Campers at Two Coyotes Wilderness School’s Woodland Arts summer camp took part in crafts and activities on Wednesday, July 1, at the school’s Newtown location, at Sticks and Stones Farm on Huntingtown Road.

Two Coyotes’ Woodland Arts camp provides explorers ages 5 to 13 with a resourceful approach to nature, using what the woods have to offer to create an endless variety of tools and art, according to lead mentor Ross Fredell.

Two Coyotes is a nonprofit wilderness school that runs camps that vary in discipline from wilderness theater programs to advanced survival training. Two Coyotes, founded in 2000, is guided by its mission to “nurture healthy, whole human beings through building self-awareness, community, and connecting people to nature.”

During the Woodland Arts camp on Wednesday, the explorers moved over boulders and through streams, scouring their surroundings for shiny additions to their all-natural rock necklaces. Other young crafters exemplified impressive handiwork while weaving tightly strung baskets, that one camper said he would use to try and catch fish with.

A group of kids clamored over the zip line they had made earlier in the week, jumping with excitement at the mere thought of putting together another. More activities include making coal burned spoons, crafting herbs into salves, making cordage, and felting.

The campers were safely guided by camp leaders. Ross Fredell, a lead mentor originally from Minnesota, welcomed parents and their children as they arrived in the morning before he oversaw the entire camp during the day.

Out in the field on Wednesday, assistant mentor Zephyr Hoffman helped campers get started on weaving baskets.

Mr Hoffman said that on top of crafting, campers are constantly moving, whether it is hiking around the vast property or helping one of the mentors spark a bow drill fire.

In the summer months to come, campers will learn to identify trees, sculpt pottery, write poems, and keep journals.