection\, a whole extra day for our bodies to sink into the rhythm of the village and of the earth. \n~Running from Tuesday 20 September to Sunday 25 September at Gilwell Park Scout Camp in Gembrook~ \nTickets will be available HERE on Wednesday 17 August at 7:30am.  \nRediscover your inner wild. \nCome alive with a vibrant community of humans. \nImmerse yourself in the wonder and wisdom of nature. \nGather by the campfire and learn earth-based skills. \nWatch your kids become more comfortable in the wild. \nOne wonderful aspect that came out of the challenges of the last few years has been a greater appreciation of the importance of nature\, wild spaces\, and the simple things\, like veggie gardens and birds in our backyards. Camp is an opportunity to deepen into this nature connection\, and experience how deeply it can support all aspects of our collective lives. \n~Weaving our village – What to expect…~ \nArrive to a warm bush welcome and settle into beautiful surroundings as village life awakens around you. Explore the wonders of the natural world\, practice earth-based crafts and skills\, share stories around the campfire\, laugh\, sing and relax into the rhythm of the earth. Learn\, practice\, play\, gather\, and rest as together we breathe life into the village. \nAdults\, kids\, teens\, parents\, elders and littlies will all find magic to discover in the village. In the past\, villagers have woven baskets from grass fibres\, made fire without matches\, practised listening to the language of birds\, slept out in bush shelters\, engaged their senses to follow tracks and signs of life in the wild\, played wild games for hours\, eco-dyed garments in a bubbling pot over the campfire and shared adventurous stories and songs circles under the stars. What will we create together during these school holidays? \nEach morning\, awaken to the gentle\, melodic tunes of our morning singers (or awaken earlier to the chorus of birds emanating from the surrounding bush!) After breakfast\, gather with the whole village before the kids\, teens\, littlies and adults go their separate ways for a morning of play and adventure. \nKids venture into the bush to experience a free-flowing exploration of the surrounding bush with experienced nature connection mentors. Together the mentors and kids immerse in story and song\, play games\, follow their curiosity and creativity as they wander and explore\, find animal tracks and practice wild skills and crafts. Over the days\, they will open into a deep awareness of the wild world as they connect with plants\, earth\, animals and each other. \nAdults choose their own adventure: learning earth-based skills and exploring nature observation and ecological literacy. With the kids off with mentors\, there is time for adults to engage in their own playful nature with awareness games and bushcraft activities – this is a chance for your archetypal ‘wild child’ to come alive. Some folks opt for deeply connective adult sharing circles where parents and adults alike are held in a safer space to share how folks are really travelling. A warm and welcoming well-being space catches tired bodies and souls throughout the day\, with tea and cushions and rugs a-plenty. \nLittle ones who are still “in the pouch” gather together with their parents and mentors to play and have adventures a little closer to camp. \nTeens are empowered to lean in and co-design their own journey. This may involve deepening their nature-based skills and exploration\, epic adventures further afield\, leading and honouring rites of passage\, weaving their energy in with the adult program\, or being in service and supported to mentor younger kids. \nThis spring camp we are offering our teens a bigger journey. For those who are ready and able\, we are planning a 2-night hike away from the village. We will send them off in a good way to go out to have their own adventures and experiences\, and then welcome them back to the village to catch the stories and learnings of their journey. \nWith our village reunited after adventurous mornings\, the afternoons are free flowing. Villagers play with new friends\, practice their new skills\, share their talents with an impromptu workshop or board game or just chill out. Some might wish to head off for a wander or take some quiet time to rest and relax. \nAs the sun sets\, delicious smells waft from our fabulous cooks in the kitchen and with song\, hungry villagers gather to share in wholesome home-cooked dinner around the fire. A natural storytelling space opens as the day’s tales of adventure and discovery and laughter bubble up to be shared. When the fire dies down and the stars come out\, tuckered-out little ones are sung off as they wander off to their tents. Some nights lend themselves to after-dark bush adventures too\, before sleeping close to the earth and waking to the morning chorus again. \n-Logistics- \nProgram: \nTickets include a Welcome to Country from a respected Wurrundjeri elder\, nature connection mentoring and facilitation\, morning and evening program\, camping accommodation (with flushing toilets and hot showers!)\, workshop materials and hot camp-cooked dinner each night. \nParticipants need to bring their own tent and camping gear (get in touch if you need some help here). \nMorning mentoring program: 8:30 am -12:30 pm \nSeparate programs for kids\, teens\, littlies (0-3) and adults \nKids aged 4 and up\, and teens go out in small similar-aged groups with experienced nature connection mentors. \nAdult program of sharing circles\, earth-based skills\, nature observation and ecological literacy. \nA Roo & Joey program for parents and their children under 4 who are still “in the pouch” they stay closer to camp and go on smaller adventures. \n*All of our mentors have Working With Children Checks and we have qualified First Aiders. \nThe kids return to their parents for lunch and an open space afternoon\, with opportunities to contribute to the collective running of the village. \nDinner is served around 6 and an evening program follows. \nAll members are welcome to participate as much or as little in the activities as they need to feel at home in the village. \n  \nFood: \nEach villager or family will bring their own breakfast\, lunch and snacks. Depending on fire restrictions\, there may be some space for campfire cooking\, but if you want cooked breakfasts or dinners\, it’s a good idea to bring your own camp cooking equipment. \nWe provide 4 delicious and simple kid-friendly evening meals. Catering for omnivorous\, vegetarian\, vegan\, gluten-free and dairy-free dietary requirements – if notified on booking. If you have further dietary requirements\, you may need to bring extra food to supplement. \nCovid 19: \nAll villagers will need to have tested negative on a RAT or PCR covid test just prior to travelling to camp. We will be taking extra precautions on camp to keep us all safer during the pandemic. \nThis will be our first village camp since the end of the covid vaccination mandate. We are glad and relieved to be able to welcome all of our community back together again We also recognise that many people may still feel some