(Shared by Americorps Service Member, and first time camp leader, Amber Waldroup)
Just after lunch on Monday, June 26th – 48 campers, 1 teen leader, and 5 adult leaders pulled away from the Oglethorpe County Extension Office headed for a week away from parents, some for the first time, to experience the adventure Rock Eagle held for them.
Upon arrival at the sacred campus, luggage, kids, and leaders were sorted into cabins. Thanks to renovations at Rock Eagle, the cabins aren’t the same as many of us may remember from our own camping days. A central living room features a couch and chairs, plus four small tables and chairs. It is a cozy spot for gathering, or playing a new favorite game with your Milk Mama or Daddy. Behind the locked housekeeping area is a large patio that quickly became home to drying beach towels and bathing suits. Each camper room features two twin bunk beds, four vanities with lights, drawers, counter space, and an ensuite bathroom.
On Monday evening, the kids quickly learned the ropes of the dining hall at their appointed time. Campers from each tribe had a dining section. Cherokees to the right, Muskogees (our tribe) in the center, and Shawnees to the left. A swipe of your meal card let you into the turnstile where you got your tray. The food was served by friendly cafeteria staff who happily handled any dietary needs. Lunch and dinner offered large beverage dispensers of lemonade and punch in different flavors, plus water in coolers and dispensers. Water was a hot commodity that week! Most of our campers found the meals to be very pleasant, and some were very disappointed that they couldn’t go back for seconds! The adults only coffee and tea stations were much appreciated, especially as the week went on!
After figuring out the dining hall, campers left for their first Tribal Meeting with their counselors while the adults went to our first leaders’ meeting. Each tribe had their own area, and the counselors and tribal Micos, or chiefs, joined them to give them an overview of the day and preview of the next day. The adult meetings were similar, except that with much smaller numbers, any problems or concerns could easily be addressed. We brought anything to the Mico’s attention that could be passed along, and we also offered our “glows” of the day to highlight the best classes and/or counselors we encountered.
When the business of the day was completed, the nighttime activities got started! Monday night’s activity was held on Pageant Grounds. We learned the layout of the camp quickly as we moved from one building and area to the next! Our campers sat in the center of the tribes again, on the hill facing the lake. The counselors and Micos sang and danced as they told the story of the three tribes, and how they went from one peaceful nation to three warring tribes. With the light from the fire glimmering up from the bottom of the hill and sounds of the crickets and frogs, the campers (and adults) could almost feel ourselves being transported back to the land of the Muskogee, Cherokee, Creek, and Shawnee in a time that was long before technology, pavement, and mini buses.
To round out the first night, the sixth graders, known as blue strings, got to have their first special event. They got to go night swimming at the exciting Pool #2! This pool has a slide and a deep diving well. This nighttime swim is highly anticipated, and is one of several special events for blue strings at Rock Eagle.
When we were back in our cabins, we had our first visit from our Milk Mama or Daddy. Each counselor was responsible for visiting a cabin daily and bringing milk or juice to the campers. One of our cabins had Oglethorpe County’s own Kate Spearing as our Milk Mama. Kate just graduated from OCHS and was the President of our 4-H club for several years. After the Milk Mamas and Daddies left, there was a scramble to get ready for bed because “lights out” is very serious business at camp! The Tribal Counsel checks throughout the night to be sure that no room lights are on. Campers need their sleep, because they are kept VERY busy during the day!
Bright and early Tuesday morning, and every morning thereafter, the kids were given their wake-up calls. Not only did they have to get dressed and get everything they needed for the entire morning, they had to clean their cabin! Cleaning meant beds were made, towels were hung neatly, all clothes were in suitcases or drawers, no personal items were in showers, the vanities were neat and orderly, the floors were clean, and all trash was taken out. While the kids were off having fun in their classes, inspectors from each tribe would come around and check each cabin. The goal was a green star, and the hope was winning the Thunderbird award for the cleanest cabin. Our boys’ cabin won the award one day during their Tribal Meeting!
