Managing Editor

On a field in Capon Bridge, West Virginia, a group of teenagers are learning to juggle. Their instructor is not an adult, but an eighteen-year-old boy, his hair pulled back in a ponytail, who tosses balls and clubs easily in the air. A few hundred feet away in the pavilion, a fencing class is in progress, taught by another teen. Down the hill, by the lake, a group of teenagers sit on the grass and discuss psychology; in the beach house, a girl shows a slideshow of her recent trip to Mexico. Elsewhere, teens are hiking, playing cards, kicking a soccer ball around, chatting at the picnic tables. It is early October, but none of these kids are in school.

This is Not Back To School Camp, a week-long “summer” camp for homeschoolers across the country and the continent. Around a hundred teenagers are here at Buffalo Gap Community Camp, where they are spending a week learning from the counselors and from each other. One camper is from Hawaii this year; two are from Nova Scotia. Many have arranged group bus trips and carpools over hundreds of miles to get to this little community in the mountains.

Not Back To School Camp was founded in 1996 by Grace Llewellyn, author of The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education. After spending her childhood in public schools and working as a teacher for three years, she decided that there had to be a better way to get an education. Since then, she has spoken at homeschooling conferences, directed a resource center, and co-authored three other books on the subject. While she is a special advocate of the unschooling movement – education based on experience rather than on traditional textbooks and grading – she supports homeschoolers of every style, and organized Not Back To School Camp to incorporate a wide diversity of people. Whether teens have been unschooling all their lives or whether they have just started homeschooling through a more conventional program, they are welcome here. The camp is open to homeschoolers of all races, religions, and backgrounds.

In some ways, Not Back To School Camp resembles a traditional summer camp. Campers are assigned to cabins, and counselors and teens eat together in the dining hall. Everyone is required to attend morning and evening meetings, where role is called and announcements are made. There are hiking trails, talent shows, evening bonfires, and a lake with a small beach.

However, Not Back To School Camp stands out because it is an interactive environment. The campers are not expected to sit back and wait for the counselors to lead them in activities; instead, they are encouraged to organize games and special events, suggest changes in camp policy, and otherwise influence the way camp is run. In 2004, campers put together a Silly Olympics, successfully campaigned to have the kitchen staff implement more environmentally friendly practices, and hauled logs for a bonfire when the original wood could not be delivered. Teens have a hand in every aspect of the camp environment.

The ultimate expression of this interaction is the camp workshops. Everyone who attends Not Back To School Camp, from the teens to the counselors, is encouraged to lead a workshop on some topic of personal interest. Whether attendees are interested in astronomy or fantasy writing, T’ai Chi or Swedish baseball, they are welcome to teach other campers about their passions. “I’ve learned wonderful things by attending people’s workshops that I would never have had the opportunity to learn otherwise,” says Daniel Dewar, who has attended Not Back To School Camp for the past six years, “and teaching others about something you know is a pleasant feeling indeed.” Simon Rolka, a new attendee in 2004, adds, “Teaching a workshop really helped me to feel more comfortable in general with camp.” Throughout the day, there are dozens of workshops going on, and campers can choose to attend as many as they like. Campers may go to every workshop in the day, or opt instead to spend the time playing with others on the beach or pursuing activities of their own. There are no limitations.

At first glance, the unrestrained freedom of Not Back To School Camp may arouse some doubts. Bedtimes are not enforced, and groups of friends often camp out together in the beach house or outdoors. Schedules are open, and, although there are a few mandatory events, campers are given the right to schedule their own time in most situations. However, this freedom seems to pose little problem for the teenagers who attend. The vast majority of campers take advantage of the open environment to seek out new challenges, make new friends, and involve themselves in many activities. Throughout the day, there are always a variety of events going on. The atmosphere is one of open discussion and self-discovery.

“I love the fact that I can just as easily lay in the sun and write in my journal as I can go to a workshop and learn yoga,” Daniel Dewar comments. “It’s one of the most appealing aspects of camp.” Many other teens agree. “Such an unconstrained environment made people more open to all kinds of ideas,” remarks Chonyi Colman, who attended camp for the first time in 2004. Says Jeff Landale, another 2004 attendee, “Being able to wander off to the little stream and fall asleep next to it for a few hours without anyone getting mad at you is what the camp is all about.”

This year, Not Back To School Camp will hold three sessions – one at Buffalo Gap Community Camp in West Virginia (July 23rd-30th), and two at Camp Myrtlewood in Oregon (August 22nd-29th and September 1st-8th). While the West Coast sessions differ a bit from the East Coast session in atmosphere and style, they are run by the same staff and maintain the same goal: to give homeschooled teens the chance to share their talents and interests in an accepting, unconstrained environment. Teens can attend any session, regardless of where they live; many choose to attend multiple sessions. All homeschoolers between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are invited to register, and exceptions are often made for twelve- and nineteen-year-olds.

Although the camp fee – $485 per person, including all meals and lodging – may seem a bit steep at first, many campers consider the experience to be worth the price. “The cost was well worth the friends I made and the things I learned,” says Simon Rolka, “not to mention discovering a little more about myself.” Brady Walters, who attended camp in 2004, agrees. “I would pay ten times that,” he states emphatically. For those who have considerable difficulty paying the regular fees, some scholarships and worktrade arrangements are also available. The goal of Grace Llewellyn and the other staff members is to make it possible for all interested teenagers to attend.

Registration forms, photos, and further information can be found online at www.nbtsc.org. The 2005 registration deadline is March 18th, and campers are encouraged to register early. Not Back To School Camp is a great opportunity to connect with homeschoolers across the country, share skills and interests with others, and find renewed energy for the coming homeschooling year. “Not Back To School Camp has had a huge impact on how I think about other people and myself, and has ultimately demolished many of the prejudices I didn’t even know I had,” states Chonyi Colman. As Brady Walters declares, “It truly is an unforgettable experience.”