July 2026

Camphill Celebrates Student Achievements

On Sunday, July 12^th, our community and guests gathered for the Camphill Academy End-of-Year and Graduation Ceremony, continuing a cherished community tradition of celebrating our students’ achievements.

The afternoon was filled with live music, heartfelt appreciations, laughter, and moments of deep reflection as we honored the unique journey of each student.

We were delighted to present Foundation Studies Certificates to our first-year students: Jonas Ebert, Simon Roder, Karina Ballesteros, Ama Gyane, and Adrian Below, recognizing the completion of their first year of studies.

We also celebrated our second-year students, Vencel Rogacs, Var Khuzadyan, and auditing student Brielle Curits, who completed another significant milestone in their Academy journey.

One of the big highlights of the afternoon was the festive entrance of our graduates, Martin Brugger and Hyunjeong Lim, who processed into the hall under Elgar’s Graduation March.

Throughout the graduation ceremony, we heard appreciations from faculty members, mentors, and other community members who had witnessed the graduates’ learning journeys, their personal and professional transformation, and the many ways they have contributed to the life of Camphill California. The graduates’ speeches were especially moving. Martin and Lim received their Professional Diplomas in Inclusive Social Development with a concentration in Social Therapy.

The celebrations concluded with a lighthearted faculty skit, “The Teacher Who Carried Theosophy”, bringing smiles and laughter to all before gathering for a festive community dinner.

Many who attended remarked that the Camphill Academy is truly woven into the life of our community. Here, learning extends far beyond the classroom. We learn and grow together, and recognize that every member of the community has something to teach and something to learn. As our keynote speaker, Penelope Baring, beautifully captured in her contemplation:

“There is no end to growth, whether we are a student, a teacher, a friend along the way. Each of us in this room is a seed, like a sunflower seed, with endless potential. Never mind that we all also have this or that hindrance or stumbling block. We are here to help and support, even to confront and challenge one another as we grow. In this way the single one and the world act together in the “academy of life”.

Thank you to all who make this special journey possible!

Photos: Top - Graduates Lim and Martin with Gaya, Bottom - Ama and Karina celebrate achieving their Foundation Certificates, Martin receives his diploma from Jeanie, the First Year Students present appreciations to the faculty and staff

~Article by Gaya Mezhlumyan - Camphill Academy Program Co-Director

~Photos by Leona Boehm and Maria Stellbach

A New Chapter

July always brings change to Camphill. This year we bid farewell to four members of our community who have been with us for years, carried households, supervised students, led festivals, and so much more. We wish them all the very best in their next chapters and hope they will visit soon and often.

Martin first came to Camphill California in 2014 as a volunteer, making his home at House of Ishi. While there was no Orientation Year program at the time, there was music, a dramatic play, and eurythmy. When he returned to Europe to travel and work, he carried with him many memories and lasting relationships from his time in the community.

In 2019, Martin reached out about returning to Camphill and joining the Camphill Academy. In 2020, he returned and lived at Marimi during the Covid times, which brought many adjustments to daily life in the community. The following year, his dedication to the land found expression in a more official capacity as Garden Leader, deepening his contribution to the community.

His journey continued to unfold in meaningful ways. In 2024, Martin became Householder at Marimi and completed his fourth year of Academy studies.

This year, Martin completed his Professional Internship and received his Diploma in Inclusive Social Development, with a Concentration in Social Therapy. This journey was filled with struggles and successes, and truly hard won.

Looking back, these milestones tell the story of a path marked by commitment, growth, and service, an inspiring evolution of his journey at Camphill California.

Of his time here, Martin shared, “I think the biggest takeaway is how important it is to build relationships, and how we can come together, even if our opinions differ, once we have a relationship. I learned a lot about navigating groups in a productive and harmonious way. I feel more inspired than ever to continue to explore life and all its different aspects, recognizing the higher power that lies in each one of us."

As we say goodbye to Sashika, we share some reflections on the journey that brought her to Camphill and the experiences that have shaped her time in the community.

“When I was fourteen, I went to a camp in the wilderness, and as it is when you are young, you make instant, deep, strong friendships. From one of those ‘instant friends’, I heard about Camphill; looking back, it sure was a destiny meeting! I remember being so intrigued by what I heard. But it went to sleep in me for a couple of years.”

Years later, after completing a bachelor's degree in social sciences and gaining experience as a social worker conducting research and outreach in rural India, she found herself searching for something more meaningful.

“As much as I enjoyed it, it always felt artificial and as if I was an outsider, looking at a very small snap-shot of the lived experiences of people and trying to frame them within my limited understanding.”

Wanting to meet people at a deeper level, she remembered Camphill and applied to Friends of Camphill Bangalore, India where she stayed for six months. From there, her journey continued through studies in Inclusive Social Development at Beaver Run, Beaver Farm, and eventually Camphill California.

Sashika's friend and mentor, Penelope, shared, "I had the privilege of getting to know Sashika in her first year in Camphill Communities California.  She asked me, as her mentor, if we could study together, and so I discovered that Sashika is passionate about reading and learning. At the same time, I came to know that her greatest joy is in sharing life with others and making sure that everyone is well supported.  For the longest time, she resisted becoming a house leader because the hands-on, one-on-one care and support were what she really loved.  However, she did move into more responsibility and did so with the utmost grace, modesty, and sparkling creativity."

