It is a full moon tomorrow and for some of our boys, that gave them license to act like werewolves. As our counselors took their evening posts after nightfall and the sound of taps, there were a few bunks that still had some leftover energy and wanted to come out to play. One bunk, in particular, knew enough to not exit from the front door but took the liberty of popping out their bathroom window screen for a quick exit. Within a minute, the shenanigans came to an end and the counselors on OD escorted the boys back into the cabin through the front door. Sitting in the bunk was one camper who decided not to join the festivities.
When reveille sounded in the morning, this camper made a beeline for my office. He was upset and confused because he felt ridiculed by his bunkmates for not joining them during their impulsive breakout. It was a tough evening for this boy, he felt ostracized for being the only one to stay behind and felt guilty that he would be the only one not subjected to a little “poo-poo” duty in the morning.
I sympathized with the camper as we sat and talked about choices we could make when subjected to peer pressure. I can appreciate the exhilaration of sneaking out of the bunk with your friends, and admittedly I’ve been known to pull a prank or two back in my heyday. But to have the strength, self-confidence, and integrity to look your peers in the eye and not join takes real courage. I suggested it’s those difficult decisions that actually earn greater respect long-term among one’s peers than following the crowd.
We have a philosophy in camp, “While we might hate the sin, we always love the sinners.” We keep these moments in perspective. It was a challenging morning for this boy as he saw his bunkmates receiving a reprimand and assuming an appropriate slap on the wrist. By dinner time, the camper came back to me and wanted to report that his bunkmates approached him later in the day and were impressed by his ability to stand up to the group and refrain from the impulsive moment. Upon reflection, they recognized that he, in fact, showed leadership and self-confidence and earned their respect.
There are many events that occurred throughout the day, but none resonated with me to this level.
