Lots of action is underway in preparation for Summer Camp. One of the biggest is getting all of the activities set up for Lake Time. Eric Glanders, Sarah Wright, Michael Craft, and Seth Barry are working together to get everything ready!

To make the anchors for the climbing safety lines fit with the outdoors scene of the climbing walls, a downed tree was recycled into use. It is one big log…

And it even makes a good bench! Just ask Ryan and Joel.

Camp has entered 2010 with a flurry—both a flurry of snow and a flurry of registrations for next summer! People who have only seen camp when all the leaves are on would be amazed to see camp snow covered and with the leaves off. This time of year you can see ‘through the trees’ to see things that would normally be hidden until you get close to them. For example, behind Director Scott Brosman you can see the Nature Center in the woods behind cabins 9-10 (Kickapoo & Huron) and 11-12 (Miami & Mohawk).

Another exciting thing is that every day we have interviews being conducted for summer staff positions. Some TERRIFIC college students are seeking to be counselors here next summer. Many of our best from last summer will be back as well. It is exciting to know what a dynamic group of counselors we are going to have for 2010!

Many weeks of camp are already FULL. If you have not signed up yet do it SOON. If you are already signed up but want a friend to attend with you be sure to tell them to sign up TODAY. It won’t be long till all weeks have waitlists!

The first of the new cabins is well underway in the Oregon Territory section of camp beyond the swimming pools. Sponsored by a special camp friend, it is scheduled to be ready for next summer. This new set of cabins will replace the Oneida and Onondaga cabins built in the 1950s. The design of the building is very similar to those in Lake Village but with extended porch entries with additional seating. It will make a nice area for campers to just sit and talk. Oregon Center has always been a unique part of camp so our new cabins were designed to include some special touches to make them distinctive. We will post pictures as the construction progresses and the features take shape.

Wow! What a weekend!

Homecoming 2009 exceeded our expectations! As more than 700 people gathered at camp there were more hugs than you can imagine. Families, campers, former staff, and camp friends of many types came from Vermont, Florida, Washington, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, Minnesota, Georgia, Kansas and many other states. Laughter and tears mingled as old friends saw each other after years of separation. There were hundreds of stories told and relived with great emotion!

Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana sent a special ‘85th Birthday’ greeting that was presented to Dave Wright by former Tecumseh Director Tom Chandler. The Governor thanked all involved with Camp Tecumseh for making such a powerful impact on Indiana children for all of these years. He stressed that Camp is helping to positively shape the future of this state!

Saturday night campfire was amazing. Great counselors from across the years did songs and skits which they were famous for in their time at camp….and the full closing campfire arena cheered its approval. Sunday chapel was an amazing version of ‘Camp Soup’ with a great message to keep putting God first in all we do. There was even an epic meeting of Desert Pete and Bo the Hobo!

Galleries of the weekend can be accessed at here. Enjoy!

Activities Galore!

Singing the Fun Old Songs

Family Time at the Pool

Classic Chapel Moments

Parents arriving on check-in days have undoubtedly noticed how narrow the entrance road to River Village is. After all, it has been essentially unchanged in 35 years.  Camp’s Board of Directors made a decision this year to widen the entry to make it safer for two-way traffic, especially all the buses that bring the 140 school groups per year.  Of course it will be better for van-loads of camper families too.  It will maintain the curve and ‘discovery of camp’ feel at the bottom that we have all come to love. Watch for it when you next return to camp.

Adding the new shoulder paving

Widening the hill curve section of the drive

“From the Heart, a collection of your Camp Tecumseh stories” is a wonderful array of stories from campers, counselors, outdoor education students, and many Tecumseh alumni. Add to the mix of stories both historic and current pictures and the reader will get an inside glimpse of Camp Tecumseh’s influence on those who participate in camp programs. Stories from years ago as well as some from as recent as last spring are included. The book will be available beginning Labor Day weekend at Camp’s Homecoming 2009 reunion. Every camp family will want to have a copy. The books will be available as a Christmas present—watch this C.T.News site for more information in September!

Joe Popp, camper parent and grandparent, and 36 year member of the Board of Directors, is sponsoring the first new camper cabin in Oregon Territory. Today Joe turned the first shovel of earth in preparation for the cabin construction that will start this summer. Many thanks to the Popp family for all they have done for Tecumseh campers.

It's time for Ga-Ga!

As the academic year comes to an end schools are still using Camp Tecumseh as a vibrant outdoor classroom. These students from Mohawk Trails school are enjoying a little recreation before lunch after a morning of exploring Rock Gulch, developing fitness through Body Stretchers, hiking to the Wolves Den, trekking along the Meadow Safari, and much more. In just a few days these students will be replaced with lots of Summer Campers having even more fun!

Soon hundreds of campers in River Village will be working on their Carpetball game!