Reflecting on what continues to inspire her about community life, she noted the daily practice of truly meeting one another, heart to heart. “Just the idea and everyday practice of encountering each other, striving to know and embrace each other, keeps me inspired. I am so grateful that life-sharing in Camphill really gives me the opportunity to focus on the important things- being connected with the land and cosmos, striving to create beauty in our homes, taking time to cook delicious meals and nourish our bodies, celebrating life through festivals and gathering together, connecting ourselves and being visible and part of the fabric of the wider community in Santa Cruz, being on an on-going learning path and diving into the experience of being human.”



As she embarks on her next chapter, we are deeply grateful for the care, willingness, and dedication she has brought to our community. We wish her every blessing and success in her adventures ahead.

Gleice and Seth joined Camphill California two years ago as live-in coworkers. Throughout their time here, they were deeply involved in the life of several house communities, serving together as house leaders or co-leaders, while also sharing their many unique gifts with us and leaving a lasting impact on our community and on the lives of many here.

Gleice helped shape and renew many of our seasonal festival celebrations, always seeking the essential meaning of each festival and guiding the community in finding forms that were alive, meaningful, and often fun! As a beloved Academy teacher, she touched the lives of many through her courses on disability and inclusion, the art and therapeutic value of storytelling, contemporary social issues, inner work and meditation, and much more.

Seth taught us, among many things, about Social Threefolding and the dynamics of how healthy societies are built. He was always a wonderful conversation partner to many of us, bringing his unique insights to discussions on almost any topic! In addition, he led our beloved Lunch Café workshop - creating our weekly community lunch - an undertaking that required balancing many different diets and preferences, while still creating a meal the whole community could enjoy together. He embraced this responsibility with great care and did so wonderfully!

Gleice and Seth will be greatly missed, and at the same time, they will always remain part of the fabric of our community. We are also very happy that Gleice is planning to continue as an Academy teacher with us, so we look forward to welcoming her back regularly throughout the year. We extend our heartfelt thanks to both Gleice and Seth for two remarkable years of dedication, friendship, and service. Their many contributions have truly enriched our community in many ways, and we wish them every blessing in the next chapter of their journeys!

~Text for Martin provided by Jeanie Elliot, for Sashika by Misha Martin, Seth and Gleice by Philipp Jacob

Save the Date!

We're Bringing Bocce Back!

Join us at Campo di Bocce for our Second Annual Bocce Tournament!

We'll have appetizers and drinks, team play and open play, and fun for all!

Saturday, October 24th from 4-9pm

May The Road Rise Up To Meet You

Another wonderful and eventful year is coming to an end, and with it comes a moment to celebrate, reflect, and express our heartfelt gratitude.

We say goodbye to Jonas and Simon, who have spent the past two years with us, one year as volunteers and one year as Academy students.

We also say goodbye to Ama and Karina, who have shared this past year with us as part of the Academy.

And we bid farewell to Tabea, Lola, and Sarah, who completed their volunteer service year through Freunde.

To each of you: thank you. Thank you for your kindness, your dedication, your willingness to learn, and for giving this community your time, your energy, and your hearts. Each of you has helped shape our shared life in ways both big and small. You have left your own unique mark on this community, and we are richer because of your presence.

We hope that the experiences, friendships, challenges, and moments of joy you've encountered here become tools in your backpack that you carry with you each day. May the lessons you've learned continue to guide you as you step into the next chapter of your lives. We know you will contribute to the world in your own meaningful and unique ways, and we wish each of you every success and happiness on the journey ahead.

At the same time, we look forward with great excitement to welcoming Reeta, Nese, Leona, Paul, and Ygor as they begin their first year in Camphill Academy.

We are also delighted that Adrian will continue into the second year of the Academy, will be joined by Luisa, who is transferring from Camphill Special School.

And we are excited that Vencel will continue into the third year of the Academy alongside Var.

We are grateful for this strong and growing Academy community. We look forward to watching each of you discover the gifts that emerge as we live, learn, and work together. May this coming year be filled with growth, friendship, curiosity, and the many transformative experiences that community life and the Camphill Academy offer every day.

To everyone who is leaving, thank you for all you have given. To everyone who is staying and those who are just beginning, welcome to another year of learning, belonging, and growing together.

~Article by Ala Jacob - Executive Co-Director, Director of Admissions & HR

Celebration of Tom

Camphill Talent Show

This month, the community came together to mark the occasion of Tom's retirement. Tom supported Camphill with maintaince and garden help for over two decades. Tom walked beside this community for many years, offering his kindness, humor, hard work and steady presence. We lovingly dedicated a talent show to him. Thank you for all your years of service to our Community, Tom!

Interested in a career in Social Therapy?

Check out the programs offered by Camphill Academy

The Camphill Community Voices is created as a collaboration by the Development Team: Anya Hobley, Jennifer Akiyama, and Misha Martin, with help editing from Sue Rosen. Photos were taken by Anya Hobley or Misha Martin unless otherwise credited. Please feel free to reach out to communications@camphillca.org with any questions or comments.