Boys' Camp: An “In Tents” Experience
___by Austin Fast
“Red Squad! We lead, you follow,” rang out
around the camp as 40 Macedonian high
school boys finished yelling their team cheers.
The five teams grew quiet, waiting to hear
what was up next after completing a grueling
six-hour Olympics in the midday heat.
A brightly colored ball rolled down the hill
among the teams, coming to a rest in front of
the squads. Those nearby squinted to see what
it was: a balloon, dangerously full of water.
Max Arcand teaching knot tying (photo by Austin Fast)
Without warning, the camp staff unleashed a
volley of water balloons on the boys from all
angles. The campers scattered immediately in search of liquid ammunition and fought back
valiantly. The vicious battle slowed once everyone was sufficiently soaked, and everybody headed
off to a final dinner at the 2011 Young Men’s Leadership Camp.
·
About 40 high school boys from all corners of Macedonia gathered in July at the mountain home
Kitka near the tiny village of Tajmishte for a week of learning new sports, teamwork and leadership
skills, and most importantly – how to dance the Bernie (lean back, let your hands hang free and
shake to the beat).
Each day at camp, instructors led the boys
through hands-on classes that got them
thinking and talking. Christine Moore
challenged them to come up with feasible
service projects, while Joany Yi provoked
conversation about civil rights, equality and
democracy.
Students
followed
Katie
Kalinowski through the woods as she taught
them about protecting the environment, while
Jenny Acosta and I created an Amazing Race
game to teach the boys about alcohol and had
all five camp counselors slipping condoms on Testing water samples for an environmental class
cucumbers for our health classes.
(photo by Austin Fast)
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