NB Dreamtank Free School

On Saturday July 25th, Falls Brook Centre hosted its first annual Free School through the NB Dreamtank, a youth engagement program stemming from a reaction to the migration of rural youth to urban centres.  In this project the two pillars of rural life identified as deficient were employment and entertainment.  With this in mind the NB dreamtank brainstormed a free school to provide people with examples of community, and ideas for work and play.

The school brought people from throughout all the Maritimes to partake in and put on a variety of workshops.  We saw everything from wood lot management to creative writing, community development and transition towns to creating lavender wands.  We saw basic automotive mechanics to help people maintain their cars, and we saw Yoga and Pilates so people can maintain their bodies.

The roughly sixty participants were kept fed by the half dozen or so kids who gravitated toward a couple of food workshops (pies and pizza).  After supper, the students-teachers were entertained by the Singing Bridge Orchestra, an offshoot of the River Valley Arts Alliance.
 
The turnout far exceeded our expectations and yet staff members and volunteers found that the day went by without any major hitches, and would like to thank all the participants for making the First Free School a great success.  And We are excited to see you all again next year!