THE APACHE HONOR SOCIETY

The story of the Apaches starts in the 1920's and 30's. In these years, a camper could become a “papoose” or a “brave” by completing a number of tasks at camp (sit ups, push ups, canoeing, camp improvement projects, etc.). However, there is not much information about this.

The Apache Honor Society began as an official organization at camp in 1945. Its founder, Charles Hanscomb, was then a counselor on Senior Hill. He would become the Camp Director from 1956 - 1960 and serve on the Board of Directors from 1973 -1989. It was in 1944 when the idea was first discussed. Charles Hanscomb and “Whitey” Sands (Sands stayed only one year at camp) decided that since the Boy Scouts had an Indian Honor Society, Camp Fuller should establish one, too. The group had their own Indian names - Hanscomb’s was Chief Little Beaver. The Apache Program quickly grew and evolved over the years. (Click here to view Mr. Hanscomb's article on the Apache Honor Society.)

To gain entry into this honor society one would have to be selected for admission and complete a number of tasks. These tasks changed a bit over time. These included sit-ups, push-ups, catching various wildlife, overnighting in the woods, and finally a work project. This work project was a period of 24 hours where the candidate would be separated from the rest of the camp by the Apaches. During this period he (and after 1977 when girls first attended camp, he or she) was to be completely silent and complete a given camp improvement project. The Apaches also did service projects as a group, outside of the Candidate’s task.

At the completion of the improvement project the Candidate became an Apache. Part of this meant they were representatives of the spirit of camp and were its protectors. They had to create a piece of ceremonial garb which was usually a breech cloth. This was worn during ceremonies involving the group and was painted with various animals and Indian symbols. The breech cloth was often made from canvas and secured around the waist with a belt or rope.

Even though there were multiple ceremonies that involved the entire camp, the Apaches were most visible at the Council Fires. At the beginning of a Council Fire, all the campers would file down to the Council Ring where the fire would be lit by the Apaches. Something that changed overtime was the actual ceremony.

An example of a ceremony is as follows: The camp would line up at the top of the road near the upper side of the Administration Building in silence. The campers would be greeted by the Chief (the organizational “leader” for that given summer), dressed in his breech cloth and headdress, carrying a staff with bells on it. He would also be accompanied by a drummer playing a specific beat. The divisions would then file down (still silent) and take their seats around the council fire ring. Then the chief would come down to the ring bang his staff twice (this also signaled the drummer to stop) at which time another Apache would appear from the woods with a lit torch. The fire would be lit and the Apaches would run off into the darkness leaving everyone in awe and mystery of them. Only at this time could anyone speak. People were removed from the fire by the Apaches if they spoke in their presence.

Apaches wore feathers and had their faces painted. These almost always had significance to the ceremonies and eventually developed to the point where each of the marking had a specific meaning. Stripes were issued for every summer and were painted on the cheeks and chin. One stripe for every odd year went on the chin and stripes for each even year on the cheeks. At the second session Chips Ceremony (at the end of each two-week session, a camp-wide session-ending ceremony was held) half-faces (half the face was painted solid) were worn to symbolize that half the summer was gone (camp was comprised of four two-week sessions). At the beginning of third session half-faces were worn on the opposite side of the face to symbolize the start of the second half of the summer. For the last chips fire, full-faces (usually red and black) were worn to symbolize the end of summer. Silver was used as a substitute for red and black if the Silver Indian was afoot that session.

Feathers were worn to symbolize every year that person had been an Apache. These were worn around the head or in an armband. These were always white feathers with black tips. Every Apache also wore their Apache medallion (the actual eagle which represented the real Apache tribe).

THE SILVER INDIAN

The Silver Indian was created in 1955 by Charles Hanscomb when he was the Assistant Camp Director. The first Silver Indian was Bruce Perry. The idea was to create a legend base on a loner from the Apaches who ran wild. Every year the Silver Indian would appear and the entire camp wanted to capture the Silver Indian and be recognized by the Chief for capturing this runaway.

