{travel} camping at the Dry Tortugas

Camping at the most remote national park in the contiguous US became a slight obsession with me as soon as started reading about the Dry Torgugas. Seventy miles out to sea from Key West, the Dry Tortugas actually covers a 100 mile area full of pristine water and coral reefs as well as many little islands. 

Fort Jefferson, a Civil War era fort (and one of the largest brick structures in America) is situated on Garden Key. Day visits via ferry, sea plane and private vessel are possible. But to fully feel the magic of this island, camping is the way to go.

Camping is permitted for up to three days if you come on the Yankee Freedom; the ferry is concessioned by the parks service. You can camp for up to 10 days if you come by your own boat or a private charter. The island has no fresh water and no electricity, so the three days limit is just about perfect. 

In this post, I am going to share every detail I can think of. When we were preparing, there were several key points left out of many of the resources I researched, so I hope to really offer as much as I can. And feel free to contact me if you need clarification. The best way to reach me is on FB.

What to do and see on the island

snorkeling

Snorkeling is fantastic in the Dry Tortugas. The Keys coral reefs are among the largest in the world, and the only living barrier reef in North America. If you come on the Yankee Freedom for the day or to camp,  gear is included in your transportation. Some of the masks are a bit wonky, but there are enough of them that if you spend a little time you can get a snorkel set that fits you well. In addition to flippers, masks, and a breathing tube, they also offer a flotation devise which is surprisingly useful. It allows you to just hang out at the surface and watch the underwater show. They can be uncomfortable after a while and we wondered if a pool noodle night be an even better flotation aid. Next time we will try. 

The water around the fort is clear and there are coral formations all along the brick moat wall as well as at the old coal dock ruins. The longer you stay under and the slower you go, the more you see. Creatures begin to emerge from the cracks and shadows. When you are underwater, it is nearly silent except for the sound of water sloshing over your head and your own Darth Vadar like breathing. I try to hold my breath to hear the silence of the sea. I feel like I am so alone, if only for a few seconds, in a vast and endless space. 

fishing

My kids fished from the dock daily and caught loads of grey snapper which when grilled with a little butter and Old Bay apparently melted in their mouths and was proclaimed the best fish any of them have ever eaten. Kids do not need a fishing license, but adults do, so grab one before you leave (at a bait or sporting shop). Bring your own gear and a cooler just for live bait. We lucked out when a commercial charter gave us a box of squid to fish with after their chummed up the water brought in all sorts of hungry fish. 

explore the land flora and fauna

The Magnificant Frigate bird nests nearby which means the sky is full of these huge birds. Their black bodies, white chests and bifurcated tails make them unmistakable in the sky. They catch the breeze at one corner of the fort near the boat docks and reminded us of kites, hanging in one area until diving dramatically down. 

Terns nest on a nearby island, Bush Key. There are 25-40,000 at anyone time and it is not hard to believe it. The sky above Bush Key is a swirling and ever changing tableau of rolling and diving white. Their sqawks and screams can be heard clearly all day and night and give the effect of feeling like you are in a very busy avian metropolis. If you listen closely to their din, it sounds like words are being formed - especially if you wake up in the night. One starts to tune them out eventually, but I could not help but think of the prisoners who lived in the fort over a hundred years ago. Locked in their cells, no real or reliable food, the smells of 2000 other people in the fort and those birds. They probably drove a man or two mad. Personally, I loved them and never felt lonely or solitary, so far from land, with those birds and their chatter.

Hermit Crabs by the hundreds crawled all over our campsite. The crackling as they moved over the fallen large sea grape leaves was an eerie sound at times - like an undercurrent of energy right at our feet. They are actually beneficial as they scavenged and cleaned our site of food crumbs daily.

We camped under the twisty shelter of a buttonwood tree. This subtropical tree has leaves as thick as homemade corn tortillas and is so gnarled one might think it is ancient. Hundreds of years old maybe? Nope! The ranger told me most are quite young. They have weathered island breezes and storms and die back after relatively short lives. They re-sprout from their roots and start the cycle again, wearing their war wounds on their bodies. 

tour the fort

Tours of the fort are given daily and are included in your admission fee. To be honest, we elected not to take a tour because it was so hot when they were offered. Instead, we spent time in the small air conditioned museum reading signs and looking at artifacts. My daughter read this teen adventure book that provided her with lots of historical background to the island and fort. The Yankee Freedom had several books that could be read on the voyage over. Finally, we bought a small, hand lettered book in the giftshop that filled our minds with countless stories of the history.