Classes that the kids got to take included herpetology (who knew hognose snakes make good pets?), crafts, swimming, canoeing, lake ecology, archery, nature hikes, HOP! (smoothie making), wet games, and more swimming. The sixth graders got to do special classes, such as the high ropes course, the sling shot, and sailing. The fourth and fifth graders, called red and white strings, are divided up into different rotations and placed with other kids from different counties and tribes. This allows kids to make friends with many different people from all over the state. The adult leaders are placed with those rotations and stick with the same group of kids throughout the week. These adult assignments ensure that there is enough supervision for the kids during each activity, and helps build bonds with the campers. We get a chance to make new friends too! The wet games all happen on Thursday, and the blue strings have their own special hike and hot dog cookout in the high ropes area Thursday.
The evening activities differed each night after the Tribal Meetings and adult leader meetings. Tuesday night was a presentation by a Native American speaker. He told the history of his people, and explained the story of how Native American tribes lived in this area. Wednesday night was the Variety Show and Dance for the red and white strings, and the Night Hike for the blue strings. The Variety Show featured acts by campers and counselors. Some were funny, and some were truly talent. Then, at the Dance, the kids kicked back and cut loose. Those who were tuckered out could play games, but others enjoyed showing off the skills they learned in our line dancing class prior to camp! The Night Hike concluded with a bonfire and s’mores. Finally, Thursday night featured the Slide Show and Tribal Games. Thirty minutes of exuberant kids watching for their friends—and themselves—then cheering loudly when they saw each other is truly something else!
But as we moved quietly toward the Pageant Grounds, there was a shift in the atmosphere. The kids could taste the anticipation, but they weren’t sure what was coming. There was singing and dancing as the counselors told more stories of the distance between the tribes. Fire fell from the sky! Part of the story includes coming together for games. Campers were chosen to participate in these games, with points awarded to the winners, which would go towards the tribe’s total points. We had several kids chosen to participate in the games! Then, we sat in awe as we watched all the counselors tell the legend of how the effigy at Rock Eagle came to be. The beautiful, bittersweet tale, danced and acted out around the campfire, surely touched a spot in each child’s heart.
After the Pageant, and unfortunately losing the Games, we headed back to the cabins for one last meeting with our Milk Mamas and Daddy. There was time for pictures, hugs, and lots of laughter. There were reminders of what needed to be done before we could leave, and how early we had to get up.
After the latest night yet for the adults, the 6:00am wake up call, we prepared to head home! All the luggage was packed and moved outside. All the sheets, pillowcases, and blankets that belonged to Rock Eagle were stripped from the beds. All the bunks were remade with fresh linens. All the trash was taken out again. And again. All the drawers were checked and under the beds were searched. The decorations from the front porch were taken down. And by 8:00am, every one and every thing was out of cabins 54, 56, and 57. Our counselors were there for inspection, and we all passed. The mini bus was reloaded, and we headed to breakfast, then yet another hill for the awarding of the Tribal Shield. This was the culmination of the week’s worth of cleaning, participation, and Pageant Games points. The Cherokee broke a three-year drought and beat us out, but we still had a blast!
Then, tired, weary, sunburned, stinky, and ready to see our families, Oglethorpe County loaded that big yellow bus to head home. Just over an hour later, kids poured off the bus into the arms of parents and siblings who missed them like crazy! Luggage was again sorted and distributed, and everyone scattered like feathers in the wind. Lots of naps, laundry, and showers happened. Lake water, sand, and mud washed away.
But one thing will never be erased. Those 48 kids had the time of their lives. Many didn’t want to leave, but wanted to go home—what a conundrum. Lots did things they were afraid to do when they arrived, but they did them anyway. Several battled through homesickness and found courage and confidence when they didn’t think they had any. A couple are already counting down to next year, and we don’t even know where we’re going yet! I think they all were changed in one way or another. And I think that makes for a successful camp!