THE
MANITOUPROJECT
NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS & FRIENDS • DECEMBER 2005
Founder’s Reflections
A few weeks ago, some of us gathered to celebrate
the Fall Equinox. Part of our agenda was to ‘work on
trails together’ ...something we rarely do. One of the
delighted, surprised filled comments from a long-time,
hard-working member was, “It’s like being a kid
again...building forts...just having fun.” I thought
about this afterwards. Thomas Merton talks about
how “a pervasive form of contemporary violence, one
to which the idealist most easily succumbs, is activism
and overwork.” How often do we ‘just have fun’ on
the Manitou land? Most of us simply don’t have time
for it.
Yet, as we have often told ourselves, we need to be
Manitou if we’re going to do Manitou. I wonder if we
don’t tend to forget to be with and interact with the
Manitou land in the midst of our hectic lives? By
becoming members we’re automatically invited to
explore the paths and trails- and as we do so, to notice
whatever shows up along the way. It sounds so
simple- and it is. Being on the land is central to
everything else, for it means that we’re acknowledging
the land and in our own way communicating with the
energetic Spirit of the land- and thus doing our part in
awakening the nature spirits and allowing ourselves to
be awakened in return. We can’t do it for others if
we’re not experiencing it for ourselves. And if we do
it with open hearts ( perhaps with a child in tow if
there’s one available...or a dog or two) ... who knows,
we might even have FUN in the process!
–Pam Mayer
Come celebrate Imbolc and look to the new year with
the Manitou Project Members’ Annual Meeting!
February 5, 2006 1PM-5PMLocation to be announced. Snow date February 19, 2006.
Manitou Council Elections will be held during this fun and important meeting. We are currently
seeking nominations for four positions that are open this year. We have three candidates currently.
Fred Taylor, Wendy Redlinger, and Jeanette Pfeifer are all seeking reelection. We especially are in
need of folks to serve as Treasurer, Stewardship Cluster Head and Development Cluster Head.
Contact the Manitou Office at 257-1832 with questions and nominations.
Earthfriend Discovery Day Camp
August 2005 brought the second summer of children having
fun and exploring the woods of Manitou at Earthfriend Discovery
Day Camp. Five of our original six campers returned this year
and were joined by four new campers–all ages eight to twelve
(generally the camp is for ages nine to eleven). Each camper got
to know an Earthfriend–an animal, bird or insect that lives at
Manitou–including where the animal lives, what it eats, and what
its medicine might be through research, observation, making
shields and masks. Sometimes getting to know the animals
involved catching them or even getting stung by them–we had a
lot of yellow jacket nests in the Manitou Woods this summer!
We’ll be back in the woods again this August for a third year of Earthfriend Discovery Day Camp. This year we
hope to run concurrently a group of 9-11 year olds and a group of 12-15 year olds. Start talking with the kids you
know who would love exploring the woods, having fun, and bonding with the spirit of Nature and Manitou.
From the Manitou Coordinator
Greetings to Manitou Members and Friends. As
many of you are aware from the email announcement
and word of mouth, the Manitou Council hired me as
the Coordinator in August to facilitate the Manitou
Project becoming self-sufficient with a vibrant
community nourishing the Manitou Land and in turn
be nourished. I greatly appreciate the confidence
expressed in hiring me and look forward to getting to
know everyone involved with the Manitou Project.
As I have looked through the listing of members
and friends, as well as having lived at Manitou for two
years, I have noticed that there are many members
who are not able to come be at Manitou exploring the
trails, sacred sites, and participating in the programs
offered. Yet Manitou calls to you in spirit–a
resonation with our mission to “celebrate the sacred
interdependence of humans and nature” and to be “a
model of land conservation and education integrating
spiritual and practical applications of ecological
awareness.” I have wondered in conversations with
other members and with Pam how we could reach out
to our members who are not able to come to Manitou.
One of the ideas that has emerged is to publish the
Manitou Newsletter at least two times a year and
ideally four times the year. The newsletter is going to
expand from reports of Manitou happenings and
upcoming events to include dialogue on what it means
to be Manitou–to explore our relationship to each
other, the Earth and Spirit–especially as expressed
through relating to the Manitou Land. This dialogue
is open to everyone and can be expressed through the
written word, drawings, and photographs. We look
forward to hearing from you. For the next issue of the
newsletter, I invite folks to reflect upon the following
quote from a wonderfully thoughtful leader in land
conservation, Peter Forbes of the Center for Whole
Communities:
“...when our direct human experience of the
land is limited, our emotional intelligence gets
buried even further. We lose our intuitive wisdom.
