Mežotnes Auseklītis
Campers, employees, and teachers who have attended Mežotne for 10 years receive an Auseklis (morning star) necklace. This is a special honor, which many do not attain.
Mežotnes Kauss
The Kauss, or trophy, is awarded each year to one group: Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, Zemgale. The entire camp is divided evenly into one of these four groups. Groups receive points in all camp activities like a scavenger hunt (šķēršļu gājiens), sports and other fun activities. The group’s name is engraved on the trophy.
Wacky lunch (dīvainās pusdienas)
A very specific Mežotne tradition is dīvainās pusdienas or wacky lunch. Typically on Wednesdays, everyone at camp puts on their wackiest attire or costume. The crazier, the better!
Campfire (ugunskuri)
A long held tradition at Mežotne are nightly campfire skits. Each group performs or acts out specific daily themes. Themes vary from introduction night to charades to commercials. While camp often occurs during Mason County’s burn ban and thus no actual campfires occur, the groups have fun singing songs and performing.
Pekstiņi or Pranks
Pekstiņš is a prank or a joke that children and even adults play during camp. While we love these pranks at Mežotne, everyone needs to understand what is a good and bad pekstiņš. We ask parents, guardians, and camp counselors to teach their children and groups what is a good pekstiņš and what is a bad pekstiņš.
Good pekstiņš
- Makes us laugh
- Is quick to cleanup
- Promotes friendship between groups
- Raising things up the flagpole
- Moving the dining tables and chairs outside
- Adorning the dining room.
Bad pekstiņš:
- Hurts someone or someone’s feelings
- Destroys someone’s personal belongings
- Ruins camp property and natural surroundings
- Using toilet paper in a pekstiņš is always bad. If toilet paper is used for a pekstiņš, there will not be enough at camp for normal use!
- Never go in the kitchen and move the kitchen supplies.
- Throwing toilet paper on the roofs, taking another person’s things and putting them on the ground or stealing personal belongings.