Wise Fool Holds Its First Ever Stilt-a-Thon Fundraiser - published in Journal North

Wise Fool holds its first ever Stilt-A-Thon fundraiser

By Polly Summar
Journal Staff Writer
          It was like an old-time picnic where everyone just happened to know how to walk on stilts.
        Under the shade of a dozen or so elm trees at Alto/Bicentennial Park, behind Bicentennial Pool, Wise Fool held its first ever Stilt-A-Thon Saturday afternoon.
        There were 21 pairs of stilts, for youngsters to oldsters, not to mention a croquet set, hula hoops, face painting and fresh peaches for the taking.
        "It's not that hard but ... it gets kind of sore where they strap them on your legs," said Lucy Kamp, 9, of the stilts. Kamp is a veteran of Wise Fool programs, having taken "four after schools and one summer camp," she said.
        "We call it 'stilting,' " said attorney Julia Jarvis, who became involved in supporting Wise Fool several years ago when she attended the annual women's camp.
        "We were inspired by a women's circus and dance company in Brooklyn that has a handstand-a-thon," said Amy Christian, artistic director of Wise Fool, a nonprofit organization that promotes social change via the circus arts.
        Wise Fool believes in empowerment by challenging kids and grown-ups alike to do what may seem like the impossible to some: walking on stilts, "flying" on trapezes, and climbing two strips of fabric to the ceiling.
        The organization has become well-known throughout the state because of its outreach programs to public libraries and schools, not to mention its popular Circus Luminous at the Lensic and its annual circus workshop for women.
        And this summer, "we have two kids camps in Santa Fe, one in Peñasco that's free and one in Taos that charges on a sliding scale," said Katy Medley, Wise Fool managing director. Scholarships are also available for the Santa Fe programs.
        Medley said Wise Fool has so many different programs that sometimes the participants in one don't know the participants in another. Getting them all together in a joint fundraising project was a way for everyone to get acquainted.
        "And we wanted something everyone could do," said Christian, adding that walking on stilts is actually easier than walking on one's hands for most people. The trick is to keep moving, literally — keep moving one's feet up and down, or simply keep walking.
        Stilt walkers are raising money for Wise Fool's outreach and scholarships by signing up pledges. "For how long they could stay on stilts or for doing tricks," said Christian. "It's like any 'a-thon,' a run-a-thon or a walk-a-thon. We also offered local businesses a chance to sponsor large projects. One today is getting 20 people on stilts at the same time."
        For more information about Wise Fool, go to www.wisefoolnewmexico.org.