The Silver Indian was a unique events because it was an opportunity for non-Apaches to take part in an Apache event. Campers and Staff were chosen to chase the Silver Indian. These people were those who best represented camp and camp spirit. Using silver paint, the Silver Indian marked a part of each chosen person's body the night before the chase. These people had to wait until the Silver Indian appeared the next day in front of the entire camp. At this point those painted the night before were to chase and capture the Silver Indian who was “assisted” by his Apache Braves. The Silver Indian was never caught despite a very popular rumor that whoever caught him received a free summer at camp.

TOTEM POLES

Totem Poles were kept at the Council Ring and would surround it, being placed on big cement blocks in the ground (which are still present). These Totem Poles were carved by the Apaches every eighteen years (there is no info as to why eighteen). They told the story of the Apaches last eighteen years with their brilliant colors and carvings. The first totem pole was erected in 1952 and portrayed an Apache tradition that the spirit of nature continues. The Totem Poles were eventually moved to a different location on camp. Unfortunately, between the disbanding of the Apaches in 1994 and now, these Totem Poles were destroyed by the element, stolen or otherwise lost. On the upside, one of the Totem Poles was recovered (the 1970 one) and I am in the process of restoring it.

MY BRUSH WITH THE SILVER INDIAN

I would like to end this history with a story of my own. As I said before, I was an Apache candidate. In the summer of 1993, I was chosen by the Silver Indian. I remember waking up in Cabin 2 Junior and looking at my friend Dan Smith and saying, “What happened to your face?” (he had silver all over his face). His reply was, “I don’t but your face is all silver!” I ran with him to the palace (bathroom) to check it out.

We had no idea as to what was going on except that we were not the only ones with this paint on our faces. After asking our counselor, we found out that we had better look out for an Apache painted entirely in Silver. We waited all day and saw no such Indian. I was started to loose hope of seeing and getting to chase him.

The only thing left to that day was a Council Fire that night, so I really thought that it was a lost cause. As always I watched in awe as the Apaches lit the fire and disappeared as if they had been a figment of my imagination. Half way through the fire I hear someone scream “SILVER INDIAN”. I look back and at the top of the steps leading down to the fire and saw what looked like a person painted entirely in silver and almost naked.

I just ran with every bit of energy my ten-year-old body would give me after this guy. As I reached the middle of Sherman Field, he was getting away and worse still was that there were Apaches everywhere. They blocked and knocked out of the way anyone who got too close to the Silver Indian. I remember getting knocked down briefly in the middle of Sherman Field by an Apache named Julee Galitsky. I got straight back up and somehow avoided being touched all the way to Archery.

But in the middle of the split down to Canoeing (where the Silver Indian went) stood what looked like the biggest human being I had ever seen. It was Chris Rasmussen, an Apache who I am now good friends with (he is also one of the founding members of the council). My ten-year-old brain told me I could run right over this guy. Nope. He more or less swatted me like a fly into the woods next to him. But this did not stop me. I still ran all the way to Canoeing and as I got there saw the Silver Indian paddling off in a canoe. I felt so proud because there very few kids standing there with me watching this scene. It was at that point that I knew I wanted to be a part of this Honor Society. However, the fates were against me and they were disbanded the following year.

There is much more to the story of the Apaches. I have written here all that I think is pertinent to the history of their story. The remaining pieces of this story lie in the records kept by The Council and are much too numerous to recount. As to the nagging question: What ended the Apaches? I have a rather simple answer: Many things. It is a very complicated question which could be answered in a novel at the end of which you would ask yourself : What ended the Apaches? It is this reason that I dare not try.

THE COUNCIL

After many years of the absence of an Honor Society, we were told in 2001 that Camp would try to resurrect a service based Honor Society on Camp. This was helped by the careful planning of Chris Rasmussen, who had arrived back at camp after a long absence. We would not be resurrecting the Apaches. We were moving forward and creating something of our own to meet the times. It was to be called the Council. That year was my first on staff and during staff week (the week before the campers arrive) we were asked to send a representative from each division to help create this new entity. I was lucky enough to have been voted to go - there were many others who wanted to take part.

