Camp Gaia Closed!

[Myst]

http://wiccanet.tv/articles/01/12/18/2257240.shtml

[Wyrdsister]

This is terrible!! :( :( I had no idea this was in the works! I just heard about Camp Gaia recently.

Wyrdsister

[Myst]

I know. Just when I begin to think we're making headway. :(

[StormChaser]

To the government contacts. this is what I said.

Hello. I hope this letter finds you happy and well. My name is Sarah Dove. I am a 19 year old, Wiccan from New Jersey. I am writing to you on behalf of many children who attended Camp Gaia who may or may not know about what is occurring.

I recently read about your decision to close camp Gaia. I cannot possibly tell you how much this saddend me, but regardless of damage done, I do wish to give you more insite into the Camp, to help clarify some large misunderstandings that led to this sad event.

As a child I attended Camp Gaia with my parents for a Wiccan gathering called Heartland. I can assure you, there was, nor never has been any incidents of pedophilia. Wicca is a very child friendly religion, it teaches positive messages to children like taking responsibility for yourself, your actions and your community. It teaches compassion, tolerance and faith. It also teaches to have faith in karma, or a higher power, rather than seeking vengeance or revenge on someone, handing the problem over. Like many Christians believe one should do, turn the other cheek, and let God deal with the things others do. Wicca teaches children to not fear their bodies, and to respect all beings, of all shapes and sizes. In short it stops children from being hateful or mean, as well as sends them positive images about their bodies as sacred things to be taken care of and loved, few if any pagan children become anorexic or bulimic. In fact, many take up the ways of vegans and vegetarians out of love for their bodies and appreciation for all living beings.

But I stray, When I attended Heartland, . There was a child care center for parents who wished to attend rituals and worships alone. While there we did arts and crafts, played at the lake, and amused ourselves. We had wristbands that told who our parents were, who to contact in an emergency, etc. Children were of course allowed to attend rituals and workshops.. but just like any other kid..well, what kid do you know who wants to go to church when they can play tag or catch fish?

I grew up in the Wiccan faith. I have a large supportive community, who cares for me. When I was down they offered me help and assistance. They have never taken advantage of me or looked at me with an eye any different from that of any normal adult part of a Church community.

How can I say that? When I was little I went to Catholic kindergarten. When I was in my early teens I explored other religions outside of Wicca. I attended several churches with my friends, bible studies, and I even went to a few meets at a Synagogue. While the communities were nice, I didn't agree with the religious doctrine.

Wiccans are not people to fear. They don't cast evil spells, they don't sacrifice animals *though they do give thanks for the food they eat, just like many say Grace at the dinner table*, they don't eat children or do mean immoral things to them. The things that you may consider odd, or scary, have a real reason for being the way they are. I, and many other wiccans I know would be very happy to explain those "oddities" to you. You will find that while you may still feel those quirks to take a very liberal or atypical approach to teaching, that the teachings themselves are good, and the ways of teaching are not detrimental or harmful to a child, or anyone else for that matter.

Wicca has repeatedly been held by the courts of this government to be a sound religion** , Camp Gaia was one of few places that allows Wiccans from all over the country to meet and enjoy each others company. It is named after an ancient goddess.. The goddess of the earth and nature. People who attended to camp Gaia were never out to destroy or take advatage of what Nature, or God has created, but rather to take part in it's beauty and celebrate life within and upon it.

**For more information regarding the legalities and beliefs of Wicca, I ask you to look at the following pages.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_rel.htm
http://www.bloomington.in.us/~pen/boilertext2.html

Thank you so much for your time,
I truly hope you will take what I have said into deep consideration.
May your holidays be full of joy, health, love, and peace.
Sincerely,
Sarah Marie Dove
35 Snowhill Avenue
Spotswood NJ 08884
**

[flar7]

writing to the wrong people. They aint gonna listen if you arent
in their demographic. The voices of the locals set it off, those are
the people who need the talking to.
The politicians are probably against closing gaia down, it provided
revenue for the area. But since, like it said, they can be voted out
pretty quick, they went with the local people on it.

