CULTURE JAM! ANNUAL AUGUST GATHERING CHANGES LIVES! “As crafters, volunteers, entertainers and onlookers at the Oregon Country Fair, I think it’s safe to say we all have one thing in common. We see, dream and believe in magic. I don’t mean just that we all take part in a beautiful sphere filled with bright colors, fantastic creatures and diverse spirits. I mean we coexist in a world that we have invested in, that we have put our hearts into and are proud to shape. If you go to the Fair once, you come back with an everlasting sense of whimsy and nostalgia. If you go again, you have found something you believe in. And for those of us that go yearly, the nostalgia becomes a wish, if only life was like the Fair. I consider it one of the greatest gifts of my life that this was one of the many dreams the creators of the youth camp Culture Jam had in mind when they opened Alice’s Wonderland to four dozen youth a little over a decade ago. On that balmy summer day in 2002 I was a shy fourteen year old attending my very first summer camp and, indeed, my first whole week away from home. I hugged my mom goodbye and was left (not entirely dry eyed) in my little tent amid the trees and meadow at this idyllic Country Fair outpost. I was one of several dozen youth in every size, shape and color from all over the world. Some
of us were from the country like me, while others had never seen a forest. We were complete strangers with only one thing in common, we had a youthful resilience that let us approach a completely new experience with open eyes and open hearts in a way that would change our lives forever. We spent our time nurturing our creative sides with the help of inspiring teachers in many mediums. For the first time in my life I played unfamiliar instruments, sang in front of a group, practiced drama and improvisation, tried public speaking, painted a mural, went on a nature walk, crafted a spiritual medicine bag and brought home enough memories to last a lifetime. We went from being strangers to teammates, from teammates to family. But the true way that Culture Jam changed my life was in my perceptions of people and of the world. I was exposed to real individuals who shared their strengths and weaknesses in order to grow instead of putting on the masks that I was so used to seeing. In their problems and passions I saw a way to live my life with meaning. Ten years later these experiences still resonate with me. Thanks to these lessons I have walked on my own path filled with both hardships and inspiring successes and thrived. Beyond this I have found my own reasons to contribute to a positive change on our planet. I can’t imagine
how long it would have taken me without so many shining influences. And the friends that I made are still among my closest. Over the years I have been thrilled to see that they too have aspired to dream beyond their peers and have helped in starting to bring the change home;” from a Culture Jam graduate. Culture Jam is now in its 11th year and still going strong. Our dreams are still the same and participating in our community year round is now easier than ever. Last May, Culture Jam and Country Fair co-produced a 1-day youth gathering with Eugene City Recreation titled Be The Change. Culture Jam and City staffers came together with teens to share their visions and hopes for the future. More year-round programming is in the works. Camp dates for Culture Jam this year will be August 4-11. To learn more, find out how you can support the camp and/or get involved visit www.oregoncountryfair.org/culture_ jam.php. Thank you to the Country Fair, the donors and all the loving volunteers that come together with such amazing spirit each year to make this life-changing event a reality. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. ~Dr. Seuss
NEXT GENERATION CRAFTERS Children imitate the behaviors and actions that they observe. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Youth Booth. Kids want to sell their wares at the Fair just like everyone else. In the late 90s, roughly 35 youth spontaneously cleaned up a shack that was referred to as “The Lemonade Stand” and started selling their handmade items. The children petitioned the Board and became recognized as the OCF Youth Booth in 2000. This original group, now adults, have moved on to other positions at the Fair. Today, any youth through the age of 18 who is affiliated with a crew or craft booth can sell their handmade crafts at the booth. OCF youth may register as official Youth Booth members at any time during the Fair and may sell their crafts on any (or every) Fair day for as long as they choose. As many as 90 children have shared the booth space in a single weekend. The crafts need to meet a couple of simple requirements: they need to be Fair appropriate and be handmade. Children need to manage their own sales and be able to share their space with others. There are adult supervisors at the booth to ensure safety, help organize and keep records, but they encourage the kids to interact directly with the public and each other. So encourage all youth involved in the Fair to follow in the timeless tradition of selling their craftwork via the Youth Booth and support the kids by visiting the booth and making a purchase. The Youth Booth is located at L78.
Bustin’ Jieber
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