Going Back In Time
As a writer I use the concept of time travel periodically in my magic. I see time travel as one of the logical powers of a magician. Merlin constantly played about with places in time. Imagine my delight when I felt I really had gone back in time this weekend.
I have been involved to some degree with Kent Cummins' Magic Camp for many years. (I don't dare say how many!) It calls itself a summer camp because it happens at the same time and apparently in the same fashion as any typical day camp. However, this is not so. Like the Hogwarts School for Witches and Wizards, Magic Camp is much deeper and more interesting. It has the capacity to open doors for a kid and to change their lives. I know that sounds really dramatic, like something you would hear on an infomercial. Since I have been on the edges I would have called it bravado too. But I have finally experienced it for myself and the result was the time travel of which I spoke.
February 10-12, I attended an event called the Magic Camp For Grownups. Kent does do corporate training using Magic Camp techniques for grownups, but that was not the purpose of the weekend. The purpose was for those of us who have had adult involvement, including Kent and other founders of the camp, to come and have an experience as campers. The weekend was devised and administered by the youthful staff, all of whom have essentially grown up with the Magic Camp. Here is a brief ad for the camp which was on Craig's List:
Kent Cummins' Magic Camp Produces a Magic Camp For Adults!
Feb. 10-12
Only a few days left to sign up for a "Magic Camp for Adults".
Call Kent at (512) 288-1596 or kent@MagicCamp.com to register.
For more information contact Gus Davis at (512) 825-5163 or Gusto1@gtgmagic.com.
At the Texas Elks Camp near Gonzales, about a 1.5 hour drive from Austin.
(Texas Elks Center, Ottine, TX. 78629)
If you like Magic, Puppets, or Juggling and wanted a safe enviroment to check it out, this weekend is for you!
Because of my previous involvement I was given a little extra prodding to attend this event. I cannot adequately describe the value of this weekend in the space that I have here. The staff, who ranged in age from about seventeen to mid-twenties, managed to create a weekend of activities that engaged and challenged all of the adults who attended, who ranged in age from about mid-thirties to seventies. They broke us away from our routine and gave us an environment where we could explore new things.
We began like all kids who come to Magic Camp. We met new friends, made our name tags, decorated our "magic boxes" and learned some new games. From there the tone and pace changed, due to the alchemy of the participants. We used some of the same activities that the kids do. We played with juggling, puppetry and, of course, magic. But we were all given these things in our own context and invited to partake what we would and could. There were no break-out sessions to discuss how we could apply this to our next tough negotiations or how these skills would help us achieve a healthy work/life balance. We were just given them to explore for their own sake.
Because of my background, I was put into a group with other professional magicians which included, among others, Kent Cummins and Peter the Adequate, the founders of the Magic Camp. I had visions of being retaught some of the most basic magic that I had learned as a kid because that was what I had seen at the Magic Camp for Kids. However, these young people had other things in store. At every activity our entire group was challenged to use the knowledge and skills that we already possessed in new and interesting ways.
We put on a puppet show as a group and were asked to base it on the worst day we had ever had. Everyone was telling terrible stories. One of our group shared a very personal and painful memory which we were allowed to include as part of the show. After our very silly presentation was completed, that same individual commented that there was now a funny association with that memory. The smile said that the memory may have lost a little bit of it's power. It reminded me of the Harry Potter concept of the bogart, a magical creature which causes you to visualize your worst fear, and the way you defeat it, by turning that fear into something ridiculous. We really did that.
Later our group was challenged to do what we do best: put on a show. However, we were given little time, new illusions and props that we had never used before, and a combination of professional personalities who had not had to cooperate on this level as a group. It was so much fun! I really relived that feeling that a kid has when he receives his first magical gadget. "Wow! That's cool! How does that work? Ooh! Check this out!"
Later, around a campfire, built with theatrical lights and billowing silk by one of our councelors, we discussed what the weekend had done for us. Again and again adults from all walks of life talked about how they had been presented with challenges and felt they had grown for the experience.
"I did things that I didn't know I could do," they would say. "I want to do more."
Everyone had a positive thing to share which was a shift in their view of themselves and their world.
It is a remarkable thing to take a man in this cynical day and help him to enjoy the simplicity of play and learning without obligations or other grownup side effects. It is remarkable that the people who accomplished this feat are people roughly half my age. It makes me very proud to see that. The future is in good hands.
