Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Boys just wanna have fun



Who-da thunk it? Roasting apples on a BWCA fire grate. A few minutes each side over the fire, and then apple pie yumminess.

My son Hans and his friend Albert found all sorts of ways to get their jollies in the wilderness during their inaugural BWCA trip last week.

What, no library? Tell your own stories.

No online games? Learn new poker games in the tent.

No dessert on night one? Roast some of the heavy apples before the big portage the next day.



And if there's no waterslide, find your own water park, a cliff around the corner on Ahsub Lake.

As a long-time YMCA Camp Widjiwagan wilderness guide, I felt liberated on our BWCA trip. I didn't have to worry about entertaining, about moral lessons or prayers before meals. The kids could paddle around the corner and out of sight to look for cliff jumping spots. Which they found.

At Widjiwagan, fun was a path to spiritual development. Now, fun is just fun. Perfect.

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