First Time for everything

Fort Scott was loaded with firsts for me

It was the first time I slept in the forest under the stars
It was the first time I rode a horse or even touched one
It was the first time I dove off the high dive into a pool
It was the first time I ever kissed a girl
It was the first time I ever played mud football
It was the first time I was ever away from my parents for more than three days
It was the first time I ever signed a contract
It was the first time I ever got a paycheck
It was the first time I ever kissed a woman on stage (sorry Katie)
It was the first time I ever stayed up all night long just for the fun of it
It was the first time I ever at White Castles and smoked cigars (and thankfully the last)
It was the first time I ever had a crush on a girl so badly that I couldn't sleep
and it was the first time I ever cried because I had to say goodbye to a friend.

Happy Labor Day Weekend

Bob

Another Milestone

Well, we have done it folks. We passed 2000 page loads sometime in the past day or so. I want to thank everyone that has come and shared a memory here.

I still would like to encourage those of you who pass through this "museum" to at least leave a comment with your name on it somewhere. You cannot be a part of a family and remain anonymous. Who knows, someone out there may be looking for you.

Onward to 5000

Bob

Serenity

During my time as a counselor at Fort Scott, I think there was only one or two weeks that I did not have a cabin.
Most times, this was not a problem, I enjoyed the kids, and I made it a point to participate in their programs. I didn't do this out of a sense of duty, it was just fun for me, and I connected with the campers better that way. Now and then though everyone, including me needed a break from the mayhem.

Sometimes it was as simple as taking a swim during rest period, or a walk in the woods- just somewhere that was quiet and had a little solitude. With me, I would usually try to find a way to retreat into my music somehow. Maybe it was a quiet hour in my cabin with head phones or just sitting down at Wagner doing cabin assignments and having a radio playing softly nearby.

One of my favorite memories of Serenity amidst the chaos happened when I was an AD. The camp had purchased a really nice PA system and I had taken it upon myself to take care of it. I was setting up for Counsellor Stunt night and most of the boys hill was either playing games, or at Chapel. The bowl of the hill above the boys pool had become an oasis of quiet. I put in a tape of the Soundtrack of the Man from Snowy River, and sat in the middle of the hill, just listening.

It was a nice way to get re focused and back into the swing of things.

How about the rest of you? Got any good stories to share?

Fort Scott Walkthrough

this is my first attempt, but you get the idea.

Bob

Where is this all going?

I have been having an ongoing conversations with Thom in California regarding all things Fort Scoot, and he said something that caught my attention.

".... I hope more old and aging Fort Scotters will discover your excellent blog." When he said that I realized something that I might not have made clear.

This Blog is for everyone that ever walked through the gates of camp, and up that long hill.

In my mind, this is an online museum and I am only the currator. I have been supplying my own memories and thoughts about camp up to this point, but sooner or later, that well is is going to run dry. My fear is that this blog might be perceived as something that is only for my era.

As I told Thom, with each passing year, more and more of the history of our beloved camp is lost. I want to preserve as much as I can for everyone, as soon as I can.

So once again, please pass the word about this site. I really feel like we have barely scratched the surface.

Have a great weekend

Bob

All I can say is WOW!

Bruce Brownlee sent me copies of his picture collection from Camp. Some of them Ihave seen before, but the ones I am sharing tonight just knocked my socks off.

I can't thank you enough Bruce!!!!

Drama continued

Another Drama activity that gave some unexpected insights into the campers was the improvisational skits. Long before Drew Carey did Who's Line, the campers were doing the very same thing.

The midgies were all pretty predictable where their skits would go. At least with boys, sooner or later it would wind up as some kind of action scene...good guys shooting the bad guys

Juniors did a little better, but usually by the time they would actually get into the skit, someone would cut up somehow and the mood would be broken. It was hard to do any real interaction when somebody was making fart noises with his armpit.

The Seniors, especially when the program was mixed boys and girls, could do some remarkable and emotional things. I am not sure what we would have to do today with some of the things we learned.

Sometimes if you watched carefully you could see that one of the players was really attracted to another, and this was a way to say it, but not say it. Sometimes the topics drifted into painful subjects. Not often, but enough to make an impression. I remember very well an episode where I could swear the girl was trying to tell us that she had been abused. I am fairly certain that she was given some extra attention by her counselors after that.

The best part though, was the realization of how talented our kids were, and how lucky we were to be working with them. Unfortunately, it sometimes took years to realize that.

Bob