My son has been a Boy Scout for about a year and a half. He is not particularly athletic or the "out-doorsy" type, but the experiences at Camp Wilderness have helped him to mature. The boys make planning decisions leading up to camp and many daily decisions while at camp. They choose their merit badges and keep their homework current. The walks between their badge stations can be as much as a quarter mile, maybe a couple miles a day total, but it's good exercise and my son remarked that he felt better afterwards because of it.
I spent four days each of the last two years at the summer camp, and I found the leaders particularly helpful if they saw a child on his own, or if there was trouble, such as calming the kids and leading them to safety indoors prior to a thunderstorm a couple years ago. My son needed extra help on one of his merit badges and the instructor took extra time to help him. Conditions at the camp are rustic, but when the kids overcome adversities they feel like they can deal with problems better next time they come along.
My son handed me The Forum last Thursday morning and asked me if that was the same Camp Wilderness that he went to. It was unfortunate that someone had a bad experience there. But for my son, the experiences have been wonderful and pleasantly memorable. We look forward to returning next year.
Dave Franzen
dad, Troop 215
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