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Below are some frequently asked questions and general information about Big Heart.
Who Are We?
We are a bunch of creative earthlings, dancers, musicians, healers & helpers. At Big Heart Dance Camp (BH), we create a space of ease, playfulness, beauty, freedom and full self-expression. As the spirited land nurtures us, grounds us and connects us to our natural rhythms, we strive for peace and joy by being together creatively and consciously. We are a small-ish camp. During the week, adults & older teens only, we are approximately 35 campers and on the weekend, all ages family camp, about 75.
Where on Earth?
Big Heart Dance Camp is held at Unicamp in Dufferin County (just north of Shelburne, Ontario). Here, campers are immersed in the natural beauty of 50 acres of meadows, forests, marshes, streams, caves, beaches & a spring-fed pond, within the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve. Bunk in a cabin or dorm or pitch a tent. Unicamp is located at 638159 Prince of Wales Rd., in Mulmur, Ontario, which is about 1.5 hours North of Toronto.
Workshops: Living, Loving & Learning
During the day, campers are invited to participate in a rainbow of dance-related workshops & activities. These focus on everything from yoga, singing, mindfulness, a wide variety of dance, drumming and other healing arts. Some workshops include children while others are adults-only.
Meaningful Meals
Each day, enjoy 3 delicious home-cooked vegetarian meals from Alta's kitchen. Snack area, coffee & teas available all day. If there is special food you would like to have on hand during BH, there is a communal fridge in the Dining Hall. If you are in need of meat during your time at camp, please bring prepared meat (already cooked) and store it in the communal fridge.
Kids Camp
What Should I Bring?
Do I Need Money?
Your BH fees include all of your meals, workshops, and activities during your stay at camp. However, you may be interested in items from the BH Marketplace which features products (such as books, CDs, clothing and food) from members of the community. If this interests you, please bring cash as there are no bank machines in the area.
What is the Free Store?
When you register for BH we will send you a 'What to Bring List'. Whether you’re sleeping in a tent or a cabin, make sure you bring enough pillows, blankets, sheets and towels. Wear comfortable layers of clothing you can move and groove in, as well as warm cozies (like sweaters, jackets and socks) for evenings, which can be cool. Bring your bathing suit (or not), hat, sunscreen, bug spray, raincoat, boots & umbrella. Don’t forget your flashlight or headlamp, reusable water bottle, favourite mug, cloth napkin and flip flops for the shower.
Optional: musical instruments, fun dress-up clothes, stickers for Love Note writing, etc.
Body Work/Energy Shifters
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Interested kiddo may spend time with their peers monkeying around, where they spend the day (or part of it) making arts & crafts, playing games, going for hikes, and who knows what all else they will get up to! Younger children are also welcome with supervision. Kids Camp runs Saturday & Sunday mornings & afternoons.
Open Stage
Throughout the week, energy/body work professionals (such as massage, reflexology, life coaches - these vary from year to year) will be available to provide you with their services. Payments are made directly to the practitioners.
What else is going on?
By day, if you are not attending a workshop, we encourage free play & rest. There are many ways to nourish yourself at BH. There is The Bruce Trail system to walk, a large swimming hole for a canoe/paddle board, a swim & some sunbathing, a labyrinth, a big sand box, sign up for a session of energy/body work, write Love Notes, read under a tree, and there is always a place for a good ol’ fashioned nap or cup of tea & a chin wag!
The Free Store or Big Heart Boutique hosts a whack of donated clothing & small treasures that are up for grabs. Before camp, declutter your closets, let go of what you no longer need/want and let it become someone else’s BH treasure. It is so fun to see your old sweat shirt being 'rocked' by someone else!
On Thursday & Saturday evenings, we hold a loving open stage space where you have three minutes to sing a song, read a poem, dance or act out a story.
Need more information?
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us at bigheartdancecamp@gmail.com