Primitive Pursuits campers are all over the woods this week with groups at Ellis Hollow, Arnot Forest, and traveling camps in the forests! The Purple Finches, Yellow Warblers, Forest Village, and Pathfinders explored the trails and lush creek at Ellis Hollow while Arnot Adventure Camp and Bear Camp hang out at Arnot Forest. This week we have two traveling camps, the Wilderness Explorers and the River Scouts. 

On Monday, our Primitive Pursuits regulars got accustomed to our familiar space this week while newcomers got to explore a brand new site. Groups explored the woods for a base camp and found some really cool spots. Forest Village enjoyed the Forest Playground off the main trails, which has swings, structures, and lots of neat things to find. Further into the forest, the Pathfinders found a really cool spot right near the creek, where they built a bridge to get across. A few campers also enjoyed harvesting clay to make their own creations! They used a combination of clay, rocks, and moss to build fairy houses nestled into the small cliffside. The Purple Finches and the Yellow Warblers found camps in the forests with lots of space to build shelters and make fires. 

On Tuesday, Forest Village went to find a new camp which they called Shelter Camp. They used sticks and rocks to make structures to play games in. Lots of fires were being built, especially by the Forest Explorers. Both the Purple Finches and the Yellow Warblers’ camps had plenty of nice firewood, so the campers roasted snacks over the fire. In the afternoon, the Yellow Warblers did a fire challenge where they split into small groups to see how fast they could build a fire. All of the groups were successful in building solid structures that were able to maintain a spark. 

Wednesday morning, the Pathfinders practiced their exploration skills with more senses than just eyes. They fox-walked from base camp to find instructor Sora, who was waiting under a tree to lead a game of Keeper of the Keys. Despite the loud crunchy leaves, the campers were able to quietly retrieve their matches to do their fire challenge. 

A Pathfinder camper with his clay snowman 

Thursday and Friday, I spent time with the traveling camps, River Scouts and Wilderness Explorers. I joined the River Scouts on an adventure to one of my favorite places, Roy H. Park Preserve. We walked the South Trail through the creek, stopping at waterfalls to cool off and flat areas to skip rocks. The South trail took us through luscious hemlocks and cliff-sides overlooking the water, where we stopped to play a game of Scouts and Deer. The river provided us with a glimpse of many cool creatures and unique rocks. Campers enjoyed the beauty of the waterfalls and the crisp water. One camper even set up their own portable hammock to enjoy the view. Throughout the day, we took breaks from the water to work on carving atlatls. Campers get to bring home their own atlatls, perfected with feathers on the end to fly perfectly. 

The Wilderness Explorers also got to enjoy Ithaca’s waterfalls, spending Friday at Cascadilla Gorge. We walked up the scenic trail and stopped along a flat part of the creek bed to play circle games and build small bridges across the water. An important practice at Primitive Pursuits is to leave no trace, so we deconstructed our bridge before moving further up the trail. The campers cooled off from the humidity under the falls and enjoyed splashing around in the water. The loud roar of the falls created an energetic atmosphere as the campers explored. 

Arnot camper with harvested berry

Not to forget about Bear camp and Arnot adventures this week! Campers at Arnot learned to carve and knife safety. Kids were super excited to get to create their own carved creations out of harvested wood. Every day included fun games like capture the flag, deer and fox, and more. Wild berries turned into delicious tea after campers harvested the bushes around our pond. I was very impressed with the forts that campers were able to create in just a week! None of their projects would have been possible without lots of teamwork. 

This week I witnessed campers of all ages lifting each other up and helping one another out. Nothing feels more rewarding than seeing the way that the campers collaborate and create together. Questions like- what is the best firewood, where should we build our fort, and how do we make sure everyone gets enough popcorn, are exactly what we want at camp. Camp teaches kids the value of creating in nature, but also teaches the value of creating TOGETHER. Week 4 was a wonderful week of exploration and creation in the woods! 

Photo Gallery – Hallie Allport, Isa Goico – July 21-25