During the hottest time of day, you can sit in the museum and cool off or find a cool, shady spot in the fort and read a book. 

Hang around the dock and meet people in the later afternoon

A tenet of Mama Scout living is to talk to strangers, often. This is the perfect place to do it. While hanging out in the shade of the boat house, I had some great conversations. The people who come through (after the ferry has come and gone) are the best sort - adventurous, generous and open. I talked to a sea plane pilot who spend several summers flying in Alaska and heard tales of wonder and beauty. A fisherman gave my kids not only some extra bait, but some helpful fishing tips that allowed them to catch many meals. And I learned about sailing and the sailing lifestyle from a retiree who was in the process of selling his house and moving full time onto his modest vessel. I looked forward to checking out who was hanging around each day. 

What to Pack

-tent and footprint (we have a Northface tent like this, the kids can set it up on their own in 20 minutes! we found ours much cheaper at the outlet store)

-sleeping bag, pillow, sheet for each person (we bought a few of these extra large duffels  over a decade ago and they have been a great investment. one holds all our sleeping bags and two therm-a- rests and the other holds the pillows and sheets)

-swimsuits, swim shirts, hats, glasses, extra sunscreen, aloe - (if you want to snorkel or play on the beach all day, it is really hard to not get sunburned. you can not put on enough sunscreen! long sleeve swim shirts are a must!)

-super soft pjs, shorts, tshirts and lounge pants - (after a day in the sun and sand, the softer your clothes the better)

-portable fan with extra batteries - (it took me a long time to warm up to this pampered idea - but if you camp in Florida, it is a must!)

-lantern & handheld flashlight

-paper plates, paper cups to use for bowls, silverware - (there is no freshwater to wash your dishes with, so we went with paper. You can wash your stuff in the ocean which I saw a few people doing. You have to figure out what you feel comfortable with.)

-self starting charcoal and fire starters - (You are not allowed to bring liquid or compressed lighting fluids on the boat, so these two components are essential if you want to grill or warm anything up on the grill. It is windy, so chances are matches won't cut it for starting a fire, go for the starter bricks. We used something like this.)

-plastic bins - (It is recommended that you pack most of your belongings in bins like this. They are easy to carry and stack and will keep your gear dry in case of a storm, which we encountered several times.)

-warming pot - (We use something like this to heat water for a super strong coffee.)

-oven mitt, aluminum foil to cook on, tongs

food - our camping standards

gazpacho

quinoa tabouli

black bean salad

chips/salsa/guacamole

granola/yogurt/milk in tetra packs

oranges/apples

hard boiled eggs

homemade beef jerky

a big container of green juice

bread, peanut butter/jelly/honey

bacon - we cooked it ahead of time and used it for seasoning 

potato chips

hotdogs and buns

power banana bread (filled with nuts/chic/coconut etc).

marshmallows

homemade chai concentrate

Starbucks Via coffee

kind bars

bag of wine

juice or some sort of special kid drink

medicines

aloe

Tylenol/Motrin

slippery elm

essential oils

bandaids

a few ziplock bags to use as ice bags if needed

feminine products

The Radical Art of Homeschooling :: a 2 week power lab

A power lab. A burst of ideas and inspiration concerning homeschooling.

In this lab you will discover the radical idea of homeschooling, explore the possibility of creating your own learning environment, and decide how you can implement the ideas into your own life (as a full or part time homeschooler). 

I receive so many of emails asking me about homeschooling. While I am not an expert (on anything really) I have homeschooled my 3 kids from the beginning. I taught in both the public school system and at the university level. And I am a keen observer of those around me. I have some views and ideas and questions that will open a discussion for lab participants. My goal is to help you make the best decision for your family. 

This lab is 2 weeks long (10 labs with essays, questions and resources). We will cover lifestyle, learning spaces and communities, resources, strewing, process, mission statements, how to build a lesson, how to disrupt a lesson, documentation, mama care and more. There will be a loving and nonjudgmental FB group for discussion and support. My hopes is that this inaugural group is the start of a larger collective of parents who share in the love of learning. 

