What’s in a Name? Know Better, Do Better.
June 01, 2023
The Girl Scout camp currently known as Camp Kachina was originally purchased in 1957 and opened in 1960. Situated on the shores of Lake Belton, stakeholders in the camp purchase noted it was “a perfect environment for our wonderful camp. The historical background provides a fascinating setting for adventurous study of the old wagon trail which has left wheel tracks deeply worn into the rocks. Natural resources such as wildflowers and game lend a perfect atmosphere for camping. Unexplored areas, fossils, and caves offer more program possibilities in the out-of-doors.” Today, the facility plays host to summer camp and weekend camp programming including sailing, kayaking, zip lining, archery, hiking, swimming, and more.
Around 1959, as the camp approached its opening date, the Bluebonnet Girl Scout Council (now a part of the Girl Scouts of Central Texas council) managed a process where Girl Scouts submitted camp names and voted to choose the camp’s permanent name. By popular vote of the Girl Scouts of the Bluebonnet Council, the name Camp Kachina was selected.
At that time, many camps across the US referenced Native American-inspired names, iconography, and traditions as a means of reflecting outdoor values and woodland craft and culture. However, over the years, the issue of Native American and First Nations names and images being used by sports teams, mascots, and youth camps in culturally/contextually irrelevant and sometimes derogatory ways has increasingly raised public controversy. Today, we understand that utilizing Native American traditions at camps is a misuse of Native American traditions and heritage if we are not primarily serving Indigenous people, nor founded by Indigenous people.
In 2021, Girl Scouts of Central Texas began a review of the history of our camp’s name, in partnership with our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee. During the process, we sought input from the indigenous people of the Hopi and Comanche tribes--the Comanches being the tribe local to our area, and the Hopi being the tribe most associated with the tradition from which the Kachina name originates. Both identified our use of Hopi names and iconography, along with names and symbols of other Native American tribes at camp, to be culturally appropriative and requested we discontinue their use. Our Girl Advisory Board agreed, stating, “Girl Scouts should not only be respectful of other cultures but should also educate [ourselves] and the larger society of various cultures.” With these inputs, along with others from the community, Girl Scouts of Central Texas Board of Directors formally voted to change the Camp Kachina name.
Keeping with our tradition of being girl-led, today we invite all Girl Scouts in Central Texas to help us identify a new name and theme for our camp that represents the local culture, people, and area. Adults are also invited to share their recommendations.
Submit your camp name change recommendation by Monday, August 6, 2023, at 5 p.m.
