Throughout the day, I conduct Random Camper Surveys. They’re one of my favorite ways to interact with campers from all across camp.
Cabins come alive when they’re asked about their favorite facets of camp: Tribal Activities, Meals, and (especially) SKILLS.
The enthusiasm is contagious.
They’ll passionately defend their favorites, launching into evidence-based monologues about why Archery is better than Riflery, why Mountain Biking beats Table Games, or why everyone should take Blacksmithing.
Around any lunch table, it doesn’t take much to spark a spirited debate over which skills are the very best at Rockmont.
I’m biased, but I particularly like the arguments for Homesteading.
You get to pick plants.
You can hang out with the ANIMALS.
You EAT EVERY SKILL.
And this year…
You get to hang out with BEES.
One of my closest friends, Kevin Jones, has poured a lot of life into camp over the years, and one of his most recent contributions is bringing bees back to Rockmont.
Today, I joined our 2nd skill Homesteaders for a visit to the hives, and it brought back a memory from my own days as a camper.
As a camper, I liked taking on camp experiences at my speed: slowly.
Initially, the sum of all my goals was simply to make it through the session, and there were caring counselors, staff, and peers with me every step of the way.
After I got my camp legs beneath me, I was ready for the next challenge: trying new activities, building friendships with campers outside of my cabin, and even getting to know counselors and directors beyond my tribal area.
Skills were an area where I thrived on consistency, and Homesteading became a staple of that pace of life for me.
I enjoyed all the aspects of the farm that campers still enjoy today: tending to the garden, hanging out with the goats and chickens, eating what we gathered, and spending time on the porch of the Homesteading cabin.
And, just like camp tends to do, once I found a steady pace and felt completely in control, I was nudged towards something new.
One day during Homesteading, an invitation was issued to travel across the golf course to visit the bees. And I knew that wasn’t going to be for me.
But as my fellow Homesteaders began volunteering and donning the white space suits, I felt an internal tug toward putting my hand up as well.
And I did.
I’m sure my hands were a bit shaky, and I probably required assistance from the kind staff at the farm to secure my bee suit. I’m even more sure I asked plenty of questions about whether bees could sting through the suit or if there were any known holes along the zippers.
Then we set off toward the old BMX deck, which was the location of the old home of the Rockmont hives. I vividly remember Hap Endler smoking the hives to calm the bees, and the nervous laughter that gradually turned into joy as my buddies and I became more comfortable around the same insect we spend so much of our lives trying to avoid.
But what I remember most isn’t actually the bees.
It’s the feeling after we returned to the garden and peeled off those oversized suits. I remember being sweaty, smiling, and carrying that strange mixture of relief and pride that comes after doing something you weren’t sure you could do.
I had chosen to face a fear, and I had been encouraged every step of the way.
Joining Kevin and our Skill 2 Homesteaders today was a great reminder of that same sense of challenge and accomplishment Rockmont has to offer. The challenge itself isn’t usually the point.
More often, it’s discovering you’re capable of a little more than you thought you were, especially when you’re surrounded by people who believe you can do it.
– Daniel Weatherby
Associate Director