"Analı Kuzulu" (With Mom and Lamb) is a series of four weeklong sessions spread out over the next few months, geared towards creating an environment and space for mothers and their children to bond, share, learn and love with like-minded families in a spectacular setting surrounded by nature, the sea and the stars. Hosted at Hızır Camp, a very special spot in the heart of Mount Ida (Kaz Dağları), this will surely be a once in a lifetime experience for both mother and child to safely experience and discover nature, new friends and new activities together.
"Kampa Gidelim Mi Baba?" (Shall We Go Camping Dad?), a camp program geared towards all ages and parents, continues to host a series of summer-wide weeklong retreats for parents to share the camping experience together. Held at Dedetepe Eco Farm, a camping retreat hidden in the valleys of Mt. Ida, both camp settings offer the ideal opportunity to introduce your child to camping and new concepts of friends, animals, arts and crafts and so much more, all in the heart of nature.
Set in the Kaz Dağları, where the provinces of Çanakkale and Balıkesir meet, and overlooking the Gulf of Edremit, these weeklong programs will not only be a unique holiday experience and a chance to meet other mothers and parents but will also be a wonderful opportunity to introduce your children to nature – where home life will take place under trees and surrounded by birds and creeks. These family-oriented programs, guided by a series of sensitive, educated, experienced and nature-loving parents themselves help make this very special introduction to nature a smooth and exciting one. With activities set up throughout the day, such as nature walks, art projects or swimming in the forest's creeks, healthy food and evening storytelling by a bonfire, these two very special programs create the camping experience at its finest, equipped with fellow families and many new friends, which is intended to offer the space and environment for mothers and children to spend time together, have fun and relax without having to deal with the worries of daily life.
"Analı Kuzulu" will run for four weeklong sessions starting this Sunday through September. Each week is devoted to a specific age group and their mothers. Children from the ages of 6-10 will be the focus from July 19-25 and Aug. 16-22, and from Aug. 2-8 and Aug. 30 through the end of September, the camp will be devoted 3-5 year olds. This program is geared towards mothers and their children, and a series of activities are scheduled throughout the day to facilitate their bonding by creating, learning, playing and most importantly, learning to relax together in nature. Father's don't fret; you are also welcome to stay and enjoy this family time in the forest. But bear in mind, the scheduled activities during the day will be exclusively for children and their moms.
Led by three very special educators – Talin Büyükkürciyan, who teaches children dance and creative drama, will be joined by Burcu Tekin, a psychologist who doubles as a life coach and has a degree in theater, and Gökçe Coşkun, a violinist and music teacher who devotes her time to working with children and introducing the connection between nature and music – each day is filled with different projects and activities geared towards building bonds and skills. Some of the activities will include nature journals, origami, painting t-shirts, taking hikes and lots of games for kids to participate in, giving mothers their own chance to relax in a natural setting.
"Kampa Gidelim Mi Baba?" is another family-oriented weekly camping retreat held throughout the summer in a number of kid-friendly camping destinations. Led by Alpay Oğuş, this ongoing camping retreat series is geared towards the entire family and children of all ages. The next three camp retreats in this summer series will be held at Dedetepe Eco Farm, nestled in the olive groves at the base of Mt. Ida, yet also a short stroll from the sea. From July 19-25, and July 26-Aug. 1, two weeklong family-oriented camp retreats will be held under the theme "Ethnobotany and the Language of Nature." From Aug. 2-8, there will be a weeklong retreat on "Becoming Free with Nature," and from Aug. 23-29 and Aug. 30-Sept. 5, the "Kampa Gidelim mi Baba?" program heads to Bozcaada for two weeklong sessions, which will also include ceramic-making lessons.
Although both programs are geared towards bringing families together in nature and to safely engage in the camping experience with children, participants don't necessarily have to stay in tents, as all retreat settings offer a variety of accommodation options on site ranging from stone houses to bungalows and even yurts. Both campsites are far from the main power grid, therefore expect electricity to be scarce and supplied by solar panels and wind turbines. Internet or cellphone reception may be challenging at times, and I doubt there will be a TV screen in sight. But from another perspective, it is these challenges that draw participants to experience this sort of back-to-the basics lifestyle. The food, on the other hand, a wide range of locally sourced fresh vegetarian fare at its finest, will be divine, and the oxygen and creeks of Mt. Ida's forests will bring the legends of this mountain range alive.
Keep your expectations low on the comfort side but high in terms of relaxation and fun, and just know that this experience is all about learning to live and thrive with your child without the amenities and facilities urbanites have grown so used to. This is a unique opportunity to experience "roughing it" as it were with your child in an environment that will be nothing but tranquil, relaxing and most importantly, fun!
For more information, visit: www.analikuzulu.com and www.kampagidelimmibaba.com.
