By Dylan McDonough
Welcome back to the Camp Roger Report where I report on my outdoor homeschool education program. This day’s theme was called “Native Americans.” This report will be written from the viewpoint of a feather.
I woke up this morning with the most dreadful bedhead ever. I had to turn myself right side up in the nest to start working on my crooked quill. The birds were already off for the day leaving me here alone. Down below, I could hear kids’ voices. I was sure the birds would not mind me having some adventure as I let myself flutter down from the nest onto the leaf-covered ground of Camp Roger. All of the campers were gathering in the main cabin called Algoma. I quickly snuck in just before the door closed. I hid behind a trash can as Reuben read the kids a devotional.
After the devotional, the big group of kids split up into their smaller clans. I was just about to go back to the tree when a huge swarm of excited campers swept me away outdoors. I guess I did not have any choice now! Hannah was the group’s leader as we ventured out. I stuck my quill in someone’s boot until we arrived at an Indian yurt. Hannah showed us games that Indians would play to either work on their skills for hunting and survival or games just for fun. We played a game called “Flinch” that works on being calm and aware. Another game was where two kids would face each other and try to make the other one laugh. Asher, Minte, and Dylan were not good at this game because they would burst out laughing two seconds into the game!
Soon we went back inside the yurt and Hannah explained to us how Native Americans told stories to each other and how important it was. Indians used storytelling for entertainment, spiritual reasons, and more. Hannah read two of her favorite picture books from her collection called “That is Not a Good Idea!” by Mo Willems and “The Book with No Pictures” by B.J. Novak. I would highly recommend both of these books to you. Lastly we practiced the art of storytelling by sharing stories from our own lives.
It was really a lot of fun, but we had to go back to the main area of Boy’s Hill. While the campers were eating their snacks, I headed back to the nest. Suddenly I
realized the day wasn’t over and kids were already leaving for the next adventure. I flew out of the nest as fast as I could and tried to keep up. To save a little more time, I went with Sarah, who had her group inside. Sadly, they were only inside for a tiny bit, and when I finally stumbled upon the door…it flew open sending me hard against a wall. As soon as I recovered, I had catch up with the rest of the group.
Sarah led us to a fire pit where Reuben was preparing some kind of food that Native Americans used to make. I could only imagine what it could be. Our next stop was the tree house. The kids immediately ran towards the railing that loomed over a 50 foot drop and started looking for things to throw over. Unfortunately, I was one of their victims. Down, down, I went. I knew it was going to be a hard landing. But wait! I am a feather, I can almost float! It was very relaxing for a while until a big gust of wind swept me into a tree that surprisingly was level enough for me to climb back into a window of the treehouse. The kids were using rocks and bricks to smash corn kernels to make cornmeal just like Native Americans did. One time Asher was using a cinder block to smash and it completely collapsed in his hands! Dylan started singing, “I’ve Been Working on the Corn Meal” to the rhythm of the kids’ banging. After about ten minutes, Sarah announced that we did not even have enough cornmeal for one pancake! Wowzers! How did the Indians feed a whole tribe?
It was sadly time to go, until I remembered about Reuben’s Indian meal waiting for us. It was cinnamon covered fry breads! This was another type of food Indians used to make. I was so excited that I almost forgot that feathers do not eat. Soon it was time for lunch. I was certain that when I heard there is going to be another Camp Roger day, I will be the first one there!
After lunch, Reuben read us a story called “The Legend of the Sleeping Bear” by Kathy-Jo Wargin. It was a legend that Native Americans told of how the Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan came to exist.
The last adventure came and this time I went with the group that had Julia as a leader. She was going to show us how Indians defended themselves using the archery range! Cue the dramatic music! Not archery! One of the fears of being a feather is being used for an arrow! I can’t watch! The campers though, seemed to enjoy it, and many kids were very good at it. For me, it was all sickening to watch.
After the campers had some good shots, they were told to find a straight stick that they could use as a spear. The kids were led up a steep mountain to throw the spear sticks through spinning hoola-hoops. I stayed back at the bottom. It was a whole lot for one day, but it was definitely worth it. When I got back to Boy’s Hill they were already starting to leave and from the nest I watched them go.
Camp Roger is full of exciting adventures. I will no doubt be returning soon! You should go too!
