WINTER 2 010 –2011
A PUBLICATION FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND SUPPORTERS
Community Spotlight Stevie, a residential student at Camphill Special School for the last eleven years, currently participates in the Transition Program at Beaver Farm. Recently he asked to share some of his experiences of life at Camphill. continued on Page 7 >
Dr. Dan Gottlieb of WHYY’s ‘Voices in the Family’ to speak at our School see Page 3 > March 2
Capital campaign for Transition Program ends December 31st . . . have you made your gift? By Guy Alma After three years of working with friends and supporters, engineers and architects, a magic moment arrived earlier this fall: the smell of pine and the sounds of a happy pig! Two things happened. First, the lumber for the framing of our residence arrived and as the carpenters tore off the plastic wrap a wonderful aroma of wood filled the concrete-walled basement of our future home. Now construction is moving quickly as the walls and roofs of our buildings appear before our eyes. The new shapes and contours of Beaver Farm are emerging and with them the knowledge that our students soon will enjoy the best educational facilities and a doorway to meaningful and happy adult lives. Second, the proceedings were blessed by Beulah, our sow, who found time to escape from the barnyard and dive into a muddy wallow on the construction site. She enjoyed her excursion tremendously and clearly approves of the work going on around her! To those of our readers who already have given so generously in support of our $3 million campaign, I extend thanks and more thanks. If you have not yet made your gift or pledge, please do so before December 31st. And to all our friends, please remember: all new gifts and pledges made by December 31st, even if you already have made a contribution, will be matched up to a total of $140,000!
To view more construction photos visit camphillspecialschool.org/capital-campaign/ BeaverFarmconstructionphotos.php.
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Dr. Dan Gottlieb, human, will speak at Camphill Special School on March 2, 2011. Please join us!
Dr. Dan Gottlieb, human, to speak AT CAMPHILL SPECIAL SCHOOL ON March 2 Dr. Dan Gottlieb is a psychologist, radio host, author,
90.9 FM, Philadelphia’s NPR station. From 1993
father, lecturer, and grandfather. Yet the essence of
to 2008 he wrote “Inside Out,” a highly regarded
his philosophy is found on his business card. After
column in the Philadelphia Inquirer. He also has
his name there are no degrees or fancy titles. His
published four books. His most recent, The Wisdom
card simply says “Gottlieb. Human.”
of Sam: Observations on Life from an Uncommon
In 1979 Dr. Gottlieb was in a near fatal automobile accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. As expected, he experienced years of despair
Child, tells of some of the remarkable insights shared by his grandson Sam, who is on the autism spectrum.
and depression. But he also has spent the last three
Dr. Gottlieb is the proud father of two daughters
decades observing life with passion, learning valu-
who contribute to making the world a better place
able lessons about what it means to be human and
and the blissfully happy grandfather of Sam. He is
how to find peace in the wake of suffering.
deeply grateful for the life he has.
Since 1985 he has hosted “Voices in the Family,” an award-winning call-in radio show aired on WHYY
Camphill Special School is honored and proud to welcome Dan Gottlieb, human, to speak in the Blue Room at Karl Koenig Schoolhouse on March 2 at 7:30 p.m. He will speak about “The Emotional Health of Families Who Have a Member with Special Needs.” Please join us in welcoming Dr. Gottlieb to our School.
SPECIAL NEWS 3
Generous artists support our school at ‘Plein Air for Camphill’ Over fifty invited professional artists contributed their time and considerable talents to raising funds for our School at the second annual Plein Air for Camphill exhibition on October 5, 2010. Hosted again at the distinguished Rosenfeld Gallery in Center City, Philadelphia, the evening attracted a crowd of over 200 art lovers and raised thousands of dollars for our Sharing Life and Learning campaign for Beaver Farm. Thank you to the artists, to The Rosenfeld Gallery, our volunteers, and everyone who supported the event! There are beautiful pieces still available, so check our online gallery at camphillspecialschool.org to choose yours or to purchase a wonderful holiday gift.
Paul DuSold paints in the garden at our Beaver Run campus. Photo by fellow artist Garth Herrick
Camphill Challenge sets new record When 103 cyclists registered on the day of the Camphill Challenge (October 17th, a perfect autumn day), a new record of 272 riders was set! While the unexpectedly high turnout caused a bit of a scramble for more picnic food, all was well. Tamara Sheen, B.J. Sarkissian, and friends contributed just the right music, riders loved our cool 2010 Challenge t-shirt, and we look forward to next year! Special thanks to our Founding Sponsor, Valley Green Bank; to Phoenix Cycles for providing Support and Gear services for the fifth year in a row; and to our thirty other sponsors, many volunteers, and, of course, to the riders themselves for making the Camphill Challenge a success. Proceeds this year benefited all three Camphill communities in Chester County: Camphill Special School, Camphill Soltane, and Camphill Village Kimberton Hills.
