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CAMP SECTION, Page 2, THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
By Sue Treadwell
America today is very different than when our
great-grandfathers lived here. Where once they saw
vast forests or prairies, there are now cities and
farms. All that remains of our once savage America
is what has been called “a gentle wilderness.” In it
we find a place to relax, have fun, learn, think, and
a place to find solitude. In such surroundings, learn
ing is gradual.
But what there is to be learned from and about
nature is not going to be readily apparent to a city-
raised teen-ager. We need someone to show us God’s
out-of-doors. Each year, thousands of men and
women make it their job to do just this.
Most of us teen-agers do not really know how to
thank these wonderful people. We cannot tell them
what they have given us because we simply do not
know how. Instead, we thank God- for the things
they have opened our eyes to, for the insight we have
gained, and, most of all, for their honest feelings of
concern about us. We thank Him because they do
care, and have taught us to care about nature.
What is it that they give us? For one thing, each
one of us learns a sense of responsibility. If jobs are
not done at camp, then things can get pretty chaotic
Once one can accept small responsibilities, then big
ones do not seem nearly as frightening. If a teen-ager
develops a sense of responsibility, then it will soon
be extended from just schoolwork and chores to
things of national interest and importance. National
issues will no longer be something you just hear
your Dad “growl” about, or your teacher lecture on.
They will become real problems which must be
solved. Of course, you cannot solve them, but at least
■ you are aware they are there.
Another thing which I have gained and which
“Invocation”
given by a camper, at the National
American Camping ^Association Con
vention in 1966 at Chicago
I have seen many pther kids gain at Camp is an idea
about who they abe. As the counselors present their
ideas fairly and logically, we see things from their
point of view, which is often different from our own.
That starts a lot of us thinking about what they have
presented, and some of it we adopt as part of our
selves. Thus, we begin to see what we believe in
because these people have opened up new questions
to which the answers lie in each individual. As we
find some of the answers, slowly, and often more
painfully than many of you realize, we become indi
viduals. We also mature during our inner question
ing. As we mature, we begin to see how unique and
special each person is in his own way. Tolerance
comes with this understanding, I believe, because
we realize that we have faults, and, therefore, ac
cept them in others.
For me, the most important thing at Camp was
the opportunity to meet and really get to know
adults who were interested in us as people. To them
each of us is important. Because we sense this, it is
easier fo talk to them, tell them what bothers us
and what we like. For the thousands of men and
women with this rare gift of understanding, we
should truly be grateful. Because we can reach out
to theijn and get through, they are also able to get
through to us, to teach and guide us.
What we have learned from them will help and
guide us for the rest of our lives. Independence and
responsibility will grow as we mature.
Those basic ideas about what we believe in will
also grow and become firm beliefs. And we do be
lieve in ideas and people very strongly . . . strongly
enough for many of us to be working for today’s
concerns.
All these things I have gained through camping.
Camping is more than just a way to vacation. It is
a valuable teaching experience and a way of life.
People of all eras have looked to the wilderness for
inspiration and hope.
I would like to close with a part from Psalms 121:
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills
From whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord
Who made heaven and earth.”
Outdoor Stage at Blue Star Campc