Camp Road
Actually, the Source Lake access road. A little over a kilometer of nostalgia, whether you're arriving or departing. Drive slowly and be courteous to other cars; they could be cottagers, parents, or Ministry.

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Mailbox
Mailbox 1: at the end of the road a brown box serves as camp's mail box. Mail bags to and from Camp are placed here daily in summer. The box stores snowshoes in winter.
Mailbox 2: Campers and Staff can place letters in the mailbox outside the Lower office to be mailed from Camp. Placing your Camper number or Staff name in the corner is as good as a stamp. Encourage the kids to write letters!

 

Cardock
Cardock 1: refers to the entire parking lot and dock area at Source Lake landing. Cars shouldn't actually pull onto the dock.
Cardock 2: the "Amazing Cardock" is a remarkable Eastern sage, seer and soothsayer. He is brought into the DH by burly headmen each season to demonstrate his talents. Cardock doesn't say much, but when he does, watch out! He can divine the answers to questions hidden in sealed envelopes. Being the subject of a Cardock revelation is a special privilege. Those who remember Johnny Carson's immortal character "The Amazing Carnak" will know what this is all about.

 

The Tooners
New Pontoon boat: the 'New tooner' is the shiny aluminum pontoon barge. This is for transporting people.
Old Pontoon boat: the 'Old tooner' was the older wood-decked barge without railings., for hauling gear. Then, camp built a fancy new work barge of aluminum. It's newer than the New Tooner, but we still call it The Old Tooner. You'll get used to this kind of thing. 

 

Putter or Putt-Putt
The putters are the small aluminum outboard skiffs.

 

May Crew / June Crew / Spring Crew / Fall Crew
Each spring Camp hires a small number of staff to come up early and do maintenance work on the Island. May crew consists of about 8 people. In June, a few more are added to put the finishing touches on Camp. 'Spring Crew and Fall Crew' are staff running OE programs.

 

Staff Week
The week prior to the Campers' arrival July 1, Staff week is a wonderful tradition at Pathfinder. The Staff report June 25 at breakfast to begin training and working together in preparation for the Big Moment!

 

Flagpole
Flagpole 1: literally the pole the camp flags fly from, Flagpole is a timber cradle weighted with boulders, supporting a tall spruce log flagstaff.
Flagpole 2: the ceremony known as Flagpole. Three times a day, the camp gathers and lines up by sleepage for flag etiquette and announcements before meals. Campers handle the flag raising and lowering, and properly fold the Canadian and US flags.

 

Air Horn
A hand-held air horn is the emergency signal for Pathfinder Island. It is located in the red wooden "Fire Box" on the white pine known as the 'Bell Tower Tree'. Any Staff member may blow the air horn in the event of a fire or missing person emergency. Otherwise, the horn and the box are not to be touched.

 

Bear Mountain (Bare Mountain)
According to Pathfinder lore, this is where the First Camper lives. It is located at the west end of Source Lake, it has a peculiar bald spot on the summit. Earth hikes visit Bear Mountain. Treasure Hunt clues are often hidden at its shoreline woods.

 

The First Camper Council Fire
Twice a summer ceremony. An old man, known to us now as the First Camper, lives peacefully alone in his camp on Bear Mountain but descends to be paddled to the Council Fire by the Tripping Director. There, he takes away or gives back fire from a Pathfinder council, the coals of which he tends all winter in his lodge, to preserve the spirit of Pathfinder for another summer. When he arrives at Council, it is imperative that the Campers sit in quiet respect, and not take any photos of this proud man. If he approves of the Camp's conduct and respect, he will light a new fire, or take our coals.

 

Algonquin Joe
Years ago, before Pathfinder was established, a man known to the world as Algonquin Joe died on the island, and was buried just along the path to New Council Ring. A plaque on a tree explains his significance. It is traditional that everyone passing the spot choose a fallen leaf to drop on his grave in respect. Make sure the Campers don't pull live leaves off bushes to lay on his grave; this is disrespect for his beloved Park forest.

 

Beam
At Pathfinder, any flashlight or lantern. Use as noun or verb.

 

Bumwad
At Pathfinder, any toilet tissue.

 

F.O.B.
Flat on Backs: sometimes ordered for Rest Hour when it is particularly hot. FOB means the Campers must lie down and relax during Rest Hour. Quiet conversation is the limit on activity during this time. Staff may also rest, but still supervise their Campers.

 

Horse Stable
The storage space under Lodge I where motors and gas are stored. Long ago, when Pathfinder relied on winter-cut lake ice to cool the food in summer, horses were brought in winter to haul the ice blocks off the lake. They would overnight in the stall under the lodge.

