Events :: Culture Jam
An 8-day Gathering of Youth Who Care About The World and Its Future
August 2012 exact dates TBA
A Program of the Oregon Country Fair
What's Culture Jam?
Culture Jam is the Oregon Country Fair's exciting 8-day, sleep away summer youth
gathering located on a parcel of land at the site we call Alice's Wonderland.
2011 will mark our 10th week-long event. The youth camp is based on the
inspired Power of Hope (www.powerofhope.org) teen camp model created by Charlie Murphy and Peggy
Taylor (www.pyeglobal.org). Culture Jam is a dynamic program where youth
ages 14-18 discover their own sense of purpose and creative potential
through high-energy, experiential, arts-centered programs. Young people
have the unique opportunity to learn from and create meaningful relationships
with adult social change activists, artists and nature educators who come
to spend the week and share their expertise.
What Goes On
Creative workshops are a part of daily life: dancing, drumming, spoken word, archaeology, circus arts, theatre improvisation, fashion arts and singing, media study and community activism -- just a sampling. Writing and hip hop, painting, teaching each other things that are important to us; here there is something for everyone. Culture Jam is also a place where learning about and sharing many points of view add to the mix. Staff and youth alike are thrown into the creative soup to create a community that rocks! See some photos from camp below and get a feel for what we've been up to. Also take a look into the volunteer opportunities available to you at the event. A .pdf of our Volunteer Staff Application is available in March of each year.
How it Happened
In 2001, the OCF Board of Directors was so impressed by the exciting work that Power of Hope was doing with the young people of our world, that they voted unanimously to have the Fair sponsor a camp of our own based on the same model. In this way, the Fair can give back to the community. We are very lucky to have this incredible opportunity.
Today, after many years of careful tutelage of the Power of Hope organization and the hard work of the OCF Volunteer Youth Program Development Committee, Culture Jam has taken flight. In 2003, The City of Eugene Recreation Services got on board by providing registration, equipment, staff and scholarship support. And several charitable organizations who care about youth, especially the David C. and Lura M. Lovell Foundation of Arizona, and many generous individuals, have donated to the event financially through grant support or donations.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are central to a successful Culture Jam gathering. Every year we bring together an amazing group of youth, artists, activists, youth workers, educators, and other creative adults.
Click here for more info on volunteering -->>
Culture Jam is committed to serving youth from diverse cultures and economic backgrounds. It is within this rich mix of difference that much of the electricity of our creativity is launched. The Culture Jam experience is for those who want to take an active role in creating a positive future and have a great time in the process!
Tuition
Tuition for Culture Jam is $400.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available. Ask for the "OCF Scholarship Packet" when registering.
How to Register
Because of the immense popularity of the program we are currently rethinking our registration process. We look forward to it being less stressful than "first come, first serve." The new process will be outlined in the 2012 CJ Brochure which will be sent by snail mail in March 2012. If you are not yet on our mailing list and would like to receive the brochure via post at that time, please send us your name and address. If you would like to be notified by email how registrations will be running as soon as we decide, send us your email address and we will put you on the Registration Process 2012 email list. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this.
If you have further questions feel free to contact us:
Culture Jam!
c/o The Oregon Country Fair
442 Lawrence St., Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: (541) 465-2230
Fax: (541) 343-6554
Email Robin (robin@oregoncountryfair.org)About being volunteer staff at Culture Jam
For more information about Power of Hope, visit their web page at http://www.powerofhope.org