The Loyal Lodge Gives Back at Camp Ondessonk
There’s something different about the quiet at Camp Ondessonk when the whippoorwills are the only ones talking and the trails are empty except for a handful of Lodge members with shovels, wheelbarrows, and a plan. That was the scene at this year’s Lodge work weekend, and it was a good signal of why the Loyal Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha exists in the first place: to give back to the land that has given so much to all of us.
During the summer Inductees jumped right into it, splitting into crews and working on projects across Camp. Down by the garden, hands got dirty pulling weeds, turning soil, and getting beds ready for the next planting cycle. Near the barn, another crew took on the washed-out roads, hauling gravel and filling in ruts left behind by spring rains. It’s not glamorous work, but anyone who has driven those roads knows how much it matters.
Out at Lake Echon, the changes were just as noticeable. A team spent hours pulling lily pads that had crept farther into the boating area than anyone would like, while others worked their way around the shoreline picking up debris and tidying up the banks. A few firepits that had been buried under leaves and sediment got dug back out, ready for the next round of campfires and staff gatherings.
Trail work near the Council Ring kept another group busy, clearing overgrowth and repairing worn sections. This keeps the path safe and walkable for the next group of campers who make their way there for evening ceremonies. Meanwhile, the Dining Hall trail got some much-needed attention too, with fresh rock laid down to fight erosion and keep the path solid through another camping season.
Indoors, the work looked a little different but mattered just as much. Crews took on deep cleans of the Chapel and ODH (Original Dining Hall), scrubbing corners that don’t always get attention during the regular camping season and making sure both spaces are ready to welcome campers and staff back with pride.
Through it all, Lodge members worked closely with Evan Coulson, Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives on a variety of projects, moving from task to task plus lending a hand wherever it was required most. It’s the kind of cooperative effort that defines what Lodge is about.
The results were everywhere: cleared trails, tidied shorelines, refreshed buildings, and roads that no longer swallow tires whole. It was tiring work, but for the members of the Loyal Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha, that tired feels good.
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