Lily Montgomery

9/8/14
Period 2
Declaration of the Wilderness
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the
societal bands which have connected them with the city, and to assume among the powers of the
earth, the secluded and peaceful canoe trip to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God
entitle them (Locke), a decent respect to the opinions of camp-kind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them to the vacation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people can go into the wilderness, that they are
endowed by Canoe Lake with certain unalienable rights (Hobbes), that among these are a tent, a
canoe, and a camping permit. That to secure these rights, summer camps are instituted among
children, deriving their just powers from the consent of the parents. That whenever any year in
the city becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the campers to leave it, and to
institute a new canoe trip, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in
such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their dirtiness and happiness
(Montesquieu). Portages, indeed, will dictate that after a long time in the city, one needs a break;
and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while
homework is sufferable, than to right themselves by giving up the luxuries to which they are
accustomed. But when a long train of tests and obligations, leads them to stress and absolute
depression, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off city life (Locke), and to find a new home
for their summer. Such has been the patient sufferance of these campers; and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to alter their former ways of living. The history of city life is a
history of repeated unhappiness and unnecessary work, all having in direct object the
establishment of absolute longing in these campers. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a
wilderness-loving world.
The city has taken away the happiness we found during the summer.
It has forbidden us to see the people we miss most.
It has taken away our tents and forced us to sleep in uncomfortable beds.
It plans to keep us here for ten months, away from our second families.
It refuses to feed us GB.
For weakening our muscles and teaching us to hate rain.
For giving us unpristined water.
For making us clean our dishes with soap.
It has constrained our fellow campers to turn back into city people.
It has tried to take our trip bracelets and sever communications with our friends.

It has faded our tans, healed our cuts, removed the dirt, and tried to suppress the memories of our
trip.
The city is at this time bringing more and more people into our lives to complete the works of
separation, desolation and sadness, already begun with circumstances of school and homework
scarcely paralleled in the most muddy portages, and totally unworthy the representation of a
civilized nation.
In every stage of these oppressions we have begged to return in the most humble terms: Our
repeated cries have been answered only by repeated loss. A city whose character is thus marked
by every act which may define hatred to nature, is unfit to be the home of canoe trippers.
Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our Canadian brethren. We have warned them from
time to time of attempts by our cities to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over our lives
(Montesquieu). We have reminded them of the circumstances of our decision to camp there. We
have appealed to their love of nature and canoe trip, and we have conjured them by the ties of
our common kindred to hate the city, which, will inevitably interrupt our connections and
correspondence. They too have heard the voice of nature. We must, therefore, join in our search
for 50 day, and hold school, as we hold the rest of the city, enemies when we are there, friends
when we are gone.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the Taylor Statten Camps, in general Facebook group,
assembled, appealing to Chief for our return next summer, do, in the name, and by authority of
the good people of this camp, solemnly publish and declare, that these campers are, and of right
ought to be free and in nature; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the city, and that all
connections between them and society, is and ought to be totally dissolved (Locke); and that as
canoe trippers, they have full power to paddle lakes, shoot rapids, portage, pitch tents, and to do
all other acts and things which canoe trippers may of right do. And for the support of this
Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Algonquin Park, we mutually pledge to
each other our paddles, our nalgenes and our sacred crocs.