The 5 C’s – (Patti Digh’s Life is a Verb) Camp and Courage, Creativity, Community, Compassion

Lake Kanuga at Dawn ©2018 Bo Mackison

Camp.

A camp for adults…

A sleepover camp for adults…

A sleepover camp for adults where one can connect with some mighty special people in a supportive community. It’s a great event for everyone — artists, writers, musicians, coaches, parents, travelers, and truly, anyone who practices kindness and inclusivity would feel welcome.

It’s a sleepover camp for adults where one can, according to Patti Digh:

“reclaim your courage, reignite your creativity, reconnect with your community, and rekindle your compassion.”

It’s Patti Digh’s Life is a Verb Camp!

Lake Reflection ©2018 Bo Mackison

And if that isn’t enough to pique your curiosity, camp is held at Kanuga Conference Center, a short drive from Asheville, North Carolina, and next year it takes place on October 31 through November 3 which is perfect timing for the fall color extravaganza.

Home Sweet Home Away from Home ©2018 Bo Mackison

(I recommend adding a day before or after and exploring the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway and/or Great Smoky Mountain National Park to take in the glory of the region.)

Life is a Verb Camp with Patti Digh ©2018 Bo Mackison

I just returned home from Camp 2018 which marked my fourth year in attendance and I’ve already registered for Camp 2019.

I took my first ever jewelry workshop with silversmith Molly Sharp and it was an amazing introduction to the wonders of creating fine jewelry. What a kind and informative instructor! She guided eight new-to-jewelry students through the needed steps to create silver and stone pendants, earrings, and rings, and we all left her workshop wearing jewelry we’d excitedly created over the course of 6 hours.

Molly has already agreed to return next year and I highly recommend her workshop. (She’ll be teaching a pre-camp jewelry workshop on October 31, 2019.)

Cleaster Cotton taught her Contemporary Primitive Art workshop and created a welcoming atmosphere where campers could play and create and make magic with color, pattern, and texture.

Cleaster will be returning to teach at camp in 2019. Yay!

The musicians at camp – wow! Inspiring. Talented. Energetic. Magical.

Gaelynn Lea is a moving songwriter, singer and violinist. She won NPR’s Tiny Desk award in 2016. And I invite you to download her music. Take your time to listen, really listen — her music is a transformative experience.

Carrie Newcomer not only gave an inspiring concert with favorites such as You Can Do This Hard Thing, Sanctuary, and A Gathering of Spirits, but she also taught a master class in songwriting!

A group of campers spent an afternoon with Carrie brainstorming topics and phrases, then putting our ideas/words into a song, and finally adding a melody. We even sang our newly created song at the Camp Talent Show — Yes! Camp has a talent show!

Drumroll…here is the song “Love is a Verb” featuring Carrie Newcomer and The Verbs.

Singing and Signing! ©2018 Bo Mackison

There was so much more – speakers and fiddlers and more musicians and more create workshops and there were s’mores and an open mic. Stephen Kuusisto, author of the memoirs Have Dog, Will Travel and Planet of the Blind spoke. He was accompanied by Caitlyn, his guide dog, who nearly stole the show.  Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni was stunning, a gifted storyteller telling an important story and her reflections on Truth, Justice, and Love was expansive. Santos Soul brought the house down with their rendition of Ancestors played to close Sunday’s session. So much happened over the course of those four and a half days, it’s almost impossible to document it all. So much goodness and inspiration and community building. So much goodness!

There will be new speakers and musicians and poets in 2019. Poets Patricia Smith, Danez Smith, and Liz Acevedo will be reading poetry. Patti Digh hosts the event and leads the camper troops ever onward. (While you are thinking about all the wordsmithing awesomeness, check out Acevedo’s new book Poet X! )

Make a Wish ©2018 Bo Mackison

SO COME TO CAMP!

Life is a Verb Camp 2019 registration is open. If you register by November 15, 2018 you get a price break. it’s a priceless event, but you might want to check it out at discount prices.

Come to camp, okay? You know you not only want to come, you really NEED to come.