4 SPECIAL EVENTS
Lynn, a resident of Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, and an unidentified rider, enjoy meeting each other at the Camphill Challenge.
Visitors enjoy the art at the Plein Air for Camphill exhibit at The Rosenfeld Gallery. Photo by Shavkat Hoshimov
Camphill Special School Director of Development Guy Alma, pictured with Jay Goldstein, President of Valley Green Bank, our Founding Sponsor. Jay said he enjoyed the ride!
Tom Carnevale and Lauren Eustis, architects of our new buildings at Beaver Farm, with their sons.
SPECIAL EVENTS 5
Our eighth grade Kroka adventure By Ginny Thimme The big, crazy, fast-paced world took a large step back at Kroka, and Jackson relaxed and enjoyed himself.
In October our eighth grade students spent a week of living in the wilderness in the mountains of New Hampshire. After an eight-hour train journey from Philadelphia to Bellows Falls, Vermont, the students arrived at the Kroka base camp. They rolled out their sleeping mats and sleeping bags and settled down under the starry sky for their first night of sleep many miles away from home. The students slept in authentic indigenous dwellings made of wood, earth, and sod and learned how to pump water, chop firewood, use a compost toilet, and prepare and cook food outdoors. They also climbed a mountain; explored the forest, finding a beaver pond, lodge, and dam, and cliffs where porcupines live; went canoeing down the Connecticut River in birch bark canoes; made porcupine quill necklaces; and learned how to make fire with a bow drill. Kroka is an incredible place full of special people. When we set out on our first forest walk, Misha, the founding director of Kroka, talked to the students
All our chores seemed more like adventures! Here is Huston hauling water. 6
Editor’s note: A visit to the Kroka website tells us that “Kroka Expeditions is committed to awakening in young people a connection to nature and the spirit within, and a capacity for conscious living and compassionate service. We strive to achieve this through wilderness adventure, community living, farming, and the practice of traditional and indigenous skills. Kroka is a Waldorf Inspired school.”
Robin and Emily canoe on the Connecticut River.
and said, “You are outside, but to the animals this is like inside, for the forest is their home. So when you walk through the forest you need to use your inside voices because you are walking through the home of the animals.”
Lucy and Madeleine rest on a bridge.
The food was amazing. We had squash and rice soup with thick slices of bread, butter, and jam the evening we arrived, and everyone had two full bowls! We had porridge, delicious homemade applesauce, and creamy milk from the cow for breakfast. We took all our meals in a common yurt, which made them even more special. After each meal the students had to wash up their own cup, bowl, and spoon. Our week away was a wonderful adventure for the class and a rich, challenging, and bonding experience for them as they make their transition from middle school to high school this year. Well done Emily, Elizabeth, Huston, Jackson, Jeremiah, Madeleine, and Victoria (and Lucy)!
L to R, Elizabeth, Victoria, and Madeleine wash their hands in the great outdoors.
COMMUNITYSPOTLIGHT (continued from Front Cover)
Stevie said, “I am twenty-one now and I live with Erin and Andreas at Beaver Hill. I love it because it is fun. I love school. I am studying money now. I work in the wood workshop at Kimberton Hills every morning. I use a jig to make a game like ‘Sorry’. I make picnic tables and stools too from wood as well. “Sometimes I go shopping for food, snacks, and lots of stuff. I have been in many plays. I was the gravedigger in Hamlet. I was very funny and we all laughed. I have so many friends and I loved living in Longhouse with the Alma kids, Will and Sam. “Beaver Run was the best, but so is Beaver Farm!”
7
Gabi presents music teacher Elsbeth Sunstein with hand-carved instruments from Mexico.
Colleagues from around the world enrich our school By Becky Rutherford Our Camphill School of Curative Education and
a senior, was interested particularly in the volca-
Social Therapy has developed significantly the past
noes. Gabi told us an Aztec legend of star-crossed
few years. In addition to the university comparable
lovers who were transformed into volcanic moun-
courses offered here, members of our faculty have
tains, but none of us could pronounce the name
designed and led workshops in curative education
“Popocatépetel”!
abroad. Workshop participants from some of these countries then visit our campus for informal intensives in Camphill life.
