Authors: Ben Ruhe
Date Submitted: November 30, 2003
Article Type: Journal

After 15 years, the annual kite retreat at Junction, Texas, retains its magic. Friendly people, kitemaking around the clock, sunny weather, a big sky, interesting wildlife, peace and quiet——-that’s Junction.

Organized to a formula worked out by Betty Street and Dr. Bill Lockhart (Bettyandbill, Billandbetty, as they are known) and then continued on by regional enthusiasts after the two Texas Tech professors, of Lubbock, Texas, called it a day, the gathering over a long weekend last May emphasized casual creativity, as always.

As Scott Skinner, of Monument, Colorado, a sometime teacher at and devoted supporter of the gathering, says: “In the beginning, people filled up their class schedules, they wanted accomplishment, a finished kite. Then they saw that wasn’t the point of Junction at all, and took it easier. The hot sun makes you slow down anyway. There was no pressure. People had space to ask questions and receive immediate replies——or three hours later. You got creative ideas anywhere, from the lunchroom to the classroom to the flying field.”

PDF Link: Journal Issue