For those of you who know me, picturing me snoozing in a sleeping bag under a canvas ceiling may be a bit of a stretch. That image may even provoke a chuckle or two.
It’s no secret that I’m particular about my surroundings. I like a certain order to my environment…to my life at that. That preference is often challenged in a frenzied business travel schedule. And it’s downright discarded when I spend a few days camping like I did last week with my son and 14 of his friends–troop 847 of the Boy Scouts of America.
And, though I have to adjust to the grit of “roughing it,” I can still appreciate the experience of stepping out of my comfort zone, particularly to be reminded of what teamwork looks like when you’re literally on the ground.
From the moment we arrived at camp last week, the scouts were in charge. They knew where to set up camp, how to pitch the tents and what the schedule would be until we broke camp at the end of the week.
Yes, there was a schedule. Our kids ran the show. And the slate of activities included gathering wood for fire, checking supply lists and deadlines for each merit badge, service project, game or meal..
Our kids not only had the schedule, they knew how to get it done.
“Dad, hold this spike in place while I tie the other end of the tent.”
“No, that kind of branch won’t work for the campfire, dad. You have to get this kind of branch.”
“Fill this pudgy pie with cherries, dad, and hold it over the campfire.”
Pudgy pies? They handed me two long spatula-looking pans and showed me where to sit. I plugged into my BlackBerry browser to get the scoop on pudgy pies. No signal. No worries. The 12-year-old next to me is already explaining how to fill it and cook it over the fire without burning it. “We don’t waste any filling, so be sure to watch the time and pull it when it’s ready.” Perfectly explained.
Watching and listening to all of the direction and tips really wowed me…and made me smile. I was so proud…here were the boys that we meet with every week in scout meetings applying their skills and learning to get things done. The boys made it all look so easy. Their instruction was easy to follow. Told with such patience. Clear and concise.
Every one of them had a role, knew it and did the job. If a tent pole fell, a scout passing by picked it up and tied it down. If the wood was too heavy to carry, two scouts were there in a second, helping their fellow troop member get it from point A to point B. Newly cleared camp grounds in our area and Class A Scout Uniforms warn during all Scout Flag Ceremonies made for one award that few scouts ever see: the White Buffalo Award.
We ate three meals a day under the sun and stars. And we closed each day next to the burning embers of a camp fire telling stories. I marveled at the experiences and perspectives our scouts were expressing. Who knew?!!
As I crawled into the tent Friday night my son was already fast asleep. I slipped into my sleeping bag…on the ground, in a tent…and started thinking about how proud I am of the young man my son is becoming….how good it felt to step away from the laptops and mobile phones for a week…and how I am a better persona for the experiences I was able to enjoy throughout the week.
Just then, my son awoke, unzipped his sleeping bag, crawled over to the tent entrance and pulled the zipper closed on the netting.
“Gotta be sure the tent is sealed all the way, dad, or the mosquitoes will eat us alive.”
Oh yes…and making sure to cover all the bases…and help someone out if they miss a step.
You are an awesome dad! Braving the bees, leaving the electronic connection behind and realizing what you could learn from your son and his compadres…You rock!
That is priceless. It must have felt so good to have someone else in charge for a change, and leaving it in the hands the Scouts. . . perfect! Children love being in that role, and if men could just be a little more like these Boy Scouts, having the desire to do that which is right, what a different world we would live in. 
That story brings back a Scout memory. When I was a scout, dad came along I cooked his breakfast (burned more like it) as I cooked the eggs till they looked more like coal I told the other guys this is how he likes ‘em. Wouldn’t you know it he ate them. Ah the love a Dad has for his son. good job Aaron
Way to go, dad and CEO. Showing growth through example! Kudos!
