The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

EXPLANATION OF NAME OF CAMP SKY-WA-MO

ONCE THERE WERE THREE POWERFUL GODS WHO RULED THE WORLD. EACH
OF THEM THOUGHT HE WAS THE GREATEST, AND BECAUSE OF THIS THEY
WENT TO BATTLE TO PROVE WHO WAS THE MOST POWERFUL. THE SKY SENT
RAIN, WIND, AND COLD WEATHER AND THE PEOPLE BELOW WERE MISERABLE.
THE WATER SENT FLOODS AND WASHED AWAY THE LAND AND HOMES OF THE
PEOPLE. THE MOUNTAINS SENT ROCKS FALLING DOWN ONTO THE PEOPLE
DESTROYING THE CROPS THAT WERE LEFT. THE PEOPLE WERE MISERABLE
AND ASKED THAT THE GODS HELP THEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE SICK AND
DYING. THE GODS WERE SO UPSET THAT THEY CALLED A MEETING AND
JOINED THEIR TORCHES TOGETHER AND AGREED TO NEVER ARGUE AGAIN
AND TO RENAME THE LAND SKY-WA-MO. THEY DID AND THAT'S HOW THE
CAMP GOT ITS NAME.

Submitter comment: THIS LEGEND IS TOLD AND ACTED OUT EVERY YEAR AT CAMP SKY-WA-MO
WHERE THE INFORMANT HAS BEEN COUNSELOR.

Where learned: PEABODY COLLEGE

Date learned: 06-30-1972