BOM ‘treats itself

Posted by Elizabeth on August 24, 2009

I was looking at my calendar last week, somewhat amazed, and ever so slightly saddened that summer is on its last legs.  What can get me out of my funk, I wonder?
Ah yes, something that marks the final weeks of summer but also gets me pumped for the new school year—the Barrel of Monkeys retreat!

Every year, BOM goes on a retreat to Delavan, WI to spend a full day (and overnight) talking about the upcoming year.  We learn new skills and techniques, talk about the state of our company, eat lots of food sold in bulk (see Luke’s TWG entry), play the Battle of the Monkeys Stars, where we engage in fierce competition (or fierce by our standards!), play heartfelt get to know you games, and sleep in bunk beds.  Oh and then we have breakfast at Millie’s Pancake House. It’s not just a pancake house, people.  It’s a way of life.  It’s also a banquet facility. And shopping village.

I always come back from the retreat a little tired, a little dirty, and slightly injured from sort of event in the Battle of the Monkey Stars.  It’s the best!
Mostly I return excited to start doing the work we do.  Our in-school residencies begin in a few short weeks, we have new rounds of TWG to look forward to, and pretty soon we’ll be rehearsing brand new stories for our in-school performances.  The retreat is a chance for us to get together as a company to prepare for all the exciting work ahead.  It’s also a chance for us to learn from each other.  Each year company members are responsible for leading workshops, and bring their own skills to share with the rest of us. 

I feel the retreat can best be described through the art of digital photography. Ahem. Slide, please.

One of the first items of business is gathering in front of the dining hall for a brief orientation of the space.  Luke welcomes us all:

Mari and Erick get excited for the company meeting

Workshop leaders Laura and Rachel get serious about the learning that is about to commence:

Tai is excited by the snacks from Costco.  Jason looks skeptical.

While Tai doesn’t seem as excited about the folders I made as he was about the snacks, he is.  Those folders had stickers on them for cryin’ out loud!

While the red team won the Monkey Battle, Erick, Joe and Brandon show that, win or lose, whatever team you are on, we all look really foxy in our shirts.  Even though Brandon is doing an impression of a tiger, not a fox.  But you get it.

I can’t wait for next year!