It was another busy day at camp.
We sent out two groups of Warrior Hawks (finished third grade) on some awesome day trips. One group made their way to Basin Cascade Trail, a moderately challenging route to a serene waterfall and natural pool along the Kangamagus Highway. The other group departed for Deer Hill Mineral Site, where the boys enjoyed a one-mile hike near Stow, Maine. This gem of a hike is known for its beautiful amethyst, also called “purple quartz.”
We hosted a 15-and-under baseball round-robin tournament while our other campers enjoyed a day of regular program.
This morning, one of our 15-year-old campers, who I consider a leader, paid me a visit. He had trouble sleeping last night, not only because he and his bunkmates were carousing around the campus after lights out, finding their way into our food storage area under the dining hall and breaking into our goodies like little chipmunks—but because his conscience kept him up all night. In his words, he allowed his bunkmates to lead him down this path. While he considers himself a leader and knew they were making a poor decision, he couldn’t muster the words to appeal to his friends’ sense of reason, so he joined them.
I told him that he is responsible for his actions. While sneaking into the dining room with his best friends might seem like a harmless act, in reality, they were breaking into a building and taking things that didn’t belong to them. Furthermore, he didn’t know whether any of his friends could have had an allergic reaction to something they ate, requiring medical attention, or whether what they were sampling was on the menu the next day, which would impact our food service.
I suggested that a leader isn’t necessarily someone who gets up in front of a group to motivate others. Rather, a leader is someone who makes thoughtful decisions and, through his actions, encourages others to follow.
Our conversation expanded beyond last night’s antics as we spoke about how this young man is entering a time in his life when he’ll be faced with constant peer pressure. I shared with him that as he approaches manhood, his margin for error is shrinking, and the consequences for his actions will be greater.
We had a heartfelt moment that I hope will resonate beyond his camping years. While I hate the sin, I love the sinner.
