Lessons from Adventure Land

This past Sunday, I left the comforts of my home to go to Cub Scout camp with my Webelo son and several other 9-11 year old boys.  I didn't really know what the days would bring.  The only thing I did know is that in years past, Christian came home exhausted and talked non-stop about the abundance of sugar he ate and drank while away.

The minute we pulled into Camp Gerber, we were met with vibrant young men who were our Super Den Chiefs.  Let me tell you, there is still hope four this world and our country with young men like that in leadership roles.

Nerf and Bison were the orange groups SDC (super den chiefs).   Everyone at the camp had fun names and all of the staff lived in the trees and were 12 years old.  All the "adults" there were also 12 for those three days.  The idea is that 12 is old enough to know right from wrong and young enough to have fun.

I LOVED being 12 again!

I ran around like a kid.  Sang at the top of my lungs like a kid.  I played like a kid.  And I laughed like a kid.

It was AWESOME!!!

But what really inspired me was watching Christian.  I didn't "mom" him during this time, I didn't need to.  He was in his element.  He ran around, played, sang, ate lots of sugar, learned new things, and made new friends so easily.

When asked what his favorite part of the three days was, he said when they were able to hit Bison with a sling shot shooting sandbags.  (Bison was hit in the "nuggets" several times.)  The boys loved that and laughed so much.

I loved watching other parents being kids and participating in their son's lives.  We were all 12 again.  And loving it.

These past 72 hours taught me that being a kid is tough work.  That it's easier to blow off snotty kids when you are 12.  That silly camp songs get stuck in your head at crazy times throughout the day.  That our kids LOVE it when we participate in activities with them rather than sitting on the side lines and watching.

I gained so much respect for Christian during this trip and I am so proud to call him my son and so thankful for the scouting community for being a great example for him.