This year, on August 17th, Osage will be hosting a Bike Rally with stops for live music and the entire Mountain Nation is invited!  Some Big Waters alum should be attending, and new joiners are highly encouraged as well.  Dads and daughters are welcome to be on their bicycle, scooter, skates, whatever you want to use to keep up with the group (we won't go too fast or far) safely.  Our tentative schedule for biking and visiting bands in the area is below:

10am-11am (Optional):  Come by 211 S William Street in Mount Prospect if you need some bicycle work.  Nate and team will be ready to help you out with your bike.
11:00am-11:30am:  Arrive at 211 S William Street in Mount Prospect as we prepare to kick-off for the day.
11:45am-12:00pm:  Start riding to Lions Park
12:00pm-1:00pm:  Stop at the Lions Park Bandshell where we will enjoy Art Fix and DJ Lil J.
1:00pm-1:20pm:  Leave Lions Park and ride to Station 34 in downtown Mount Prospect
1:20pm-2:30pm:  Eat pizza while listening to Acousticity
2:30pm-2:45pm:  Depart Station 34 and head north to the Moose Lodge
2:45pm-3:30pm:  Enjoy the band Needs Improvement at the Moose Lodge
3:30pm-3:45pm:  Head over to Mrs. P & Me
3:45pm-4:15pm:  See Zydeco Voodoo at Mrs. P & Me
4:15pm-4:30pm:  Ride to the Mount Prospect Golf Course
4:30pm-5:00pm:  Finish the day hearing Meteor

If you cannot make the whole thing, feel free to join or drop along the way, that's okay!  The venues have loved it when we roll in and bring the energy.  If you have any questions, please let your tribe leaders know.

​As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, the Blackhawk (Guides) and Mohican (Princesses) tribes combined their efforts for a Sunday morning "Dads & Donuts" event.  We invited both current members and potential recruits which allowed us to see old friends and make a few new ones.  In addition to the snacks, we brought along plenty of games like kickball, wiffleball, washer toss and frisbees to keep both the dads and kids occupied.  In spite of the rain, we had a great turnout and we're excited for all the new families that will join us at future campouts and events!

We are going all out for this year's Mount Prospect parade, and we want all of you to come out for it.  Past members, current members, future members, you are all more than invited.  Put on those vests and come walk with us on July 4th!  Please meet us near the intersection of Elm & Prospect before 12:45pm.  You know it's going to be loud, it's going to be wild, and a whole lot of fun.  Please join us and as always, if you have any questions, reach out to your tribe leaders for more information.  ​

The Mountain Nation wants to wish all dads, and especially the Big Waters Dads, a very happy Father's Day! These dads take the initiative to create precious memories with their daughters that truly last a lifetime. Speaking of which, don't forget to check out the calendar above for some of the upcoming events:

• July 4th - the group is marching in the Mount Prospect parade on July 4th
• August 24th - hosting our annual car wash
• September 20-22nd - Fall Campout
  
• January 31-February 2nd - Winter Campout

Many more events will be created and posted soon, so keep checking back here and talking to your tribe leaders about the details.

Last week the Osage dads and daughters had fun at their first meeting of the program year. It was a pool party and picnic at The Moose. The group enjoyed some great activities, competed in a few contests, and played in a giant Dads vs Daughters kickball game that the girls won.  What a great way to start off the summer!

​Thank you to all the Dads and Princesses who have joined us for the 2023-2024 program year!! We look forward to seeing everyone back for the 2024-2025 program year.  Invite your family, invite your friends, invite your neighbors!  We have a few activities already in the works for the Summer and beyond!!  This should be an exciting year ahead of us. Click “Contact Us” to get more information! 

UPDATE: We had a good turnout to help pass out candy, fliers, and spread the word of the Mountain Nation. Big thank you to all of the Dads and Daughters who walked with us at the AH Memorial Day parade. You can check out a few of the pictures below.

The Village of Arlington Heights' 105th Annual Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 27th, 2024. This annual event is organized by the American Legion and Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights. The parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. sharp. and concludes at Memorial Park, where the Memorial Day Ceremony takes place, at 11 a.m.
​
Please check with Tribe Chiefs for more information on participating in parade.

