click photo to see more pictures. I went with Malina and Christina, my two daughters, from Montreal to Natashquan. We camped three nights on the way there and two nights on the way back and spent nearly a week at our friend Pierre’s cabin, situated between Angonish and Natasquan. Natashquan or Nutahquaniu Hipu: an Innu term meaning “the river where the bear was caught“

click on the photo to see more pictures. I just got back from a road trip to Natasquan, Quebec, the north shore of the St. Laurent. It got so hot today in Montreal, images started flashing, hot flashes. Here’s some photos from right before the trip. The woman in this photo has owned a drug store in St. Johnsbury since coming to Vermont, from France, during the 1940ies.   (more…)

click on the photo to see more pictures. On the second last day of family camp, a rites of passage ceremony was held to celebrate the growing maturity and independence of certain children. The rites of passage involved making a bow and shooting at the kudo range, learning calligraphy, and how to bow. These rituals are related to Japanese Zen traditions, but are performed in a context of Shambhala family camp.

click on the photo to see more pictures. Friday night people did some dancing, passionate gyrating, bouncing, twisting, moving, getting down, break dancing, everything you could imagine.

click on the photo to see more pictures. Thursday was a good day to go to Harvey’s Lake, to relax and enjoy conversation. At night there was a family camp talent show, which featured music performances, dancing, skits and singing.

click on the photo to see more pictures. Family camp offered a wide range of music, such as jazz, folk, old campfire favorites. One afternoon a Taiko group from Burlington did a performance of a traditional Japanese form of percussion called Taiko drumming.

click on the photo to see more pictures. Rain didn’t stop people from enjoying themselves on July 11. There were plenty of activities, such as a guitar class, African dancing, a family yoga workshop. The rain got really heavy around 6 PM, forcing people to slow down and relax. It was pleasant to sit on the front verranda and watch the rain and talk with friends.

click on the photo to see more pictures. Irene Woodard gave meditation talks during the mornings. July 10 was a hot day. Many people went swimming in the afternoon. It’s really enjoyable to relax and have conversation. There are so many interesting individuals who travel a long way to enjoy this annual family camp.

click on the photo to see more pictures. Family camp is a ten day program of children’s activities, meditation, relaxation, music, creativity and unlimited friendliness at Karme Choling. People sleep in tents, or rent rooms. The camp opened with a ritual fire, or a Lhasang, to invoke sacred energy.

click on the photo to see more pictures. June 6, Irena drove Malina and I to Karme Choling, Vermont, to attend family camp, a ten day program of meditation and family activities. July 7, 2007 we drove winding, narrow roads through lush greenery, past rustic farmhouses and country stores, lakes, thickly-forested hills, roadside restaurants, antique and crafts stores to Montpelier. We stopped to have a look at things along the way, to drink coffee and take a few pictures.