Indiana boys, girls clubs learn Poarch culture, language during week of community service

Nothing stood in their way.

Members of the Crawford and Harrison County, Ind. Boys and Girls Clubs participated in a friendly game of stickball on the Poarch Creek Indian reservation on June 25.

The game of stickball, back in the old days, was originally a game for men in a tribe. The game had two poles, and was used to bring the community together. Nowadays, one pole is used and men and women play the game, which requires a stick and a ball to be used to hit an area at the top of the pole.

The event was held as a fun activity for the group, which was in Poarch last week to learn about culture and language, Crawford County Boys and Girls Club leader Jill Stutzman said.

Last week, Stutzman said the group spent an hour picking squash and cucumbers out of the community garden in Poarch, and did various jobs at the Lavan Martin Assisted Living Facility.

To top it all off, the boys and girls club went kayaking and tubing down a nearby creek, Stutzman said.

Stutzman said the kids worked hard to earn the trip.

“We’re staying in Pensacola, and these kids have done community service hours all year long to earn the trip,” she said. “It’s kind of celebrating them and their hard work.”