The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005

Subject: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: black walnut
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 11:21 AM

The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005 - Aug. 10-15 - Lake Rosseau, Ontario, Canada.

With...Dave Clarke, Lucinda Chodan, Kim and Reggie Harris, Kate Murphy, Geoff Somers, David Kaynor, Penny Lang, Tom Leighton, Eve Goldberg, Grit and Judith Laskin, Matthew Shuster and many other talented and wonderful staff and campers.

I'm much too tired and flooded with good memories to start writing. Anyone else care to have a go....?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: Peter T.
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 11:49 AM

DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP ENVY.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: Tinker
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 01:06 PM

I have to second Peter's envy. I had such a wonderful time last year, it took a good week to come back to the mundane and everyday life. But this year neither the budget nor the schedule would give way.... Please share a bit...

tinker

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: black walnut
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 01:41 PM

I'll be putting digital photos up on my Flickr site as soon as I can get them all organized.

www/flickr.com/photos/blackwalnut

They'll be in 2 sets:

THE WOODS 2005
and
FEET OF THE WOODS 2005

There are a couple of photos there already. Enjoy!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: black walnut
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 01:44 PM

Something happened. Try clicking:

www/flickr.com/photos/blackwalnut

~b.w.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: black walnut
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 01:45 PM

I give up. Just copy/paste. My apologies.
~b.w.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: black walnut
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 03:06 PM

My photos from The Woods are ready now, at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackwalnut


They are divided into 3 sets:

Things of The Woods 2005
People of The Woods 2005
Feet of The Woods 2005

Best seen as a 'slideshow', in my humble opinion.

Hugs al1!
~b.w.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: black walnut
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 06:06 PM

Better yet, click here. It's easier:

www.flickr.com/photos/blackwalnut/sets

~b.w.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: JeffM
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 04:19 PM

I have finally caught up on all the lost sleep. Jamming until 3AM every night for a week is just too much.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: GUEST,Mooh
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 05:06 PM

b.w....I too am envious, and one of these years I'll make it. Looks like you had a great time (and those are great photos!). You just can't beat fun for a good time, can you!

Btw, Tami and Sarah say "hello".

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: black walnut
Date: 22 Aug 05 - 08:24 AM

Mooh - next year The Woods and Celtic College/Festival conflict- because the long August weekend is very late - I've spoken with the organizers of both and it's a conflict for certain. So I can't go to both!!   I was so much looking forward to returning to Goderich, but I know I'll be going to The Woods (for my 13th time) - it's my home away from home. Hello back to Tami and Sarah!

JeffM - But 3 AM was just the 'average' wasn't it? I thought you said it was 4 AM at least once. The thing is, that you never seem tired out the next day...you just keep on playing and singing and smiling and eating and d a n c i n g !!!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: JeffM
Date: 22 Aug 05 - 10:45 AM

It's where all the good things in life collide. How could you not? (Dancing? Under duress maybe.)

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: Mooh
Date: 22 Aug 05 - 04:34 PM

b.w...Oh well, I'm not confirmed for either festival or college in '06, so who knows? I'd hate to miss my home festival (after 13 consecutive appearances), but I feel the need for change.

Don't miss The Woods.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: The Woods Music and Dance Camp 2005
From: black walnut
Date: 23 Aug 05 - 02:57 PM

Maybe you and T. and S. will come to The Woods 2006! That would be great.

I think it's time that I say a little something about this year's Woods, since nobody else has gone into detail.

Some of you will know that we lost one of our Woods organizers to cancer only a few weeks ago. Sue Goldberg was known to many of us as "the heart and soul of The Woods". She was a believer in the power of building community through music. We had a wonderful community session this summer at which we sang some of the many, many songs that Sue had taught and led. A quilt was started as well, with some people working on their 'squares' during free time. Pat Armour is going to assemble the quilt.

I took 2 classes each morning - songwriting with Lucinda and Dave, and vocal harmony with Kim and Reggie. They were both very well done. There were other classes and sessions in the afternoon, some time for swimming, canoing, jamming or napping. A couple of those free times, I took my big harp outside. It was there that for the very first time I heard the magical sound of wind making music on my strings. JeffM described it as musical northern lights, and I can't agree more.

Meals were great, all of them shared with other campers and staff. After supper there were camper's performances (I performed first this year - and broke in my new lap harp), followed by staff concerts (each one was fabulous), followed by dances and then jamming circle, song circle, and sometimes a Celtic or Old Tyme jam as well. One night we all went down to the boat dock for a sing. I love that time every year when we sing under the stars and the moon(well, okay, this year it was a bit cloudy), by the water. The harmony singing was beautiful, and the hot chocolate wasn't bad either. This was one of the few times that Lydia and Jason didn't have to be running around doing an excellent job on the sound system!

When I think of The Woods, I think of things like singing, playing, hugging, eating, talking, dancing, swimming, dressing up for party night, and being part of a very precious community. There are no barriers there between 'performer' and 'camper' or 'new person' and 'old-timer'. We're all one big pudding up there. No wonder trifle is our annual treat on party night. We're all nothing more than a jumble, each with our various talents and personalities and gifts, but in the end, we're all the better for being mixed up together in the bowl. Trifle indeed.

~b.w.