<![CDATA[BIG WATERS FEDERATION - Plaines Nation]]>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 21:49:36 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[2025 Plaines Nations Spring Campout - Camp Benson]]>Sat, 21 Jun 2025 22:01:24 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/2025-plaines-nations-spring-campout-camp-bensonThe Plaines Nation wrapped up their spring campout at Camp Benson in IL the first weekend in May.  The weather all weekend was fantastic and we kept busy with all the activities the camp had to offer, including candle making, archery, hatchet throwing, zip lining, and climbing walls.  Some ventured out on the grotto hike and took on the suspension bridge while others tried atlatl for the first time.  Saturday night we had a graduation ceremony and said goodbye to a long-time family of the Pawnee tribe during the fire ceremony.  After the fire ceremony we ended the night with Meat Fest where we grilled up some great food everyone brought to share. 
]]><![CDATA[2025 Plaines Nations Winter Campout - Camp Anokijig]]>Sun, 16 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/2025-plaines-nations-winter-campout-camp-anokijigThe Plaines Nation enjoyed their winter campout at Camp Anokijig in Wisconsin February 14th - 16th.  It snowed the entire weekend which was perfect for winter activities.  Dads and daughters had a great time with activities during the day including snow tubing, broomball, curling and ice skating on the frozen lake.  The girls got creative Saturday morning designing, decorating and building cardboard sleds.  We then have fun racing the sleds they made in the afternoon.  Saturday night we had a snowy fire ceremony and welcomed a new family into the nation followed by Meat Fest where we grilled up some great food everyone brought to share.  The weekend excitement ended Sunday morning with everyone having to shovel their cars out of the snow to leave.
]]><![CDATA[2024 Plaines Nations Fall Campout - Camp Eberhart]]>Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:15:47 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/2024-plaines-nations-fall-campout-camp-eberhartThe Plaines Nation had their fall campout at Camp Eberhart in Michigan and had great fall weather for activities.  Dads and daughters had a great time with activities during the day including trail riding on horseback, conquering the climbing wall, archery and some ventured out onto the lake to canoe. The girls favored crafts were weaving potholders and making dream catchers.  Saturday night we welcomed four new families into the Nation during the fire ceremony. Saturday night ended with Meat Fest where we grilled up some great food everyone brought to share. The weekend excitement ended Sunday morning with a bald eagle making an appearance in one of the trees near the cabin. 
]]><![CDATA[Winter Campout at Camp MacLean]]>Sun, 04 Feb 2024 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/winter-campout-at-camp-maclean​The tribes of the Plaines nation had a great time at Camp MacLean this past weekend for our Winter Campout! Though the weather didn't fully cooperate with us, i.e. all the snow had melted before we got there, we still made the best of it. We had fun by shooting some arrows at archery, making some leather crafts, playing some broomball on the soccer field, shooting some paintballs with slingshots, just to name a few things. We wrapped up the day with Meatfest at night - sharing some great cuts of meat that people had brought. But what really made this campout great was being able to induct a new family into our tribe! 
]]><![CDATA[Fall Campout at Camp Sherman]]>Sun, 08 Oct 2023 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/fall-campout-at-camp-sherman​The tribes of the Plaines Nation went to Camp Sherman Lake this past weekend for their Fall campout. Though there was some rain during the weekend, that didn't stop the dads and daughters from enjoying their time together and the various activities when it wasn't raining. We had fun rock/wall climbing, jumping on the kangaroo jumper, tie dye, hiking, and playing in the indoor pool. Some of the girls put together a skit and gave us a bit of entertainment before dinner. After dinner, we had our fire ceremony, which was bittersweet. As we welcomed a couple new families to our tribes, we also had to say farewell to a couple families as well. To wrap up the night, we enjoyed each other's company around the fire and with the always tasty meatfest! 
]]><![CDATA[Plaines Nation Cake Wars]]>Sun, 27 Aug 2023 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/plaines-nation-cake-warsThe Plaines Nation held their first kick-off event of the year on Sunday 8/27 - Cake Wars! The girls were split up into teams and asked to come up with a theme and use their imagination and decorating skills to make their theme come to life on the cake. There was no shortage of imagination! We had Hunger Games in Space, Relaxing Beach, Sugarland, Ice Age, and Dystopia. With all the fun that we had, we're ready for all the other great events we have lined up.
