"Let's assume I'm a new student at ECRS. How do I see the process here and what might it mean to me? One thing I may notice is that the person leading the activities is looking straight at me... but soon I notice that she is taking in every other person as well. When the leader looks my way again, I begin to feel differently about it, maybe even a little pleased. I remain as anonymous as I choose to be, but I still count as an individual... I am relieved that I am not required to do anything I don't want to do, and if I do participate, whatever I do is OK..."

» THE BASIC SIX

ECRS programs offer a variety of classes and activities, starting with the "basic six" forms of recreation: games, dancing, singing, crafts, dramatics, and theory.

• Games, including cooperative and multi-generational, indoor and outdoor, active and quiet, mental, dramatic, singing.

• Dance, including folk dancing, line dancing, regional and international, square, contra, ballroom, and novelty dances.

• Singing, including simple songs, songs with parts, round singing and harmonizing using quality folk material, and leadership techniques.

• Crafts, including weaving, puppetry, paper and nature crafts in a supportive, experimental environment.

• Dramatics, including spontaneous and rehearsed, improv games and skits, and recreation of small scenes from theater.

• Theory, including effective leadership practices, recreation for special populations, program planning, and often represented throughout the other classes with practice teaching and evaluation.

Additional activities include anything from creative writing to exploring outdoors, from drumming to personality development -- and much, much more.

The ECRS Experience is about enjoying super folk dancing, yummy late night snacks, contagious laughter, making new friends, rediscovering old friends, quiet games, boisterous games, imaginative informal dramatics, riveting small scenes, playful puppetry, firelight singing and listening, learning leadership skills, and most importantly, being with others and yourself.