Camp Independence May 4-6, 2012

   Camp Independence started in the winter of 1968 with a handful of young people from Chicago spending a weekend in the forests of Tippecanoe River State Park in northwest Indiana.   They hiked in the woods and tested survival methods and equipment.  This was the start of what became an annual survival and self-reliance gathering now known as Camp Independence.   This years event was one of the largest and best attended ever.  All of the available family and group cabins were rented in advance.  Classes included: edible and medicinal plants, wilderness first aid, unarmed self protection, survival camps and shelters, armed self defense and more.   While the event was a big success, there are several areas that we will improve next year.  We plan to have improved methods for communication, management, and networking services.  Having filled all of the park’s cabins, we need to use available lodging more effectively while also providing better information on alternatives.  We also need to seriously look at doing similar events in Southern Indiana or other areas to reach people who are further away from the Camp Independence location.  We are already looking for guest speakers and instructors for next year’s event in May 2013.  Photos from Camp Independence 2012 should be posted to the web site gallery in a few days.

This years Camp Independence is going to set a record for attendance and number of classes.   We rented the entire park facility and filled it.   The next issue is how do we keep growing.  The park has no more buildings or space.  One idea is to have a second event in the fall.  A better idea is to have a similar program in southern Indiana or Illinois to draw off some attendance and be closer to members and supporters in those areas.  This would require significant organizing support from members in those areas.  We will rent the entire facility for 2013 and we hope to secure one or two guest speakers to supplement our instructors in 2013.

When we built the web site we included a very nice forum section.  Just go to the “Members” tab at the top of the main page and click “Forum”.  I will admit that I don’t get over there very often.  Most of my computer time is occupied creating publications and maintaining data processing memberships and replying to e-mail for the organization.  The forum is a great way to work with other members and develop new ideas.  Even create virtual or real chapters.  A healthy form requires multiple folks regularly posting and replying to interesting topics.  This is an underused resource that I hope you will all get involved in.

Stand Your Ground on Stand Your Ground

  Recent events have provided the enemies of human rights to assault the right of self-defense and the right to be in possession of effective methods to exercise of that right.  This is not a political issue.  It is a basic survival issue.  Here are the basic positions of Live Free USA that have been stated in the past.