 Camp Pomperaug
My first visit to Camp Pomperaug was the last week of June in 1992 when I attended the Junior Leadership Training Conference
(JLTC). The camp would be a special home for me during the years since I spent so many weeks and weekends at camp. Some of the
events that I participated in at the camp were Order of the Arrow events, JLTC, Camporees, and C.O.P.E.
Camp Pomperaug was the home of Tankiteke Lodge 313 for many years. The Lodge usually held three Ordeal weekends, a work party,
and a Fellowship at Pomperaug each year. I have many memories of our time spent at Camp: Tankiteke Ceremonies
(picture), Tankiteke Tree Service - TTS 313 (picture),
GPH●53 (picture), David Arrowman
(picture), Hoochie and Coochie, the CP rock, sandpit, camp truck, campfires at the beach
(picture), canoeing on the pond, and many, many more.
Camp Pomperaug was also the location for the council's Junior Leadership Training Conference. I was lucky enough to be selected
to serve on staff for two JLTCs. These week-long sessions were spent teaching leadership skills to other scouts. My troop also visited
the camp a few times during the year for regular campouts, district camporees, and the C.O.P.E. course. I later had the opportunity
to serve on C.O.P.E. Staff and lead groups through the course. C.O.P.E. is a course designed to build teamwork and trust among a group.
The low course had many challenges that the group must overcome by working as a team. Some of the challenging elements in the
"Enchanted Forest" included the Trust Fall, Porthole, Artisan Beams, Spider's Web, Criss Cross, the wall, Bermuda Triangle,
Medusa's Maze, Giant's Finger, the Tire Swing, and many others. C.O.P.E. also included a high course which was suspended 40 feet in
the air among the trees. This high ropes course helped to build an individual's confidence and teamwork with other group members.
The high course began by climbing a cargo net and then crossing a wire while holding on to two other wires at each side
(similar to a monkey bridge). The next part of the course was to cross a similar wire with only one wire above your head to hold on
to. The last part of the ropes course was a zip line. Other elements on the high course were the Climbing/Rappelling wall, Giant's
Ladder, and the advanced high course.
In the spring of 1998 the Council Executive Board voted to close Camp Pomperaug and not allow Scouts to use the facility. This
announcement was extremely disappointing for many scouts and scouters in the Council. The camp is now a Burn Camp for children who
have been caught in fires. Many renovations have been made to the camp during the past few years, but we still call it our home.
We all share memories of our time at Camp Pomperaug and hope for the day we are allowed to use the camp again.
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