]]><![CDATA[Tent Out at Devil's Lake State Park]]>Sun, 21 May 2023 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/tent-out-at-devils-lake-state-parkThis past weekend was a change of pace when it came to campouts. We "roughed it" during the weekend up at Wisconsin's beautiful Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo, WI. We traded sleeping in cabins for sleeping in tents during the weekend. But it was well worth it! We enjoyed a weekend of fun with hiking the bluffs, playing at the beach, teaching a llama piñata that it was no match for the girls, and just overall relaxing and enjoying each other's company. What truly stole the show, and a bag of cheese crackers, at night were the raccoons. But as sneaky as they were, they gave us some great laughs while we sat around the fire at night. ​
]]><![CDATA[Spring Campout 2023 at Camp Edwards]]>Sun, 30 Apr 2023 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/spring-campout-2023-at-camp-edwardsThis past weekend, the Yellow Knife and Pawnee tribes had their spring campout at Camp Edwards. The rain Saturday morning didn't hamper the spirits of the 50+ campers that attended. While the rain was coming down, we kept ourselves busy with various arts and crafts projects like a bead worm or spinner. But once the rain was done, we wasted no time getting outside to enjoy all the various activities Camp Edwards had to offer! We did archery, wall climbing, zip lining, low ropes courses, and canoeing. The girls gave us a spectacular talent show after dinner before we headed out to spend some quality time around the fire. ​
]]><![CDATA[Winter Campout at Camp Duncan]]>Fri, 03 Feb 2023 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/winter-campout-at-camp-duncan65 dads and daughters took advantage of the abundant snow and sunshine for a great winter campout. Sled designing, building and riding!
Archery and paintball slingshot!  Indoor movie and outdoor meatfest!  Leather crafts and broom ball!  And last but not least, our girls helped save an injured hawk from the frozen lake. It was turned over to Animal Rescue, which treated and released the hawk back into the wild a few days later.
]]><![CDATA[Yellow Knife Barn Dance]]>Sun, 13 Nov 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/barnyard-danceThe Yellow Knife tribe held a Barn Dance in November.
]]><![CDATA[Fall 2022 Campout]]>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/fall-2022-campout​The Plains Nation met at camp Tecumseh for our fall camp out. 25 new dads and daughters joined 45 veterans for horseback riding, candle making, canoeing, rock climbing, archery, riflery and more!  Weather was perfect and we now look forward to our next event: A Barn Dance at Wagner Farm!
]]><![CDATA[Cake Wars recruiting event!]]>Sun, 21 Aug 2022 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/cake-wars-recruiting-eventThe Plains Nation enjoyed a fun filled afternoon in the park decorating cakes in many styles. All six cakes were baked by our girls. We split up into teams of various ages.  Prizes ranged from most elaborate to most sugary. Lots of new dads and girls got to see what our daddy-daughter group is all about. ​
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]]><![CDATA[Spring Campout 2022 in the books!]]>Sun, 01 May 2022 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/spring-campout-2022-in-the-booksThe Plaines Nation enjoyed beautiful weather at the Spring Campout at Camp Crosley in Northern Indiana.  Zipline, rock climbing wall, archery and canoeing were favorite activities.
]]><![CDATA[Dozin with the Dinos]]>Mon, 14 Mar 2022 12:20:31 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/dozin-with-the-dinosThe Plaines nation took over the Field Museum during a "Dozin with the Dinos" Friday night.  The girls enjoyed roaming around all of the exhibits (Sue the T-Rex was the most popular), hands on activities with museum scientists, and spending the night in the museum.
]]><![CDATA[Winter 2022 Campout]]>Sun, 06 Feb 2022 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/winter-2022-campoutThe Plaines Nation traveled to Camp Anokijig in Wisconsin for our winter campout.  The ice on the pond was thick, perfect for skating, curling and broomball.  The tubing and sledding hills were fast and fun, and we welcomed 6
new families to the Nation.
]]><![CDATA[Plaines Nation Fall 2021 Campout]]>Fri, 12 Nov 2021 13:26:25 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/plaines-nation-fall-2021-campoutThe dads and daughters of the Plaines Nation enjoyed the beautiful fall weather at Camp Benson for our fall campout.  The bonds between dad and daughter were strengthened while enjoying zip lining, rock climbing, archery, spear throwing, and hatchet throwing.  Looking forward to the winter campout!
]]><![CDATA[Cake Wars!]]>Sun, 29 Aug 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/cake-warsThe Yellow Knife tribe held its annual Cake Wars competition at Crowley Park in Glenview this afternoon.  5 teams competed in a cake decorating contest and prizes were awarded for Best Theme, Best use of Materials, Best use of Color, Best Execution and Degree of Difficulty.  Congratulations to all the winners!
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]]><![CDATA[Devil’s Lake tent out]]>Sat, 22 May 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.bigwaters.org/plaines-nation/devils-lake-tent-outThe Yellow Knife tribe hosted a Plaines Nation tent out weekend at beautiful Devil’s Lake in Wisconsin.  The highlight events were the hike along the rim of the canyon and then an afternoon at the lake.  A late night visit from a raccoon and a rainstorm Sunday morning made it a trip the girls will never forget!
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