Who is it for?

-Families who are intrigued with homeschooling but have no idea what it is really like. 

-Homeschooling families who are looking for alternative ideas, energy and connection to a wider community.

-People who don't homeschool and really don't think they want to. If your kids are in school but you want to create a vibrant community of learners and help your kids retain their innate sense of curiosity when they are home, you might be one of the growing numbers of part time homeschoolers - parents who do not leave it up to the school system to provide the only educational environment for their kids. 

What this course is not.

-A sales pitch on a particular methodology. I am not going to tell you that I believe any form of homeschooling is the best. The biggest benefit of homeschooling is that it can be customized to fit your family. There is no recipe. This is bespoke. 

-An exhaustive review of curriculum. I am not against curriculum and have used it in certain circumstances. But overall, I would like this lab to focus on tapping into the natural curriculum that is all around you. 

-A system of enforcing kid compliance. I am interested in opening the world up to my kids and creating a family curiosity collective. I am learning as much as they are in our explorations. I rely on relationship and conversation above tests and a top down education model. In our family, the adults are both leaders and co-learners. 

Who am I?

I have homeschooled 3 kids from the beginning. Homeschooling was not something I really thought about until I had kids and started reading and thinking about my own school experience. I succeeded in school but really thought it was a sham. A game that I easily figured out how to punk. I left feeling cheated, like I did not get an education at all. I was schooled in how to survive systems (which admittedly has its own worth). Social systems, grading systems, bullshit systems…. I understood them, but they did not fulfill my mind and heart or stoke my love of learning. Combined with my experiences teaching in the public school system and at the university level as a graduate student, I decided to do something different for my kids. I wanted to open the world up to them. And for our family to live and grow together. 


We start soon. Register here.

{try it} :: glass blowing

When I was a kid, I went to Jamestown and sat fascinated while watching the re-enactors blow glass. 

While at a wedding in Las Vegas, at the Bellagio, I stood under the Chihuly chandelier transfixed.

When I worked in a student art gallery as a student, a piece broke off an organic, hand-formed piece of glass art. I kept it and still have it. I was amazed at the texture and color. 

Years later in Venice, I marveled at the glass creations on display from nearby Morano. 

The heat, danger and magic made me wonder what it would be like to work with it.

In recalling this collection of experiencing, I realized that glass has always been so interesting to me. In my labs we have a word for this, wonderspot: a thread of curiosity into which you can get lost while learning, reading, thinking about and doing. 

Glass is a wonderspot for me.

For my recent birthday, I asked for a glass blowing experience at the Morean Art Center in Saint Pertersburg. The timing was perfect as my husband and I were going to spend a few weeks bumming around the area while our kids attended camp. 

For $75 I workers with a glass smith and learned how to make a paper weight. I chose this project from several options because it allowed the glass worker (me!) to actually manipulate the glass. I have always wanted to dig into molten glass and explore its viscosity. 

My guide, Michelle, was very thorough in explaining every step of what we were going to do. I was overwhelmed and wondered if I would have to remember it all. But she prompted me before each step. 

She put the “gather” (the clear glass to start with) on the rod. It was a bit tricky getting the gather to stick in the right way. Then the rod was handed over to me and I shaped the first part with a water soaked fruitwood mold. I rolled it back and forth as little sparks flew off the mold. She added more gather and we rolled it again. 

Then, Michelle heated up what we had created so far and handed it to me. This was a fun part. I took the drippy glass, rolling the rod back and forth between my fingers try to keep the melted glass somewhat centered. I walked it over to a table and dipped the hot glass into “frit” (chopped up pieces of colored glass). It was like dipping an ice cream cone into sprinkles. Then, I would melt the frit into the glass by holding and rolling the rod and glass in a kiln (called the glory hole) that was a few thousand degrees. It was hot and I had to wear special goggles so I could look into the kiln and watch my work. This process took a while. Add frit, melt on, add more frit etc. 

Finally, when we had added a lot of color, Michelle heated up the orb super hot and then brought it to me and I used a pair of scissors to poke and pull the glass into swirls and shapes. We had to keep reheating it because it cooled down quickly. I think I enjoyed this part the most. It is interested to note at this point I had no idea what the final piece would look like because the colors were so hot they were all glowing orange. 

