I'm Headed Out To Camp OUTSIDE this weekend!
Well this weekend I am headed towards northern Pennsylvania close to the New York line for outdoor winter camping with my son Tyler and Boy Scout Troop 284, from Lewisberry, PA. Say what you may about the organization, but I must say as my one friend said to the boys the other night.. "It is truely an honor to be assoicaited with these boys, especially when you see how hard they work to help others." The last few weeks these boys have helped pack and then move the Redland Senior Center into its new location. Some who aren't camping this weekand are helping them with their auction on Saturday. I have seen my son and the troop members clean up churches, gather food for the less fortunate, gather, pack and ship care packages to our troops, clean up forgotten cemetaries, hold holiday parties for seniors, and many other fine community service projects.
SO why camp in the freezing weather? It helps teach the boys that things are possible with planning, preperation and team work. I know, I have been there when they have slept out in shelters they made from those blue plasitc tarps, rope and some straw in weather of zero degrees with 40 mph winds. These gentlemen are our countries future. I have seen many develop from squirmy, no attention span kids into organized and prepared young men. I see many of them in Junior ROTC and talking about going into a "Service Academy" like West Point or Annapolis. My son included---he wants to join JROTC, Become and Eagel Scout and go to Annapolis and eventually to the Marines (thanks to our neighbor Chris, who is a fine Marine, and despite our families Navy history)!
I told that to a friend the other day in the car and she asked, "Are you OK with that?". I said yes, that I believe some things are hardwired in people brains from day one. And that my son has the attributes our military needs and looks for in a recruit. For example I am not a hunter, but this boy loves it. "But, wouldn't you be afraid for him with the current world situation?" No, I won't be. He is going to ba capable of whatever he decides to do, and something "bad" could just as likely happen to him here as it could on a duty tour.
Please volunteer your time if you can and get involved with our future, support our youth. I am impressed by many that are coming up through the "ranks". Ohhh, and put another blanket on for me this weekend.