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by Linda Grier Pulliam
During the past fifteen years, I have had opportunities to visit camps
in eight countries. Although many of the camps did not fit the model of
what we might expect in the United States, in every case, I found that there
were more similarities than differences. The concept we call summer camp
might be known in other countries as outdoor education, children's
rest, holiday camp, vacation plans, or group work, but, regardless of what
it's called, I found there was a high level of professionalism and
a genuine dedication to providing a safe and productive outdoor experience
for children.
While the camp industry in some countries is relatively new and directors
are in the process of establishing camping associations, professional education,
and best practices, others have histories and traditions that match that
of American camps. Since 1987, members of the International Camping Fellowship
have facilitated, counseled, and supported camp directors as they have formed
associations in Australia, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Russia, Malaysia,
and Hong Kong. The Asian Camping Fellowship and the European Camping Fellowship
are currently organizing, and both have planned conferences during 2004.
In many countries, directors have addressed issues and overcome obstacles
that would stymie the most experienced American directors. Beginning in
this issue of Camping Magazine, we will profile some of those camps and
learn about the challenges that are facing our colleagues in other countries.
In this issue, we profile Kajuyalí Camp — where the owner/director
has moved his camp repeatedly in order to escape the threats of guerrilla
warfare and drug traffickers in Colombia and Ecuador. In the next five issues,
we will visit camps located in the forests of Siberia, in a jungle in Malaysia,
in a castle in Ireland, on the steppes of Mongolia, on the South Sea of
Australia, in the mountains of Japan — concluding the series at a
camp located in a 15th century hacienda in Mexico — just in time for
the International Camping Congress in October 2005, in Mexico City.
And the Legend Begins . . .
The night sounds are amplified by the Colombian jungle as the campfire
blazes brightly. The adults are dressed in white, and the children are uncharacteristically
silent — their eyes focused on the camp director. The new campers
have been anticipating this ceremony in which they will hear the legend
of Kajuyalí and learn whether they have been chosen by the stars
to be initiated into the Kaju or the Yalí tribes. The director begins:
Kajuyalí was born in the Indian village of the Achaguas, led by
their chief, Kamunitzali. For many years, the village was terrorized by
giant animals which destroyed the crops and frightened the villagers. Groups
of warriors were dispatched to fight the enemy forces, but most were massacred
by the giant animals. In desperation, Kamunitzali offered marriage to his
beautiful daughter, Tzamani, to anyone who could bring him the ear of one
of the giants. Kajuyalí, who was only fourteen years old, wanted
to join the warriors, but he was told that he was too young. One day he
and his little dog Chumany went to the pond to hunt for small animals called
lapa. While there, he made a tea of some of the pond plants, but discovered
that they were poison when poor Chumany died after drinking the tea. Grieving
for his pet, Kajuyalí had an idea. The next morning he left in his
canoe with a supply of the poison tea to hunt the giant animals. When he
encountered the giants, he was attacked and lost a leg, but he managed to
swim into the lake and mix the poison tea in the lake water. The giant animals
followed him and began drinking the lake water. All of the animals died,
and he returned to the village as a hero. He finally married Tzamani, and
they lived a happy life with many children. Kajuyalí's leg
is represented by the Achaguas as Orion, the constellation.
At the conclusion of the legend, the new campers and staff are given their
tribal designation, and then escorted by a member of the opposite tribe
for a special initiation ceremony. The Kaju (heart) and Yalí (blood)
symbolize the spirit divided, but throughout the camp session — through
games and competitions — the two teams will be joined as each camper
is encouraged to give his strength and wisdom to his team. The camp staff
are well trained to use the Kaju and Yalí teams as a vehicle to teach
good sportsmanship and the value of teamwork.
The 20th Century Journey of Kajuyalí
Although the legend and the Kaju and Yalí tribal contests have
become an important part of the tradition of the Kajuyalí programs
in Colombia, to Juan Mario Gutierrez, the founder and director, they have
also become a living metaphor for his journey during the past twelve years.
Since the inception of Kajuyalí in 1992 on a family farm as a small
camp, called Kuita, for twenty-five children, the program has endured the
threats of the drug cartels, guerrilla violence, kidnapping, and natural
disasters. With each new menace, the staff have responded by moving the
program to a safer area or instituting new procedures.
Bombs, Drug Money, and Guerrilla Violence
After the explosion of a bomb in a nearby town, the January 1993 session
was cancelled, and the Kuita program, which had quadrupled in size, was
moved to another location. In 1994, the political situation took a dangerous
turn during the Pablo Escobar drug war with ever-increasing violence in
the country. Ironically, the drug money spurred a strong economy, and families
had more money to invest in camp experiences for their children.
Under President Samper, installed in 1995 with the help of drug money,
the country became anti-government, the economy began to decline, and the
violence of the insurgents began to directly affect the camp families. Parents
continued to prefer to have their children in camp rather than on the streets
or the shopping malls — where bombs were exploding. In 1996, one of
the Kajuyalí sites had to be closed as the violence escalated in
the Los Llanos area, and a new site was opened on the north coast of the
Atlantic near the ancient Indian Cogi community. After experiencing destruction
and vandalism of the previous camp facilities, cabins were constructed from
heavy duty containers in order to transport them quickly if the area became
too hazardous. The local Indians proved to be very friendly and generous
in sharing their culture and folklore with the camp.
The two Colombian camps were under the constant watch of private security
companies hired to patrol the camps' borders. At the end of the year,
however, the guerrilla troops began to move into the jungle, and the Los
Llanos area became ideal for their purposes. After one of the Kajuyalí
partners received a kidnapping threat, they were forced to leave their beloved
Los Llanos.