Gabi also taught us a Mayan folk song, and we kept the rhythm on maracas and “palitos de lluvia” (rain sticks). Later, Gabi presented these hand-carved
Recently, Gabriela Nunez Plata, from the Ak-Lum
instruments to music teacher Elsbeth Sunstein as
International School in Playa del Carmen, Mexico,
a gift from Ak-Lum to our music program.
visited us. Ak-Lum is a school supported by AWSNA (Association of Waldorf Schools of North America) and it includes students with different learning needs.
During her visit Gabi also observed our Kindergarten and Lower School, attended some classes in the School of Curative Education and Social Therapy,
Gabi presented an evening talk about life at Ak-Lum
and participated in our Michaelmas celebrations. We
and several of our Middle and High School students
look forward to welcoming more colleagues who are
attended. All of us were envious of the twice weekly
inspired by Camphill! We are delighted by the enrich-
school trips to the Caribbean she described! William,
ment these relationships bring to our students.
8 SCHOOL OF CURATIVE EDUCATION
STUDENT ALUMNI John Richard Levo Lockhart’s mom, Miriam, writes: “John has lived in New Hampshire since 1989 and with many adventures, up, down, and all around, has become a real Granite Stater! John lives in the community, in his own home, with the help of friends and staff at the Monadnock Developmental Services Individual Service Option Program. He participates in Special Olympics; is active in the Turning Point Theatre; finds time to swim, camp, explore, bike, and hike; and helps out in his community at church suppers, a pony farm, an apple orchard, and MDS Courier Service! John’s father Richard died in 1996 of pancreatic cancer, and after years of teaching Spanish, I moved to Connecticut in 2007 to live closer to my daughter Edith.”
Amy Sequenzia corresponds: “Hi, friends of Beaver Run and the Transition Program! I am happy to tell you that I live in Florida and I am a self advocate. I am part of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and I traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet some Senators. I also met the Governor of Florida. I published two books of poems and got a nice letter from Vice President Joe Biden after he read them.”
Charlie Tygiel and his mom, Luise Custer, tend Shilo and Dezy at stables near the Santa Cruz coast. Luise writes, “It is his supported living staff who brought the horses into Charlie’s life and reconnected him with warm memories of working with Ani and friends at Beaver Run.”
STAFF ALUMNI Maya Cosentino is the daughter of a staff alum (Miriam Cosentino), but we knew many readers would be interested to hear about what she has been doing. Maya began medical school at the University of Witten/Herdecke just over a year ago. She also is required to take classes outside of medicine once a week and has enjoyed carving stone, singing in the choir, and playing flute in the orchestra. Taking courses in the Integrated Curriculum for Anthroposophic Medicine (ICAM), Maya also explores philosophical questions related to aspects of the human being that are not addressed in the study of anatomy or physiology.
COWORKER ALUMNI Kathrin Wiertellorz, who was a coworker in Whitestone, had a son named Theo born on October 22, 2009.
ALUMNI 9
Getting ready for the Camphill Red Barn Ball
L to R, front: Bob, Ellie, and Amy McHugh; in the back are Libby and Kyle. Plus, our renowned raffle will feature two choices this year: the winner will be able to choose between
By Carol Goetz
a couples’ trip to the Atlantis Casino and Resort
Right now you are wondering, “What are they up
Vacation Club family vacation for four to one of
to at that school now? Isn’t the ProAm Tennis Ball
eleven U.S. locations! (See details and order form
enough?”
on next page.)
Well, yes, you’re right! But because part of the pro-
Assisting the McHughs are these additional com-
ceeds at the June 2010 Tennis Ball helped to raise
mittee chairs: Toni Bowersox and Melissa Epps,
funds for our new buildings at Beaver Farm, we
Auction; Amy Colannino, Sponsorships; Christine
thought that in 2011 everyone would like to celebrate
Donohue and John Perham, Program; and Tracy
our new buildings. That’s why this year an impressive
Gallagher, Ambiance. As always, although there
steering committee, chaired by Camphill parents Bob
are other volunteers serving on these committees,
and Amy McHugh, is busy planning the Camphill
we encourage and welcome anyone interested in
Red Barn Ball!
the success of our event and the well-being of our
Yes, mark your calendars NOW to join the festivities in the big red barn and under a big white tent at
on Paradise Island in the Bahamas or a Marriott
children to please lend a hand! Please call Amy at 484.888.1023 if you are interested.
Beaver Farm on Friday night, June 3, 2011. The Red
P.S.: You’ll notice I am being a tiny bit vague about
Barn Ball will feature the same fine ambiance you’ve
the TENNIS portion of our annual event. Stay tuned...
grown to expect at our Tennis Ball. . .and then some!
details were unavailable at this writing, but we think
Black tie optional, delectable food and drink, live
you will be thrilled at the big changes coming, cour-
music, and incredible live and silent auctions . . .
tesy of our good friend and longtime ProAm co-host,
all to benefit the school we all love.
