DAVIS, Okla. – More than 100 Chickasaw youth experienced the thrill of competition and the adventure of the great outdoors at Camp Survivor, conducted May 27-30, at YMCA Camp Classen.
The campers, ages 9-13, spent the week participating in activities such as fishing, swimming, archery, stickball, challenge courses, hatchet throwing, rock climbing and a host of other team-building activities, said Jarrel Booker, youth recreation supervisor for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Community Services.
YMCA Camp Classen is a traditional overnight summer camp nestled on 2,200 acres in the Arbuckle Mountains of southern Oklahoma.
On the first day of camp, campers are divided in teams named for Chickasaw colors and animals, such as Homma Chommi Osi “Purple Eagles” and Lakna Chula “Yellow Fox,” and spend the week experiencing friendly competition, forging relationships, learning healthy habits and exploring Chickasaw culture and language.
“Our number one goal for our department is to get the Chickasaw language to the youth, and we also wanted to add more of the culture into the camp,” Booker said. “I tell our team leaders learning the language is part of the camper’s challenge. These kids study the language and get it right.”
Different games and activities with a Chickasaw twist are designed for campers. “Around the Nation,” for example, includes a timed Chickasaw memory match, where campers must match colors, words or actions to the Chickasaw word.
Booker, who serves as the camp host, says his responsibilities include bringing positive vibes and energy to the campers, some of whom are staying away from home for the first time. He works hard to ensure the campers, team leaders and volunteers are having fun.
“I like to make it fun for them, so the kids enjoy the moment, enjoy the culture and enjoy the language.”
Two important camp projects for the teams are creating a team chant as well as a team banner that includes the team color and animal.
“These kids put so much effort, so much detail into their banners, and make it so great. It is really a big opportunity for them to use Chickasaw words and symbols.”
Camp Survivor has been available to Chickasaw children for more than 20 years. Through the decades, former campers have returned to serve as volunteers or team leaders. Others are sending their grandchildren to the camp.
“I hear people saying, ‘I was there when I was a kid, and I experienced that survivor feeling, and I want to be a part of that,’” Booker said. “Now they get to be a team leader and try to give that knowledge that they learned at Camp Survivor to the next generation. That is such a blessing and a great feeling.”
The camp had a record number of volunteers for the 2025 session. Booker said there were more than 30.
One of the volunteers was David Cavener, of Ada. He served as a team leader for many years when his older children attended Camp Survivor and did so again this year for his youngest daughter’s team.
His daughter, Naomi, 12, also of Ada, made her second trip to Camp Survivor. A self-described “social butterfly,” Naomi said she was looking forward to the camp activities, learning more about her Chickasaw culture and spending time with her friends who live in other cities.
“Camp Survivor is really fun, and I like how they put a whole bunch of different parts of the Chickasaw culture into one camp,” she said. “I look forward to the different campers I am going to be with and my teammates. The activity I look forward to the most is stickball. I love stickball. I play on Chikasha Bak Bak so I always look forward to stickball.”
Naomi said she also wanted to attend the camp to support her dad, since her brother aged out of the camp. “I want to support my dad. It means a lot to him, and it means a lot to me.”
Being Chickasaw to Naomi means she feels connected. “I feel more of a connection to something simple like stickball. It makes me feel more connected to my ancestors and my family.”
The camp closed with an awards ceremony. Team Okchamali Shokmalali won the overall competition. Top male counselor was voted on by campers and awarded to Jacob Tillman. Top female counselor was awarded to Bailey Eckert.