Frontier Week 2026 is finally here, and camp is a flurry of activity and excitement! What started as a giant bonfire and lots of fanfare last evening as the teams were announced, has now evolved into 6 distinct Tribe names, banners, and campsites. We are off to the races, with 5 full days of competition ahead of us.

The Tribes of Frontier Week 2026 are as follows:

Aleut (blue)

Caddo (pink)

Oneida (green)

Comanche (black)

Toltec (yellow)

Acoma (red)

Day One is all about clearing the Tribe’s campsite in preparation for building the shelter. You will see photos of your campers holding shovels and rakes, and you will be curious. The 6 campsites are utilized every summer, but they are left deserted throughout the cold, brutal winter. When each Tribe arrives at its assigned campsite at the start of Frontier Week, it is very common for the remnants of last summer’s shelter to be left behind like the skeleton of an abandoned ship at the bottom of the ocean. The debris must be cleared and the site must be checked for nests and hives before building can begin.

Another important event on Day One is the Tribe Banner decorating and presentation. While the Seniors and Hi-Seniors clear the campsites and create the Tribe’s banner, the Juniors decorate rocks with the Tribe’s name and symbol. Using paint pens, they create a colorful representation of their Tribe that will be judged as part of the competition. The banners, meanwhile, are a large-scale visual of the Tribe’s spirit and essence. The animal or object most closely associated with the Tribe is featured prominently, along with the Tribe’s name and any other relevant symbols.

The Banner presentation is the meat and potatoes of the competition. Each Tribe’s Chiefs, Medicine Man, Warrior, and Scout stand on stage before the entire camp and introduce the Tribe’s history and background, along with the values and culture of the people. The Banner speech is intended to highlight the significance of the people who came before us, and to encourage the Tribe’s members to adopt the Tribal mindset for the duration of Frontier Week.

Tonight’s main event is Tug-of-War, where each Tribe will face off against the others in a round-robin tournament. Every member is valuable, with Juniors (literally) pulling their weight at the center while the bigger boys anchor the front and back of the team’s side of the rope. The photos from Tug-of-War are always a highlight. The clenched teeth! The grimaces! The loopy smiles! The squinted eyes! It really is a sight to behold.

As you watch all of the action unfold over the next 5 days, via the photos posted on CampMinder and the content posted on Instagram, keep in mind that every Owegan works collaboratively to make Frontier Week a singularly amazing experience. From the young, wide-eyed Juniors, to the seasoned Seniors, all the way up to the Hi-Seniors who lead the charge, each Tribe member lends his skills and talents to the team effort. Every Owegan pours his heart and soul into these 5 days, knowing full well that when Frontier Week is all over, it will be time to pack it up and close the book on Summer 2026. But first, there are ropes to burn, races to run, torches to paint, meals to cook, and shelters to build. Let’s get to it, Owego.