Backyard Time Machines

Week 2: Prospecting old territory for new treasure 🔍

Gather ‘round, Campers & Visitors. Our Second Weekly Adventure Plan is fresh out of the oven and ready to be devoured!

If you’re lost, follow these sign posts:
🪧 Front Desk: Learn about Camp AweGust & Register (join in anytime before Sept 5)
🪧 Orientation: Get the lay of the land and meet your fellow campers
🪧 Time Machine: (re)Visit Week 1
🪧 Visitors: Keep on scrolling (and enjoy your strolling)!

A NOTE FROM YOUR CAMP COUNSELOR:

If necessity is the mother of invention, I think boredom and boundaries are co-parents of creativity.

Growing up, my world was pretty small. Not just because our town was small, but because I was a kid who couldn’t drive, and there was only so far you could go on your own two feet (or two wheels). And, even if you could go farther, your parents gave you limits. Streets you were forbidden to go past. Sure, we had movies and books to transport us, but our phones weren’t active portals to other places. They also didn’t go everywhere with us. Our phones were just phones and they had their own curly-corded constraints.

So, our whole world was our neighborhood. A handful of yards and friends’ houses. And by friends, I mean, the other kids who lived in our neighborhood. Where you lived was what you had in common and, as long as you were around the same age, that was usually enough. It kind of had to be.

It was easy to get bored. But I don’t think that was a bad thing. I think my imagination grew in contrasting proportion to the scale of my tiny kingdom. We created mischief, invented clubs, and charted adventures with whatever we could get our hands on.

Grown-ups (particularly me) often defer fun and blame it on a lack of time or resources. Which are usually very real, and sometimes very insurmountable, barriers. But this week, we’re going to use those limitations as a springboard. We’re going to see what we can make with whatever we have, wherever we are. Let’s conquer the kingdom of our own backyard.

A NOTE FROM YOUR OTHER/FAVORITE CAMP COUNSELOR:

Hi Campers! ItsmeBuckwheat.

Welcome back to my very special part of camp: Weekly Wonder Walks! In case you’re new (and wondering…)

My name is Buckwheat (that’s me in the picture below) and I’m pretty much an expert at walks. One of my favorite parts is all the fun things you can find when you’re walking. For example, sticks. Also, street snacks. And squirrel friends! The Outside is filled with wonders! And, unfortunately, cats.

Each week, I’m going to take you on a walk where we will hunt for treasure (and avoid cats). You can use this time as a simple noticing walk or a photo scavenger hunt. You can keep track of your findings in your head (if you have any extra space up there) or bring a handy notebook. Since we will be searching for nature things, you might find this plant and bird identifier app to be very handy.

THIS WEEK’S AWE-SOME ACTIVITIES & CHALLENGES:

(click on each image to enlarge)

Fan letter: Fun fact- when I was a kid, my local library hosted a summer reading club. In addition to a literal treasure chest full of plastic prizes, you could also use your points to bid on extra special loot. Like signed scripts and autographed headshots that came straight from Hollywood. You better believe I had my sights set on those scripts (and the stash of points to make them mine). Also, I don’t think any other kids really cared about things like that. One year, I got my hot little hands on a Moonlighting script (signed by Cybill Shepherd!), which– while not entirely child appropriate– I would read aloud regularly, usually forcing my sister to read with me (someone had to play the boy parts).

Friendship Bracelets: I’m pretty sure we have muscle memory for crafts like this, but in case it’s been awhile, this tutorial from The House That Lars Built will give you a quick refresher.

THIS WEEK’S AWE-MAZING EVENTS:

These are two of my favorite ambassadors, advocates, and mentors for approachable, playful, and available-to-all creativity. If you’ve forgotten about your inner artist (we all have one, I promise) or if it’s been awhile since you’ve just made something for the pure and simple joy of making something, you don’t need to any fancy tools or classes or materials to get started. But you may need a little push or encouragement or inspiration. That’s what these are for:

Elizabeth Gilbert: Big Magic (book) | Magic Lessons (podcast)

Austin Kleon: Steal Like An Artist (book) | Show Your Work (book) | From The Desk Of…(a newsletter right here on Substack)

GET THE GOODS STUFF:

( SHOP THE CANTEEN ROUND UP → clockwise: two-in-one chess/checkers set, where the sidewalk ends, colorful dominoes set, portable bluetooth speaker, Thousand heritage bike helmet )

ATTN: EVERYONE

You don’t have to be an official Camper to share the experience of finding joy and rediscovering play with fellow wonderers and wanders.

Copy/paste this postcard prompt in the Campfire (Comments) Circle below and tell us how your summer is going…

My sunburn status is _____ . Last week I ate _____ and it was _____. I could use a little more _____ . What I’m really looking forward to is _____.

(if you are a registered Camper, this will earn you 1 pt)

ATTN: CAMPERS

Earn points for every activity by sharing a photo* or description and tagging @tamicarey and #campawegust on Instagram or Substack Notes.

For every point you earn, your name gets entered into a drawing. At the end of Camp, 3 lucky Campers will win a prize of their choice from the Camp Canteen!

*Your presence is the priority. Experience first, sharing second.

ATTN: VISITORS

Want to win prizes, but haven’t signed up yet? Register here to be eligible.

Don’t care about prizes, but still want to play? This is a choose-your-own-adventure style Camp and we’d love to have you:

1. Make sure you’re subscribed to receive the Adventure Plans in your inbox.

2. Share your adventures on Instagram or Substack notes and tag @tamicarey and #CampAweGust so we can cheer you on!