hurt\, tenderness or uncertainty around all that has unfolded over the last couple of years with covid\, lockdowns\, vaccination mandates and general upheaval and uncertainty in the broader community. We are also mindful of the risks and ways that the ongoing pandemic is still affecting our community\, especially those at highest risk. We welcome all that is alive in each of you and we look forward to finding our feet together again. \nFirekeepers’ general Covid Safe Plan and procedures specifically to reduce the risk of Covid on camp\, will be emailed to participants in our welcome email. \nTickets will be released on Wednesday 17 August at 7:30 am. Note this time in your diary as they are likely to sell quickly. \nPricing \nTo account for the extra day (a whole extra day!!) and higher camping fees at this site\, prices for this camp are 20% higher than previous camps. As with our last camps\, there will be sliding scale and pay-it-forward pricing options available\, as well as zip-pay\, and invoicing when necessary\, eg for using NSID funding\, so that folks can contribute from their various financial situations. Please get in contact with us for with any further questions and clarifications. \nFor Spring 2022 Village Camp\, regular prices for the various ticket types are as follows- with the pay-what-you-can\, through to pay-it-forward range underneath: \nAdult $500\n(325-950) \nParent/carer $450\n(325-850) \nParent/carer coming for part of the week only $300\n(200-600) \nElder/senior $0-450 sliding scale\n(0-950) \nUnaccompanied young person (aged 16+) $450\n(325-850) \nChild (aged 4-17) $500\n(325-950) \nMultiple siblings (2) $350 each\n(260-950) \nMultiple siblings (3) $300 each\n(260-950) \nAdditional siblings $0-200 sliding scale\n(0-520) \nYounger child (aged 1-3) $250\n(150-500) \nBabies come for free \nSO\, some quick maths for you families\, using the regular prices: \nA one-parent\, one younger child constellation = $700 \nA one-parent\, one child constellation = $950 \nA one-parent\, two-child constellation = $1150 \nA one-parent\, three-child constellation = $1350 \nA two-parent\, two-child constellation = $1600 \nA two-parent\, three-child constellation = $1800 \n  \nVolunteering and Support \n\nAre you keen to join the team as a mentor or member of the village support crew? If so\, please fill out an expression of interest form by Sunday 14 August – follow the link below according to the type of role you would like. This is important as it will help us to determine how many tickets we release on Wednesday morning. \nI am interested in mentoring at the Spring Village Camp. \nI am interested in holding a support crew role at the Spring Village Camp and/or in being on the organising crew in the lead-up to camp. Support crew roles include coordinating one of the village service jobs\, wellbeing space holders\, first aid coordinator and photographer. We’d also love you to fill this one out if you are interested in being our camp cook (dinners only) or know someone who might be- for this or future camps (this one is a paid role).
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/spring-village-camp-2022/
LOCATION:Gembrook\, Gembrook\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Camps,Community,Holiday Programs,Home Ed Programs,Mentoring,Music,Rites of Passage,Young Adult
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC02374-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20220420T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20220424T140000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20180215T185518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220601T071251Z
UID:2413-1650459600-1650808800@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Village Camp- Autumn 2022
DESCRIPTION:The land is calling us and we are drawn to gather… \nDo you hear the call to smell the comfort of a campfire\, to hear kids’ voices trailing through the bush\, to relax into conversations with adults and friends old and new? \nAre you feeling the call to unwind and reconnect with a beautiful\, connective\, earthy community? \nWe are calling in an Autumn Village Camp \n~Running from Wednesday 20 April to Sunday 24 April at Rowallan Scout Camp in Riddells Creek~ \n  \nRediscover your inner wild. \nCome alive with a vibrant community of humans. \nImmerse yourself in the wonder and wisdom of nature. \nGather by the campfire and learn earth based skills. \nWatch your kids become more comfortable in the wild. \nOne wonderful aspect that came out of the challenges of the last few years has been a greater appreciation of the importance of nature\, wild spaces\, and for the simple things\, like vegie gardens and birds in our backyards. Camp is an opportunity to deepen into this nature connection\, and experience how deeply it can support all aspects of our collective lives. \nA big challenge that’s arisen for Firekeepers during this time is how best to serve our community when\, under the current vaccine mandate\, our whole community can’t gather together in person. In a time of division in the world\, we long to come together as a whole. This Autumn camp will be different from those that have come before\, we will notice the absence of invaluable community members\, and we will need extra volunteer crew members and mentors to support us this time around. \nPlease continue reading to the end for more about this heartfelt topic and ways for you to share your feelings and responses to camp going ahead at this time*. \n  \n~Weaving our village – What to expect…~ \nArrive to a warm bush welcome and settle into beautiful surroundings as village life awakens around you. Explore the wonders of the natural world\, practice earth-based crafts and skills\, share stories around the campfire\, laugh\, sing and relax into the rhythm of the earth. Learn\, practice\, play\, gather\, rest as together we breathe life into the village. \nAdults\, kids\, teens\, parents\, elders and littlies will all find magic to discover in the village. In the past\, villagers have woven baskets from grass fibres\, made fire without matches\, practised listening to the language of birds\, slept out in bush shelters\, engaged their senses to follow tracks and signs of life in the wild\, played wild games for hours\, eco-dyed garments in a bubbling pot over the campfire\, shared adventurous stories and songs circles under the stars. What will we create together these school holidays? \nEach morning\, awaken to the gentle\, melodic tunes of our morning singers (or awaken earlier to the chorus of birds emanating from the surrounding bush!) After breakfast\, gather with the whole village before the kids\, teens\, littlies and adults go their separate ways for a morning of play and adventure. \nKids venture into the bush to experience a free flowing exploration of the surrounding bush with experienced nature connection mentors. Together the mentors and kids immerse in story and song\, play games\, follow their curiosity and creativity as they wander and explore\, find animal tracks and practice wild skills and crafts. Over the days\, they will open into a deep awareness of the wild world as they connect