Happens everywhere and not just with pagan stuff. Its the
NIMBY syndrome from unenlightened people. You would or will
have to change their hearts to get a change on the vote, unless
by some miracle a court would order it. But that is highly doubtful.

[StormChaser]

The point wasn't to get them to renegotiate,but to inform. You can inform people, whether you live there or not. You may not be able to cast a vote, but you can certainly share information.

It's the same essentail response i'd have had if someone up and accused my parents of being pedophiles because of the acceptance of nudity within our home.

People in politics are still people. Obviously I'm not going to make it to town meetings, but actions like these affect the whole of this country, not just one part of it. Discrimination and ignorance spread like wildfire. the 10 or 12 cases we have won on the topic pale by comparison to those of the "other" side.

Sometimes appealing to human nature, goodness, and curiousity, is the best way to affect people.

Sorry you don't like the attempt, but the way I see it, you can sit around moping about something, or you can actually try to change it as best you can.

~Shine A Light

[gunner]

hmmm, we've got something called "camp faerie" up in east dummerston, guess i'll want to keep an eye on the newspaper. i don't know what's going on up there but they mind their own business and don't bother anyone. trouble is that's no guarantee no-one will bother them and they might need a bit of support sometime.

[flar7]

I didnt say that I didnt like or even appreciate the attempt.
Was just saying it for others who might think that barraging
politicians with mail would change their minds. It is great to
inform them, but the Politicians probably agree with you, they
just wont stand up against their constituents. The man who
owns the land needs to see if he can get his own petition going
or somehow change the locals minds, which is notoriously hard
to do. Especially in rural areas.


P.S. This story was brought up awhile back on this board. At
that time they were talking about the petition being circulated and
all the locals(or enough) signing and speaking out. That thread
is still here somewhere.

[StormChaser]

I was given info on how to help.. i did what I could from here, in my sitatution. If i found i could do more, and I may, I would.
I understand the politics.. but I also understand I would kick myself if i never tried.

~Storm

[Sequoia]

uhg how horrible!! >.< it's people like that pedophilia woman who really anger me. . . . "oooh they're running around naked ooh pedophilia! save them from the evil nasty people!" arg.

Honestly. . . I think there are FAR more reports of things like that happening privately, in home or at church or at school. In a large group of people who are VERY open about morals, beliefs, etc, a child is MUCH more safe (in my opinion). They can learn and grow, they don't have to be ashamed of their bodies, but half the kids prolly weren't even around the rituals performed in the nude. And if they were, they were merely seen as other human beings. . . I cannot get over how so many see the human body as some sort of dirty, shameful thing that has to be hidden, or it will be IMMEDIATELY taken advantage of. Please!

And I mean, what a wonderful invironment for the grown women. Me, personally, I have a lot of trouble with my physical self-esteem. I'm very shy, and have been raised with a lot of improper ideas about my body's beauty. Being told I'm ugly for most of my life hasn't been helpeful, but what a WONDERFUL environment Camp Gaia would have been for me! What an experience! I plan to attend a place like that at least once, and it's a d*mn shame that they've gotten rid of it. Paranoid mainstream religious fanatics. Jeeze.

[Myst]

flar : you should mention that in political pagan

hehe I think you'd get axed tho. :D

[flar7]

thats were you have all them mudfights, right? "Not me baby!"
I have a hard enough time staying clean...

[StormChaser]

Originally posted by Puma Hime

And I mean, what a wonderful invironment for the grown women. Me, personally, I have a lot of trouble with my physical self-esteem. I'm very shy, and have been raised with a lot of improper ideas about my body's beauty. Being told I'm ugly for most of my life hasn't been helpeful, but what a WONDERFUL environment Camp Gaia would have been for me! What an experience! I plan to attend a place like that at least once, and it's a d*mn shame that they've gotten rid of it. Paranoid mainstream religious fanatics. Jeeze.

I don't know where you are located, but here on the east coast we have Free Spirit, which is, was, and always has been, a million times better than heartland. It is clothing optional.. and just well.. the best gather i've attended *and tehre are several all over the states*

Feel free to contact me if you, or anyone else for that matter, wants info.

~Storm