June 2026

The Boy Who Found a Home:

A Puppet Show 

In the Camphill Academy, our first year students take a series of music and performing arts classes in order to receive an introduction to a variety of movement and performing arts: singing, music, eurythmy, speech, drama, and puppetry. Each discipline offers the opportunity to develop skills and perhaps discover an interest or gift previously unknown. In practicing the arts, there is always a moment of meeting oneself: strengths and weaknesses, which, when transformed through artistic work, can change one’s attitude and way of meeting the world. 

In Puppetry class the students were asked to think about someone who had a great impact on their lives. They then crafted, using felting techniques, puppets based on these people. Working together, they then wrote a short Fairytale based on the characters the puppets represented. They called this story, The Boy Who Found a Home. It was a sweet tale about a boy on a journey, his rabbit friend and a sweet old couple longing for a child. The boy is helped on his adventure by his guardian angel and a fairy. They all eventually make their way to each other and live happily ever after. The students acted out their story, using the puppets they created, for our community. Jonas narrated the story, Ama, Karina and Adrian were the puppeteers and Simon played guitar as musical accompaniment. The students wrote the play, created their puppets, and presented an engaging, visually stunning show for us in five weeks!  

~Article and photos by Jennifer Akiyama - Camphill Academy Program Administrator

In Loving Memory of Sema Rosen

Our dear friend Sema passed away peacefully on June 9th. Sema was with us here in Camphill for thirteen years. After much deliberation on her part and with the support of her family, she made the choice to move to the San Francisco Campus for Senior Living last year. She loved her time there and was surrounded by friends and adoring staff.

The following remembrance of Szilvia was written by Szilvia Budai:

I always enjoyed meeting and spending time with Sema. One never knew where the conversation would take us: plants, art, gourmet ingredients, history, the latest news, music or our families. I learned a whole lot about the first AI robot, Shakey, as Sema's father was the project manager. Sema had knowledge of so many interesting topics.

She was well aware of some of the challenges she carried, and as the years went by, I experienced her growing resolve to work on these challenges, trying to "get along with everyone”.

Sema loved eurythmy, not only watching performances, but moving with others in small groups. She was keenly interested in the origins and essence of eurythmy. Exploring the qualities of sounds together, and relating them to movement, tones and colors was an artistic process for both of us. I felt that as her physical strength was weakening, her inner peace and capacity to engage with the world was strengthening.

I will miss Sema as a friend and cherish the experiences and times we had together.

~Remembrance by Szilvia Budai - Camphill Academy Teacher

~Photos by Anya Hobley and Jessi Park

Brielle Steps Into a New Role

The transition from spring to summer is reflected in a change of leadership at House of Ishi. We will soon be saying a bittersweet farewell and thank you to our dear Householder, Sashika, as she passes the baton to our coworker, Brielle.

Brielle’s journey to Camphill California began while she was researching opportunities for a calmer, more balanced pace of life. She found the peace she was seeking when she joined Chrysalis House as a volunteer in 2022. (Plus, the appeal of being just ten minutes from both the forest and the beach was an added bonus!) What she didn’t expect to find at Camphill, however, was a place where she didn’t just fit in, she absolutely flourished.

For the past two years, Brielle has also been a part of the Camphill Academy. The Academy classes have fulfilled more than she ever expected, giving her the feeling of: “This is a full circle moment, this is my connection!” As her time at Camphill evolved, so did her curiosity about leadership roles. When the need arose for a new Householder at Ishi, she took the initiative and gave her heart to the task. “The role sounded fun, and it was something that I felt I had the will for,” Brielle shared. “It's beautiful how Camphill provides this rhythm to feed the soul, feed the spirit and our well-being in general.”

It's safe to say that we are all deeply appreciative of the energy she brings, which can best be described as a splash of color for House of Ishi and the community as a whole. Brielle shared that she is excited to be part of the residents’ lives and biographies and to support them on their life journeys. She hopes to help guide House of Ishi and the individuals who reside there toward living to their greatest potential and purpose. Reflecting on this new role, Brielle stated, “This is an opportunity to step outside yourself and look outside of your own needs and be part of a bigger picture and do something good, while also supporting house members on their journey through life.”

~Article by Misha Martin ~ Development, Marketing and Outreach Assistant

Sasha's Adventures Continue at the NAC Conference

Vencel and Sasha flew to New York and then took the train to Spring Valley for the NAC Conference where they met up with Bryan Z and Anya.

On Friday, Seth gave a talk on Social Threefolding.

We joined different workshops. I had Drama.

Vencel joined a Camphill Academy talk and collage making.

I also watched a movie about Karl Kornig and joined the Bell Choir. Vencel took a walk around the property.

We drove with Takeshi to Triform. I showed my friend different workshops at Triform. We also took a trip to the Claverack Library and to Camphill Ghent. The next day Tim took Vencel and me to see different workshops, like Cafe, Seed, Candlemaking, and Woodworking. We saw the Hall and the Ita Wegman House at Camphill Copake. The two of us stopped by the Cafe to see Andrea Baring. We had lunch with Rebecca Bissonnette. Rebecca and I talked about scuba diving. Rebecca and Sasha took a picture of the Triform Plaque that my mom made.

After that our visit at Triform was over. Takeshi took us to visit Camphill Hudson and then to the Albany airport. Vencel and I flew Southwest back to San Jose and Var picked us up.

~Article and some photos by Sasha V - Camphill Friend

Interested in a career in Social Therapy?

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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.