Skyline To Me- Larry
My Skyline is a little different than most since it involves spending quality time with the campers underground all day or hanging out 100 feet off a rock cliff. My Skyline is all about courage and independence. Teaching the Caving Survival and Rappelling class I get to see a whole transformation as campers first have to learn about all the equipment we use and how to use it. How to communicate within the team and be a team member that everyone can trust. Eventually they become so good at what they’re doing their confidence shows through their actions and the smiles on their faces.
It’s great to watch the girls change from the beginning of the session to the end. The confusion of the first day where they’re learning about all the equipment and a whole new way to communicate is replaced by confident, short, to the point phrases knowing what is expected and exactly what to do. Its not just with the equipment, this happens as they may struggle on the first climb of the 30 foot tower and then successfully climbing and rappelling the cliff at the end of the session.
Their ability to learn and excel at new and challenging task is the special part of watching them become independent and self reliant in every aspect of their life. I’ve heard many times from campers when they complete their final climb of the session (124 feet down and up) or after a successful cave trip where they squeezed through a tight opening, “if I can do that, I can do anything!!” Surprisingly, at the end of the session, many the girls say the caving was their favorite part of the class. Something they never expected just 2 weeks before.
Wanting to be better, overcoming fears of the unknown and the determination to complete hard work. The formula for successful independence seems to be fairly consistent whether its from almost 250 years ago when our founding fathers were trying to form America (something we celebrate during our 4th of July session at camp), to squeezing through a cave or finishing a long climb up a rope to finishing high school or college and especially into our adult lives. Its a never ending process that thankfully, your daughters have learned to accomplish at an early age.
There is a sad part to “MySkyline” however (I told you this would be a little different). No matter how proud of the girls I am, it’s a little sad when they do reach their goals at the end of camp and its time for them to move on. I’m sure you parents reading this can relate when your daughter leaves for college or a career. Sometimes they may not choose the school we want them to go to or even the career path we would choose. The independence they’ve learned will help them be successful in any endeavor they choose, and we as parents should feel a little bit better knowing they’ve mastered this independence as part of their life skills. And who knows, just like caving, they may find something they enjoy more than what they (or we) first thought.
But don’t worry moms and dads, no matter what they do, your daughters will be fine because they already know the secret for their independence….
Wanting to be better, overcoming fears of the unknown and the determination to complete hard work
and as they’ve already learned……..if they can do that, they can do anything!!!
