Bushy Hill Nature Center’s iconic tipi is back up and ready for visitors. The 22-foot structure came down in May during an unexpected wind storm. Since then, the center has been gathering funds and waiting for the poles for the new structure so it could be reconstructed.

“We are so happy to have the tipi up again,” said Bushy Hill Nature Center Director Jen Malaguti. “It’s the first thing most people see when they drive in here, and it was definitely missed.”

The tipi was purchased used from another camp back in 2013 and was nearing the end of its expected functional life at the time of the storm. Made of sail canvas material versus the traditional Native American buffalo hide, it can comfortably hold anywhere from 15 to 20 kids.

“The tipi is a great teaching tool for us here,” said Malaguti. “We use it to teach about our indigenous people studies programs, Native American ancestry, and pre-Colonial contact. We also have a wigwam on the property that we use for the same purposes. Both structures are also used for Boy Scout gatherings, school field trips, and birthday parties, and they are open to the public.”

She added, “Typically the Native Americans who lived in tipis lived out west and the tipis were usually smaller, around 12 feet, so they could be moved easier. Before the Spanish showed up with horses, the Native Americans used dogs to drag the tipi poles from one place to another, however once horses arrived on the scene, larger tipis were used because the horses could drag the poles.

“One interesting thing I found out is that typically 12-foot tipis took three women anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes to construct,” Malaguti said. “Our 22-foot tipi takes four to seven of us anywhere from one to two hours to construct.”

New poles for the tipi were purchased from a company in Oregon that appealed to the center because it is “very much involved in Native American culture,” explained Malaguti. The poles are made from lodge pole pines and have to be very straight to work correctly.

“Typically the trees we have here in Connecticut don’t grow straight enough to be used as tipi pole,” Malaguti said.

“Our tipis at Bushy Hill are very rugged and basic; however, they are very toasty and great teaching tools for our programs and summer camps. They make great structures to get out of the elements in and we encourage people to come and check them out,” said Malaguti.

For more information about Bushy Hill Nature Center, visit www.bushyhill.org.