with plants\, earth\, animals and each other. \nAdults choose their own adventure: learning earth-based skills and exploring nature observation and ecological literacy. With the kids off with mentors\, there is time for adults to engage in their own playful nature with awareness games and bushcraft activities – this is a chance for your archetypal ‘wild child’ to come alive. Some folks opt for deeply connective adult sharing circles where parents and adults alike are held in a safer space to share how folks are really travelling. A warm and welcoming wellbeing space catches tired bodies and souls throughout the day\, with tea and cushions and rugs a plenty. \nLittle ones who are still “in the pouch” gather together with their parents and mentors to play and have adventures a little closer to camp. \nTeens are empowered to lean in and co-design their own journey. This may involve deepening their nature-based skills and exploration\, epic adventures further afield\, leading and honouring rites of passage\, weaving their energy in with the adult program\, or being in service and supported to mentor younger kids. \nWith our village reunited after adventurous mornings the afternoons are free flowing. Villagers play with new friends\, practice their new skills\, share their talents with an impromptu workshop or board game or just chill out. Some might wish to head off for a wander or take some quiet time to rest and relax. \nAs the sun sets\, delicious smells waft from our fabulous cooks in the kitchen and with song\, hungry villagers gather to share in wholesome home cooked dinner around the fire. A natural storytelling space opens as the day’s tales of adventure and discovery and laughter bubble up to be shared. When the fire dies down and the stars come out\, tuckered out little ones are sung off as they wander off to their tents. Some nights lend themselves to after dark bush adventures too\, before sleeping close to the earth and waking to the morning chorus again. \n-Logistics- \nProgram: \nTickets include a Welcome to Country\, nature connection mentoring and facilitation\, morning and evening program\, camping accommodation (with flushing toilets and hot showers!)\, hot camp cooked dinner each night and workshop materials. \nParticipants need to bring a tent and camping gear. \nMorning mentoring program: 8:30 am -12:30 pm \nSeparate programs for kids\, teens\, littlies (0-3) and adults \nKids aged 4 and up\, and teens go out in small similar aged groups with experienced nature connection mentors. \nAdult program of sharing circles\, earth-based skills\, nature observation and ecological literacy. \nA Roo & Joey program for parents and their children under 4 who are still “in the pouch” they stay closer to camp\, and go on smaller adventures. \n*All of our mentors have Working With Children Checks and we have qualified First Aiders. \nThe kids return to their parents for lunch and an open space afternoon. \nDinner is served around 6 and an evening program follows. \nAll members are welcome to participate as much or as little in the activities as they need to feel at home in the village. \n  \nFood: \nEach villager or family will bring their own breakfast\, lunch and snacks. Depending on fire restrictions\, there may be some space for campfire cooking\, but if you want cooked breakfasts or dinners\, it’s a good idea to bring your own camp cooking equipment. \nWe provide 4 delicious and kid friendly evening meals. Catering for omnivorous\, vegetarian\, vegan\, gluten free and dairy free dietary requirements if notified on booking. If you have further requirements\, you may need to bring extra food to supplement. \n  \nCovid 19: \nEveryone over the age of 18 who attends this camp will need to show their proof of double vaccination or an exemption\, and will need to return a negative RAT or PCR test within 24 hours fo travelling to camp. \nFirekeepers general Covid Safe Plan can be found here more details and procedures specifically to reduce the risk of Covid on camp\, will be emailed to participants in the welcome email. \n  \n*We know that land and community is the balm the world needs at this moment\, and as an Incorporated Organisation we are limited in the ways we can offer this balm right now. In accordance with the legal advice we have received and our resultant Covid 19 vaccination policy\, everyone over the age of 18 who attends this camp will need to show their proof of double vaccination or an exemption. \n  \nA Bittersweet Decision… \nWe do not take this decision to run a camp that not all can attend lightly. We make it with sadness in our hearts as we acknowledge those who will not be there. This camp will be different to those that have come before. \n  \nWe have come to this decision because we believe strongly in the work that Firekeepers does of supporting folks on their journey of rediscovering and deepening their relationship with the natural world; of discovering what it feels like to be in connection with the natural cycles; and of finding their way into a like-hearted community. We feel it is important to offer this to those who have been awakened to the wonders of nature over the past couple of years and yearn to continue their journey in community. \n  \nWe acknowledge that some among this community dearly want to join us and won’t be able to attend this camp because of their vaccination status. Some members of the Firekeepers board and core working team will be there and some won’t. Those who will be in attendance carry mixed feelings – joy to meet and play and fan the flames of connection and sadness about who and what will be missing. We feel the loss for the whole community that some folks will not be there with us in April. We don’t know how to soothe this wound; we only know that we need to feel the ache of it. \n  \nOne-on-one support \nWe have arranged for community member\, Kiri Bear to hold space for one-on-one conversations with members of our community who are impacted by our decision to run a camp at this time when not all community members are able to join. Kiri is volunteering a 90 minute feelings exploration (Possibility coaching) session to members of the Firekeepers community who want space to debrief about how they are affected by this decision. Book in directly for a session with Kiri here.  \n  \nAre you keen to grow your own community building skills? \nWe at Firekeepers have been learning\, practicing and developing our skills in community building\, spaceholding and mentoring over many years\, and we would like to empower members of our community to carry those skills forward. As Firekeepers community members\, you all carry the flame of nature connection and community building that is nourished at Firekeepers gatherings. We invite you to nurture and foster that in your own communities. \n  \nWith this in mind\, we will be offering online training in nature connection mentoring and village building in late autumn and winter. If you want to show up more fully in community and develop your capacity to create spaces of deep connection\, please keep your eye out for more news on that offering and let us know if you are interested!
