A Native Tradition Living On At The Creek

June 3, 2014

With an activity that’s been around since the beginning of camp (along with swimming and mountaineering), it’s understandable that we would hope that some of the traditions wouldn’t be lost in Indian Lore’s move from the East side of camp to its new location. It has been one of the trademark features of camp that boys have loved since Jim Kurtts introduced the program in 1968.

But in Indian Lore’s move from Iroquois to its new location overlooking the creek on the North side of camp, nothing was lost in the shuffle. With the new location, the area has acquired a new lodge, a new field to grow a garden of strawberries, Jerusalem artichokes, sunflowers, and squash, and as well as having a new view. Best of all, the area will have Kurtts, the original counselor who wrote the curriculum.

In the program this year, Kurtts intends to include a focus on wood-crafting skills (which includes knife sharpening and fire building) harkening back to the pioneer days when they depended on the land for all of their needs. Campers will learn to survive off the land using Native American tactics that have been used for hundreds of years

The new lodge, according to Kurtts, will stand roughly the same size and area of the old lodge but will include a large field complete with log-made bridges for ceremonies and dances.

In addition to all the new frills, the campers will be allowed to continue some of the original activities that have made the activity popular with campers, including costume building and traditional dance and song practice.

John Granatino