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I just wanted to share what I have got from the NNN over the last five years. I was told about it by a friend, who was going to a camp (thanx natalie). She told me I would love it, and we joined especially to go to camp.
I took Rosie and Jasper to a traditional campsite for a week before my first camp began, then on to NNN camp at Atlow. The contrast was startling. At the traditional campsite, I don't think I talked to another adult all week, certainly nothing more meaningful than weather conversations. The childrens activities were just for children, so they weren't keen to do them, and the evenings were bingo and disco sessions in a smoky bar. At NNN camp we met people who actually liked children and had fun hanging out with them. How radical! All the activities were aimed at any age, anyone could join in, and was valued and supported doing so. It was really refreshing to communicate with people who had thought deeply about raising their children, and were interested in doing the best job they could. No topics seemed to be off limits, people made an effort to communicate honestly, support was freely and generously offered and accepted. And I wasn't the most weird person there!
As we drove out of the field, Rosie told me that she had had the best holiday of her life. We all agreed. Because I have been a full time student or working since joining the NNN, I have never managed to get to a local group meeting, but I have valued both the camps and the newsletter. I don't expect that we will go to another formal NNN camp (Rosie and Jasper both love the Devon camp, and we can only do one a year), but we have loved and valued being part of the organisation.
Hurrah for the last ten years, looking forward to the next ten.