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/village-camp/
LOCATION:Riddles Creek
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Camps,Community,Holiday Programs,Home Ed Programs,Mentoring,Music,Rites of Passage,Young Adult
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210922T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210926T140000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20180215T185518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220328T031837Z
UID:2343-1632315600-1632664800@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Village Camp- Spring 2021 - Cancelled
DESCRIPTION:It’s been a long 18 months of lockdowns\, social isolation and slow emergence for Victorians. We have all been boxed in at home much more thant we expected. Last year adults quickly learned how to work from cupboards and bedrooms\, lost their employment or soldiered on in essential services. Kids of all ages were cooped up inside on screens for hours for school. Homeschoolers’ groups and activities have been cancelled. Teens and young adults stuck at home missed hanging out with their peers and marking key rites of passage. Young kids too skipped important transitions and have had much less interaction with children their age. Parents have been champions juggling work and parenting and remote learning in a very uncertain atmosphere. Single folk have done it tough being separated from family and friends. And elders have been shuttered up with fear and isolated from their communities. Pwoah! \nOne wonderful aspect that came out of the lock downs has been a greater appreciation of the importance of nature\, wild spaces\, and for the simple things\, like vegie gardens and birds in our backyards. If this was you\, then we are sure that nature connection can continue to support us as we more fully emerge from our year of disconnection. \nDo you hear the call to stretch your wings and get out a bit further… without crossing state lines (!)\, to smell the comforting smell of a campfire\, to hear kids voices trailing through the bush\, to relax into conversations with adults and friends old and new? \n\n\nSo\, it is with excitement and relief that we present our Spring Village Camp!\n\nAfter such a time of forced isolation and separation from people\, many folk found solace in the more than human world. In emerging from lock-down\, for many folks we hope that nature will continue to be an ongoing support in our healing.\n\n\nFeel the call to unwind and reconnect with a beautiful\, connective\, earthy community? Autumn Village Camp is what you have been looking for to ease your weary heart and soul.\nRediscover your inner wild.\nCome alive with a vibrant community of humans.\nImmerse yourself in the wonder and wisdom of nature.\nGather by the campfire and learn earth based skills.\nWatch your kids become more comfortable in the wild.\n\n\n“Attending Village Camp was a turning point in my life … There was a magic at camp that has stayed with me\, long after my tent was packed away. I left feeling so inspired\, it was a remembering\, an opening to possibilities for living that I had never conceived before.” Becky\, mentor and mother of two young children.\n\n\n~Come and reweave our village together~\n\n\nArrive to a warm bush welcome and settle into our beautiful surroundings as village life awakens around you. Explore the wonders of the natural world\, practice earth-based crafts and skills\, share stories around the campfire\, laugh\, sing and relax into the rhythm of the earth. Learn\, practice\, play\, gather\, rest as together we breathe life into the village.\n\n\nAdults\, kids\, teens\, parents\, elders and littlies will all find magic to discover in the village. In the past\, villagers have woven baskets from grass fibres\, made fire without matches\, practiced listening to the language of birds\, slept out in bush shelters\, engaged their senses to follow tracks and signs of life in the wild\, played wild games for hours\, eco-dyed garments in a bubbling pot over the camp fire\, shared adventurous stories and songs circles under the stars. What will we create together next school holidays?\n\n\nEach morning\, awaken to the gentle\, melodic tunes of our morning singers (or awaken earlier to the chorus of birds emanating from the surrounding bush!)\nAfter breakfast\, gather with the whole village before the kids\, teens\, littlies and adults go their separate ways for a morning of play and adventure.\n\n\nKids venture into the bush to experience a free flowing exploration of the surrounding bush with experienced nature connection mentors. Together the mentors and kids immerse in story and song\, play games\, follow their curiosity and creativity as they wander and explore\, find animal tracks and practice wild skills and crafts. Over the days\, they will open into a deep awareness of the wild world as they connect with plants\, earth\, animals and each other.\n\n\nAdults choose their own adventure: learning earth-based skills and exploring nature observation and ecological literacy. With the kids off with mentors\, there is time for adults to engage in their own playful nature with awareness games and bushcraft activities – this is a chance for your archetypal ‘wild child’ to come alive. Some folks opt for deeply connective adult sharing circles where parents and adults alike are held in a safer space to share how folks are really traveling. A warm and welcoming wellbeing space catches tired bodies and souls throughout the day\, with tea and cushions and rugs a plenty.\n\n\nLittle ones who are still “in the pouch” gather together with their parents and mentors to play and have adventures a little closer to camp.\n\n\nTeens are empowered to lean in and co-design their own journey. This may involve deepening their nature-based skills and exploration\, epic adventures further afield\, leading and honouring rites of passage\, weaving their energy in with the adult program\, or being in service and supported to mentor younger kids.\n\n\nWith our village reunited after adventurous mornings the afternoons are free flowing. Villagers play with new friends\, practice their new skills\, share their talents with an impromptu workshop or board game or just chill out. Some might wish to head off for a wander or take some quiet time to rest and relax.\n\n\nAs the sun sets\, delicious smells waft from our fabulous cooks in the kitchen and with song\, hungry villagers gather to share in wholesome home cooked dinner around the fire. A natural storytelling space opens as the day’s tales of adventure and discovery and laughter bubble up to be shared.\n\n\nWhen the fire dies down and the stars come out\, tuckered out little ones are sung off as they wander off to their tents. Some nights lend themselves to after dark bush adventures too\, before a sleeping close to the earth and waking to the morning chorus again.\n\n\n“This camp is organised from the heart\, and holds connection to oneself\, land and community in a truly caring balance\,” village elder\, mother and artist.\n\n\n“From 2 kids saying ‘Do we have to go’ to ‘When is it happening again?- I don’t want to leave!” Journalist and parent of two boys 7 & 9\n\n\nWill you be there this time? Who and what will you bring with you for this magical experience?\n\n\n-Logistics-\n\n\nWho is this for?\nEveryone! This is a family friendly\, drug and alcohol free event\, with the program open to all- from babies to elders and everyone in between.\n\n\nProgram:\n\nTickets include a Welcome to Country\, nature connection mentoring and facilitation\, morning and evening program\, camping accommodation (with flushing toilets and hot showers!)\, hot camp cooked dinner each night and workshop materials.\nParticipants need to bring a tent and camping gear.