Flexibility is the Key to Leadership - July 8

We woke up from our first night in the tipi camp, and headed to the best pancake and sausage breakfast ever, with special meals for our delegates with dietary needs. The weather was dry, but the wind had picked up extensively, so we had to bundle warmly! :) Our Ambassadors of the Day were Sarah P. and Tyler M. (from Alabama). Way to go, Sarah and Tyler! As the day progressed, we discovered our word of the day...FLEXIBILITY.





After eating, we boarded the coach and went to Headed-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump. It is one of oldest, largest and best preserved of the buffalo jump sites across the Western Plains. The delegates learned the of how the Blackfoots drove the buffalo over cliffs in order to hunt them. We learned how the Blackfoots honored the buffalo by using every part of the buffalo, from the hide and bones, to the flesh. Nothing was wasted.





Canadian fact.... Did you know that in Canada, restrooms are called "washrooms"?






After touring the museum and the buffalo jump, we headed back to the tipi camp. After lunch, we went on a beautiful hike across the hills and down through the coulees (valleys or low places carved between the hills by glaciers of long ago).























(This picture reminds me of the last scene in the movie The Sound of Music! "The hills are alive with the sound of music...") The pictures do little to show the breath-taking beauty of this area. The prarie lands extend as far as the eye can see.

After returning from our hike, we started to learn some traditional blackfoot games when the winds suddenly picked up, pushing over one of the sturdy tipis in the camp. After chasing a few belongings through the fields, we showed our FLEXIBILITY by moving to the safety of the arbor for lessons in traditional dances, and then we ate dinner back at the dinner building.



After dinner we went back up to the arbor and watched the stunning traditional dancing of the Blackfoot family.





After watching the dances, we were given a chance to show off what we learned.








At evenings end, it was decided that the strong winds made tipi camping unsafe. We again showed our flexibility and were transported to a little church to sleep.

At the church, Jill (the mom of the Blackfoot family) presented Lauren N. with a very special gift. Jill had learned that Lauren had lost her home in the April 27 Alabama tornados, and that Lauren was assigned to the tipi that blew over. Jill gave Lauren a gorgeous hand-crafted Blackfoot silver necklace, which gives special protection to Lauren.


Girls piled into a large open room, and the boys were split into several smaller rooms. Some of the leaders settled into the nearby cozy kitchen. As soon as lights were out, we settled in and were down for the night.






Good night everyone!

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Location:tipi camp