sprint to the finish. what, still two weeks to go.
Feeling very odd today. Part is that I am feeling so much better than I did the last half of the week just ended. I am very tired, and yet here I am writing at 10:20 pm Sunday night. If I don't know, then I don't know when I would. And I need to do it.
Last Saturday, we were given some guidance to think about for our weekend off. (24 hours). It was pointed out that the boys in camp don't look towards the camp director or program director in a hero worship sort of way, it is the instructors, the young man at the Trading Post, the Dining Hall staff. Yes there are exceptions to that, (who doesn't remember Mountain Man from a few years ago announcing which quadrant could come up for seconds, at the Dining Hall, or a Program or Camp Director doing a log roll or cartwheels at a campfire?
As an adult leader, I always focused on the leadership style of the program and camp director. Do those guys make kids want to come back to Camp Geiger? As a kid, probably not. So I was thinking about which staff guy do I remember making a difference, and giving me the desire to come back?
I was, I think about 16, and was kind of taking merit badges, just to take them. He taught the Merit Badge activity Soil & Water Conservation/Surveying. There were just two of us in the class the hour we had it. We did the requirements, in fact we went beyond the schedule, as we had time to do so, and earned them both. The staff member was very kind, and though not much, if any older than us, was very knowledgeable. He also made boring stuff fun. I think he was a Tom Tom Beater in the Tribe, or maybe a Firebuilder. No longer, he is now a Chieftain, and serves as Ceremonial Chief when in town. Outside of Camp, I believe he is a pastor, or a minister to a congregation. That doesn't surprise me. While we did have fun, he always kept it clean, and exemplified what it meant to be a Staffman, and person.
As a leader, I will always look up to those serving in the job of program or camp director. The Don Carrick's, the Dave Foxes, the Justin Williams', and on and on, including the current program director, Eric Walker, And expand that beyond to the Area Directors. What thankless efforts they put in to make their staff the best it can be. All I can say, is
Thank you.
Seeing just a glimpse of what happens that campers and leaders never see, I am even more impressed. Camp Geiger Staff maintains its position as one of the best camp staffs in BSA. Period.
But that mystique started when I was a Warrior camping with our Troop iin Buffalo Bill, one of the last of the Cabin campsites here. I saw him first week, and you know what? He knew my name. And waved and I am like wow, how could he know me, after all, that was 1980. 38 years ago.
Thanks Darrell, you helped the mystique of Geiger Staff to grow in my eyes, and heart. And now that I am a part of it, All I can say is wow. A rookie staff member at 54. My chance to give back for all those years that I have loved the staff, and could see a glimpse of how elite the group, Camp Geiger Staff, really is. That I am a part, well, I still have some disbelief that this is all happening, and I am a part. But my body is telling me that it is, and it hates me for it. Oh well,
Two more weeks, And each week is week 1 for those in Camp, so pressing forward. One never knows when some staff member will be that guy in the eyes of a scout, or scout leader.
Last Saturday, we were given some guidance to think about for our weekend off. (24 hours). It was pointed out that the boys in camp don't look towards the camp director or program director in a hero worship sort of way, it is the instructors, the young man at the Trading Post, the Dining Hall staff. Yes there are exceptions to that, (who doesn't remember Mountain Man from a few years ago announcing which quadrant could come up for seconds, at the Dining Hall, or a Program or Camp Director doing a log roll or cartwheels at a campfire?
As an adult leader, I always focused on the leadership style of the program and camp director. Do those guys make kids want to come back to Camp Geiger? As a kid, probably not. So I was thinking about which staff guy do I remember making a difference, and giving me the desire to come back?
I was, I think about 16, and was kind of taking merit badges, just to take them. He taught the Merit Badge activity Soil & Water Conservation/Surveying. There were just two of us in the class the hour we had it. We did the requirements, in fact we went beyond the schedule, as we had time to do so, and earned them both. The staff member was very kind, and though not much, if any older than us, was very knowledgeable. He also made boring stuff fun. I think he was a Tom Tom Beater in the Tribe, or maybe a Firebuilder. No longer, he is now a Chieftain, and serves as Ceremonial Chief when in town. Outside of Camp, I believe he is a pastor, or a minister to a congregation. That doesn't surprise me. While we did have fun, he always kept it clean, and exemplified what it meant to be a Staffman, and person.
As a leader, I will always look up to those serving in the job of program or camp director. The Don Carrick's, the Dave Foxes, the Justin Williams', and on and on, including the current program director, Eric Walker, And expand that beyond to the Area Directors. What thankless efforts they put in to make their staff the best it can be. All I can say, is
Thank you.
Seeing just a glimpse of what happens that campers and leaders never see, I am even more impressed. Camp Geiger Staff maintains its position as one of the best camp staffs in BSA. Period.
But that mystique started when I was a Warrior camping with our Troop iin Buffalo Bill, one of the last of the Cabin campsites here. I saw him first week, and you know what? He knew my name. And waved and I am like wow, how could he know me, after all, that was 1980. 38 years ago.
Thanks Darrell, you helped the mystique of Geiger Staff to grow in my eyes, and heart. And now that I am a part of it, All I can say is wow. A rookie staff member at 54. My chance to give back for all those years that I have loved the staff, and could see a glimpse of how elite the group, Camp Geiger Staff, really is. That I am a part, well, I still have some disbelief that this is all happening, and I am a part. But my body is telling me that it is, and it hates me for it. Oh well,
Two more weeks, And each week is week 1 for those in Camp, so pressing forward. One never knows when some staff member will be that guy in the eyes of a scout, or scout leader.
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