A Square Dance Campout

Posted by Thomas Alan Gray Jul 15, 2009

Every summer, square dancers gather at campouts. These generally take place at a country hall where dancers camp in trailers and motor homes to spend a weekend enjoying dancing, games, and socializing. Although I've been to several on my own, last weekend my wife and I attended our first campout together. It was at Wilton Park Hall, west of Calmar AB, hosted by Wirlaways, an Edmonton club.

Modern western square dance has been popular since the forties, so campouts are part of a long-standing tradition. The campout generally follows a standard pattern:

Friday

• Arrival and registration
• A trail-in dance, where people can join in as they arrive and finish setting up. Clothing is usually casual at this dance.
• Campfire - often games and a singalong

Saturday

• Free time
• A game in the morning (this campout featured a version of horseshoes called Washoos)
• A workshop or another game in the afternoon (we played cribbage)
• A pot-luck supper
• The main dance, in square dance garb (fancy western wear). This dance draws many dancers who come just for the dinner and dance but do not camp for the weekend)
• A campfire, often with skits and songs

Sunday

• A communal breakfast provided by the host club
• A casual trail-out dance
• Cleanup and departure

Square dancing is facing the same fate as other social activities such as bowling and curling leagues. Younger adults, heavily into rock and body art and electronic entertainment, no longer join social clubs and activities. Young people are still joining, but not in numbers sufficient to swell the ranks. Aging members and declining numbers mean that the pastime of square dancing is gradually fading into history.

Too bad. It's a lot of fun, and dancers walk several miles during a dance so it's good exercise too. If you have a chance to drop in at a square dance campout, take the opportunity. Meet the folks, watch the fun.