One of my favorite things about working at camp is experiencing other people’s “firsts”.   Many campers ride a horse for the first time at camp or shoot their first bow and arrow.  There is a long list of possible firsts for people at camp. What were yours?

Janurary 2011 Trail Ride

I snapped this shot recently of a herd of deer walking past Mt. Wood on a snowy day.  The the red maple tree behind the deer and in front of Mt. Wood is the Centennial Tree planted back on July 31, 1985.  It was part of the 100 year celebration of YMCA camping.

Red Maple planted July 31, 1985

Does anyone remember being among the 350 in attendance that day?

Do you know where these doors are located at Camp?

Camp Doors

Camp Tecumseh YMCA serves numerous Girl Scout Troops and Cub Scout Packs from Jan-May and mid August-December. Scout troops take advantage of Camp all year but the March schedule provides opportunities for the girls to earn two different badges.  All badgework will be conducted by Camp Tecumseh Staff and will follow the Junior Girl Scout Badgebook.  Camp also provides the badges for each girl at the end of the weekend.

You can learn more about Scout Outings to Camp Tecumseh on our website or by calling and speaking with our staff.

3000 Girl Scouts and 2000 Cub Scout visit Camp Tecumseh each year.

Retreats Director Kyle Linback (and Hazel the rabbit) will be manning a booth at the Kaleidoscope Girl Scout Leader Fair for Central Indiana Girl Scouts this coming Saturday.  Be sure to visit our Camp Tecumseh booth in the gymnasium.  The event is being held at:

Knightstown Intermediate School
1 Panther Trail
Knightstown, IN 46148
Saturday, Jan 22, 2011 9am-4pm

Many organizations use Camp Tecumseh’s Tecumseh Leadership Center as the host site for their leadership development retreats. One such group is The North American Interfraternity Conference which brings in potential leaders from fraternities all over the country to participate in a program they call “Futures Quest.”

Fueling up for the "Team Climbing Wall"

This program uses a variety of methods to help their men grow in their leadership skills, including challenging them to practice their leadership abilities on an activity which we call “The Team Climbing Wall.”

Climbing Team and Belaying Team working together

Teams of three are tethered together and must work to get the whole group as high as possible on the wall.  This activity is especially challenging when done in the beginning of January.

Mission Accomplished

Contrary to what some might think, there is still a lot going on here at camp in the winter!