Camp Chahta: Guiding college freshmen and building a tribal community

Camp Chahta kicked off the 2024-2025 school year with a focus on helping incoming freshmen transition smoothly into college life.

Organized by the Choctaw Nation’s College Freshman Year Initiative (FYI), this camp is designed to create a close-knit community among freshmen tribal members, providing them with the tools and support needed to succeed in their first year of college.

Now in its seventh year, Camp Chahta continues to be hosted at Carl Albert State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Eastern Oklahoma State University.

The Southeastern Oklahoma State session of Camp Chahta, held from August 12 to August 14, had 37 students participate in activities to familiarize them with college and the resources available to them through Choctaw Nation.

These activities included guided tours of the Choctaw Nation Headquarters, the Wellness Center and the Choctaw Cultural Center.

A highlight of the camp was a speech and session with Chief Gary Batton, offering students the opportunity to engage directly with tribal leadership.

In addition to cultural enrichment and campus orientation, students attended seminars hosted by various Choctaw Nation education programs designed to introduce them to the academic and support services available.

On the last day of camp, participants could obtain their student IDs, parking permits, and class schedules, ensuring they were well-prepared for the start of classes.

Taylor Olive, College Counselor for College FYI at Southeastern Oklahoma State, emphasized that the support from the Choctaw Nation extends far beyond the camp itself.

“Once they join the College FYI program, part of their agreement in joining the program is that they’ll come in to check in with me weekly, and then I’ll host different resume-building workshops, different interview skills, study skills and time management,” said Olive. “We’ll do grade checks and just make sure they’re understanding what they’re doing and everything like that.”

Camp Chahta prepares students for the academic challenges ahead and creates a sense of community, ensuring that these freshmen have a strong support network as they begin their college journey.