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Artwork by Ricki Oltean
OUR EXTENED STAY ONE MONTH STUDY SESSION, A PROGRAM UNDER THE PELEE ISLAND SUMMER ACADEMY, IS SCHEDULED TO BE OFFERED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SUMMER OF 2009.
THE MANDATE
THE PURPOSE OF THE SUMMER PROGRAM, PISA, IS TO OFFER YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY, EXPERIENCE AND CONTRIBUTE TO
COMMUNITY. THE ACADEMY IS AS MUCH ABOUT THE STUDENT, AS IT IS ABOUT TRADITIONS OF COMMUNITY, AS IT IS ABOUT THE PARTICULAR ISLAND COMMUNITY. WE WILL FOCUS ON THE PREMISE OF COMMUNITY, WITH A CONSCIOUSNESS OF BEING CONNECTED, AND A DETERMINATION IN FAVOUR OF THE WELLBEING OF THE COLLECTIVE ORGANISM WE CALL COMMUNITY.
IT WILL BE UNDERSTOOD THAT COMMUNITY HAS AS ITS FOCUS A GROUP OF PEOPLE BONDED BY LIVING IN A PARTICULAR LOCALITY, AN ISLAND, ALONG WITH OTHER LIFE FORMS, FAMILIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT SHARE THE SAME HOME. IT WILL BE ASSUMED THAT COMMUNITY HEALTH HAS MUCH TO DO WITH PARTICULAR WAYS OF SYMBIOSIS, OR LIVING TOGETHER.
THE ALLUREMENT
PELEE ISLAND, THE PLACE ITSELF, OFFERS A LONG LIST OF GIFTS WHICH CONSTITUTE THE FOUNDATION OF THE PELEE ISLAND SUMMER ACADEMY. DEMARCATED SHORELINES DEFINE THE PLACE AS A MICROCOSM, A PLACE OF MANAGEABLE AND THEREFORE COMPREHENSIBLE LESSONS. THE BEAUTY FOUND AROUND EACH CORNER AND IN EACH SUNSET DRAWS THE OBSERVER CLOSER TO NATURE. HERE COMMUNITY CANNOT BE IMAGINED WITHOUT IT EMBRACING WILDLIFE, OUR NON-HUMAN NIEGHBOURS. HERE COMMUNITY IS WITNESSED FIRST HAND; IT IS WITNESSED IN CONTINUOUS DAILY PATTERNS. A SENSE OF THE PAST CAN BE READ IN THE LANDSCPE, UNDERLINING THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING FOR A FUTURE OF CHOICES AND PLENTY.
NEXT TO THE BEAUTY OF WILDFLOWERS AND BIRDSONG THE ISLAND OFFERS THE STILLNESS NEEDED FOR REFLECTION. THE PLACE, A PART OF THE ERIE ARCHIPELAGO, IS INDEED A GETAWAY. PELEE IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN RE-CONNECT WITH WAVES AND WIND, WITH DARKNESS OF NIGHT AND STAR LIT SKIES.
THROUGH AN UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE OF PLACE PELEE PROVIDES AN UNUSUAL PERSPECTIVE.
WHEN WE FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE PELEE THEIR HOME, OVER THE YEARS AND IN THE PRESENT, WE ENCOUNTER OUR OTHER STRENGTH. THE HUMAN COMMUNITY IS NOT ABOUT EXPERTS; IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CONNECT THE DOTS, TO SEE RELATIONSHIPS WHERE OTHERS DO NOT. LIVING ON AN ISLAND IS ABOUT LEARNING TO BE INTERDEPENDENT. HERE DIFFERENCES LEAD LESS TO ADVERSARIAL RELATIONS THAN TO THE SINCERE EFFORT TO FIND COMMON GROUND. LIVING ON AN ISLAND IS ABOUT SEEING THE PROFOUND IMPORTANCE OF THE NEXT PERSON AND OF THE ENVIRONMENT SHARED BY ALL.
THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF COMMUNITY LIVING DIMINISHES THE WILL TO CONSUME WHILE IT ENHANCES THE DESIRE TO HOLD HANDS IN A CIRCLE OF CARE.
THE EXPERIENCE OF COMMUNITY IN SUCH A SETTING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RE-ALIGN VALUES AND PERCEPTIONS. WITH THE EXAMPLE OF A VIBRANT, CARING COMMUNITY THE EDUCATION OF THE WHOLE PERSON CAN BE EXPECTED.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EXCITING LAUNCH IN 2009 CONSULT THIS SITE, OR CONTACT THE PELEE ISLAND HERITAGE CENTRE, EMAIL
curator@peleeislandmuseum.ca |
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