“The Staff is everything.”  The idea is for the counselors to have a blast at camp, and to include the campers in their fun.  Add proper training of good guys to that formula and one has a concept most likely to produce successful outcomes.  Many boys come to camp with tremendous reluctance bordering on downright fear.  I, too, am most nervous until enough time has passed for the counselors to connect with any particular group.

I was not even thinking of this report when I snapped a few photos of “Find the Counselor,” a hide-and-go seek game we play twice a summer.  After tweaking several models, we have stuck on a true winner.  It starts with staff guys taunting the boys on how they will not be found by them.  Just look at the universal laughter that trash talk generated.  The game now is played exclusively in a well-defined section of the woods and campers have about one hour to locate as many hiders as they can.  Not easy!  Most counselors dig in deep!

Once reassembled at game’s conclusion, we have copious reports under such categories as “near finds,” “lucky finds,” and — my favorite  — “dumb comments overheard by concealed counselors.”  Those discovered get “The Hose” treatment.  The only thing you need to know about the hose is that the water is so cold that most guys howl and yelp  — much to the sheer delight of the squirters.  But, what really is happening is that boys and their beloved counselors are bonding even more, and this all adds up to a most successful foray from the home nest for most kids.