Our council is lucky to have two camps, our primary camp located in Sylvania called Black Creek Scout Reservation (BCSR) and a primitive camp in Brunswick called Camp Tolochee. The bulk of my camping time each year is spent at BCSR, particularly for summer camp. I’ve tried to take the time to get to know various jobs and skills each summer to be more helpful, and sometimes, it pays off. I served numerous times running kayaks for our zipline program, so was thrilled to jump at the chance to do it in our “off season” when the ranger asked if the boys and I were available to help work it for a private event.

I had told them to be ready to change clothes and jump in the car immediately when they got off the bus after school. I got home a little early to pack each of our cooler bags with dinner on the road (sandwiches and snacks) so we could be at camp in time. Ian came home and decided he had too much homework and would be responsible and stay home (sometimes I wonder about that kid). Adrian and I loaded up and headed to camp. I have to say, it was really great to have some one on one time with him. We talked all the way up and all the way back, giving me time to learn more about him and let him ask questions that had been on his mind.

We arrived on time (which is early, as I’ve been properly trained in Wood Badge). The ranger invited us to putt around and take the kayaks out if we liked. So after taking Adrian on a tour of our second home, we pulled a couple of kayaks out and set about the lake. He told me that it is completely different from how he camps with his unit back home. They don’t have a home camp. Instead, they rent a field each summer for 15 days where they set up tents then take to doing activities, often backpacking or hiking to other destinations. We enjoyed the August sunshine and the breeze, making it easy to paddle around.

My job for the evening was going to be on the kayak to pull the zipliners in (they land in the lake), and Adrian’s was going to be on one of the ropes to pull them to shore. Since we were still running early, Adrian was given the opportunity to try out the zipline, which he did, twice. He loved it. He told me that back home, he does ziplines but they only go from tree to tree, so this was a new experience.

The time came to do our duties, and Adrian quickly learned how difficult it can be to pull an adult through the water to land. But he was a trooper, never complained, just did the job. Well, at least until an hour in he snuck off to grab one more time down the line before we would close for the night.

Storms started to roll in so we had to call it a night. He was so excited the whole way home, said he couldn’t wait to tell his grandfather about what he’d done. I really love that we get to have these adventures with him that I may have been taking for granted because we do them so often.