If you get a chance for a Magic Camp for Grownups, you must try it. Whether you are a seasoned magician or have no experience at all you will grow. You will go back in time.
I have been involved to some degree with Kent Cummins' Magic Camp for many years. (I don't dare say how many!) It calls itself a summer camp because it happens at the same time and apparently in the same fashion as any typical day camp. However, this is not so. Like the Hogwarts School for Witches and Wizards, Magic Camp is much deeper and more interesting. It has the capacity to open doors for a kid and to change their lives. I know that sounds really dramatic, like something you would hear on an infomercial. Since I have been on the edges I would have called it bravado too. But I have finally experienced it for myself and the result was the time travel of which I spoke.
February 10-12, I attended an event called the Magic Camp For Grownups. Kent does do corporate training using Magic Camp techniques for grownups, but that was not the purpose of the weekend. The purpose was for those of us who have had adult involvement, including Kent and other founders of the camp, to come and have an experience as campers. The weekend was devised and administered by the youthful staff, all of whom have essentially grown up with the Magic Camp. Here is a brief ad for the camp which was on Craig's List:
Kent Cummins' Magic Camp Produces a Magic Camp For Adults!
Feb. 10-12
Only a few days left to sign up for a "Magic Camp for Adults".
Call Kent at (512) 288-1596 or kent@MagicCamp.com to register.
For more information contact Gus Davis at (512) 825-5163 or Gusto1@gtgmagic.com.
At the Texas Elks Camp near Gonzales, about a 1.5 hour drive from Austin.
(Texas Elks Center, Ottine, TX. 78629)
If you like Magic, Puppets, or Juggling and wanted a safe enviroment to check it out, this weekend is for you!
Because of my previous involvement I was given a little extra prodding to attend this event. I cannot adequately describe the value of this weekend in the space that I have here. The staff, who ranged in age from about seventeen to mid-twenties, managed to create a weekend of activities that engaged and challenged all of the adults who attended, who ranged in age from about mid-thirties to seventies. They broke us away from our routine and gave us an environment where we could explore new things.
We began like all kids who come to Magic Camp. We met new friends, made our name tags, decorated our "magic boxes" and learned some new games. From there the tone and pace changed, due to the alchemy of the participants. We used some of the same activities that the kids do. We played with juggling, puppetry and, of course, magic. But we were all given these things in our own context and invited to partake what we would and could. There were no break-out sessions to discuss how we could apply this to our next tough negotiations or how these skills would help us achieve a healthy work/life balance. We were just given them to explore for their own sake.
Because of my background, I was put into a group with other professional magicians which included, among others, Kent Cummins and Peter the Adequate, the founders of the Magic Camp. I had visions of being retaught some of the most basic magic that I had learned as a kid because that was what I had seen at the Magic Camp for Kids. However, these young people had other things in store. At every activity our entire group was challenged to use the knowledge and skills that we already possessed in new and interesting ways.
We put on a puppet show as a group and were asked to base it on the worst day we had ever had. Everyone was telling terrible stories. One of our group shared a very personal and painful memory which we were allowed to include as part of the show. After our very silly presentation was completed, that same individual commented that there was now a funny association with that memory. The smile said that the memory may have lost a little bit of it's power. It reminded me of the Harry Potter concept of the bogart, a magical creature which causes you to visualize your worst fear, and the way you defeat it, by turning that fear into something ridiculous. We really did that.
Later our group was challenged to do what we do best: put on a show. However, we were given little time, new illusions and props that we had never used before, and a combination of professional personalities who had not had to cooperate on this level as a group. It was so much fun! I really relived that feeling that a kid has when he receives his first magical gadget. "Wow! That's cool! How does that work? Ooh! Check this out!"
Later, around a campfire, built with theatrical lights and billowing silk by one of our councelors, we discussed what the weekend had done for us. Again and again adults from all walks of life talked about how they had been presented with challenges and felt they had grown for the experience.
"I did things that I didn't know I could do," they would say. "I want to do more."
Everyone had a positive thing to share which was a shift in their view of themselves and their world.
It is a remarkable thing to take a man in this cynical day and help him to enjoy the simplicity of play and learning without obligations or other grownup side effects. It is remarkable that the people who accomplished this feat are people roughly half my age. It makes me very proud to see that. The future is in good hands.
If you get a chance for a Magic Camp for Grownups, you must try it. Whether you are a seasoned magician or have no experience at all you will grow. You will go back in time.
posted by Chris Walden at
11:23 PM
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