About

What Is STEICAMP?

Back in 1973, the siblings and cousins of the Steichen family who grew up together in Adams, Minnesota had started to spread out across the USA – from Adams, to Seattle, Los Angeles, Gaithersburg, and beyond. As this continued they realized their families didn’t know each other as well as they would have liked, since they were only occasionally getting together at major life events; weddings, funerals, etc… So they thought going on camping trips would be a good way of getting to know each other better – from that STEICAMP family reunions were born, coupling the family name together with camping.

The Steichen family has grown and continued its spread across the USA, and to even more counties like France and China!  Because of STEICAMP, family members have stayed connected despite this distance.  Now, STEICAMP is an every other year event and has expanded beyond the original siblings and cousins who started it all.

…and what are these Mini-STEICAMPs all about?

Back at one or more of the late 1990 STEICAMPs, Buckhorn Bob started to talk about how wonderful it would be to have a Minnesota Steichen reunion. As a result, in October 2002 there was a weekend gathering at the Quality Inn and Water Park in St. Cloud with the Steichen’s and Bottema’s living in Minnesota.

But it wasn’t until after the 2008 “We’re Coming Home” STEICAMP reunion in Lanesboro, Minnesota  when Jellystone Joyce and Gemini Gary started planning the first Mini-STEICAMP that was held at El Rancho Manana in Richmond Minnesota in 2009 that it really caught on. Since then it has been held every other year and has included relatives from Minnesota and beyond.

A Brief Early History of STEICAMP

In 1972, Roundup Roman and Pecos Pat planted the seed of having family reunions. Petrified Paul and Muskrat Margaret got the first reunion started and called it STEICAMP, it was held in 1973 at a KOA in Livingston, Montana with the slogan, “You’ll want to be at STEICAMP ‘73”.

You probably noticed the interesting names, since the beginning each STEICAMP attendee has been given a STEICAMP name at the opening campfire that was usually presented in a campfire story that Petrified Paul and his family created. On many occasions, Petrified Paul would wear an Indian headdress as he told the stories to assigned names – this is how he became known as “Chief PP”.

The next STEICAMP was held at the same KOA in Livingston in 1975 and then in 1977 moved to Perrot’s Post on the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. In 1977, Petrified Paul and Muskrat Margret made wooden signs, on one side of the sign was the family’s last name and on the other side is the families Luxembourg coat of arms and each campers name. Chuckwagon Carol and Morning Glory Molly also created the song in 1977, “It’s a World of Steichens” (based on “It’s a Small World After All”).

From 1977 there was a brief delay in STEICAMPs due to the gas shortage until 1982 when it was held at the United Campground in Loveland, Colorado. In 1982, Petrified Paul and Margret created a Family Heritage Book, a book was given to each family containing heritage and lineage charts, family signature pages, and camp songs. Then in 1984 STEICAMP was held again at the United Campground where Cascade Cleo created the first Picture and Memorabilia Heritage Album which she kept updated and brought to each following STEICAMP she attended, it is now managed by the STEICAMP Historian.

Since 1984 there have been many more STEICAMPs and notable historic happenings…but more importantly, there has been time spent where Steichen families have had the opportunity to meet each other and develop lasting relationships. Read all about the history in the Past STEICAMP details. Better yet, plan your next vacation by joining us at the Next STEICAMP to be part of the history and keep the dream of family togetherness a reality.