Former staff member Steve Maynard sent me this link  Camp and College pointing out how Camp prepares kids for college.

Sense of belonging

Positive Experiences

We purpose to help kids grow in confidence, character, and faith and this article supports the claim that camp provides “Experiences that last a lifetime!”

This week The Tecumseh Leadership Center had the privilege of working with a team of pastor’s from the Lafayette, Indiana area.  The pastors come together periodically to share, pray, and to coordinate their efforts to minister to people in their community. An apt metaphor for their work was explored in one activity as they were given the challenge to set mousetraps with the stipulation that they could only touch the traps with the  provided metal spoons.

Anyone need a spoon?

The traps had to then be arranged in a particular circular order as per a photograph they were given.

Watch your fingers!

If this wasn’t challenging enough, they had to do this in a windowless room as the facilitator periodically turned lights off and tossed in ping pong balls. As they do in real life, the pastor’s worked through these challenges and successfully set the traps.

Steady! Careful! Steady! Careful!

Mission Accomplished! All traps are set, in a circle, and resting on each other.

The real value from this activity came out as they looked at and discussed HOW the group worked through the challenge and how the information could be used to help each other work through even more difficult situations in their local community as they minister in the real world.

Many of Camp’s weekend retreats are comprised of Father/Son or Father/daughter groups.  Many of these groups are a part of the “Y-Adventure Guides” program or a similar program that promotes Parent/Child interaction.  It is great watching these kids get time with Dad!

Many groups will do scavenger hunts or maps that require them to travel as a group to find clues.

It is often easy to determine which father and child go together.  It is customary for the guests to commemorate their camp trip by adding another patch to their vest.  Some vests are more elaborate than others and become something like a walking diary.

Keep up the great work Dads!

A black and white of the “Green Cathedral”

1945 Boys Session Chapel

Many people do not realize that Camp Tecumseh serves groups all through the year, even in December and January. One such group is the North American Interfraternity Conference which brings in men from fraternities all over the country for an intensive 3 day leadership conference.  This conference has always been held in December and January and we have always gone forward with the outside portion of the  program, even when temperatures were in the teens. This year, we had record temperatures in the low 50′s during the weekend and the men celebrated by playing a pick up game of touch football…..divided up by shirts and skins!  Development of trust is an integral part of leadership and the men explore this by participating in an activity known as a “Trust Fall.”

Trust Fall

They actually fall backward from a high platform and are caught and supported by their team members. This can be a very powerful exercise as it takes the idea of “trust” and makes it more than just a concept.  One of the parts of their leadership training program requires them to use their leadership skills to work to get a three-man team as high as possible on the 40 ft. climbing wall.

Team Climbing

This task is supported by the rest of the men in their group who provide encouragement, direction, and most importantly, belaying support which enables them to take risks knowing that the rope will catch them if they fall.

Belayers Encourage and Surpport the Climbing Team

Neal Morehead
Director, Tecumseh Leadership Center
(765) 564-2898