The representatives were: Dan O’Neil (Senior Hill), Claire Warburton (Sherman), Rebekah Klein (Jungle) and myself, Alex Borts (Junior). We met for hours with Chris and discussed ways of creating tasks, ceremonies, and service projects. We first set up the tasks and divided them into three categories: Body, Mind, and Spirit. These were the three elements which were to be central in the development of a Council Candidate. Examples of the tasks are: push-ups, swimming, pull-ups (Body tasks), beginner sailing, beginner windsurfing, an overnight in the woods (Mind tasks), hosting a Council Fire, carving a Spirit Stick and leading a Chapel (Spirit tasks). These tasks and more are found on the task sheets which we give out to aspiring candidates. To complete tasks people must have a Council member watch them and sign their sheet for the specific task.

Through the completion of the tasks, the candidate finds an affinity for a certain element (Body, Mind or Spirit). The Medallions representing each of these guiding elements are symbolized as follows: Fire (colored red) for the Body Medallion; Water (colored blue) for the Mind Medallion; and Wind (colored yellow) for the Spirit Medallion. The final task is a twenty-four hour camp improvement service project during which the candidate is completely silent.

There was much discussions as to how to proceed with the ceremonies and there was an evolution to the current ceremony that is seen today. In the beginning, we dressed in black T-shirts and dark blue jeans and our chosen Medallion and led our divisions down to the Council Fire in silence. This gradually transformed into the Council Head (always symbolized by that person wearing an anklet of bells) meeting the camp at the top of the road. Each division enters in silence, one by one. Once everyone is seated, the Council Head will proceed through the gateway where he or she will either light the fire with a torch or signal another council member to light the fire. At this point the Council members run off into the night as their long lost counterparts once did.

The Council member ceremonial dress has also changed to a tunic-like shirt with no sleeves, made of canvas. Creating this tunic is one of the final requirements to becoming a Council member. Tunics are painted with pictures and symbols which symbolize the individual’s journey through their candidacy. A green armband is also worn by a member as this person has been chosen to keep the record for that season. This green armband is representative of the uniting element of Earth. There is one final piece of garb, the feathered armband, which is currently worn by myself. It is given to the member of the Council with the most seniority and is symbolic of our connection to our Apache brethren. It has three white feathers with black tips, symbolic of the three elements, Wind (Spirit), Water (Mind), Fire (Body). There is a fourth feather, which is given to the Camper of the Year each year on their last night at camp. It is retrieved by the Council when that camper next returns to camp.

We are currently a young organization and we are growing and adapting. It will take time to build our number up to those seen in the days of the Apaches. Right now we will have five members in camp this coming summer (2007), to be joined by a few new candidates who are sure to go through early on in the season.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL

(the date corresponds to when they completed their tasks)

Chris Rasmussen (Founding member 2001)
Dan O’Neil (Founding member)
Rebekah Klein (Founding member)
Claire Warburton (Founding member 2002)
Ben Gaddes (2002)
Alex Borts (Founding member 2003)
Greg Schwartz (2004)
Joe Altieri (2005)
Alex Gatto (2006)

MY COUNCIL PROJECT

I am going to end this with a small story. My camp improvement project involved building new Council Fire benches, clearing the entire right side going into the Council Fire, moving two thousand pounds of unused shingles, and cutting two new paths into the woods. At the completion of this day of silence, I felt no need to talk. I had never felt more focused and at peace with myself in my life. Combined with this was the pride and joy of realizing my boyhood dream. I was living that moment I dreamt about at Canoeing in 1993, watching the Silver Indian paddle away. It was such an overwhelming feeling. It was at that moment that I understood why I had done it and what had driven me. I found what my Medallion was that day - the Mind (Water). I still keep that Medallion and feel a sense of pride every time it hangs over my chest during ceremonies.

I have given myself to camp through the process of my candidacy. As a Council member I am a protector of the traditions, history, and spirit of camp. I am a willing and proud servant of Camp Fuller by the Sea. This is what it means to be a Council member.

The author is shown here, ceremonially dressed as the Silver Indian he wanted so badly to catch. He is guarding and watching over the proceedings during the induction of Avie Avedesian and Jeff Jacober to the Legends of Camp Fuller Hall of Fame, duting the Alumni Celebration on July 22, 2006.