Camp Fern - Traditions

Traditions

Tribal Competition

The first night that a new camper spends at Camp, he or she is inducted into one of two tribes at Girls' Camp: Bena or Owaisso; at Boys' Camp: Caddo or Tejas; at Coed: Apache or Cherokee, of which they will be a member for life. There is an entire story behind all of the tribes. Before the campers are inducted into their respective tribes by drawing a bead from a bowl by Thunderbird, the story of the tribes is told. It is really a very symbolic ritual. While the competition is fun, it is definitely not "just" for fun - the competition level is intense, and emotions often run high. Some of the more popular competitions that the campers engage in are Wargames, Fight Night, and Field Day. Each small competition during the session is hotly contested, and on the final night of camp one of the tribes will be declared the "winner" of the year. The winning tribe wins a "feather" on a large, wooden Indian-head plaque kept in the Recreation Hall. It is a great honor and victory to win the feather, for campers have worked for it all month long. At the four week session, each tribe elects a Chief and a Firemaker to be the leaders of their tribe for the year.

Advancements

Advancements are individual awards given at the four week sessions, and are earned by a camper demonstrating his or her aptitude in a wide variety of camp activities. At Girls' Camp, the four advancements are Pioneer, Plainsman, Frontiersman and Rancher. At Boys' Camp, they are Pathfinder, Hunter, Brave and Chief.