We’ve reached the finish line of Frontier Week, and everyone is sweaty and euphoric — just as if they had run a marathon. In some ways, Frontier Week is like a marathon: really long, full of new challenges, and pretty much ruins your shoes. Tonight, at the Final Flame ceremony, a new Frontier Week champion was crowned. Now we can all sit down and rest.
But first, a hearty congratulations to the tribe of MODOC on its victory!
We’ll get to the dramatic finale in a bit. First, let’s rewind to this morning’s Medicine Man’s Mission. Each tribe has a “Med Man,” or a Senior camper chosen as a leader alongside the Chief. The Med Man’s Mission is a scavenger hunt of sorts, involving all of the Juniors and many of the counselors. Each Med Man is handed a list of items. His job is to delegate to his tribe members by assigning different items to be retrieved. Need a bowl of mud from the lake? Choose someone who wants the job. Looking for a baseball mitt? Who in your tribe knows where his in kept in the bunk? Let him grab that. Bring a canoe to the Silverdome? That’s where the lucky counselors come in!
When time was up, the judges went through the list with each Med Man to determine how many of the items his tribe had successfully retrieved. By the time the Mission was complete, there were beds, benches, cubbies, and canoes strewn all over the Lower Field. Everyone participated in the clean-up, and then headed to the campsites to join the Seniors and Hi-Seniors for some last-minute building, securing, and cleaning.
After lunch, the campsite judging began. A team of about 6 judges moved from site to site, clipboards in hand. At each campsite, they were greeted by the Chief and Head Coach. The judges got a tour of each site, along with explanations of the elements built into the shelter. The criteria being judged ranged from overall design, to weatherproofing, to how well it could accommodate all members of the tribe. The judges examined the lashing skills and camp craft techniques used by each tribe. They asked a lot of questions, and the Chiefs and other tribe leaders were prepared with thoughtful answers.
These structures turned out truly magnificent. Each tribe had only 4 days to gather materials, design the shelter, and build it, and this Frontier Week brought many weather challenges.
Have I mentioned the rain?
While rain is helpful for making clay out of mud (and there was a LOT of mud used to create stability in the structures), it can really put a damper (HA!) on your plans to build a semi-waterproof roof and to clear your site of all leaves and other debris. Considering the obstacles the tribes were up against, they all did a spectacular job. One tribe even built a second story, accessible by “tree ladder” and capable of safely supporting several of the judges! The imagination and execution of these structures never ceases to amaze.
The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to song practice, leading up to tonight’s big competition at the Stage. Each tribe chose a song, rewrote the lyrics to reflect the spirit of Frontier Week and the importance of the Owego Brotherhood, and set a goal to make the audience cry.
Kidding, not kidding.
Everyone shuffled down to the stage at 7:45, and Dave addressed the crowd. He explained that he would choose the order of performances randomly by picking a tribe name out of a cup. Up first was Creek. One thing you should know about these Frontier Week songs is not only are they sentimental and filled with lyrics about outgrowing camp, but most of the campers singing on stage are also crying. It is an extremely touching moment to witness. Boys and young men, choked up by the thought of leaving camp behind, breaking down and embracing one another.
After Creek, it was Modoc, Mohegan, Shakori, Yahi, and finally Ojibwe. As each tribe left the stage, they were greeted by a receiving line of friends waiting to embrace them. Tears flowed freely as the Chiefs hugged one another, the other Tents joined in, and even some Juniors and counselors got in on the action. It was a real lovefest and a beautiful example of the Owego Brotherhood.
While the judges stepped out to tally the points, the Stage area became a sing along. Owego favorites from past Frontier Weeks — Kansas City, Cigarette Daydreams — played on the speakers as the Tents took the stage one last time. They threw their arms around each other’s shoulders and belted out the songs that will live forever in their memories of camp. The entire camp stood on the benches and joined in. Friends celebrated the bonds that they share because of Owego, no matter what tribe they were on these past 5 days.
When the signal came in that the judges were finished deliberating, the music stopped, the tribes lined up, and everyone marched to the Upper Field for the Final Flame ceremony. The bonfire awaited. Its flames stretched high into the air, and beckoned the tribes to gather around. The Chiefs carried their flaming torches — the same torches that were painted by the Juniors on Day 2 — and the tribes formed a semi-circle around the bonfire.
Dave started the ceremony by reading the results of the meal and campsite competitions. Mohegan was the big winner for meal, and Yahi won campsite. Then Kyle asked the Chiefs to move closer to the bonfire and stand side by side, facing their tribes. As Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” played over the speakers, Kyle stepped up from behind and lightly tapped them on the back one at a time to let each one know when it was time to toss the torch in the fire and rejoin the tribe.
Yahi was the first tribe tapped. Co-chiefs Justin and Eli tossed their torches and bandanas and stepped aside. They were followed by Creek’s chief Max, Mohegan’s co-chiefs Ben and Jackson, and Ojibwe’s chief Jack. Shakori’s chief Nick and Modoc’s chief Leo were the last two standing with their torches. Kyle approached, lifted both hands to both boys’ backs, but only touched one. Shakori’s time was up. Modoc was the winner.
As the Modoc tribe celebrated their victory, members of the other tribes joined in the celebration and congratulated the winners. While many campers were understandably disappointed, that didn’t stop them from being gracious and generous to their friends who won.
At Owego, a little competition can’t break the bonds we share. Tonight, we celebrate Modoc. Tomorrow, we reunite as one camp. Three more days.
