The Reveal
July 18, 2025
We make no bones about it. Tenure at Kingswood is celebrated like nothing else. My photo of the waterfront area in the early evening is the place to start. The gathering clouds put us on edge since they were coming from the west, the indicator that we are next in line for some fireworks.
Acting quickly, we moved everyone from the council fire area back into the dining room, where we had just come from, making it indoors by seconds before a hard-hitting rain arrived. Boys put on various facial antics to capture Raven’s attention, thus getting the invitations to come up to the counter for ice cream sandwiches.
As soon as that mayhem ended, we commenced with the Kingswood swag handout tradition we call “the Reveal.” More on that in a second. First up were the Varsity Club celebrants. The idea that specific mountains must be climbed, several for each of three levels of achievement, has been a whopping success.
Rob and I generated the vision of a “Varsity Club” about 20 years ago while sitting on the dock with our feet in the water. It was a relatively daring suggestion we made that day since the value behind the Kingswood program is a gentle persuasion for boys to try new activities along with very little scorekeeping. “The fun is in the doing,” we say.
Well, having a hiking club that absolutely keeps a tally on who climbs what and when goes against that grain a bit. But, if there was ever to be something we thought so highly about as to keep track of it, hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire was the one thing worth signaling out for distinction. Those four boys pictured in their Presidential level tee shirts were beaming over their accomplishment as they had summited nearly 30 peaks to reach that elevated status.
Next up were those folks for whom 2025 represented exactly their fifth summer at camp. I did not know that Rob and Mike had made some sartorial improvements to the 5 year shirt, as they pulled a green tee our of the box instead of the traditional blue jersey. T’was well received.
Finally, the “Reveal,” which every veteran knows is the moment Rob taunts the old-timers, those ladies and gentlemen who have bestowed their presence upon Kingswood for six years or more. That is no mock revelry shown in my photos as the pajama pants were an extreme crowd-pleaser. I counted about fifty people who were so honored, and I must tell you I was one proud fellow at that moment.
We’ll see many of you this afternoon and are looking forward to it. Mother Tarleton is agitated today, maybe up to a 5 wind on our scale. Bring sweaters and windbreakers. Most of us here are delighted to have such a refreshing breeze.