Camper Away

D- is now up at Broad Creek Scout Reservation for the week. He is what they call a CIT or counselor-in-training. He'll spend the week learning the ropes (and the map and compass and the leatherwork and the canoeing) so that next year he has some idea which program area he would like to work in for real money. He'll return on Saturday for one day whereupon he returns to Broad Creek till the following Thursday.

D- is a worrywart. Whenever something new or unfamiliar comes along in his life, he'll fret about every aspect of it, much to the irritation of his parents who get pummeled with thousands of questions about every facet and nuance of the new or unfamiliar event.

But this time he seemed less nervous and more excited about going. There were questions and concerns but not all that many. He really likes summer camp, he's familiar with Broad Creek, he basically knows the situation, and I think he's really going to like being on staff line during formation.

Even though he's 15, D- has never exactly been away from us for this long so this week and next will be a new experience for all of us, kid and parents alike. You see there's a twice-a-day medication issue he has to deal with, and this is an issue he has never taken complete ownership of. We've always been there to remind him and he's always been very happy to have us remind him. But this summer he's been bored out of his mind and there are dozens of other good reasons why being a CIT is such a good idea - maturity growth, hanging with kids his own age, responsibility, fun, constructive activity, not sitting on his butt playing video games - that everyone decided that now is the time for him to take responsibility and be away from us.

Yesterday staff was to report exactly at noon. So I had him in the Camp Spencer pavilion exactly at noon. I figured there would be some orientation or introduction for the new kid. Nope. They took all the staff, D- included, and marched them off to some campsite to move tents around. By the time I caught up with him, he seemed right at home among the other staff members.

I noted the slight touch of exasperation in his voice as I rattled of the last fatherly instructions:

"Check for ticks."
"Yeah, OK.
"Drink plenty of water."
"Fine."
"Have fun."
"I will."
"And don't forget your meds."
"I won't."

I'll let you know how things went on Saturday.
K-