Delicious Pie, Black Bean Brownies, and Fritters from Primitive Cafe! 

Week 3 at 4-H Acres got off to a rainy but fun start. Our forests have been lush from all the rain, so it is very fitting that this week’s theme is plants! One of my favorite camps is running this week, Primitive Cafe! This summer, Primitive Cafe has two different groups, so double the yummy treats. In the morning, Primitive Cafe (Ospreys) trekked to Beaver Pond where lead instructor Cindy made a fire as instructor Maxwell discussed our three respects philosophy. In the afternoon, thunderstorms brought us into the pole barn where there was a rambunctious game of Gaga Ball. Campers also kept busy by stone drilling, basket weaving, and playing circle games.

The Acres were especially buggy on Tuesday, so many groups built small fires to keep away the mosquitoes. The smoke rising through the trees in the sunlight is always one of my favorite sights in the woods. I started my day out by hanging out with both flocks of Primitive Cafe. At Hearth Camp, the Blue Herons flock gathered firewood while Lead instructor Dave prepared the cooking fire with an assortment of pots and pans. At Beaver Camp, the Ospreys flock made a popular Primitive Pursuits treat; campers got to cook their own ash cake in the coals and dip it in a citrusy marmalade. They also made apple fritters! Yum!

After lunch I trekked to the Hemlocks, one of my favorite spots in the acres. I love the way the sun shines through some of the trees and creates sunny spots and shadows on the forest floor. Lead instructor Fionna led the Purple Finches through a meditative activity called sit spots where the campers sit in the forest quietly and observe their surroundings. It is a great way to connect with nature and reflect on the day. 

A camper with a crayfish

Wednesday morning, the Pathfinders and Adventure Academy joined together in the meadow to play a big game of capture of flag. It was a toasty day so multiple groups trekked to the cabin across the street to have their own exclusive part of the creek to cool off. Primitive Cafe’s Blue Herons group stayed in the shade at Hearth camp and made some yummy bread! They rolled the dough over sticks and cooked them over the fire. The end result was a yummy twirly bread loaf.

Later in the week, adventures were happening all over camp. I joined Forest Village as they were following trails left from the Fire Fairy that led us to gifts of wood piles! We said thank you to the generous fairy and went to White Pine camp to build a fire. Everyone pitched in by finding wispies in order to light our flame. We then made a yummy pot of tea. The other flock of the Forest Village took a trip to the Hemlocks where they played a game of Deer and Coyote. Campers were running through the trees and hiding in the moss to avoid being seen by the coyotes! Not far away, the Pathfinders played a game of werewolf in Sherwood Forest. In the afternoon, I handed out t shirts to campers and then headed to Hearth to stop by Primitive Cafe, where they made a yummy apple pie. Towards the end of the day, a few groups cooled off by having a wet sponge fight, so everyone went home soaked.

The week wrapped up with a lot of fun festivities happening around the acres. The Primitive Cafe groups had a Cook-Off event using the Three Sisters foods, corn, beans, and squash. The feast the campers cooked up was impressive. Corn bread, salads, brownies, pie, jam and more! The zucchini fritters were a crowd favorite. It was so special to see how campers all worked together to get the final feast ready in time. Their collaboration is exactly what Primitive Pursuits is about. Looking forward to more weeks of working together outside! 

A camper eating her bread from Primitive Cafe

Photo Gallery – Hallie Allport, Isa Goico, July 14-18