FAQs

Each child is placed in a psychosynthesis group with one of the Yunasa Fellows or Senior Fellows, and they spend time together each day in a structured psychosynthesis session. Psychosynthesis is a mode of psychology developed by Roberto Assagioli, MD, whose studies focused on the personality and soul; he emphasized the importance of integrating the unconscious with the rational, conscious mind, aiming to discover spiritual insight, identify heightened creativity, and achieve self-actualization. While different methods and techniques to employ psychosynthesis have been developed, Yunasa Fellows and Senior Fellows engage campers in guided visualizations meant to promote mindfulness and presence, support calmness, inspire imagination, develop creativity, and establish balance in mind, body, and spirit. The exercises are hinged on concentration, timing, and a focus on each breath. Psychosynthesis serves as a tool to decrease anxiety and calm a busy mind.

A Heart of the Matter session is scheduled once for each psychosynthesis group during the week of Yunasa. Individual groups meet with a Yunasa Fellow who is a licensed psychologist and their assigned Psychosynthesis Fellow for an hour-an-a-half period in which campers discuss struggles, worries, concerns, and victories from the past year. Heart of the Matter is not a therapy session, and issues of health and safety are typically not discussed. However, Yunasa Fellows who facilitate Heart of the Matter sessions clearly communicates that campers are welcome and encouraged to approach any Fellow, counselor, or IEA staff member if they have serious problems or concerns in which they need help.  

Yes. As you fill out your enrollment documents, please provide details regarding your child’s dietary requirements. Not only do both Yunasa East and Yunasa West offer gluten-free and vegetarian items at every meal, we are able to provide meal options for vegan campers, children with food allergies, and campers whose medication schedule requires certain foods at certain times.  

The camp kitchen is nut-free. If you will be packing snacks for your child, please do not pack any food items that may contain peanuts or tree nuts as we have campers with severe nut allergies! 

Cross-generational interaction is an important element of Yunasa, and each Yunasa Fellow and Senior Fellow has an interesting story to share. During Elder Chat, one of the Fellows talks about his or her life, and campers are given the opportunity to ask questions.

Every morning, before breakfast, campers congregate in a circle and participate in Call in Directions to set a tone of gratitude and intentionality as each new day begins at Yunasa. The entire group stands facing each direction – North, South, East, and West – and campers acknowledge areas they are thankful for in nature and life. Call in Direction sets a tone of gratitude and unity as each new day begins at Yunasa. 

For an example of a typical day at Yunasa, click here.