A Monday Feel

July 30, 2024

Monday is the start day for a new round of clinics. Lots of hands-on teaching goes on towards the beginning of the week and slowly evolves into more of a practice session. The best that can happen is that a boy might gain Kingswood certification, meaning he can practice at odd times without instruction.  We’ve been over this idea in earlier blogs.

The main point is that we are not gunning for a thorough indoctrination.  I personally have observed clinics where I was tempted to add a hundred additional teaching concepts. Nothing doing at Kingswood.  We are “seed planters” and hope a youngster develops enough interest in an activity to put it in his queue of future endeavors.

Volleyball is a good example. Boys were working on the primary skills of the game when I passed by.  I guarantee these fellows will join after-dinner volleyball sponsorships in the days to come. I suppose they keep score in these contests but no one seems to care that much about the final results.  One sensational volley will bring them back next time!

Look at that photo of the A Block B Block board for July 29.  I fell in with Mike while it was happening and he was very pleased with the distribution of the choices.  He seldom produces a “busted block” but it is so fulfilling to see every activity engaging just the right number of participants to make it fully participatory.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE HAVING SOME INTERNET ISSUES.  I CANNOT LOAD THE PHOTOS. LET ME GET THIS MUCH UP FOR YOU.  I’LL ADD MORE LATER ON.

Now it is noon and still no ability to add photos.  Will do as soon as we can.  I just got back from driving a group of boys over to the other side of Webster Cliff Mountain, where they will follow the Appalachian Trail all the way back to its intersection with Route 25C just 1.7 miles from Kingswood.

Mike Wiff was the other driver and we diverted a bit so we could check out some water holes for potential PM excursions.  Thumbs totally down as the river was gorged to the very dangerous level.  We got maybe 1/2 inch of rain last night but this spot clearly had received much much more.  Then we saw some road closure signs and came to the realization that the area had had a major storm.  Maybe this helps explain the Internet issues.

I was very pleased to see the Monday feel carry into Tuesday as most of the clinics were very hands-on and all counselors were on their feet helping boys learn the tricks of the trade.  My favorite clinic was the fishing clinic, where Levi was having his troops play the Frisbee golf course, by casting their rods in the direction of the posts.

Keep looking for the photos to appear as most assuredly the problem will eventually get worked out. Or, as the old Yankee farmer once quipped, “There must be a frog in the wheel.”  I get it.  Do you?