Since we love to talk about the weather around here, we have to share the forecast for the duration of Frontier Week. It’s pretty spectacular, folks! Nothing but sunny skies ahead, and temperatures that will make Owego Raid a walk in the park. We’d like to think that this glorious weather is our reward for enduring last summer’s Frontier Week of Rain, but we’ll settle on just being grateful!

Campers awoke this morning with a renewed sense of purpose. Having been assigned to a team at last night’s bonfire, they were excited today to become a member of a tribe. Yes, there is a difference. Last night, there were six colors. Today, those colors evolved into Tribes. This morning, after gathering at their indoor meeting spaces, each Tribe announced its official name. We’d like to present to you the Tribes of: Ekota (Dark Green), Lenape (Black), Ponca (White), Potomac (Royal Blue), Ticuna (Navy Blue), and Unami (Red).

Once the Tribes were named, the Chiefs and Head Coaches led their teams to the campsites to begin the arduous process of clearing away last summer’s remnants and a long winter’s worth of debris. Many of the Chiefs carried portable speakers and seized the opportunity to begin playing their Tribes’ songs on repeat. It’s never too early to start learning the melody!

The Juniors immediately began collecting small sticks and branches in anticipation for tomorrow night’s Rope Burn. The older campers picked up rakes and hatchets and twine, and got to work. The campsites must be cleared of all trash, errant branches, and dead leaves before the Tribe begins to build its shelter. The ground should be smooth and as even as possible, not only to ensure a stable foundation for the shelter but also for the safety of those walking through the campsite. If they weren’t raking leaves, smoothing dirt, or chopping wood, the campers were practicing their best lashing skills to prepare for tomorrow when they will begin to build.

After lunch, we temporarily abandoned everything Frontier Week and celebrated Canteen day instead! Rest Hour was accompanied by Sour Patch Kids and Nestle Crunch Bars. At 2:30, the bell rang and we returned to our Frontier Week state of mind! The Juniors headed to the picnic grove, where each tribe was tasked with decorating a rock to be displayed at the campsites.

The Seniors and Hi-Seniors from each Tribe either worked at the campsite or took part in the banner decorating competition. The banner teams marched down to arts and crafts, portable fans in hand, like an army of overheated Van Goghs. They were given a little over an hour to design, sketch, and paint a poster-sized paper with the Tribe’s name, animal, and symbols representative of both the Tribe’s history and the spirit of Frontier Week. The artistic talent among these campers was pretty mind-blowing! The fans were also blowing, as the paint had to dry in time for the banner presentation that followed.

The banner presentation featured each Tribe’s leaders taking the Stage to not only display their banner but also to offer a lesson on the Tribe’s history. While the Medicine Man, Warrior, and Scout held the banner for everyone to see, the Chief and Head Coach spoke about their Tribe’s origins, language, culture, and present-day struggles. These speeches are a way to connect the fun and games of Frontier Week to the real-life indigenous people who inhabited the land on which we now play.

Tonight’s big event was the tug-of-war. Each Tribe had the opportunity to face off against all 5 of the other Tribes, in a round-robin structure. Campers were pumped and coaches were talking strategy. Some opted to rub dirt on their hands for traction, others dug their heels in and got low to the ground. At the sound of the whistle, it was go time. Everyone immediately started pulling. Coaches ran up and down the side of the rope, cheering on their Tribes. “One, two, three…PULL!” was the refrain of the night. Once a Tribe pulled far enough for the center marker to clear the cone, the whistle blew again and the winning Tribe erupted into celebration.

By the end of the event, the sky had grown dark and the Upper Field was illuminated by the headlights of several staff vehicles. It was a very dramatic way to set the scene for the final showdown! In the end, it was Ponca versus Potomac, with Potomac coming in first place. The day ended with excitement, exhaustion, and some sore palms. But we can’t wait to do it again tomorrow!