From Camp Craft to Woodsmanship to Woodscraft
By Pati Egan
The Camp 50th Anniversary Book states that Camp Crafts were taught the first year Camp was opened. The first instructor was Gerald Montroy. The campers were taught “how to use ropes, knives, axes, and open fire cooking.”
By 1966 the activity was called Woodsmanship. The 1966 Souvenir Book states that there were two parts to the program; to develop physical strength and self-reliance.
Peggy Hausmann recalls that when she was a camper all they had to do to get the arrowhead was build a box fire and get it to light with one match. She recalls it being held in the Grotto before it was the Grotto.
Lucia Hodges recalls that the “first Woodsmanship location I remember (1960) was along a trail that led to old Garnier. It is under Echon now. Chin up bars (logs) attached to trees were a part of the activities. An old yearbook has a picture of them. The location on the far side of Ozark Creek near Goupil was on Chester land. Baking soda bread was one activity.”
During the 1960s, then President John F. Kennedy placed a strong emphasis on Physical Fitness for children. Camp incorporated this philosophy into the Woodsmanship program. Eventually Campers could earn a Physical Fitness arrowhead separate from the Woodsmanship arrowhead.
Peggy said, “There was a Physical Education arrowhead. I remember the horizontal ladders with the pits underneath. I never could do that.”
I recall that when I was a camper Woodsmanship was by Central. You learned knots, the one-match box fire, you had to climb a rope that was attached to a tree limb, and do some chin ups. I would get the Physical Fitness arrowhead but that darn one-match fire got me every time!
Woodscraft moved around a lot! It now has a happy home in the area between the grotto and the dam road.
The previous location was the site of old Ahatsistari. Prior to that, there was a very scenic location off of the Camp Road by Goupil. The creek offered the campers the chance to find water when a creek was dry, shelter building, and the most important skill of how to wrap your foil burger – I believe a rock was used for the burger. I recall as Program Director that all 12 units had to have Woodsmanship before the Wednesday Camp Out.
Lucia’s memory of the first location was along the trail to old Garnier. I have yet to find any photos of that area.
Times change and this certainly has been true of Camp Crafts. The name has almost gone full circle. The skills really haven’t changed; campers still tie knots, build shelters, and build that one-match fire. Gone is the rope bridge and ladder cross. The Physical Fitness skills are gone. Campers still brag about building the one-match fire or doing lashing to build a shelter that they can stand on the roof. The smell of the fires greets you as you walk down the Camp Road toward Brébeuf. I see in my mind a little kid that no matter how many matches she was given just could not light that fire!
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