\n\n\nMorning mentoring program: 8:30-12:30\nSeparate programs for kids\, teens\, littlies (0-3) and adults\nKids aged 4 and up and teens go out in small similar aged groups with experienced nature connection mentors.\nAdult program of sharing circles\, earth-based skills\, nature observation and ecological literacy.\nA Roo & Joey program for parents and their children under 4 who are still “in the pouch” they stay closer to camp\, and go on smaller adventures.\n*All of our mentors have Working With Children Checks and we have qualified First Aiders.\n\nThe kids return to their parents for lunch and an open space afternoon.\nDinner is served around 6 and an evening program follows.\nAll members are welcome to participate as much or as little in the activities as they need to feel at home in the village.\n\n\nFood:\nEach villager or family will bring their own breakfast\, lunch and snacks. Depending on fire restrictions\, there may be some space for campfire cooking\, but if you want cooked breakfasts or lunches\, it’s a good idea to bring your own camp cooking equipment.\nWe provide 4 delicious and kid friendly evening meals. Catering for omnivorous\, vegetarian\, vegan\, gluten free and dairy free dietary requirements if notified on booking. If you have further requirements\, you may need to bring extra food to supplement.\n\n\n“We left with a deep sense of belonging and community. A connection with earth\, ourselves\, each other” Village Parent”\n\n\nUntil 2020 village camps were happening just 3 times a year- Spring\, Summer and Autumn. In these times however\, we unfortunately can’t know when the next one will be.\n\nWe will be chopping wood and spinning the hand drill stalk ready to welcome you back into community and nature again\, will you join us for a yarn around the camp fire these school holidays?\n\n\n<iframe id=”iframe-container” src=”https://events.humanitix.com/spring-village-camp-2021/tickets?w=true&p=%23417505″ width=”100%” height=”600px” frameborder=”0″></iframe>\n<script>\nvar humanitix = {\nfindPos: function(obj) {\nvar curtop = 0;\nif (obj.offsetParent) {\ndo {\ncurtop += obj.offsetTop;\n} while ((obj = obj.offsetParent));\nreturn [curtop];\n}\n}\n};\nwindow.addEventListener(‘message’\, function (e) {\nif (e.origin !== “https://events.humanitix.com”){\nreturn;\n}\nvar messageData = e.data;\nvar iframeEl = document.getElementById(‘iframe-container’);\nif (iframeEl && messageData && !isNaN(messageData.scrollHeight)){\niframeEl.style.height = messageData.scrollHeight + ‘px’;\n}\nif (iframeEl && messageData && messageData.pageChange) {\nwindow.scroll(0\, humanitix.findPos(iframeEl));\n} \n}\, false);</script>
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/spring-village-camp-spring-2021/
LOCATION:Riddles Creek
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Camps,Community,Holiday Programs,Home Ed Programs,Mentoring,Music,Rites of Passage,Young Adult
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210407T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20210411T140000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20180215T185518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210323T031028Z
UID:2305-1617800400-1618149600@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Village Camp- Autumn 2021
DESCRIPTION:It’s been a long year of rolling lockdowns\, fear and social isolation for Victorians. We have all been boxed in at home much more than we expected. Adults quickly learned how to work from cupboards and bedrooms\, lost their employment or soldiered on in essential services. Kids of all ages have been cooped up inside on screens for hours for school. Homeschoolers’ groups and activities were cancelled. Teens and young adults stuck at home missed hanging out with their peers and marking key rites of passage. Young kids too have skipped important transitions and have had much less interaction with children their age. Parents have been champions juggling work and parenting and remote learning in a very uncertain atmosphere. Single folk have done it tough being separated from family and friends. And elders have been shuttered up with fear and isolated from their communities. Pwoah!\n\nOne wonderful aspect that came out of the lock downs was a greater appreciation of the importance of nature\, wild spaces\, and for the simple things\, like veggie gardens and birds in our backyards. If this was you\, then we are sure that nature connection can continue to support us as we emerge from a year of disconnection.\n\nThough we may have gotten to know our 5km like the back of our hand\, I am hearing the call to stretch my wings and get out\, to smell the comforting smell of a campfire\, to hear kids voices trailing through the bush\, to relax into gentle conversations with adults that aren’t my housemates and are not on zoom!\n\nSo\, it is with excitement and relief that we present our Autumn Village Camp! After such a time of forced isolation and separation from people\, many folk found solace in the more than human world. In emerging from lock-down\, for many folks we hope that nature will continue to be an ongoing support in our healing.\n\nFeel the call to unwind and reconnect with a beautiful\, connective\, earthy community? Autumn Village Camp is what you have been looking for to ease your weary heart and soul.\nRediscover your inner wild.\nCome alive with a vibrant community of humans.\nImmerse yourself in the wonder and wisdom of nature.\nGather by the campfire and learn earth based skills.\nWatch your kids become more comfortable in the wild.\n\n“Attending Village Camp was a turning point in my life … There was a magic at camp that has stayed with me\, long after my tent was packed away. I left feeling so inspired\, it was a remembering\, an opening to possibilities for living that I had never conceived before.” Becky\, mentor and mother of two young children.\n\n~Come and reweave our village together~\n\nArrive to a warm bush welcome and settle into our beautiful surroundings as village life awakens around you. Explore the wonders of the natural world\, practice earth-based crafts and skills\, share stories around the campfire\, laugh\, sing and relax into the rhythm of the earth. Learn\, practice\, play\, gather\, rest as together we breathe life into the village.\n\nAdults\, kids\, teens\, parents\, elders and littlies will all find magic to discover in the village. In the past\, villagers have woven baskets from grass fibres\, made fire without matches\, practiced listening to the language of birds\, slept out in bush shelters\, engaged their senses to follow tracks and signs of life in the wild\, played wild games for hours\, eco-dyed garments in a bubbling pot over the camp fire\, shared adventurous stories and songs circles under the stars. What will we create together this autumn?\n\nEach morning\, awaken to the gentle\, melodic tunes of our morning singers (or awaken earlier to the chorus of birds emanating from the surrounding bush!)\nAfter breakfast\, gather with the whole village before the kids\, teens\, littlies and adults go their separate ways for a morning of play and adventure.\n\nKids venture into the bush to experience a free flowing exploration of the surrounding bush with experienced nature connection mentors. Together the mentors and kids immerse in story and song\, play games\, follow their curiosity and creativity as they wander and explore\, find animal tracks and practice wild skills and crafts. Over the days\, they will open into a deep awareness of the wild world as they connect with plants\, earth\, animals and each other.\n\nAdults choose their own adventure: learning earth-based skills and exploring nature observation and ecological literacy. With the kids off with mentors\, there is time for adults to engage in their own playful nature with awareness games and bushcraft activities – this is a chance for your archetypal ‘wild child’ to come alive. Some folks opt for deeply connective adult sharing circles where parents and adults alike are held in a safer space to share how folks are really traveling. A warm and welcoming wellbeing space catches tired bodies and souls throughout the day\, with tea and cushions and rugs a plenty.