Mind on Matter: Kimberton, PA

Nature true beauty is definitely felt at Camphill!

DAY 1: As Friday morning arrived, I was filled with excitement as well as slightly anxious for our adventure that had yet to begin to Camphill Village.  I hopped onto the LX to College Ave, and met up with my group members. Running on a lack of sleep and walking into my site leaders greeting me with a smile assured me that our 2-hour drive to PA wasn’t going to feel like 2 hours at all.  Our Livingston dining hall dinner had proved to be a success as everyone bonded and connected, and I knew that I was on a trip with people who I would stay in touch with after our trip was over.  Once our staff leader arrived, it was around 3pm and we loaded the car. All situated and comfortable, we got our very own personal DJ to create a playlist that we could jam out to, and the car ride was set to go.  Time flew by as we played the traditional car games: The Alphabet Game and (insert). It was definitely a great of adding laughter into the air. An adventure is never complete without detours and surprise U-turns, but eventually we made it to our first stop, Dallas Diner. 

After filling our food desires, we hit the road again and reached Camphill Village. We were greeted by one of the volunteer residents who would be our leader for the weekend.  Feeling a bit anxious and nervous not knowing what to expect took a quick tour. Our initial interaction with those with developmental disabilities occurred that evening.  Although it was quick occurrence, it definitely raised some questions and intrigued our minds about our upcoming experience. We headed down to Larskburg, which would be our home for the weekend. As we entered Larskburg, the smell of Chamomile, lavender, lemon took over our senses and made us eager to be staying there. The little house provided a homely feel and our encounter with the volunteers there so far was very welcoming. 

During our first reflection, we discussed our feelings regarding Camphill so far, expectations we have from each other, objectives we would like to learn, and how we can make our trip a success.  Being part of a team meant we would be open-minded, respectful, have the ability to listen, and work together in giving back to Camphill. To add to our night, we played a few rounds of charades, and I’d have to say I got the hard one: Roar by Katy Perry. We ended our nights with our thoughts and headed off to bed to be awake and ready to work at 7am! 

 

One of our members working hard!

DAY 2: Our day started bright and early, as we bundled up in layers of clothing and headed out to Serena house to have breakfast. The food was delicious as it was all organic and grown on the farm. Once our stomachs were content, we headed over to the vineyard with shovels and gloves to give the vineyard a makeover.  Our morning went by pulling out weeds and prepping the vineyard. The weather turned out to be beautiful and our group bonded over sharing random experiences and splitting the tasks.   A little before noon, we took a quick tea break. While we sipped on our freshly brewed lemon herb tea, we listened to our leader give us a background on Camphill. One of the intriguing aspects about Camphill was that each resident with a disability was treated as any normal person; there was no reason for labeling individuals with disabilities and treating them with extra care for say. Most of the volunteers are unaware of the disabilities that their resident has.

Couldn't seem to get enough of these baby calfs!

I found this to be very interesting as it provides a sense of community with each person living there and remove any stereotypes that may exist. Camphill shares so much unity and utter respect for all its residents and volunteers that ever as guests we felt we were part of their family.  We also were very surprised at the fact that there is no lock policy, event at night at Camphill. Residents and volunteers are free to roam around at whatever timing they please. It was very shocking to hear that because in our society, we can’t trust our surroundings and its people so easily so we keep ourselves protected by locking our doors. Our tea break provided us a better understanding of Camphill as a whole and we headed back to finish our work at the vineyards. Along the way we were greeted by our very own cows, some of which loved our attention! After our las The lunch was truly scrumptious with endless servings of veggies and salads. One of the surprising things that we noticed was that the residents living here didn’t seem to acknowledge or react to the fact that we were inside their homes. Rather, they just went about their daily routine.

After lunch, we were given a tour of the village. On our adventure, we visited the farm, weaverly place, and the craft shop. I’d have to say that the handmade clothing was astonishing. The talent was really inspiring to see.  We then headed towards the forest where our next project was to be started.  We worked on putting up a deer fence so the forest and its natural plants could be preserved. This was the first time I got to use a saw for real so it was definitely an experience! Time flew by and it was time for dinner. We had an scrumptious dinner with a hearty soup which we were very thankful for! At the end of dinner, one of the residents dedicated a poem towards our members. We felt really honored and delighted to be serving such people who are so humble and really make us feel at home. Our night ended with us reflecting on what we had observed, experienced, and learned throughout our stay at Camphill.  I truly felt that it was an unforgettable experience because it made you realize how much our society puts a label on people with mental disabilities. It opened our eyes to look at the things with not just one direction, but multiple perspectives so that you can gain a strong understanding.  Camphill gave us so many ideologies to think about and a way of living life through its every moment, that we are tempted to go back and give back in many more ways! Simplicity, serenity, and spirited encompassed the atmosphere created at Camphill Village, and through our journey we experienced and felt each of these emotions.

We Thank You Camphill for a wonderful experience!