Through a grant from Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD), the Butte County Resource Conservation District (RCD) was able to send 25 Native American students from the Four Winds School in Chico to an environmental camp in Taylorsville, California. Students learned how to be more environmentally conscious in their everyday lives at home and at school. Native arts and skills were stressed to enforce a connection between the students and their Native American culture and the forces of nature that created that culture.
Campers are learning the art of leather making. |
And the art of making masks. Each one as individual as the person making it. |
The Finished Product |
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Robert Vlach, NRCS Rangeland Specialist, supervises an exercise with campers to monitor and collect data to inventory rangeland health. |
Along with Rob’s information, there was discussion of native plants and grasses and their importance to the Indian tribes and their heritage. |
The Roundhouse Council’s Camp is located in the beautiful Sierra Nevadas near the town of Greenville. |
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Acorns, a major staple of the traditional Native American diet, are ground and used in many different ways. Here the campers are learning how their ancestors prepared the acorns for use in their native dishes. |
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Before |
After |
Campers were treated to a great meal which included acorn soup made from the acorns ground by the students. |
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Historically, one of the most important activities for survival was starting a fire for cooking and warmth. Here the campers have made fire starters from traditional materials. |
With fire and ground acorns, the camp crew and camp counselors were able to enjoy a wonderful meal. |
Roundhouse Council Camp Counselors |
... and Campers |