\n\nLittle ones who are still “in the pouch” gather together with their parents and mentors to play and have adventures a little closer to camp.\n\nTeens are empowered to lean in and co-design their own journey. This may involve deepening their nature-based skills and exploration\, epic adventures further afield\, leading and honouring rites of passage\, weaving their energy in with the adult program\, or being in service and supported to mentor younger kids.\n\nWith our village reunited after adventurous mornings the afternoons are free flowing. Villagers play with new friends\, practice their new skills\, share their talents with an impromptu workshop or board game or just chill out. Some might wish to head off for a wander or take some quiet time to rest and relax.\n\nAs the sun sets\, delicious smells waft from our fabulous cooks in the kitchen and with song\, hungry villagers gather to share in wholesome home cooked dinner around the fire. A natural storytelling space opens as the day’s tales of adventure and discovery and laughter bubble up to be shared.\n\nWhen the fire dies down and the stars come out\, tuckered out little ones are sung off as they wander off to their tents. Some nights lend themselves to after dark bush adventures too\, before a sleeping close to the earth and waking to the morning chorus again.\n\n“This camp is organised from the heart\, and holds connection to oneself\, land and community in a truly caring balance\,” village elder\, mother and artist.\n\n“From 2 kids saying ‘Do we have to go’ to ‘When is it happening again?- I don’t want to leave!” Journalist and parent of two boys 7 & 9\n\nWill you be there this time? Who and what will you bring with you for this magical experience?\n\n-Logistics-\n\nWho is this for?\nEveryone! This is a family friendly\, drug and alcohol free event\, with the program open to all- from babies to elders and everyone in between.\n\nProgram:\nTickets include a Welcome to Country\, nature connection mentoring and facilitation\, morning and evening program\, camping accommodation (with flushing toilets and hot showers!)\, hot camp cooked dinner each night and workshop materials.\nParticipants need to bring a tent and camping gear.\nMorning mentoring program: 8:30-12:30\nSeparate programs for kids\, teens\, littlies (0-3) and adults\nKids aged 4 and up and teens go out in small similar aged groups with experienced nature connection mentors.\nAdult program of sharing circles\, earth-based skills\, nature observation and ecological literacy.\nA Roo & Joey program for parents and their children under 4 who are still “in the pouch” they stay closer to camp\, and go on smaller adventures.\n*All of our mentors have Working With Children Checks and we have qualified First Aiders.\nThe kids return to their parents for lunch and an open space afternoon.\nDinner is served around 6 and an evening program follows.\nAll members are welcome to participate as much or as little in the activities as they need to feel at home in the village.\n\nFood:\nEach villager or family will bring their own breakfast\, lunch and snacks. Depending on fire restrictions\, there may be some space for campfire cooking\, but if you want cooked breakfasts or lunches\, it’s a good idea to bring your own camp cooking equipment.\nWe provide 4 delicious and kid friendly evening meals. Catering for omnivorous\, vegetarian\, vegan\, gluten free and dairy free dietary requirements if notified on booking. If you have further requirements\, you may need to bring extra food to supplement.\n\nFor more details check out: www.firekeepers.com.au/event/wild-by-nature-village-camp\n\n“We left with a deep sense of belonging and community. A connection with earth\, ourselves\, each other” Village Parent”\n\nUntil 2020 village camps were happening just 3 times a year- Spring\, Summer and Autumn. In these times however\, we unfortunately can’t know when the next one will be.\nWe will be chopping wood and spinning the hand drill stalk ready to welcome you back into community and nature again\, will you join us for a yarn around the camp fire this April?
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/autumn-village-camp/
LOCATION:Riddles Creek
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Camps,Community,Holiday Programs,Home Ed Programs,Mentoring,Music,Rites of Passage,Young Adult
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200917T160000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200917T160000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20200721T172718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200915T165211Z
UID:2233-1600358400-1600358400@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Firekeepers Spring Virtual Village
DESCRIPTION:Tracker and Naturalist Jon Young says that keeping nature stories to yourself and not sharing them with friends\, family or your community is like never developing the film from your camera. (Back when we regularly used cameras…and film). In the story telling and catching and deeper questioning\, we get to develop and deepen our connection and curiosity. \nDuring this lock down\, we have been crafting weekly programs of nature connection activities to inspire you to get out into nature and then a space to catch your nature stories and deepen your curiosity and learning. \nFor many of us\, especially those in Melbourne- Naarm\, nature in whatever way we can connect with it\, has become a balm and important support during the Covid 19 restrictions. Even when we can’t be physically close to our human friends\, there are always birds to watch near by\, flowers offering their springy fragrances and a tree open for a hug! As well as fostering a deeper connection with nature\, our mission is to build connection to self and community. We offer these gatherings to hold space for all of us at this time- to continue old and grow new community connections and build all of our resilience at this time where isolation and loneliness are rife. \nIn this series we will be delving into: \n-Tracking with Claire Mosley and Mel Turnbull \n-Birds & Life cycles with Claire Dunn & Katrina Roberg \n-Nature Mandalas with Claire Mosley and Skye Mandozay \n-Shelter Building with Steph Brophy and Ollie Fabinyi \n-Steph Brophy will be our Storyteller in residence this program – weaving engaging and interactive stories and supporting other storytellers through the weeks. \nAll ages and faces (new and old) are welcome! We have babies to elders join\, though it is geared towards kid’s engagement. 