Feelosopher’s Path

I put my daughters (8 and 11) into Feelosopher’s Path’s Adventure Summer Camp in 2014. My daughters are shy and have a very hard time joining group activities, especially when they don’t know anyone. They also tend to have a «can’t do» attitude about new activities. For that reason, they generally hated summer camps. They hated CuriOdyssey, Marine Science Institute, Galileo, Steve & Kate’s, you-​name-​it. Feelosopher’s Path’s stated goal for camp was to encourage kids to become more adventurous and independent — at a gentle pace. I figured it was worth a try.
Well, this was the first summer camp where I did not have to drag them there every morning. On the first day, as usual, my daughters hung behind me during check-​in and stared worriedly around. Erin immediately got down to their eye-​level and started chatting. By the time I finished checking in, both girls were relaxed and conversing and I saw them join the other kids before I left. Every morning, they were eager to put on their new wristwatches (part of the camp equipment list) and go on another exploration. And my non-​outdoorsy, non-​hiking girls hiked to the Angel Island campsite carrying all of their own gear and came back dirty and joyous.
After the camp ended, both girls were adamant that they wanted to return. By June of 2015, they were asking on a weekly basis if Feelosopher’s Camp was the next week! They were so excited. They had just as much fun at FC Adventure Summer Camp 2015.
Feelosopher’s Path is a great organization. It truly feels to be that Erin and Hiro create community. This isn’t just about keeping the kids busy for the summer with activities. They are taught to be part of a larger world and to become more independent and more caring. The school year programs don’t work with our schedule but they sound awesome. We will be back for the summer camp and someday we hope our kids will feel independent enough to say they want to go to Japan for the sister summer camp. That would be a milestone.
I will finally add that having Hiro and kids come from Japan to run/​attend the summer camp is wonderful. It shows the kids that there is a whole world to explore.

There are no words with enough depth of appreciation to reflect our great experience at Feelosopher’s Path. Our son has unique challenges in Autism that make it hard for him to be a part of any group. Erin, Hiro & all the very special people here went out of their way to not only accommodate & support our son’s special needs, but made him feel an important part of the group. So often lofty, idealistic philosophies apply only to «typical children»; and those who need it the most just can’t access the group. Feelosopher’s were genuine and true to their FEELosophy– to every child in the group-​each specific individual as part of the whole. We can never thank you all enough. This vision brought to life is making massive ripples in the world, one child/​one family at a time.

Just walked into Feelosophers Path and I continue to be impressed. one student in the living room getting instruction from Hiro via FaceTime, another student at the patio table with Erin, and my son reading to another tutor on the picnic blanket. just cool — thank you for bringing your vision to life!