After the colors were manipulated enough, we dipped the piece back into the clear glass, shaped it and scored the neck so I could pop it off. When it was removed it went into a heated kiln to anneal (cool slow enough that it would not crack). I was able to pick it up the next day.

And I urge you, if you are interested in glass blowing to look for a hot shop in your area. It is well worth a drive a little cash to work with such an amazing medium. I am already trying to plan another experience. 

Here is a great video about glass blowing you can watch. 

An excellent cultural history of glass - How We Got to Now - Glass. 

{update} I'm back...

I have been so neglectful to this space for the past while. There are many reasons. The labs I lead have really taken off and I find myself spending more time on FB interacting with my people than ever before. Those interactions have turned into phone calls and even some in person visits. 

The other issue is a feeling that blogs have changed. Maybe they are not as useful or visited as they were just a few years ago? So much happens in social media in real time, a blog almost seems antiquated. But, weirdo that I am, I am feeling draw to the slower aspect of a blog now. 

But most of all, my life has taken some twists and turns recently.  

Let me tell you a bit more about what has been going on over here.  In the last year or so, I have made a bigger commitment to the labs I lead online (Dream Lab and Book About Me), I traveled to NYC 3 times (with 3 different people), attended retreats in Ohio and Colorado, camped with friends on a primitive island, took in some amazing theatre and music performances, homeschooled my kids, learned to make tamales, blew glass and more. 

It has been a year full of exploration and adventure. As my family began spreading their wings, my husband’s dissatisfaction with his job increased to critical levels and we decided that he should just retire early. This move was huge. He was trapped by the golden handcuffs and found it very difficult to leave. The factor that shifted everything was looking closely at our children’s ages. If he left now, he would be able to spend much more time with our children as they entered adolescence and their teen years. Those years are not worth missing, especially when he had a real chance to step off the treadmill, regain his health and set an example to them that suffering for money was not a way to build a life. 

So, what is next? Well, we are not independently wealthy, so after a few months of dejobbing, we are moving into our next phase. We are selling our super cool, big old house. It is 3500 sq ft of wood floors, slanted, cozy ceilings and many nooks and crannies. It is awesome. And expensive to maintain and heat and cool. We are moving into a house 1/2 the size, which in any other place in the  world is still a big house. We are getting rid of a majority of our stuff. The chickens, trampoline and piano are gone. 100's of books have been donated to the library. My material collection is gone (I am never going to learn to sew!). Toys and furniture are out. We are making room for a life of art, travel and family.

Currently my husband is writing, collaborating, and recording with fellow musicians on new projects. And I am writing a book based on Dream Lab, I hope to send out query packages in a  few months! We are going to Alaska before we settle into our new house this fall and who knows what will be next. There are a few things on the horizon, but nothing to share quite yet. 

I feel like I need a home online other than FB and am ready to reuccupy this space. I am especially interested to share activities and resources for older kids and teens. There seems to be so much aimed at younger children, I am committed to be a voice for the olders. 

So, what can you expect? I will share activities from my kid writer’s group, book reviews and activities that my family has tried and dug. I will also be sharing travel information as we seek more adventure on the road. 

And lastly, I really want to share more about you. I would love to accept and publish submissions from awesome women (and men) who are living creative and curiosity driven lives. I am not sure what form that will take but I have a few ideas that I will share soon.

If you are in, subscribe to this feed, or check in to see what is happening. Join my FB group here (we do wellness challenges, copy work and share and support in each other's creative and life journeys).  Or drop me a line at amybarbo at gmail anytime. Tell me what you are up to and how I can share your revolutionary work. 

Here we go! (again), 

xo

amy

summer challenge :: mindful media

Many of you know that there is a vibrant community group on Facebook called the Mama Scout Laboratory for Creative Living. It is filled with women who are called to explore the world and their creative lives. Each month, we have a challenge. This month's challenge is going to extend all summer! From June until September 1st,  we are going to define and experiment with the notion of mindful media. 

