Unmasking Connection
At Kindred, one of the most meaningful moments during camp is "Kindred Time," when each cabin spends time together engaging in a meaningful activity or discussion. These range from conversations about how to leave a place better than we found it with "Leave No Trace," to how to be more inclusive using an "Exclusion Circle," where campers learn tools to welcome others into an already-formed group. The goal of Kindred Time is simple but profound: build connections within the cabin, share different perspectives, and create a space for reflection.
Last summer, one cabin, White Pine, took this to a whole new level. White Pine spent their week developing a deeper, more intricate Kindred Time activity based on the “Inside/Outside Mask” exercise. This cabin had spent time together throughout the year in Kindred's year-round program, but with a smaller group during summer camp, there was an opportunity to dig even deeper.
While the campers knew each other, spending a full week together brought new layers of connection and discovery. This group navigated the challenges of growing together—learning about each other's personalities, strengths, and struggles.
The “Inside/Outside Mask” exercise became a central theme of their week, as they used it to explore their identities, the assumptions they make about others, and what they hide behind their own "masks." A mask became a metaphor for how we hide or present certain parts of ourselves. Throughout the week, White Pine reflected on these ideas during their Kindred Time, slowly building toward their final creation: personal masks that represented who they are inside and out.
On the final day of camp, White Pine emerged from their cabin with a bucket full of supplies: casting plaster, water, paints, and more. In the middle of camp, they began to create their “paper-mâché” masks. There was laughter, encouragement, and an energy of creativity as the campers poured themselves into the project. The masks they created were as diverse as the campers themselves—one bursting with color and symbols, another made entirely of sculpted eyes. Inside each mask were personal messages, reminders of the discoveries they had made about themselves and each other.
After a week of self-reflection, these campers placed their masks on full display, leaving them to dry on a picnic table in the middle of camp for everyone to see. What might look like a simple craft project became an unforgettable experience of growth, self-expression, and community for these campers.
