August 2023—An invitation to be Present

Greetings! We are a father and son duo who have both been attending Eliot Institute camps since 2003, and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Deans for this year’s camp. John has been a newsletter editor, choir member, and dean at both August and Winter Eliot camps; he has served on the Eliot Institute Board and on various committees. Paul has worked with the children's program, been a living room coordinator, a newcomer host, and a member of “the Band”. For both of us, the intentional community created at each Eliot is a highlight of our years!

Our theme for this August’s camp is “Presence” and we will be holding space At the Water’s Edge with Reverend Mykal Slack. Rev. Slack is a community minister for Worship and Spiritual Care for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism. He is also a congregational life coordinator with a ministry and calling to nurture spaces where people can connect, talk about church life that honors differences, and make sustainable changes that are an outgrowth of spiritual practice. Through the morning program, he will lead the camp in questions such as: “How can we stay present with care and without doing harm to ourselves or others in the process?”

Our camp will be supported by an all-star staff, some of whom are seasoned Elioteers and many of whom are newcomers to camp, staff, or both! If you are interested in joining the team as a volunteer, we will have numerous opportunities throughout the week for you to contribute to our collective camp experience. Please reach out! (augustdeans2023@gmail.com)

We are looking forward to being present with all of you: in celebration, reflection, joy, sorrow, meditation, music, crafting, swimming, dancing, and so much more!

Paul Kempler & John Bishop