Anthony DeCecco of Tennis Addiction!
10
10 SAVE THE DATE
The Red Barn Ball Raffle
To Benefit Camphill Special School!
OPTION 1
Atlantis Casino & Resort, Paradise Island (Bahamas) 4-Night Stay with Airfare for 2 Suggested Retail Value: $9,218
Enjoy a four-night stay in a Royal Towers guest room at this unique, oceanthemed destination. Atlantis, Paradise Island, offers over 35 restaurants, bars, and lounges to satisfy any palate; and the largest and most exciting casino in The Bahamas. Resort guests have complimentary access to more than 11 refreshing and distinctively different pools including the 63-acre waterscape, Aquaventure. 2011 blackout dates FOR RESORT: July 1–5, Sep. 2–5, Nov. 20–27, Dec. 17–31. Children ages 11 and under are free. Maximum occupancy of four people per room (plus one infant). Room upgrades and pricing for children ages 12 and over are available at winner’s cost. American Airlines—Roundtrip coach class service for two from any American Airlines destination in the 48 contiguous United States or Canada to anywhere American Airlines flies in the Caribbean or Mexico, subject to availability. 2011 blackout dates FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES: Nov. 18–23, Nov. 26–28, Dec. 16–23, Dec. 26–31. Passport required.
OPTION 2
Choose Your Marriott Vacation Club! 2-Bedroom & 2-Bath Villa 4-Night Signature Package for 4 in 11 U.S. Locations Suggested Retail Value: $2,544
Enjoy a four-night stay at one of the following Marriott Vacation Club® Signature locations! Enjoy a luxuriously furnished two-bedroom, two-bath villa with a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, living room, dining room, utility room with washer/dryer, and a whirlpool tub in the master bedroom. Choose from one of these destinations: CALIFORNIA Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas II, Palm Springs; Marriott’s Grand Residence Club, South Lake Tahoe; Marriott’s Timber Lodge South Lake Tahoe FLORIDA Marriott’s Beach Place Towers, Ft. Lauderdale; Marriott’s Cypress Harbour, Orlando; Marriott’s Grande Vista, Orlando; Marriott’s Royal Palms, Orlando; Marriott’s Legends Edge Baypoint, Panama City Beach MISSOURI Marriott’s Horizons, Branson UTAH Marriott’s Summit Watch @ Park City VIRGINIA Marriott’s Manor Club, Williamsburg. 2011 blackout dates: Dec. 15–Jan. 1. Airfare available. Blackout dates will apply.
Tickets are $50 each or 3 for $100 ( What a great gift! ) Name ADDRESS
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CARD NUMBER SIGNATURE MAIL TO: Camphill Special School Development Office 1784 Fairview Road, Glenmoore, PA 19343 ORDER BY PHONE: 610.469.9236 x133
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EXP. DATE
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Trip procured from Mitch-Stuart, Inc.
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All proceeds from this raffle will benefit the students at Camphill Special School. Camphill Special School coworkers, employees, and any persons living in their households are not eligible to win.
Please join us 2011 1784 Fairview Road, Glenmoore, PA 19343 610.469.9236 camphillspecialschool.org
Camphill Special School consists of The Children’s Village and School at Beaver Run, The Transition Program at Beaver Hill and Beaver Farm, and The Camphill School of Curative Education and Social Therapy. Our mission is to create wholeness for children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities through education and therapy in extended family living. The Camphill School of Curative Education and Social Therapy offers a four-year professional course of studies in anthroposophical curative education, youth guidance, and social therapy in a
March 2 Dr. Dan Gottlieb, host of WHYY’s “Voices in the Family,” will speak about “The Emotional Health of Families Who Have a Member with Special Needs,” 7:30 p.m. Karl Koenig Schoolhouse June 3
The Camphill Red Barn Ball, 6 p.m. Under the Big Tent at Beaver Farm!
June 4
Camphill Tennis Extravaganza Location and time to be announced
2010–2011 Board of Directors Warren R. Gleicher, Esq., President Claus Sproll, Secretary
Jeffrey Powers, CPA, Attorney, Treasurer Guy Alma
Gregory Ambrose Brian Epstein
Jan Christopher Goeschel William C. Herman, Esq. Manfred Maier
Jennifer Nilsen
Andreas Schad
practice-integrated environment. Camphill
Bernard Wolf
Special School does not discriminate on
Emeriti
the basis of race, age, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or disability.
Ursel Pietzner
Raymond Ripper