For some, that will mean putting down the phone, deleting FB and other social media apps from handhelds for the summer. For others, it might mean choosing the books and films consumed this summer with intention and focus. It might mean organizing gaming parties for all the Minecraft fans in your circle. There are no rules! You decide what your family needs and try some new approaches. 

It does not mean denying yourself or your family anything for the sake of being "good." That feels punitive and restrictive and often comes back with stronger desires and habits than ever.

Some questions to start with:

What does our media consumption look like now? Where does it seem to be a problem? When is it working the best?

What do I want to add in or expose my kids to this summer (i.e. we have a classic family movie night every week)?

What do my kids want to have more time exploring (if they are into video games and these are limited in the school year, maybe ease up in the summer - there are some really cool classes and online groups that would be fun to work with. We can talk about those in the FB group)?

Is there one issue that you struggle with in terms of media usage?

How do your habits influence the rest of the family?

Do you divide media into "good for you" and "bad for you" categories? How and why?

Make a list of non-media interests you want to explore too. 

If this challenge speaks to you, make sure to join the FB group  -  I'll see you there! (But not too often, I am limiting my check ins to 2 times a day).

{sneak peak} welcome letter to Journal Jam 2015

Ya'll, I really want you to join the Mama Scout Family Journal Jam. It is a fun, creative, rule-breaking endeavor that hooked me in to summer last year like nothing else. We have a scattered schedule and it became a touchstone and a thread gathering the days into a beautiful tapestry. I get so many emails asking more about it, I have just decided to share the welcome letter with everyone. I think it clarifies the lab and my approach. 

If you want to join, you can do so here. Hurry up and I will send you my annual summer zine. This year it is aimed at kids and filled with things to do. You can give it to them and finish soaking in the kiddie pool. 

Welcome to the Family Journal Jam! I am so excited to work with you and your family this summer. Journalling has proven to be a consistently good thing in my children's education and with this lab I hope to share some of my method and learn from your approaches too!

This lab, like all my labs, is not full of tutorials and step by step instructions for creating a specific product. I will share prompts and approaches with the hope that I spark and free your own creativity and confidence. The regular practice of meeting yourself on the page to process life is a vital skill that each of us comes to on our own. Hopefully, while trying out different exercises we will find the ones that will let your (and your kids') voice shine. 

How will this work?
Each week day, you will receive an email from me. The emails are a mixture of various prompts. I have a loose schedule that allows for visual prompts, traditional writing prompts, responses to art/film/music, creative projects and more.

Important!
It is not necessary that you do each prompt each day. That might be a goal and is certainly possible - but summers are busy and might not allow for it. Find the schedule or rhythm that works for you. There is no behind and no prize because you completed every single prompt. You might want to read for a few days first and then decide how you will approach the work with your family. Prompts might spark an alternate idea that would be better for your child - go for it! I see the labs as starting a dynamic conversation. So, lets create and scheme together! I hope the FB space will be overflowing with additional ideas and sharing!

When (& how) should I do this?
You will need to pick a time and environment for this work . For some, a prepped table for kids to come to each morning works wonders for setting the mood for the day. For others, you might want to make this creative time in the hot afternoons when going outside seems impossible. You can also give it a try at night, before bed. I am always amazed at the burst of creative energy my kids have right before bedtime. If I encourage writing and drawing in bed for a bit before we read, it is usually well received. You might even want to organize a simple to go bag so you can journal while you are out. So, try it all and see what might work for you and your kids this summer. 

It is very important to follow your child's lead. Simply watch them and see how they are reacting to the prompts. If they are frustrated or uninterested change the way it is presented. Sometimes, the best presentation is NO presentation. Simply get to work yourself and the curious start wandering up, taking a peek and wanting in on the action. This is meant to be a fun activity to for ALL of you to do together. If it is turned into a requirement or laden with too many rules, you will lose them and all their energy and trust. So, go easy and light.  

Always be ready to let your child dictate, even if you think they are old enough to write for themselves. It is a big relief to have help when your ideas are coming faster than your ability to write. Also, you can videotape them talking about their response or teach them how to use your phone/ipad to record their voice. Think of the labs as offering you a privileged glimpse into your kids' minds and imaginations. It does not really matter how the information is recorded, just as long as you bear witness. You might even just record it all later in your own voice and journal.

What sort of journal should I get?

