Day Four of Frontier Week is all about eating. My kind of day!
Way, way back on day one, each Tribe submitted to Kyle a list of ingredients. This seemingly haphazard list will have become, in 3 days’ time, a full-blown, multi-course meal. That is the magic of Owego’s Frontier Week.
Once the teams are announced at break-out, the meal team begins to take shape. Typically, each Tribe’s meal team is composed of Hi-Seniors who have experience with meal prep in a previous Frontier Week, or who simply love to cook and have a talent for it! A great FW meal is palatable and tasty, while also being creative and reflective of the Tribe’s culture. For example, if the Tribe is known for living near water and getting its sustenance by fishing, the FW meal should incorporate some type of fish.
Kyle receives this list of ingredients from each meal team and determines what items can be provided by the Owego kitchen, and what requires a trip to the grocery store. We don’t require meal teams to go into the woods with a bow and arrow — just on a short drive to the Weis market in Lords Valley. Things like basic seasonings and sauces, starches, and common fruits and vegetables are easy to find at camp. But depending on how creative the Tribe’s menu becomes (think fresh mozzarella, chipotle mayo, and miso paste), there may be a need to look elsewhere for more “out of the box” ingredients.
While the shelter is under construction at the Tribe’s campsite, the meal team begins to build its stoves. Step one, they dig a hole. Step two, they line the outside of the hole with large rocks. And…that’s pretty much it. On the day of meal judging, the meal team builds a small fire in the stove and feeds it kindling until it reaches a temperature well-suited to cooking. All of this is achieved through skill and instinct alone. The Camp Craft lessons that Owegans learn throughout the summer all lead to this Frontier Week challenge. Can you build a shelter that will stand freely and protect your Tribe from the elements? Can you cook a meal using only rocks and fire?
The final meal is presented on a menu, with each course described in mouth-watering detail. The meal teams spend hours in the dining hall, prepping ingredients and assembling dishes to be cooked at the campsite. Each Tribe is allotted a certain number of pots and pans, as well as a variety of cooking utensils. It is always impressive to see what these Frontier Chefs are capable of putting together with just an idea and an open flame!
The final stage of campsite meal is the judging! Just before dinnertime, a handful of Key Staff begin to trek through the woods, from one campsite to another, until all 6 meals have been presented, sampled, and evaluated. The Tribe presents each course of its meal to the judges and explains the thought process behind their decisions. Meals should be well-cooked and tasty, of course, but also unique and appropriate to that Tribe’s lifestyle. Once the judges have completed their taste test, they move on. And that’s when the real eating begins! The entire Tribe dines together at the campsite on steak and french fries that have been “professionally” prepared in the confines of the Owego kitchen!
And who could forget dessert? Earlier in the day, the Juniors from each Tribe participated in a cake decorating contest. The Owego kitchen provided a beautiful sheet cake to each Tribe, and the Juniors were tasked with using icing, candy, and other toppings to decorate it with the name of the Tribe and any other symbols or images that represent the Tribe. The cakes always turn out looking fantastic and tasting delicious! Once they are judged (for appearance only) the Tribe enjoys the cake as a sweet ending to the campsite meal. You can rest assured that no one in camp will go to bed hungry tonight!
The fifth and final day of Frontier Week is on deck for tomorrow, and everyone’s spirits are still high. The events slated for tomorrow could very easily turn the tide of Frontier Week and make it anyone’s victory. First up in the morning will be the Medicine Man’s Mission, which is a scavenger hunt all over camp for items like pieces of furniture, athletic equipment, office supplies, and even live critters. After lunch, the judges will make their way to each campsite to judge the shelters and the Junior projects. Then we’ll close it out with the song competition and closing ceremony.
We have had an eventful four days of competition. Tomorrow, one Tribe will be crowned the winner of Frontier Week 2026. The excitement around camp is palpable, and we can’t wait to see what happens! Grab your tissues and stay tuned!