 

Lower Office ('OLO')
First floor of the Trading Post facing the motorboat dock. This is where the Program Director worked for years, also the location of the copy machine and days off request sheet. Also where activity binders and AA card results were turned in. Now a home for trip gear and sailing tackle, it's often called 'Old Lower Office' or OLO.

 

Command Centre
The DOT's office, the desk with Algonquin map is sacred ground. Headmen, use it only with the permission of the Tripping Director. Campers are not allowed in this screen porch over the TP.

 

Fish Room
Also in the Trading Post. It's the room behind the trip lockers. Generally for storing trip gear, it is usually locked and under control of the DOT and Outfitter. Campers are not allowed in this space.

 

DOT
The Director of Tripping, in charge of the Tripping Program and all Trip Staff report to him unless they are in their counselor role in-camp.

 

Bunderflap
An obscure object in an out of the way place. You can not be told where it is, you must find the Bunderflap for yourself. It is not located in an off-limits place, nor on the camp map.

 

Candy Store and Candy Line
The Candy Store was a shelter hut/freight shed in the 1920s-40s at the Source Lake rail stop on the mainland. As with all rail buildings owned by the OAPS or Grand Trunk Railway, its roof was shingled red. After the railroad was abandoned the Camp moved the shed to the Island to serve as the Candy Store. The historic red roof remains. The Candy Store has a selection of candy and 'dry goods' like t-shirts and water bottles, behind a sturdy counter.
Candy Line is the ritual time after a meal when Campers and Staff may walk to the Candy Store and purchase something. No money is needed, your purchase is recorded on your account. A 'Candy Line' is a commodity that is often bartered, i.e. "I'll give you two candy lines for that beam," or "You owe me a candy line for losing my canoe cup."

 

Camp Show
At the end of Second Half, a semi-rehearsed series of sketches, skits and bits. It opens with the Overture, a song and dance routine by three talented directors. It ends with the Camp Song and Camp Yell, and Taps. Encouraging Campers to come up with bits for the Camp show is important. Participating in the silliness is better than watching it. Staff contributions to the Camp Show are always in good taste.

 

Regatta
A Canoe regatta and swim meet, this is a hallowed Pathfinder tradition that has changed a lot over the decades. A half day of water competitions for all ages. In Chief Norton's time, the Regatta was both a Pathfinder event on Source Lake, and a gala event at Cache Lake with Pathfinder joining the famous Cache Lake Regatta at the Highland Inn, a singular social gathering of Park people. 
Today, we think of the Cache Lake Regatta mostly as the 'guides race,' the one remaining event Pathfinder is invited to enter.
At Pathfinder, our own Regatta is held each half. It includes canoeing events both serious and silly, and other competitions in swimming, ropes, camp craft etc. Four teams battle for victory, and it's a great time for Campers and Staff to have fun together as a session wraps.

 

SURVIVAL!
Introduced in the 1990s by staff member Chris Brackley, SURVIVAL is a program of Earth Lore, and is both a fun challenge and an educational experience. Each participant receives an animal identity, and becomes either a predator, an herbivore, or an omnivore. Depending on age and skill, a set number of lives are given the animal, and a set number of 'food' and 'water' treasures must be obtained. The whole island is in play. This is an event people really get into! It's hard to survive in the wilderness, and this game proves it. Most players don't survive, and many lay down their lives right at the end of the game, when disease, fire, and Man all enter the fray.

 

All-Island Capture The Flag
A favorite all-island game played after supper early in each Session. The camp is divided into two teams, each with a Staff man as General. The Island is divided according to strict rules, and the game is played until Free Swim or a winner is declared. Buckle up.

 

Treasure Hunt
A roughly biennial Pathfinder event is the famous TH. Most often authored by renowned Pathfinder savant Daniel "Lance" Kennedy, the all-day game has also been authored by Trip Pierson and Ian Mitchell, Simon and Robert Gooding-Townsend in years when Lance isn't available. Red, Green, Yellow and Blue teams fight fiercely to win the coveted title. Teams solve riddles and puzzles while also seeking hidden 'treasure' cards all over the region. Matching and solving clues and treasures is the goal. The team with the most points wins.

 

Message to Garcia
Another Pathfinder all-camp game. Teams field players for each event in a relay race around the Island. Players may be eating crackers while whistling a tune, racing canoes, swimming, throwing horseshoes, hitting softballs, climbing the wall, solving math problems. The race concludes with the last players memorizing and reciting the 'message,' a piece of text related to Algonquin or Pathfinder. The winning team is the one whose player recites the 'message' first without error.