We lose our sense of belonging, our tolerance, our
affinity because we are just operating in our own
little world.” –Peter Forbes from “The Yurt Talks”
CD.
Send your ref lect ions by emai l to
[email protected] or mail to The
Manitou Project, PO Box 161, Williamsville, VT
05362.
-Amy Hyatt
Fun and wonder exploring the fens with campers
Ursula, Kacie, Daniel and Nick.
Manitou offers new series of Retreats
This season, Manitou initiated a new dimension of
its programs, a series of day long retreats for Manitou
members and community groups. Our hope has been to
offer more in-depth programs that will reach out to
members and others in the area. By
providing a space to step aside
from the busyness of everyday life,
we hope to enable such groups to
build community, and grow from
shared wisdom gleaned from the
land.
We offered the first retreat on
May 28, to members of the
W i n d h a m E n v i r o n m e n t a l
C o a l i t i o n , a g r o u p o f
representatives of organizations in
the area with a sustainability or
environmental focus. In spite of
being postponed from an earlier
date due to weather, thirteen
people attended. We had a rich
time listening to the land guide us
in our work. The trees, lichens,
streams, and other rich life of
Manitou offered much wisdom
about the importance of patience,
attentiveness, respect for diversity
and cooperation. One participant
said, “I almost didn’t come, but I
am glad I did. I feel I know
everyone much better and feel that we will be there for
each other.” We hope to offer such retreats in the future
to other groups in the area, and see them as an important
part of Manitou’s service to the community.
Then, on Sat. Oct. 29, a retreat for Manitou
members offered an opportunity to spend a day together
on the land and explore our connections with place and
the sacred. Twelve members attended. After an
introductory sharing circle (always a treat with Manitou
members!), a meditative walk to the Three Sisters
provided the space to reflect on our childhood
connection to place – where did we first find our
connection to the sacred through nature? The group had
a lively sharing of stories of these
places, which gave us all new
insight and appreciation toward
each others’ connection with place
and spirit – and some hearty laughs
as well, as we heard about each
others’ childhood tree-climbing,
wild adventuring, and favorite
secret places.
Then, after a breathing
meditation, we wandered the land
on our own, pondering the meaning
of the sacred in our lives, allowing
ourselves to be drawn to a place
that represented that for us. With
guidelines for writing about the
place and its connection to the
sacred, we wrote and later shared
our writings and reflections
gathered around the woodstove in
the cozy hogan.
Both retreats were a great
success – one directed out to the
community, and one inward to our
membership. They fulfilled our
intention that spending time
together on the land can be a powerful experience that
builds community, and deepens our spiritual connections
to the land and each other. If you’re interested in
developing such a retreat for a group you belong to, or
want to participate in a future retreat, please contact
Fred Taylor, Benjamin Robin Mercer, or Amy Hyatt at
802-257-1832.
October Retreat Reflections
Hemlock GuidesTree tall and scaly black barkThick trunks, roots - one legbalancing the other.Shining crowns of verdant green,Breathing through yellow and orangebeech-speckled...air.
Giants step down toward the stream.Over rocks and mammoth stoneWith hairy toes that wiggle in softmoist cushions...moss.
Following whispers of snow, whiteveils, Trails etched on rusty paper Of brown, taupe, beige - bronzeBronze pathways run through hours, through leaves...time.
Giants step beyond this place, my soulDown, down toward the streamMoving with me, throughme...swiftly, into the racing waters below.
-Em Richards
Manitou Programs Winter 2005
Wednesday December 21 at 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Winter Solstice Celebration: Comest
celebrate with good friends by a bonfire! We’ll be having a ceremony including eating the Famous
Flaming Raisins and storytelling. Afterwards we will join together for potluck at the Mayer Family
Cabin. This event will be at Toad Hill–the Rock River side of Manitou. No need to worry about
driving on Sunset Lake Road. We look forward to seeing you there! Call 257-1832 for more info.
Sunday February 5, 2006 1PM-5PM Imbolc Celebration and Manitou AnnualMeeting: As the light returns and the first hints that winter is beginning to concede to springtime,
come join us as we celebrate the journey of
Manitou this past year and look ahead to what
the new year brings. This includes voting for
the Manitou Council– if you are interested in
running or would like to nominate someone
please contact the office at 802-257-1832.
We will be voting for four Council Seats (3-
Year Terms). Remember to renew your
membership for 2006 beforehand.
Cluster Contact People:StewardshipBill Schmidt, 257-0233, [email protected] & OfficeAmy Hyatt, 257-1832, [email protected] Diperi, 254-8834, [email protected] Taylor, 387-2681, [email protected]