First Ever Pathfinder Union Camporee by Dixie Plata – Pathfinder Historian
May individuals speak of being at the first ever Pathfinder Camporee held by a Union Conference but actually many of those individuals were not at the first but at the second Union Camporee, of record. I suppose it is only natural to think what your Union did was the first for various events but records sometimes contradict our memories.
The Pathfinder Story written by John H. Hancock and published in 1994 lists a Union Camporee held in the Pacific Union in 1960 as the first ever Union Camporee. That record “stood” for many years though at times we heard rumors that there had been a Union Camporee the year before in the North Pacific Union.
As Historians we like finding “new” details that set the record straight. Thanks to our friend Wayne Hicks, then Upper Columbia Conference Pathfinder Director, and Delbert Griffin, former Pathfinder Drill Instructor, Tumbling Team Coach and Craft Instructor of Pendleton, Oregon both leaders in the Upper Columbia Conference the pieces began to come together. They gave us photographs and a brief outline of the First Ever Pathfinder Union Camporee, which was held in the Snoqualmie National Forest 12 mile from Tieton Ranger Station (Rim Rock Lake). The event occurred in the North Pacific Union Conference June 4-7, 1959.
Delbert mentioned that camping was “simple” then. “The Pendleton Club had no camp stoves or lanterns. Lashing skills were put to use making tables, a flag pole and for fire pit aids for cooking. A homemade reflector oven was used for baking. Counselors were responsible for their unit’s camp and meals, of course the Pathfinders helped and Pathfinders washed their own eating utensils.”
The Pendleton Club and most other clubs cooked over open fires. Delbert said “he was impressed in the boys camping area where he saw one club that actually had a tables and a Coleman stove and a lantern.”
“The river served as a refrigerator for keeping milk, watermelons, etc. cold. It worked great until the Forest Service decided for some reason to release extra water from the dam resulting in loss of numerous refrigerated” items.”
“There were events such as Axemanship, most everyone had their own ax in those days and most certainly each unit had several, and Pathfinders knew how to safely use them. Another activity was Semaphore Signaling at which we got pretty efficient. Knot Tying was used for activities where separately or by unit we tied various knots and using lashings made items.
“While hiking we walked single file, all 1000 of us! What fun to explore the trails and enjoy the sights and smells of the forest. The youth from the cities really learned a lot on that trip and most of them liked what they were able to learn and do.
When attending the meetings presented by Union Youth Director John H. Hancock, and guests Laurence A. Skinner from the General Conference and Lawrence Maxwell of Junior Guide Magazine, we sat on the hillside, no chairs, unless a few fortunate ones found a log to sit on.
Our favorite choruses were sung with enthusiasm, especially the Pathfinder Song, that John Hancock our fearless leader lead on his accordion, and we really enjoyed singing.”
There was a road between the girls and the boys camping areas. The photos we received were from the boy’s side and showed ways they built and arranged their camp sites.
Campers were serenaded each morning by the sweet sounds of the forest birds greeting them as they woke from their night of sleeping in various shelters, set up by each unit, on their bed rolls – only a few had sleeping bags. It may seem primitive to today’s Pathfinders but the fact that there were no showers or flush toilets didn’t keep them from enjoying the camping experience.
Photographs were sent to Arnold and Dixie Plata to document this North Pacific Union Pathfinder Camporee as well as copies of the North Pacific Union Gleaner. A friend and co-worker in the Oregon Conference, Faye Ziegele, was a camper at that Camporee and gave the Plata’s a pennant of the event and told them the fee was 50 cents each which included the pennant. Of course everyone brought their own food and paid their own transportation.
The Union and General Conference Leaders felt that this North Pacific Union Camporee was a great success and the youth echoed that refrain.
Look for this story in the AYM Museum along with more pictures.
