PAGE 6 JULY 19, 1978
---------- CAMPERS FIND PiACt, ADVFNTURF IN FORFST----------
TEXT AND PHOTOS
BY CYNTHIA STOWELL
GEARING UP - No sooner did campers arrive at Peter’s Pasture
but they were packing up for a hike up to Harvey Lake, the site of a
spectacular waterfall and plenty of peace and quiet. Morris Johnson
tossed his sleeping bag out to tepee-mate William Culpus.
High Country, U.S.A, is the
address given.; It is a quiet
neighborhood of tepees and fir
trees. The neighbors couldn’t be
better, except for an occasional*
unwelcome bear.
Eighteen campers have
found peace with each other and
their environment at Peter’s
Pasture on the upper reaches of
Shitike Creek. The second ses
sion of culture camp was in
progress this week and the
silence of the forest was broken
only by traditional Indian song
and kids’ laughter.
Today was undoubtedly
more hectic than any other day,
since campers were joined by
parents and friends who travel
ed the 25 miles to share a meal
and view the crafts made during
the camp.
But a typical day hardly
makes an impression on the for
est, although it is an unforget
able experience for the camper.
The day beings with an
early morning dip in icy Shitike
Creek. The rule is three times
off the diVing board or once
across the creek and back. No
one is sleepy after that routine.
The flag raising ceremony is
a daily affair. Kids watch the
American flag go up over the
crumbling chimney of an old
CCC building, one of the few
reminders of the original Camp
Shitike.
The rest of'the day is ordi
narily a relaxed schedule of
craftmaking, drumming and
singiog, religious instruction,
food gathering - and of course
recreation.
A host of local resource
people are on hand to teach
campers beadwork, shawl fring
ing, arrowhead chipping, and
the making of drums, cedar
bark baskets, and feather fans.
Kids also learn the rudiments of
the Washat religion, Indian mu
sic and hunting.
Evening is the time for
sweating in the tiny lodge on the
creek bank. This and the morn
ing dips are the ways in which
campers bathe.
A nightly campfire brings
campers together in song, skits
and legends.
Each session also had a
special day when they hiked to
dazzling Harvey Lake for an
overnight amidst the breath
taking scenery eight miles dis MAKING IT FIT - Nathan Jim, Jr., a counselor at culture camp,
helped Vincent Culpus with his bone choker, the first craft project
tant.
Refreshed by the natural that campers took on in the second session.
environment and the warm com
panionship, campers find they
don’t miss TV and many other
trappings of civilization, al
though “snacks and snoose” are
admittedly hard to give up.
Culture camp is in its tenth
year, the slowly growing “baby”
of Cultural Heritage Director
Nathan Jim, Sr. Not a regularly
budgeted program, Jim has to
“scrounge” each year for funds,
materials and counselors.
His dream is to establish
Peter’s Pasture as a “multi
purpose camp” giving different
groups a wilderness backdrop
for their activities.
BELLY FLOP - There’s always something to be learned at culture camp - even if it’s just to tuck
your head when diving.
INDIAN SONG - About the only sound to be heard at Peter’s
Pasture is that of a drumbeat and traditional singing. After lunch,
campers William Culpus, Willie-Jim, and Vincent Culpus gathered
around the drum and learned some songs from counselor Fred Hill.