This Study Guide complements the novel, Wa-Tonka, Camp Cowboys by providing tools for boy and girl readers to extract themes, values and writing skills from this and other stories they read. This is the first book in the series followed by: Saving For Trace; Riding The Waves; Zan; Can Do, Zan; A Horse in My Kitchen; and finally, Mountain Rules.
Wa-Tonka, Camp Cowboys
Study Guide
Joe Novara
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Joe Novara
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A.Teachers Summary
Themes, discussion questions and writing topics to be discovered from this book:
Sibling responsibility for family members, especially as experienced by a first-born child
The tension and excitement a young person feels around leaving home to experience new environments and self-discovery
Sizing up other boys and fitting into an existing group
Dealing with harassment and intimidation by older boys against younger
Initiation/hazing as bullying or group inclusion?
Meeting new people and learning to get along
Developing new skills and abilities
Coping with loss and guilt as the result of engaging in risky behavior
Finding models for ourselves
Thinking creatively in emergency situations
Persistence in learning a new skill
Being open to suggestions (coachable)
The consequences of bad choices
Being responsible for the loss of a pet
Trying to make-up for bad choices
Giving others a chance
Chapter 1 Getting There Is Half the Fun
Nick Finazzo lives in a crowded house in Detroit with four younger brothers and sisters. He can’t wait to get away; to work as a junior counselor at a horse camp with other guys from his high school. This is his chance leave ‘big brother’ responsibilities behind, to sleep alone in his own bed and to let older and wiser people be in charge for a change. The ride up north to Gaylord, Michigan, seems interminable but worth it as Nick surveys the log cabins nestled around a high sandy hill. Later he snuggles into his own bed to listen to stories told by the returning counselors. The next morning at breakfast his cabin-mates disturb him with vague warnings that ‘tonight’s the night’.
Chapter 2 Meeting the Horses
During work week, Nick is paired up with Rob, an upperclassman at his high school. Rob describes how the counselors ride the horses every evening to be sure they are mellow before the campers arrive. Nick is full of questions since he has never ridden before. When the horses are delivered, Rob offers a profile of each one. Nick is taken with Prince, a pinto gelding, and vows to learn to ride him well that summer. Nick’s first ride on an old mare is exciting. He makes sure he learns all he can in that first week so Mack, the head wrangler, will allow him on trail rides with campers.
Chapter 3 Meeting the Campers
Rob continues the ‘tonight’s the night’ initiation threats and Nick realizes he has to put up with it. While waiting for the busload of campers to arrive, Rob and Nick discuss the awkwardness of working for campers who will be their own age. When the busses arrive, Rob provides a running commentary on returning campers: the Vogel brothers, Lenny and Bruce who resent being left at the camp all summer, every summer; Frank O’Donnell a veteran camper and fine rider and Bobby Petzer, described as a general stumble-bum, but excellent horseman. Nick follows Bobby to the stables and tries to introduce himself. Bobby is aloof. Nick’s big brother instincts kick in and he realizes that he might be of help to the older camper.
Chapter 4 Riding Shotgun
Nick gets his chance to go on a trail ride as the rear patrol. He forgets to double check the cinch strap on Bruce Vogel’s horse. When the saddle slips and the camper falls, Mack scolds him.
Chapter 5 Are We Having Fun Yet?
That evening an upset Nick goes fishing. A young African American girl, Tanya, talks to him from a dock neighboring the camp beach. The next day Nick goes on his first day off with a mix of older counselors. On the Lake Michigan beach at Charlevoix, Nick falls asleep and sunburns the backs of his legs. That evening, in town for a movie, Rob notices an ad for a horse show at the upcoming county fair. When discussion moves toward entering some of the camp horses, Mack dismisses the idea calling camp horses too slow and untrained. Nick is surprised to hear that.
Chapter 6 Heimlich Manuever On A Snake