Kajuyalí Seeks Peace in Ecuador
One of the most violent years was 1998, and the difficult decision was
made to move most of the camp operations to Ecuador. A rented site in a
small hotel on the Pacific coast of Ecuador provided a peaceful, but temporary,
haven for the campers and staff, — with twenty international participants
for the first time. Unfortunately, the peace was not maintained, and Ecuador
developed its own set of problems. An Indian strike which closed all of
the roads into the camp for ten days forced the staff to arrange food purchases
from local farmers. The imminent threat of explosion by the volcano Tungurahua,
severe devaluation of the Ecuadorian currency, and a national political
strike further complicated the camp operation. Juan Mario and his staff
were discouraged but not defeated — they wanted to show the children
that peace was coming and that Kajuyalí, the warrior, was not hiding
from the war but would help to bring about that peace.
The New Winds of the New Millennium
In 2000, Kajuyalí left Ecuador and initiated a new program in Costa
Rica. With the strong support of the Costa Rican Embassy in Colombia, campers
from Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, and the United States flocked
to the new camp. A day camp program was opened in Bogotá in a country
club. 2000 became known as "the new winds" — signifying
the rebirth of Colombian camps — and the program further expanded
to operate four camps: Costa Rica; Guatemala; Lagartos Day Camp in Bogotá;
and Panaca, a joint project operated in a national park in the coffee plantation
area of Colombia. As President Pastrana's term neared conclusion,
guerrilla violence re-escalated, and staff received special emergency training,
but the 2002 season ended safely and uneventfully.
Kajuyalí Slays the Giants
The optimism felt by the Colombian people under President Uribe's
administration, installed in 2003, has created a decidedly improved climate
for camping and tourism. Kuita, the original camp, has reopened. The Costa
Rican program, now called Shiwamba ("world of spirit" in Mayan),
is operating at full capacity, along with Los Lagartos Day Camp and Mundo
Aventura, a new day and resident camp program operated in partnership with
a Bogotá amusement park for children of low-income families. The
roads near the camps have improved and are considered much safer, and security
concerns have diminished during the past two years.
The Warriors Speak
Juan Mario Gutierrez gives credit to his family and the Boy Scout program
for teaching him to love children and the outdoors — but his first
experience as a camp counselor was at Camp Robin Hood in Maine. It was there
that he learned about the business aspects of camp and the potential for
applying his university degrees in industrial engineering and corporate
organizations and communications to his love of camp.
The Kajuyalí staff is a very select group of young adults. New
counselors are chosen after a three-day retreat in which a team of psychologists,
former counselors, parents, and directors observe candidates in a variety
of exercises and activities. Those selected participate in a seven-day course
in adventure-based counseling, several short courses throughout the year,
and an intensive precamp training. All programs have a medical doctor and
a psychologist to provide support to the program.
Elisa Luque, Camilo Acero, and Mariana Gomez — all university students
in their early twenties — have been campers and have worked for several
years in the Kajuyalí programs. They readily share their admiration
for Juan Mario and the confidence he has inspired in them to set a good
example for the children of the camp. They have been a part of the many
transitions of Kajuyalí — but their memories are of the lifelong
friends they have made and the opportunities to help Colombian children
appreciate the richness of their culture.
Sra. Hilda Laverde of Bogotá, mother of fifteen-year-old Silvia,
speaks confidently about the Kajuyalí programs. Silvia has attended
since the age of eight, and Sra. Laverde stresses that she has never been
concerned about safety and security because of her trust in the directors
and the staff. Silvia is an energetic, adventurous girl and enjoys every
minute of her time at camp. Her mother feels that she has learned to be
independent and has benefited from the values promoted by living together
with the other children and adults at Kajuyalí. She is realistic
about the dangers inherent in some of the rural areas of Colombia, but she
knows that the camp locations are carefully researched and security precautions
are in place before a camp opens. The staff has always been attentive to
every detail and willing to answer all questions.
Kajuyalí Today
While many of the activities of Kajuyalí are similar to those of
camps in the U.S., others such as "canopy" are distinctive to
the South American jungle. With platforms constructed in the canopy of the
rainforest to allow observation of the birds, flowers, and monkeys, campers
enjoy flying from platform to platform. A survival course, Kamunitzali,
is an experience to teach teenage campers to stretch their limits with the
support of their team. Other activity options include salsa dancing, a PADI
diving course, golf, horseback riding, and crafts indigenous to the area.
Shiwamba in Costa Rica, provides a Spanish immersion program for international
children, and most staff are Spanish-English bilingual. Sailing field trips
to the local islands, viewing volcanoes, and experiencing the exotic natural
wonders enhance the program.
When asked what he sees as the major difference between Latin American
and U.S. camps, Juan Mario explains that Latins have a special way of having
fun and enjoying life. There is an energy that occurs in camp, and activities
are full of fantasy. With a difficult history, Colombians have learned to
appreciate the simple things in life. The staff stress the magical feeling
of Kajuyalí that can't fully be conveyed to those who have
not experienced it.
Kajuyalí has provided a generation of Colombian children a means
of understanding their culture — along with the confidence inspired
by swimming in a lake and climbing mountains rather than hiding from the
negative cultural influences. As the Kaju and the Yalí — the
heart and the blood — are finally joined, the strength of the ancient
warrior lives again. Kajuyalí, with the dedicated people who have
created it, will continue to provide the magical experience for generations
to come.
Originally published in the 2004 September/October
issue of Camping Magazine.
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