In early May, second-year students from Beaver Run and Kimberton Hills came together with peers from Copake and Heartbeet for a shared retreat at Heartbeet Lifesharing community. The community experience offered to the Pennsyilvania students before the retreat provided a hands-on immersion into the lifestyle of the community grounded in care, connection, and reflection. The experience opened up new perspectives for the students on community life, spirituality, and human relationships.
Jessy found the community experience truly amazing, “everyone was welcoming and kind. It reminded me once again of how life in an adult community differs from that in a school community. In the adult community, life moves at a slower pace, fostering a deeper sense of life sharing. There are no struggles with challenging behaviors or the need to enforce tasks as an educator; instead, everyone contributes in their own way, engaging in activities they can manage. It’s about being together, sharing life, and supporting one another. Another notable aspect was the remarkable independence of the friends and their ability to advocate for themselves, which is highly valued and respected within the community. In every situation, individuals’ voices are heard, and this practice is embedded in daily life—whether in the morning circle or during house meetings. Everyone is encouraged to express their needs, preferences, and boundaries.”
Ying-An was inspired by how the community connects everyone. “That’s the kind of community life I want to live. To take care of the earth, animals and produce our own food and what we need in life, together with everyone in the community, while people can also have their own family life at the same time. The villagers are part of the family and work and live together, and the co-workers provide support. The relationships are close in such a small community. That made me think about how to build relationships and connect everyone in our bigger community in Beaver Run, especially when people are so busy. I really appreciate that we had the opportunity to visit Heartbeet and to see the different possibilities to lead a community life, and gain inspiration on how we can bring some changes to our community.”
Carolina carried with her a set of questions—a curiosity about how deeply she would reflect this year, and what it would mean to live in another community. “The community we visited has a homey, rural atmosphere, caring for the land, and living daily. Every day is a project. Friends in Heartbeet were very sociable and always open to the newcomers that we were. They led a peaceful life, a home divided into houses, but all the houses came together to share a meal a day and various community activities. It was a pleasure to talk to the heads of households in my temporary home and to share experiences. Friends from the house approached me every day with a smile to share their feelings about past and future experiences, and to convey their peace of mind. The residents have the idea of living in the present instilled in them, which I liked because today is already hard enough without burdening themselves with more things in the future; it is evident in the peaceful life they lead.”
As the retreat came to a close, each student left with more than just memories—they carried new insights, deeper questions, and new ideas about how they might deepen meaningful connections back to their own communities.
