This is an excerpt from Canadian Camping Magazine – June 1953
Counsel for Counselors
Mary S. Edgar
Director: Glen Bernard Camp
Let us consider some of the ways in which we, as leaders, can play a part in character building. First we can establish a bond of friendship. If we are truly interested in our campers, they will be quick to sense the sincerity of our interest. If we believe in them and expect the best from them, our faith is likely to inspire the response we desire. A freshman in college wrote in her diary some of her ideas about leadership: “A leader is a person who can make you expand into doing things you never dreamed of – all because she believes so hard in you and your ability and what you have to share. Some people freeze you up, while others make you see that your ideas and pep are just plain needed. And she makes you self-winding too – not all dependent on her, but full of new ideas and plans of your own, until you feel like a natural-born creator. The Dutch don’t just raise tulips; they love them up. That’s like a leader! She loves you up, and I believe that anyone who cares enough can learn to do it.”
If we care enough, we shall give much thought to planning the sort of camp program which will mean most to our campers. We shall think about our own particular group of campers as individuals – very special and important. We shall take stock of our own resources, our talents, our training and abilities, our camp-site possibilities, and try to plan to get the most value out of what we have. We shall realize how precious the brief camping period must be for children who look forward all year to their camp days.
Apart from planning the usual camp activities which most campers enjoy and which are an important part of the program, we should give much thought to how the campers can have a part in planning their own program. It will be much more successful holiday if there is co-operation in planning the events of the day. Campers will themselves grow into leaders as we share with them our responsibilities and let them feel we need their ideas and their enthusiasm. At camp reunions when old campers happily share reminiscences, their most unforgettable memories are of times when they assumed certain responsibilities, or played some new role, or met some unexpected emergency.
There is immeasurable value in having some “free time” at camp. do not try to schedule all the precious hours. Solitude and a sense of freedom in the out-of-doors can be a surprising new adventure for a city child. Help her to discover the exhilarating tonic which can be found by going alone into the woods, or by just resting in a quiet place beneath a friendly tree under the good blue sky. There is a quotation from Mrs. Miniver which expresses this idea. “So far as Mrs. Miniver knew, she had no appointments that day, either pleasant or unpleasant and that in itself was good. to be entirely at leisure for one day is to be for one day an immortal.” Some of our campers will use this free time to discover the beauty of the world about them, to think new thoughts under the stars, and to wonder about Life – all of which will link them with the “Immortals”.
Leadership is responsibility, and the essence of true leadership is humility. We must grasp the fact that we cannot lead others unless we, ourselves, are constantly developing inner resources of poise and wisdom. We need confidence and harmony within ourselves if we hope to inspire it in others. As a final word, may I quote a very suitable prayer for every day of camp.
“God give me sympathy and sense
And help me keep my courage high.
God give me calm and confidence
And, please, a twinkle in my eye.”