“The legacy of brave men and women who have fought and died for their country is the freedom we enjoy as Americans”
- Lucian Adams 

The weather during the day couldn't have been much better for the spring campout.  Which activities were the favorite of the dads and daughters?  Horseback riding, the giant canoe races, the pedal boats, minigolf, archery, riflery, arts & crafts, gaga ball, tetherball, fishing, hiking, and with so much more, nobody could do everything at Camp Anokijig.  That doesn't even include old favorite events like the Golden Spatula competition for the best sliders around, or the very special NEON party where everyone was literally glowing while dancing the night away to the DJ and enjoying the ice cream sundae bar.

This was a weekend where new members were welcomed, honors and awards were handed out to great leaders, and tearful moments occurred for some graduates of the program. However, the songs, the chants, the laughter, and all the precious moments can never be taken away. FRIENDS ALWAYS!

​Hope to see all the new faces as we open the rinks for 2024 Mountain Nation Ice Skating Party!

Admission is free. Donations are welcome.
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​Don’t like the weather in Chicago, give it 24 hours… Such a crazy ride so far this year! Our winter campout gets postponed because of blizzard conditions cause 36” of snow to fall.  Only to fast forward a month and we thought we were at our spring campout already!  Big thanks to everyone for the understanding of keeping everyone safe!
 
NORA!!!!!!!!! Lots of laughs and memories made this time around.  Lake Sherman does not disappoint.  Daughters challenged their dads to test out their nimbleness in GaGa Ball.  Red light, Green Light your way to a walk like an Egyptian.  Team building activities and who can forget about the POOL.  So much fun! 

Mountain Nation Princesses grabbed their favorite pair of pajamas and the stuffed animal to take part in an overnight adventure in the Rockford Discovery Center Museum.  It was a great night full of activities and adventures to share with our daughters.  It was amazing watching young minds wander throughout the museum learning about technologies both new and old.  Then when it was time to call lights out, they got to pick their own exhibit to sleep for the night.

​With one last hurrah for the year… The Osage Tribe fills the air with some holiday cheer as they graced the neighbors with everyone favorite holiday songs. 

​Happy Thanksgiving from the Mountain Nation.  May your hearts be full, and your bellies be fuller. 

Wishing a happy Veterans Day from the Mountain Nation!  Thank you for those who have served past and present.  Let us never forget the sacrifices those have made to allow us to live free.

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him” – G.K. Chesterton

​Dads laced up their fancy bowling shoes with their daughters to have a bash at this year’s Zany Zuni Bowl.  The competitive spirits came out as the zany activities brought laughter to the room.  I mean its not every day you get to team up with your daughter and push a bowling ball down the lane with your feet!  Shot out to the Zuni Chief Bryan, tribe, and support team to make this one to remember. 

​This year’s Halloween will go down as one of the coldest in the books, but that did stop the Mountain Nation from carving out a good time at this year’s pumpkin carving event at Camelot Park in Arlington Heights.  Thanks go out the Navajo’s Chief, George for setting up the event and working with the city to secure a location.  

​Kiowa Tribe carved the night away and filled their bellies with pumpkin seeds and pizza on a beautiful fall night.   

Dads and Daughters Rocked and ROLLED the night away at this year’s Roller Skating Day with Dads sponsored by Osage. Skaters of all levels joined in on the fun. It was great watching the confidence build not only with the daughters, but even some of the dads who haven’t skated in years. Special thanks to Osage Chief Kevin for his efforts putting together this event and bringing back some old school memories to some dads. .  

The Mountain Nation welcomed many new members at our fall campout at Camp Tecumseh. Dads and daughters enjoyed a wide range of activities including horseback riding, petting zoo, climbing wall, and connecting with nature while hiking in the woods. Dads and daughters also put on their aprons and showed off their baking skills with the Cookie Contest.  

Cloudy skies couldn’t hide the smiles at this year’s Mountain Nation Car Wash held at the Moose Lodge in Mount Prospect.  Cars lined up around the block to take part in the clean fun.  This being our only organized fundraiser for the nation, it was a great success.  Funds raised are used to help families during hardships and fund nation activates throughout the year.  Thank you for everyone that came out and special thanks to Moose Lodge 660 for use of their facilities. 

​Mountain Nation, along with friends and family, had a great day at the ballpark supporting the Schaumburg Boomers.  The team is great about giving autographs and the night ends with fireworks, running the bases, and an awesome marshmallow fight.

​The Princesses challenged their dads to a night of fun as the Mohicans sponsored a night out at Main Event.  Tribes joined together to play laser tag against other tribes.  Girls conquered their fears with rope course suspended from the ceiling.  Dads showed off their skills on the arcade games and graciously lost at air hockey.