FROM THE MUSEUM In 1928, W. Gordon Morris, the new Scout Executive, sent this letter to every Scout’s parents in the Chickasaw Council to encourage attendance at Kia Kima. In addition to his role as Scout Executive, Morris was also serving as the Camp Director for the year. Kia Kima operated for ten weeks with an average weekly attendance of 70 Scouts and a total of 211 Scouts in camp during the season. This was an increase from the 192 Scouts of the previous season. Scouts attended camp as individuals instead of with troops. Most Scouts stayed multiple weeks, and some stayed the entire season. The Kia Kima Committee reported: “Kamp Kia Kima closed its 13th season with the best financial record it has ever had, as the camp only had a deficit of $141.77 for the season.” One of the most influential Scout Executives of the Chickasaw Council, Morris served from 1928 to 1959. This letter, along with close to 1000 other documents, maps, pictures, and videos, are displayed in the Kia Kima Alumni Association’s online museum. With Kia Kima as the centerpiece, the museum encompasses other relevant topics such as Camp Currier, the Order of the Arrow, the Chickasaw Council, and some of the former camps that impacted the heart of the Ozarks, including Camp Tallaha, Camp Daniels, Kamp Kiwani, and Camp Miramichee. The items in the online museum are organized and tagged, and the text of the documents is fully searchable. In addition, the museum has several “Exhibits,” which are short displays that explain aspects of the history, such as common symbols at camp, the Ma’kya Trail, and the origin of Kia Kima’s name. With over a century of service, Kia Kima has provided countless memories for Scouts and Scouters along the banks of the South Fork River. The Alumni Association seeks to preserve these traditions and stories. ⛺ www.KiaKimaMuseum.org
16