There are several ways you can approach this:
1. A traditional art journal. I like the 9x14" mixed medias like this. 
2. A three ring binder with page protectors. This seems like a great option for this lab as you can add things as you go, including three dimensional items. My kids have worked with this format and really liked it. The art and writing is really protected too, so they can look through it over and over without worrying that the pages will get damaged or fall out. 
3. Collect everything loose and then bind it at the copy shop. Your local copy shop has all sorts of interesting ways to bind your papers, so next time you are in there ask what is available.
4. An archival box like this. You might just want to collect all the materials into a box and label it "Summer 2015"
5. A combination of all the above. Maybe you will have a box for bulky items and a writing journal for daily writing? Think about your kids and which of these would work the best. There is no right or wrong way!

What art supplies will I need?
I am a fan of using what you have and gathering free and cheap things along the way. So, below are my suggestions, but you might want to wait until you need something before you buy it. Many times what you will need depends on how you and your child decide to approach the project/prompt.

a journal or paper (a variety is nice)
colored pencils
sharpies
water colors 
acrylic paint (i like to use it watered down)
a good collection of magazines to cut up (go for variety here)
a hard back book that you can destroy (i buy these at my local library) 
index cards
various envelopes 
string
paint chips from the hardware store
stickers (general shapes + alphabets as well as ones that depict your kids interests)
washi tape
rubber stamps
recyclables (yogurt containers, interesting plastics and foil, meshes and fabrics).
ink pads 
big pieces of cardboard (I pick them up at Sam's or Costcos)
access to a camera and printer
access to a photocopier

An idea for photos
I take a lot of photos on my phone and order them right away from Walgreens. They have an app that works great. Sometimes I even order images from an event or activity and then pick them up on the way home. You can also take your phone into the store and plug it in to their machine to order your pictures. I use these photographs as instant journal prompts. Within a few days, I will give them a photo or two. They tape it in their journal, decorate with wash tape and drawings and then tell the story of what is happening in the picture. The photo might be of a field trip, experiment, play date with friends, class, hike, roller skating, etc. This might be the easiest journaling-with-kids method I have. It would be a great habit to initiate this summer and continue in the fall when school starts. (Don't forget to take and print some photos of you having fun too!)

Also,
I hope you join the Facebook group. All you have to do is make sure we are "friends" and then drop me a message on FB and I will add you. The group is secret which means no one outside the group can see what you post or share or that you are even in the group. In every lab, the FB group has been an extremely powerful place to share. 

We will have weekly giveaways and they will all happen on the FB page. I will post them on Friday and announce the winners on Mondays. 

I ask that you do not share the labs with others. However, please do share your final projects and thoughts on your blog or social media. We can use the hash tag #mamascoutjournaljam as a way to collect our images. 

If you have any questions, please ask. I am here with you, doing the same work and am always available.

xo, 
Amy

 

{family lab} :: make a family crest

Making a family crest has been on my to do list for a long time. I can not tell you how happy I am that we finally did it. Every time I look at hanging in my living room, I swoon a little.

It is so simple to make!

Start with a huge piece of paper or cardboard. I pick up pieces of cardboard from Sam's Club just for this reason. The benefit of cardboard over paper is that you can easily hang it on the wall. We wanted something really big, so this is what worked best for us. You could easily make it smaller and pop it in a frame or even paint it onto a piece of wood or canvas. Work with the materials that you have on hand and are most comfortable with.
 

We freehand drew what we thought a our shield should look like and then divided it into 5 areas - one for each person.

Then we spend time thinking about an image that would represent us. I had some ideas, but everyone really went their own direction. We ended up with a typewriter with a favorite poem on it for me, a guitar/frying pan creation for my husband, an owl for a thoughtful boy, palette and brush for an art loving girl and swords for a brave and strong boy.

We prepared the cardboard with gesso and then used acrylic paints and of course, a little glitter at the end.

This is the perfect project to celebrate your family identity and uniqueness as the school year wraps up and another summer begins. If you tackle this - please share! I would love to see all the beautiful representations you make!

And if it seems daunting, you can always sketch it out in your journal and come back to it when the creative energies are flowing. 

 

_____________________________________________________________________

Want more like this? Sign up for my annual 

Mama Scout Family Journal Jam!