🙂 Nature celebrates diversity\, and so do we. You do not have to have been on one of our programs before to join in. \nThis is our second round of Firekeepers Virtual Village\, we are grateful for and have incorporated feedback from our Winter Villagers and from our Virtual Village Camp held back in Autumn. \nRead what have previous villagers said about the program? \n“Virtual Village was a joy to connect with others who share our family passion of nature connection. Having other people talk so passionately about their nature connection experiences strengthens what i as a mother am bringing to my children. Being involved in Firekeepers programs creates a culture of excitement to be in connection with nature and community\, that i can’t bring to my children alone. It normalises and celebrates our deep joy of seeing a particular bird\, finding an edible weed\, a track or a scat.” Parent \nThe Virtual Village was a delightful way to connect with friends new and old\, and discover ways to spend time exploring nature. Meeting birds\, finding plants\, nature journaling\, the magic of fire and the senses were covered in this incredible five week program. We looked forward to the weekly meeting and our hearts are filled with gratitude and love. I would highly recommend this program to families with young children needing an antidote to all the screen time that creeps into our lives.Thank you Firekeepers!” Indrani Perera\, poet and publisher of the Pocketry Almanack \nDetails:\nWeekly Email Invitations \nAn email is sent out when you register and then each Thursday. Inside are a couple of different invitations\, via video and text- These are each designed to spark the varied interests of our village members – young and old. You don’t have to do all of it\, just what sparks interest for you. You have the week to participate in whatever way you want with the activity instruction (including … not- no judgement!) \nWeekly Village Gathering  \nWe will gather on Zoom each Thursday during the series from 4-5pm to see each other’s faces and connect. This will be a facilitated hour\, It will look like:\nWelcoming new folks\, (before others arrive)\,\nWelcome\, Acknowledgement & Gratitude\,\nSinging together / Group game\,\nBreak out rooms to share stories of the week\,\nGroup report backs\,\nAnnouncements\,\nStory from our Storyteller\nPreview of next week’s activity\nClosing song\nand an option to hang out afterwards in a breakout room if you wish.; \n* All activities are invitations and optional and though we would love to see your face\, you can choose to keep your camera off if you would feel more comfortable that way. \nFacebook Group \nWe have a group\, for those who use Facebook\, to share photos and stories from our adventures\, as well as the Thursday gathering space. This was a great way to stay connected with the weekly activity last time. \nWe will also continue to be holding our Free Monthly Community evening spaces on Wednesdays via Zoom: \nWednesday Warble Song Circle\n1st Wednesday/Month- 7-8:30pm \nSinging together online can be surprisingly connective and lots of fun! Let’s gather to sing some of our camp favourites and also some new songs – bring a song or two to share if you feel to! For adults and kids. \nVillage Heart Adults’ Sharing Circle – Register separately here\n3rd Wednesday/Month 8-9:30pm \nA space for adults of the village to share from the heart\, to bring yourself as you are and be with what is\, to speak and be heard\, to listen with curiosity and compassion. A space to deepen connection and understanding of one another. \nDates \nThursday – 10 Sept – FREE Community Village Gathering \nThursday – 10 Sept – Virtual Village bookings open and email invitation available \nWednesday – 16 Sept – Village Heart Sharing Circle \nThursday – 17 Sept – Weekly Village Gathering: Tracking with Claire Mosley & Mel Turnbull \nThursday – 24 Sept – Weekly Village Gathering: Birds & Life Cycles with Claire Dunn & Katrina Roberg \nThursday – 1st Oct – Weekly Village Gathering: Nature Mandalas with Claire Mosley & Skye Mandozay \nWednesday – 7 Oct – Monthly Village Song Circle \nThursday – 8 Oct – Weekly Village Gathering: Shelter with Steph Brophy & Ollie Fabinyi \nPricing and registration \nSliding scale $50-$150 per household for the 4 week block. \nWe are offering sliding scale payments in recognition that not everyone has the same means. We ask that you consider your means and your willingness to pay for this offering. The higher price points support us to be able to offer the lower prices\, to pay our facilitators and to support Firekeepers ongoing. No questions will be asked and no judgments made about how much each participant chooses to pay. We also have some tickets available on a NOTAFLOF basis (No one turned away for lack of funds) and free spots for First Nations participants. \nA sliding scale payment system is based on trust – thanks for bravely engaging in this experiment with us! \nNote: If you would prefer to be invoiced for this event for NDIS purposes\, please contact Mel directly at mel@firekeepers.com.au.
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/winter-virtual-village-2/
LOCATION:Online- via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Camps,Community,Currawong Kids,Home Ed Programs,Mentoring,Music,Outreach
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Firekeepers-Virtual-Village-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200916T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200916T200000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20200722T031001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200915T162906Z
UID:2228-1600286400-1600286400@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:FREE COMMUNITY EVENT Village Hearth: Adults’ Sharing Circle
DESCRIPTION:A space for adults of the village to share from the heart to the heart\, to bring yourself as you are and be with what is\, to speak and be heard\, to listen with curiosity and compassion. A space where courage and vulnerability are welcome and celebrated. A space to deepen connection and understanding of one another. \n\nThis is a recurring event\, happening every 3rd Wednesday of the month\nFree event\n—-\n\n\nRegister in advance for this meeting:\nhttps://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwud-uoqjotGN0nKUnehSsC5MGTolqIMm4L \nAfter registering\, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/adult-sharing-circle-2/
LOCATION:Online- via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Community,Free Community Event,Mentoring,Outreach,Rites of Passage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/fruit_bats_9.preview.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200819T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200819T213000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20200722T031001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200729T061152Z
UID:2121-1597867200-1597872600@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:FREE COMMUNITY EVENT Village Hearth Adults’ Sharing Circle
DESCRIPTION:A space for adults of the village to share from the heart to the heart\, to bring yourself as you are and be with what is\, to speak and be heard\, to listen with curiosity and compassion. A space where courage and vulnerability are welcome and celebrated. A space to deepen connection and understanding of one another. \n\nThis is a recurring event\, happening every 3rd Wednesday of the month\nFree event\n—-\nJoin Zoom Meeting\nhttps://zoom.us/j/98302041729Meeting ID: 983 0204 1729\nPasscode: hearth\nOne tap mobile\n+61370182005\,\,98302041729#\,\,\,\,\,\,0#\,\,470364# Australia\n+61731853730\,\,98302041729#\,\,\,\,\,\,0#\,\,470364# AustraliaDial by your location\n+61 3 7018 2005 Australia\nMeeting ID: 983 0204 1729\nPasscode: 470364\nFind your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acfpm4gkb8 \n\n\nSee less
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/adult-sharing-circle/
LOCATION:Online- via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Community,Free Community Event,Mentoring,Outreach,Rites of Passage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/fruit_bats_9.preview.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200806T160000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200903T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20200721T172718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200804T041607Z
UID:2102-1596729600-1599152400@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Firekeepers Virtual Village At-Home Adventures and Weekly Story Gathering
