⚡What do YOU do about Lightning?⚡

[Tasha Ball]

Hey Hive Mind of Vermont Forest School,

I'm gearing up to open summer camps at Willowell, and really needing to tighten up our systems around inclement weather. We've run camps for many years over here, and seemed to dodge the storms, but we continue to grow, and can't do this much longer.

All our camps are fully outdoors, and off the grid. We have yurts and cabins, but I have been told because they're not hooked to electricity, these are not safe in a lightning storm. I got a quote from an electrician last summer to make one cabin lightning safe, but it came to $4,000! An investment I wasn't ready to make in a small funky cabin. 

The storms we get seem to be bigger and scarier (and roll in fast). The past few years I've borrowed a bus from a school nearby and gotten all the kids on the bus to read books until the storm passes, but this really isn't sustainable for anyone (not to mention hot and crowded!).

What do you all do? Any ideas on better systems? Maybe a bigger bus we park permanently? Anybody know how to make a yurt or pavilion lightning safe? Or have any leads on folks who specialize in this?

Thanks!

Hope everyone is off to a happy and healthy 2026.

~Tasha

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Tasha Ball

she/her

Administrative Director 

Willowell Foundation 

www.willowell.org

www.willowell.org/wrens-nest-preschool

P.O. Box 314 

Bristol, VT 05443

(802)453-6195