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Latest News and Stories

Head over to our blog for stories from the forest, our latest news and periodic videos, and activities you can do at home.

We Bugged Out and Hopped like Frogs this Week

It is week six here at Primitive Pursuits and we are bugging out and jumping like frogs. This week the camp looked at our tiny insect and amphibian friends. There were many bug and amphibian activities in the forest this week. Also, lots of tiny creatures were discovered in our journeys across 4H acres.

Campers Venture Far and Wide

This week we left our usual home at 4H acres and most groups relocated to Ellis Hollow for the week. We had two traveling groups this week: the River Scouts and the Wilderness Explorers. Growing Wild, Forest Village, Forest Explorers, Pathfinders, Wildcrafting and Advanced Wildcrafting all explored the new wilds of Ellis Hollow.

Birds of a Feather

It is bird week here at Primitive Pursuits and there were all kinds of bird based activities to connect campers with our winged friends. From nest robber games to a giant water marmot falcon nest and visits from the Phoenix, campers delighted in play and learning centered around birds.

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We were BLOWN away by the community and engagement our son felt this summer. He came home excited to share all the new things he had learned that day (from day 1!) – as well as show us his impressive collection of sticks, rocks, bows and arrows, cordage, etc. Primitive Pursuits has fostered such a love of outdoor learning and he loved seeing counselors through the weeks (especially Pickle!) who shared his excitement for being outside and exploring. We can’t wait to send him – and his younger sister – again next year, and we’ll be ready for the muddy clothes, collection of sticks, and stories of their adventures each afternoon. Thank you, Primitive Pursuits, for making this nervous mom feel great about dropping my kiddo off at camp each day!!”

S. W.

Parent

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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY:

The Primitive Pursuits team recognizes that the land where we live and work exists within the territory of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga Nation). We acknowledge the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy for their enduring stewardship of this place throughout the centuries and still today. We recognize a responsibility to learn about this history while also educating newer generations about how to live in good relation to the earth and with our neighbors. This learning and relationship building is ongoing and we welcome guidance and feedback along the way. If you have feedback or wish to engage with us on this topic please see visit our Cultural Repair Acknowledgment + Action + Reparations page.

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Primitive Pursuits is a non-profit 4-H program of Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County.