Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Lessons learned at Boy Scout camp


Here's my September 'Life Lines' column:

I recently had an opportunity to go on a Boy Scout camping trip with my son, Noah, who is within a stone’s throw of becoming a teenager. I hemmed and hawed when it came time to make the final decision about whether to pack my knapsack and head into the woods. It wasn’t just the thought of the semi-open latrines that caused me doubt. It was the possibility that my presence on the trip might somehow limit Noah. I didn’t want him to think I didn’t trust him, which certainly wasn’t the case.

Truth be told, I really just wanted an excuse to go camping. The older I get, the more I’m intrigued by the possibility of developing a deeper relationship with nature. And the Boy Scouts put on a great program. I’m also not so naïve as to think that Noah will always want me tagging along on his camping trips. So time seemed of the essence.

Noah was not only willing to have me in camp but enthusiastic. It touched my heart to know that my little boy, who is not so little any more, still enjoys having me around. My job, then, was to be present without being oppressive, which can be a fine line to walk when all your motherly instincts are telling you to reach out and wipe the remnants of an orange Slushie from around your child’s mouth.

It was such a treat to see Noah – as well as the other teens and near-teens in his troop -- take on challenges they would normally skip in lieu of video games or TV. As I watched them venture out of their comfort zones, it reminded me that every day each one of us is given the option of choosing to stretch rather than stick with the status quo, of opting for new experiences over comfortable routines.

I watched from afar as Noah worked on his swimming merit badge. He had to jump in the lake fully clothed, remove his shirt and jeans and turn them into a floatation device. I stood in awe as I saw him struggle and succeed at something I couldn’t even dream of attempting. He caught a fish, he dissected a fish, he shot a rifle, he swam 150 yards without stopping, he snorkeled, he made a first aid kit, he waited tables in the mess hall, he walked back and forth and back and forth through camp, winding his way through mud and darkness without fear or frustration. And I sat near the campfire, waiting and watching for the glimmer of his flashlight shining in the darkness to signal that he was “home.”

Boy Scout camp is meant to challenge the boys. But as I made my own way at Rotary Scout Reservation, I realized that it was challenging me as well. First there were the easy challenges: letting go of the urge to go through my normal hair and make-up routine before venturing down to flag ceremony and breakfast, sleeping in a tent where animals were scurrying under my platform and grasshoppers were hovering above my head, using stinky latrines that didn’t even have doors. And then there were the harder challenges: letting Noah make his own choices and maybe even his own mistakes, inviting him to hike with me but giving him a wide berth, remembering that this was his week and he shouldn’t have to cater to mom’s every whim, trusting that even if I hadn’t been around to remind him he would ultimately do the right thing.

I may not have an opportunity like this one again. By next year Noah may want more independence, or at least some time out from under his parents’ watchful gazes. And that’s OK because if learned one thing on this camping trip it’s this: My son can handle a lot more than either one of us realized. He’s ready to stretch, and so, it seems, am I.

To read previous 'Life Lines' columns, visit my website by clicking HERE.

5 comments:

FrMike said...

Glad you're touting BSA again, Mary! Passed your post on to several of my fellow Scouters.

Roxane B. Salonen said...

Mary, our little guy, age 6, has expressed an interest in Boy Scouts, so looks like we'll be doing this kind of thing as well. It's good for the soul, nature is. Glad you got to experience it with your son!

Mary DeTurris Poust said...

Roxane -- I cannot say enough good things about Boy Scouts. It has been a great experience for Noah. I am a Girl Scout leader, and I'm constantly wishing that the girls had the kind of philosophy and structure that BSA has. It's a whole different thing. Noah is determined to Eagle. He achieved the rank of First Class just last night, so he is very excited. And I am very proud.

Anonymous said...

Very well put. I see & feel the same thing from Tiger Cub to Boy Scouts and I have a son in each. I will be sharing your blog with our Troop and Council and am confident you will gain some local followers. I think you may have provided an Adult recruitment tool I will be using for years to come. If you are ever in the Amarillo area and would be willing to speak to a group on this topic let me know.
KC Hamill
District Committee Chairman
Troop 87 - St. Thomas the Apostle
Pack 82 - Coronado Elem.

Steve Smith said...

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