FAQ

The program year, or "hunting season," runs concurrently with your child's academic school year, from August through June. However, you may join the program at any time during the program year.

You are free to join any tribe you want. Most tribes typically draw their members from a few elementary schools within their local area closest to them. There are currently two tribes in the Chiricahua Nation: the Nez Perce tribe and the Chiricahua tribe.

The Nez Perce tribe currently draws its members primarily from the Palatine, Hoffman Estates, and Inverness areas.

The Cherokee tribe currently draws its members primarily from Arlington Heights.

There are three types of meetings/events: tribal, nation, and federation meetings.

Tribe Meetings - Typically, most tribes try to meet with just their own members once a month in order to keep participation in the program active and the members informed as to upcoming activities. Some tribes do a craft or other activity with just their members at these meetings.

Nation Meetings/Events - The entire Chiricahua Nation (to which your chosen tribe belongs) will go on three campouts during the program year (fall, winter, spring). In addition to the campouts, there will be monthly Nation events/activities organized by the Chiricahua Nation Counsel such as picnics, minor league baseball games, bowling, ice skating, foot golf, rocket launching, laser tag, pinewood derby, etc.

Federation Events - The Algonquin Longhouse Federation is the overall governing organization of the Algonquin Longhouse, Inc. NFP, and typically hosts one large event in the fall (i.e. a White Sox game and tailgate) as a season kickoff event, which is attended by the Chiricahua Nation, as well as 10 other nations of the Algonquin Longhouse Guides and Princesses program.

Each tribe organizes its own meetings and the location at which they are held. Some tribes have their meetings at a tribe member's home, rotating each month to a different member's house. Others meet at a local elementary school, VFW, an event room at a local pub, outside at a local park, or anywhere else that can accommodate the size of the group.

Every tribe runs their meetings differently. In general, the meetings begin with the boys reciting the rituals of the program (Aims, Pledge, Slogan), and the Tribe Chief discusses the various tribal business with all of the tribe members. This includes informing members what is happening in the Nation Counsel and the governing Federation Counsel levels, and planning various upcoming campouts and Tribe and/or Nation events. And any of the boys who are ready may also choose to test, in front of the members of the tribe, to earn a new bear claw for their tribal necklace, thereby getting closer to achieving the honor of Haylushka. Some Tribes also plan a craft to be done at the meetings as well. Meetings conclude with the singing of the Guides Song, "Pals Forever."

The campouts are held three times a year, in the fall, winter, and spring. The campouts are typically held at outdoor camps within a 1-3 hour drive time from Chicago's Northwest suburbs, usually at YMCA and/or state campgrounds in Illinois, Wisconsin, and/or Indiana. We have also held our campouts at various private campgrounds as well. Past campout have been have held at Camp Tecumseh (Brookston, IN), Rock Cut State Park (Rockford, IL), Camp Anokijig (Plymouth, WI), Camp Duncan (Ingleside, IL), Richard Bong State Recreation Area (Kansasville, WI), Crazyhorse Campground (Brodhead, WI), and many more.

Attendance is never “required” to participate in our program. We understand that you or your kids may have busy schedules. To make participation easy, we usually sponsor two events held each month (one Tribe meeting and one Nation event) and dads and sons can attend these events based on their schedule.

Our program is run entirely buy volunteer dads who feel strongly about our program. Our parent organization, the Algonquin Longhouse, provides support, training, and resources for the volunteer leadership.

The current list of where your specific tribe purchases its vests from, as well as the vest material and color you should select, can be found here.

E-mail the Chiricahua Nation Chief at chiricahua@algonquinlonghouse.org to let him know that you would like to join, and he can help you determine which Tribe is the right one for you, and put you in touch with the Chief of that Tribe. And if you'd like, either the Nation Chief or the Tribe Chief can also arrange for you to attend a tribe meeting, nation meeting, or recruiting event as a potential recruit.

Once you know which tribe you wish to join, and have been in touch with that tribe's Chief, then simply click on the "Join/Register" button at the bottom of this page to be taken to the registration site used by the Algonquin Longhouse program, and create your new member account to register you and your son(s) for the season. When completing the registration for the first time, you will be prompted to select the nation and tribe you wish to join. When done, let your Tribe Chief know you have completed the registration so he can make sure to include you in all future tribe communications.