DESCRIPTION:Need some extra inspiration to get outside wandering\, exploring\, playing? Looking for a little extra connection with a beautiful nature-loving community? \nAs we dive back into lockdown here in Naarm\, or so called Melbourne\, we are feeling the call to tend to the fire of community and connection. It feels like a time to turn towards each other\, to be present to each other\, to help each other find the little spark of wonder that moves us to notice and connect with the world around us. \nAs a community\, we have co-created some incredible magic at our Wild by Nature Village Camps over the past few years. Kids and adults alike come along to share in curiosity and adventure\, to make discoveries and learn skills\, to share stories and songs and celebrate ourselves\, each other and\, of course\, the incredible beings of the land we gather on. \nWhen Covid-19 restrictions hit earlier in the year and we couldn’t gather\, we had to adapt and we shared a beautiful and connective virtual village experience – not the same of course\, but incredible all the same. Now\, as we sit in the ongoing uncertainty of the moment\, we want to rekindle that magic and come together each week to fan the flames of connection between us and between us the wonderful world around us. \nSo\, here is the plan\, a two-part weekly offering plus a couple of monthly gatherings! \nWeekly Wander \nA Nature Adventure sent to you each Friday – something to get you out in nature\, wherever is available to you locally. Something to spark your curiosity\, to build awareness of the world around you\, to practise skills or crafts\, to move and play in your wild body. There will be something to discover for kids of all ages (including adult kids!) You do the activity in your own time during the week\, in whatever way works for you. And if you don’t get to it\, you don’t get to it. No pressure\, just an invitation to engage in some way with the magic of nature. \nWeekly Waggle* \nA Weekly Virtual Village gathering on Thursdays from 4-5pm on zoom to see each other’s faces and connect; to gather up our stories and adventures from the week into a big community bundle; to sing and maybe dance; to listen to stories of magic and wonder; and to hopefully to leave with our individual fires burning a little stronger. \nPlus Wednesday evening monthly spaces (open to the wider community): \nWednesday Warble Song Circle \nSinging together online can be surprisingly connective and lots of fun! Let’s gather to sing some of our camp favourites and also some new songs – bring a song or two to share if you feel to! For adults and kids. \nVillage Hearth Adults’ Sharing Circle \nA space for adults of the village to share from the heart to the heart\, to bring yourself as you are and be with what is\, to speak and be heard\, to listen with curiosity and compassion. A space where courage and vulnerability are welcome and celebrated. A space to deepen connection and understanding of one another. \nWe will have a little corner of facebook\, for those who are on facebook\, to share photos and stories from our adventures\, as well as the Thursday gathering space. \nWe’re keeping it simple and as accessible as possible. The invitation is that you engage in a way that works for you. All – kids\, families\, adults\, elders – are welcome\, as well as\, of course\, the winged ones and rooted ones and four-legged ones and scaly ones and creepy crawly ones and fungi ones and mossy ones and all the beings we meet along the way! \nDates \nWe will run our program for 5 weeks. \nWeekly Village Gathering: Thursdays 4-5pm from  6th August to 3rd September. \nWeekly Adventure Invitations: sent out Fridays starting 31 July \nWednesday Song Circle – Wednesday 5 August 7-8.30pm FREE session (Monthly 1st Wed/month) \nVillage Adults’ Sharing Circle – Wednesday 19 August 8-9.30pm FREE session (Monthly 3rd Wed/month) \n  \nPricing and registration \nSliding scale $50-$150 per household for the 5 week block. \nWe are offering sliding scale payments in recognition that not everyone has the same means. We ask that you consider your means and your willingness to pay for this offering. The higher price points support us to be able to offer the lower prices\, to pay our facilitators and to support Firekeepers ongoing. No questions will be asked and no judgments made about how much each participant chooses to pay. We also have some tickets available on a NOTAFLOF basis (No one turned away for lack of funds) \nA sliding scale payment system is based on trust – thanks for bravely engaging in this experiment with us!
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/winter-virtual-village/
LOCATION:Online- via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Camps,Community,Currawong Kids,Home Ed Programs,Mentoring,Music,Outreach
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Fire-coals.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200805T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200805T203000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20200722T025856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200828T073033Z
UID:2116-1596654000-1596659400@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Wednesday Warble: Village Song Circle
DESCRIPTION:Singing together online can be surprisingly connective and lots of fun! Let’s gather to sing some of our camp favourites and also some new songs – bring a song or two to share if you feel to! For adults and kids. \nThis is a recurring monthly event on the 1st Wednesday of each month. \nFree event \nPicture from: http://www.magpieaholic.com/magpie-info/\n—–\nJoin Zoom Meeting\nhttps://zoom.us/j/94904973090 \nMeeting ID: 949 0497 3090\nPasscode: wildones\nOne tap mobile\n+61280156011\,\,94904973090#\,\,\,\,\,\,0#\,\,89663310# Australia\n+61370182005\,\,94904973090#\,\,\,\,\,\,0#\,\,89663310# Australia \nDial by your location\n+61 2 8015 6011 Australia\n+61 3 7018 2005 Australia\n+61 731 853 730 Australia\n+61 861 193 900 Australia\n+61 8 7150 1149 Australia\nMeeting ID: 949 0497 3090\nPasscode: 89663310\nFind your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abGKovewoo
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/village-song-circle-aug/
LOCATION:Online- via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Community,Free Community Event,Home Ed Programs,Mentoring,Music,Outreach,Young Adult
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/australian-magpies-23.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200805T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20200805T203000
DTSTAMP:20260616T200547
CREATED:20200722T025856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200828T073421Z
UID:2139-1596654000-1596659400@www.firekeepers.com.au
SUMMARY:Wednesday Warble: Village Song Circle
DESCRIPTION:Singing together online can be surprisingly connective and lots of fun! Let’s gather to sing some of our camp favourites and also some new songs – bring a song or two to share if you feel to 🙂 \n\nFor all ages (well those who stay up past 7pm). New and returning community members very welcome\, screen optional.\n\nThis is a recurring monthly event on the 1st Wednesday of each month.\n\n\n\nThis event is free\, which is enabled by  the support of our generous Patreon subscribers\n\n\n \n\n\nPicture from: http://www.magpieaholic.com/magpie-info/\n\n\n—–\n\n\n \n\n\nYou are invited to a Zoom meeting. \n\n\nWhen: Sep 2\, 2020 07:00 PM Canberra\, Melbourne\, Sydney \n\n\n \n\n\nRegister in advance for this meeting:\n\n\nhttps://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAkd-2hqTgqE9QAoW0SQ1TB2QnpbUFAPyyl \n\n\n \n\n\nAfter registering\, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
URL:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/event/village-song-circle/
LOCATION:Online- via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Adults Programs,Community,Free Community Event,Home Ed Programs,Mentoring,Music,Outreach,Young Adult
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.firekeepers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/australian-magpies-23.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Firekeepers":MAILTO:villagecamp@firekeepers.com.au
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR