Mountain Justice Summer

Mountain Justice Summer Training Camp:

Kicking Off a Summer of Resistance

May 20th - 27th at the Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center in East Tennessee
Workshops | Flier | Schedule

Come kick off a summer of resistance at the third MJS training camp. Join us for a week of workshops, trainings, skill-sharing, strategizing, field trips, films, mountain music, dancing and more. Come see mountaintop removal first hand and meet community members affected by it.

This year's camp will be at the Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center, a beautiful land trust in the mountains of east Tennessee less than an hour north of Knoxville. Narrow Ridge has natural, solar-powered buildings (coal-free camp!) and is bordered by a large wilderness area. Check out their web site: www.narrowridge.org.

With an emphasis on education, strategy, non-violence and cultural sensitivity the MJS training camp will provide participants with comprehensive workshops covering the impacts and politics behind mountain top removal mining and the hands-on tactical training to take to the mountains and do something about it. Take this opportunity to share strategies and build relationships that will create an even stronger network of allies and coalitions organizing resistance to MTR this summer and beyond!

Help us put on a rockin’ camp - knowing approximately how many participants are coming is going to help us in doing that. We've got to know how many mouths to feed! Please take a minute or two to fill out the registration form and download the flier to give to all your friends.

Funds:

Folks will be asked to contribute $50 - $200 at the registration table upon arrival though no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Food for the week will be provided and camping is free. Indoor rooms are available for an extra fee.

Important Note:

Mountain Top Removal is no joke. This is an important time in a very serious campaign. Although we often joke that we will "win" because we have more fun (and we will!) many fruits will be born of our hard labor, our ability to focus, and our tendency to come together as community to get things done. Please know that as we hope there will be much music/merry making and you will be fed for the duration of the camp, opportunities to learn and share skills will be abundant and we expect each participant to be just that - a participant, with an emphasis on fully participating in workshops, discussions, and at least two community volunteer shifts (kitchen, clean up, etc.). We rock because we work and play together.

Drug and Alcohol Policy:

Following is the drug and alcohol policy of our hosts. We have adopted it and have formed a volunteer crew to help facilitate it's success (i.e. ask folks to leave if need be). If you are interested in being a part of this working group you may volunteer at the morning circle on the first day of camp.

This is the deal:

Alcohol isn’t permitted in common areas of the camp grounds. Responsible use of alcohol at your own campsite or in the camping area is allowed, however, if you are noticeably Drunk or Intoxicated this will not be tolerated and you may be asked to leave the site for the duration of the camp depending on the gravity of the situation. Illegal drugs/drug use are also not permitted on the property of our hosts. Thanks for respecting our hosts and helping to make this an awesome, productive week.

In addition, our hosts have requested that any knives that that cannot fit in your pocket be turned in and will be returned at the end of camp (we know they're tools, but they don't always look that way and it is important that our hosts maintain their great relationships with their neighbors).

WORKSHOPS WILL INCLUCE:

MTR 101
non-violent civil disobedience
community organizing
water testing
coalfield citizens panel
mountain music
cultural sensitivity
outdoor skills
ecospirituality
environmental law
coalfield safety
conflict resolution
anti-oppression
campus organizing
shadow puppet theater
consensus
security culture
active listening
and much more!

With questions/suggestions regarding workshops or if you would like to lead a workshop, contact Eric at ericblev@hotmail.com with "MJS camp" in subject line somewhere please.