2024 Class List

Morning Session (8:10-10 a.m.)

What makes a good reporter? What is newsworthy? How can I be sure what I read is true? What in the world is a lede? Learn the basics of news writing and reporting ethics while creating a camp archive for web and print. As a Harold reporter, you will be responsible for documenting memorable camp highlights in a daily newspaper distributed to the camp and preserved online, all while learning what makes news, news. Be the eyes, ears, and voice of Satori 2024!

Course restrictions: Must be a returning Satori camper; high school students only.

One of the most common class of reactions is acid base chemistry. This simple reaction does everything from dying our clothing to digesting our food. We’ll explore the pH scale and investigate some common reactions such as making soap.

Singer, conductor, teacher, actor, Tamara Schupman would love to have you join in some Musicking during Satori.  We will explore singing, movement, expression, and creativity.  The class will be focused on the voice, but if you play instruments, bring them!

Ichi! Ni! San! Shi! Students will learn basic karate, judo and self-defense techniques taught in the authentic martial arts atmosphere. The course will include moving basics, kata, basic throwing and falling techniques and knowledge of Eastern culture. The concepts of dignity and respect will be emphasized along with a strengthening of the spirit, which allows the student to push back the limits of their physical prowess.

Participants will become involved with defining and developing solutions for international (and global) problems and disputes. Imagine that you are a member of an international organization charged with solving a major controversy between two or more nations. How do you define the problem? Who are the stakeholders? Will a particular solution generate further problems and/or controversies? This very timely course will require research, creative problem solving, and in-depth discussion (perhaps even debate!)

In this course students will discuss the largest environmental issues human society faces today and how we can possibly overcome them to live healthier, more sustainable lives. Topics include humans as invasive species, problems with our food system, natural resource conservation, and exploring innovative solutions.

Experience the exciting world of land surveying and geomatics and discover a career where history and technology intersect to measure the world. We will explore land surveying theory, mapping, drones and laser scanning used to design and build projects from your neighborhood fence to freeways, buildings and beyond.

Midday Session (10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.)

Delve into the art of creating Zines; self-published booklets or magazines for self-expression through writing, art, and collage. You will develop skills in storytelling, illustration, and design, while crafting personalized Zines on whatever topic you’re currently obsessed with or want to share information about. At the end of the week, we’ll make copies of our zines and trade them with others in the class so you can go home with an inspiring collection of Zines.

You have probably talked about him in school. You have probably read or seen Shakespeare performed, probably in movie form. So why are we still doing these dusty 400 year old plays? Let’s really dig into the cannon, and see what makes these timeless stories tick. Let’s learn about the smart, funny, and often bawdy Bard.

People in today’s world are more connected than in any other point in history, and yet many people often feel detached from others. In order to maintain healthy bonds with each other, humans need to be able to genuinely connect! In this class, you will learn about the science behind relationships and communication, including ways to make friendships stronger. We’ll take a multidisciplinary approach to learning about how our friendships affect our health, and we’ll build community by exploring social rituals throughout history and among cultures around the world.

Satori, by the Zen Buddhist definition, is a state of sudden spiritual enlightenment. In this class we will explore not only the meaning of Satori, but the culture that surrounds it. We will study both the Japanese language and the writings of the Japanese. Students in this class will even get to use Japanese calligraphy and make their own Kanji. Prepare to be enlightened!

Art Block who? This class explores art-making through a playful, curious and intuitive approach to better access art’s superpower skills of creativity, problem solving and self-care. This studio class will be comprised of mixed media warmups and exercises, projects, self-reflection and group discussions.

Speculative fiction is a broad umbrella term that encompasses fantasy, sci-fi, horror, alternate history, and many other genres. In this class we will discuss tropes and examples of different types of speculative fiction worldbuilding, from Narnia to The Expanse. We’ll analyze genre conventions and assess the strengths and weaknesses of related tropes in different types of stories and mediums, from building your own Dungeons and Dragons setting to planning out a sprawling intergalactic space opera. Based on our discussions and analysis, we’ll do some preliminary worldbuilding of our own, both in small groups and as a whole class. Come prepared to talk about your favorite works of fiction and how they might inspire your own worldbuilding!

Iokwe aolep, Aloha, Talofa, and Hafa adai! Come learn about Oceanic culture including history, music, ukulele, dance, and some language. You do not need musical experience to enjoy this class.

Afternoon Session (1:10-3 p.m.)

Clean energy solutions are needed all over the world as energy demands increase and we continue to understand how the use of fossil fuels affects the world we live in. Fuel cells and hydrogen are one way that these energy needs can be met without harmful byproducts. In this class you will learn about hydrogen production, storage and transportation, and how fuel cells use hydrogen to produce electricity. During the week you will have the opportunity to see a functional fuel cell system and the components that make it work.

From acting to directing to designing and more, every creative choice in the theatre is informed by historical and modern-day perspectives. Dramaturgy, the art of the theatre, explores the intersections of history, language, culture, creative writing, and design. In this class campers will read and discuss scenes and short plays, analyze production photos, and build a creative “toolbox” for bringing a production to life.

Want to learn some basic dance steps? Put on your dancing shoes (or just closed-toe shoes in general) and learn how to get your boogie on in the following styles: Hip Hop, Jazz, Modern, Tap, and Broadway.

This class will explore how pop culture and pop music intertwine.  We will discuss why music and media trends become popular.  How do pop music and social movements become trends? What is a fad and what is a tradition?  In the end, we will discuss why we play the songs at the annual camp dance.

Older than science, books and even math; language has been the hallmark of humanity. It binds us together and makes us a community. Campers will look at examples of a variety of languages, from Latin to Klingon and German to Elven, to learn the basic fundamentals of Linguistic Theory and to construct their own secret language.

Grab your swords, spears, and sandals! As long as there have been humans, there has been mythology to explain our reality. In this class, we will analyze the form and function of mythology with examples from history. You will have a chance to craft your own myths to better understand the process and evolution of myth creation. We will also discuss how mythology can be applied to our lives in the 21st century. Launch “1,000” ships and create your own myths and legends!

This class will examine and discuss famous short stories from famous contemporary and classic authors, as well as working on short stories of our own throughout the week. The class will work together through creative exercises and peer editing. At the end of the week, we will make a small digital magazine of the stories we worked on.