Activity Introduction

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

Strap in your satchels and summon your best wind walking boots. This summer, we’re headed above and beyond for a high flying adventure among the clouds!

Perched in a constellation of floating islands that drift far above the ground (hidden from Muggles and most magical folk alike) Cloudcamp is a seasonal sanctuary for curious minds, wild imaginations, and sky high ideas. Each island holds its own mystery and magic, from candyfloss groves and glittering sky beast sanctuaries, to storm forged libraries and cloud carved castles.

Over the next two months, you'll dock at new Skylands, each brimming with whimsical challenges, creative quests, and puzzling mysteries to solve. Whether you're mapping the skies, crafting cloud creatures, writing the legends of the airborn, or deciphering wind whispered riddles, there’s something here for every member of HOL ready to soar!

So unpack your dreams, bring your wonder, and get ready to float between the fantastical and the unknown. The air is crisp, the sky is calling, and your next great adventure begins above the clouds.

Cloudcamp has officially begun! Let’s see how high your mind can fly.

Things to keep in mind:
This “summer camp” activity is a little different from the other ones we've done in recent years in that you will have the opportunity to participate in making the magic yourselves! This can be anything from art prompts, writing challenges, puzzle tasks, or something outside the box. Please remember that all graphics posted directly to the forum must remain within 600x600 pixels, and if you're linking to a site outside of the HOL community you must receive permission from me in advance (keep in mind we like to avoid pages with comment sections as we cannot be responsible for what's posted).

• Note that sapphires are not included, only beans. Activities that count toward sapphire totals will restart in the new school year.

• You may post up to 10 tasks at any time between June 24 and August 31 to earn the awards available.

• This forum will remain visible through September for anyone who wishes to enjoy the tasks created along the way, so please list your own task deadlines as Tuesday September 30th at 11:59 PM HOL.

• Create your write-up intros with at least 100 words if you want credit toward awards. The task itself should not be included in this word count. There doesn't need to be any particular through line with the story, as each task can be set on it's own unique island in the clouds. You do not have to connect any of your writing to someone else’s work, though anytime you feel drawn to make references to a previous post or to continue their point of view is perfectly acceptable.

• Write in a second person, present tense format for your intros. That is to say "You walk into the great hall, offering a wave to the friend you met yesterday."

• Include a task for members to complete! Please try to make a range of tasks from written, art, and puzzles where possible to go variety, and do not repeat a task you've already done. That is to say, if you've already posted a poetry prompt, poster request, or a jigsaw puzzle, you must find other kinds of tasks to share. It's alright to repeat a similar task as someone else, but you cannot post two of the same kind yourself.

• You are not required to offer beans, however you are welcome to offer as many as 20 per task! Anyone who keeps track of how many beans they've delivered can be reimbursed on the other side of September should they reach out to me. If you need beans in advance, please let me know! Should you earn beans that you do not receive on the other side of September, reach out and we’ll be sure to get things sorted.

• Completing other people's tasks will be part of the fun and you may earn yourself some beans, however they will not count toward the awards. Only the tasks you've created yourself will make you eligible for those.

Example write-up

Subject: The Gooey Gateway

You fly over to the next island in the clouds and land your broom on an unexpectedly sticky surface. With a soft squelch, your boots sink slightly into what appears to be...marshmallow?

The island is small, squishy, and smells faintly of vanilla. Puffs of enchanted sugar fog drift through the air, clinging to your robes and crackling gently with static magic. Overhead, licorice vines hang from cotton candy trees, and somewhere nearby, something is giggling. Whether it’s a creature, the island itself, or just your imagination is unclear.

Pinned to a nearby fluff moss post is a sign that reads "Caution: Creativity Required. Only those who offer something delightful, daring, or delicious may pass."

A path winds forward, but every few steps, it sinks or shifts beneath your feet, requiring cleverness to navigate. It's clear this place wants more than just balance. It wants a contribution!

Task:*
Post an Illustration for a cook book below that showcases one of your favorite treats which includes marshmallow, remembering to keep all images posted on the forum to 600x600 pixels in size to earn yourself 10 beans. Alternatively you may share a Recipe that includes marshmallows, then describe what you love about it!

* this task is only an example, you will not receive any beans or credit toward the activity awards by completing the prompt.

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

Note the above information has been updated to relay that, when offering beans, you are welcome to give as many as 20 per task for reimbursement. Should someone who has offered beans wind up going MIA on the other side of September and you have beans earned that have not been delivered, please let me know and we’ll make sure you’re awarded the appropriate amount!

Also to clarify, neither your task write-ups nor the tasks themselves must take other people’s into consideration. If you wish to make connections or references to those which have been done previously, you’re welcome to, but this is not required, and so long as you don’t repeat a same task you yourself have already done it’s alright to repeat the same task someone else has posted before you.