Congo's Art Studio
Halsey Marshall Congleton my 18 year old son is about to embark on an adventure of his life time. He will be in Mexico for 9 months living with a family and going to school. I'm proud of him, and will miss him but also very excited for him to be so adventurous. I wanted to write something to him, but wanted it to be special. So I decided to write him a chapel to be given at Camp Timanous at a future time. I just finished reading "Waking Up White" by Debby Irving which has probably had an influence on this chapel talk. My own father Jake Congleton probably has influenced this chapel talk the most though. My mother as well Sandy Orr who brought me to Civil Rights marches in Boston during the 60's.
Teaching, family, friends, community, and creating my own art is a balance that is never ending. The scales are tipped in any one direction and not always the direction you might want at that particular time. How do we balance our lives? How do we find time for ourselves and creating our own art? I don't know except that if you want to be happy you better pay attention to them all! In the last 15 or so years I have put my art life on hold to be present with my kids and family. I've focused on my teaching career and my summers at Camp. I spend my summers in Maine so my son can have the same awesome experience I had at Camp Timanous and my daughter at Camp Wohelo.
(Reflections of the 100th summer of Camp Timanous "The Hundy")
School starts in a week, the students will pour into the classrooms with excitement, maybe some good stories, curiosity and anxiety about the new school year ahead. What will this group of students be like? Will I be able to help anyone learn a skill in the art room? will I be able to help them be a better person? I often wonder at this time of year when I transition from Camp counselor to Art teacher and advisor how I can create community in my classroom. It is much easier at Camp Timanous but we spend a lot more time at school and in the classrooms. Cabins are crowded and living with others in close spaces forces us to learn how to respect each others things, differences and have tolerance for others not exactly like what we are used too. Maybe we should give students more responsibilities as they earn them kinda like the Woodsman and Voyagers Club. Camp is great because the teachers are not much older than the campers but teachers cannot stay young forever. Allowing students to be heard, fresh air as much as possible, and positive reinforcement are the keys. Being outside where kids can move walk and run. This is why I spend my whole summer at Camp, because we can make a difference in such a short time. Teaching to the Body, Mind, and Spirit.
The summer is a distant memory... Camp Timanous, Raymond Maine is a boys summer camp where I grew up and learned many valuable lessons in my life. In particular the role models that came before taught me how to be a positive part of my community and more important how to be a good Man!