 

Trip Postings / Being Posted
After taking trip sign ups and making up the canoe trips for a set, the DOT posts them on the Camp bulletin board. When 'Trips are posted' everyone crowds around the board at Flagpole to see their trips. Trip meetings are called after a meal, and the trip gathers with their headman.

 

Cedars or 'under the cedars'
The Cedars is the area behind the dining hall, just outside the porch door to the small deck. The term 'Under the Cedars' refers to this meeting place and the beautiful trees that shade it. Trip meetings can be called to gather here, but it is also a traditional place for a meeting to be called by the Director, when some Staff members are in a bit of trouble, or when it's time for the headmen to vote on the Tripping Award. Hence the heckling when Sladds asks to see people 'under the cedars after the meal.' Hey, often, it's just a good place for a meeting.

 

Palace or 'Pathfinder Palace'
The Pathfinder Palace is known also as the "Palace End" of the Dining Hall. The third of the building with the stone hearth, it was where movies were shown in past years, hence the cinematic name.

 

Double-A, or "AA" awards
Above Average or Activity Achievement awards are given to Campers who meet requirements for various levels in swimming, tripping, canoeing, earth lore, ropes, arts & crafts, athletics and a host of other activities at Pathfinder. The Staff record a camper's progress as he tries to 'get his AA' and the Program Director tallies the AAs won by each boy. At the awards banquets the AA cards are presented to each Camper. It is imperative that Staff turn in AA reports as soon as the Camper receives the AA, so no one's award is forgotten at Banquet.

 

Melting
A Pathfinder term for when a Camper or Staff is gassed on a long, tough portage. A trip staff might tell his Headman that, "a camper melted halfway back," or "I melted and had to flip down after that hill…' For some Campers, melting on a first Pathfinder portage is a rite of passage. But while rare, it can happen to any veteran as well.

 

Stalker Park - walk around!
Charlie Stalker was a Pathfinder counselor who led the effort after WWII to plant the former ball field between Flagpole and the DH with pines. This was to reforest a bare spot on the Island, and to prevent further erosion. Today, Stalker Park is a mature grove with seedlings on the ground and rock walls terracing the island in an effort to save earth. Campers must walk around and never through Stalker Park in the spirit of preservation. Make sure Campers walk around the Park.

 

The Lower Kingdom - aka "The Ville"
Lodges II, III and Tents 1-2. For Loons

The Middle Kingdom - aka "Raven Row" and "Waterfront"

Tents 3 - 17. For Ravens

The Upper Kingdom - aka "Skid Row" "Sunnyvale" and "Luigiville"
Tents 18 - 34. For Bears and AAs

 

Paddle Shack - aka Oil Shack
Known as the Oil Shack when it was where diesel fuel for the generator was stashed, the shack is now the paddle shack for the Jack Hurley Canoe Dock. Do not confuse with 'Mark Townsend Smith Memorial Paddle Room'. Mark is alive and well. His space is now the gear room below the TP.

 

Bug Juice - aka Freshie
The sugary flavored drink mix used in the DH and on trips, Bug Juice is made from crushed insect corpses by a secret recipe known only to a few Pathfinder men. Bug Juice is generally good for you. Too much Bug Juice is not. Bug juice is not pure fruit juice, that was known as 'Sun-Pac.' Mixing various Bug Juice flavors to create a custom drink is a favorite pastime of Campers. More often in the modern era, called 'Freshie,' possibly this was a juice crystal brand name in the old days.

 

"PIC" mosquito coil
A green coil of dubious content, which when lit produces a curious scented smoke that repels mosquitos. Used in the evening in the tents, PIC can be purchased in the Candy Store by campers but may only be lit in a pie plate by a Staff man. Don't let the Campers light multiple PICs in one tent. One is enough. On nights that aren't buggy, Campers still request to have their PIC lit; does it becomes an aromatherapeutic ritual?

 

P.I.A. -- aka Pathfinder Investigative Agency
Maintains homeland security.

 

First Call
The first morning bell at 8:00 am. Staff get up at this time and help get the Campers up.

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Sleepage
The tent and lodge sleeping assignments on the Island.

 

The Chief - aka Herman J. Norton
Chief Norton was owner of Pathfinder for over 40 years, from the late 19-teens to 1962. Chief was a colorful character, known as tight with a nickel and not above salesmanship tactics to get boys involved in Pathfinder, knowing they'd love it once there.