April Vacation Camp in Full Swing

Twenty-two exuberant Fairfield and Bakersfield kids gathered at the Community Center for the first day of April Vacation Camp yesterday. Ranging in age from 5 to 12, the kids were divided into three groups and rotated among various activities throughout the day, with snacks, lunch, stories, and more snacks in between. The weather was gorgeous, and everyone enjoyed a lot of fresh air and sunshine.

OUR WOOD-FIRED BREAD OVEN!

One group of campers started their day with Master Oven Builder Vidar Zay, who had spent the previous week constructing the base of the oven with field stone.

The beginning of our oven base.

Vidar, filling in the base with loose stones and gravel.

Vidar built a frame on top of the base and poured a cement slab about

6 inches thick.

Next, the kids added a layer of cushioning sand for the hearth stones.

And on top of the hearth stones, another framework to help in forming

the willow dome, shown here, side view. More willow branches were woven into the dome, which is sort of half a pear shape. Oven door will be to the right.

(Stay tuned for more updates on the oven building project.)

INCH BY INCH and ROW BY ROW, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A GARDEN GROW!

Rachel's group began spring gardening chores by marking off the site in quarters, establishing paths and hauling leaves and old black humus from the edge of the woods. The group helped construct a woven willow fence along the parking lot side of the garden, and discussed various vegetable varieties they'd like to plant.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE KITCHEN...

Our talented chef, Angie and her group cooked our lunch: macaroni and cheese, vegetables and hummus (not to be confused with humus, that nice black dirt from the edge of the woods!), applesauce and zucchini bread - YUM!

At the end of the day, we all played outside, sat on the grass and talked

about our day. We were all really tired!