Reflections on the Worthwhile Way

Ahh, Sunday at Camp. It’s mellow. Most alumni will tell you Sunday at Camp Highlands means three things. Assembly, Turkey Dinner and Sing. Let’s start with Sunday Assembly, which is a quiet time lasting about 45 minutes where staff and campers offer reflections on what it means to be a Highlands guy, which is to say, a Worthwhile Man.
Today’s Assembly was great (I’m probably biased, since it was headed up by Andy Bachmann). He told stories about being a camper and the ways that he learned to live the “I’m Third” philosophy, not by walking around saying “I’m Third” all the time, but instead by modeling his behavior on older campers and staff members that took the time to mentor him when he was a camper.
He described his days back in cabin 25, when John Burnside took little Andy Bachmann under his wing. He’d invite him to go sailing with him, he’d invite him to be his buddy at free swim. And most importantly he’d let Andy twist his arm as he’d do an arm flip. (PS he probably had jeans like that guy, too)! Andy said he felt important because John was big and cool. And then he told about how he modeled that behavior when little Martin Miller first came to camp, by inviting him to be his buddy at swim and by inviting him to go sailing with him.
Those and the other stories Andy told got to me. It was hearing the names of guys that came as campers a long time ago – and who’s boys are now coming as campers! It was the idea of leading by example – through a time vortex! That’s one of the things that makes Highlands so special. I feel so lucky that I’m raising a FOURTH generation Highlands guy. I love that part of what makes MY kid so special is, in a way, John Burnside’s impact on Andy. Whew! Talk about “Pass[ing] it On.”
Couple all that the most gorgeous weather today, Turkey dinner and Sunday Night Sing, and you’ve got a recipe for general awesomeness. I’m feeling incredibly lucky to be here today. I know these boys are feeling that magic, too. It’s catching!
And on that note…

Every summer when I go over the Camper Expression forms (the forms all campers fill out before they get to camp, expressing what they hope to accomplish at camp this summer) I am not surprised that the number one hope for the vast majority of our campers is a very simple one – to make new friends.
All of us want to make new friends. We want to find new and interesting people to hang out with. We want to find someone to play catch with, or to go sailing with, or to be our buddy at free swim. But making new friends, and being a good friend is not always that easy! So this past Sunday at Assembly we explored what it means to be a good friend, and how to improve our friend-making skills. Because Camp is a perfect place to do that.
It’s a perfect place to make new friends, because there are friends-to-be all over the place! And they all want to make new friends too! Another reason it’s a good place to make new friends is because here at camp we try to live a little differently than how people might live at home. We try to live the “I’m Third” motto.
Ross Freeland always does an excellent job sharing the “I’m Third” story, and how our simple philosophy of putting God (however God is known to you) and your values first, putting other people second and yourself third is a great way to live. Ross spoke of how “I’m Third” is the heart of the Highlands experience; it is the muscle that provides the life blood to all that we do at camp.
And if “I’m Third” is the heart of camp, then the Honor Camper Qualities are the backbone! Also at Assembly this week, we took a closer look at some of those qualities with real life examples from home and from camp. Charlie Stearns spoke of the importance of consideration, especially when we live in such close cabin environments. John Milner talked about initiative, and how great it is when the older guys invite the younger campers to go sailing or to do something fun. Kirien Katzmarek spoke of how willingness and helpfulness make life at camp a little easier for everyone. Johnny Zokovitch shared how at camp it is important that we try to be generous, not just with the cool things we bring to camp, but with our time as well. Nick Morgan shared how people with Camp Spirit live the Highlands motto in their daily lives, and Antonio Carrera shared how a dependable person is someone that you can count on, in good times and in bad.
We then had “The Highlands Players” act out a few scenes for us of negative and positive ways we might react to some common camp situations. We saw what happens when a waiter drops his tray in the dining hall (here at Highlands nobody makes any mean comments or applauds mistakes, instead a flock of people swoop in to help clean up). We saw how guys might react if a cabin mate can’t catch a baseball, or what to do if someone feeling homesick. Finally, they showed us how easy it is to find a friend; with Davis Altorfer meeting Trey Taylor, then introducing him all around to Reed Altorfer, Kent Taylor and David Swarts.
At the end of assembly I challenged the guys to do three things this week. One. Smile. It’s amazing how friendly a place gets when people simply smile at each other. Two. Offer three compliments to other guys every day. And finally, invite someone that you don’t know very well to go and do something.
I was really encouraged to see that not long after Assembly, Pablo Vilarreal invited Judah Bachmann to go play teather ball, and just yesterday afternoon, Hayden Bingham took Clayton Stewart out for a sail.
Our hope here at Highlands is that the guys will see that with just a little initiative and a little kindness, the world can be a better place. I get to see that every day here at camp.
How lucky we are.
Andy Bachmann

It’s that scene in the movie. The flag waving over the boat house is blowing northward. There’s a pause in the breeze, the flag comes to a rest. And then the wind switches and the flag sputters up again, this time to the south. A change in the air. A new direction.
As this first term comes to a close, I can’t help but think about what will happen to these fierce boys who’ve often been plucked out of their nice, cozy nests and plopped right down in the middle of nowhere without screens on the windows or electric in the cabins. No doubt they’ll be logged into their Facebook accounts, watching a DVD and texting with a vengance before they even hit Highway 51 on their way home.
However.
There will be moments in the next few days and weeks when they will stop in their tracks and be transported to Highlands. It might be a cool evening storm that brings on the memories. It might be as they lay in bed and try to conjure the magical call of the loon on a moon-mirrored Plum Lake. It might be when they are helping mom and dad with dishes and laughing just like during cabin chores each morning. I wish I could bottle those moments. I’d make them into a snow globe so I could shake that magic up on demand.
I just snuck out of the final banquet early to work on tying up loose ends for second term, and I had a catch in my throat. It could have been exhaustion, or the fact I have been talking for three days straight. But the truth is, the wind HAD shifted direction and intensity during the evening. There WAS a change in the air. Utter quiet, save for the bursts of applause coming from the orange-lit dining room windows, combined to create a special calm in camp and in my heart. A bit of a snow globe moment of my own.
I’m overwhelmed with the bravery of the four boys who stood in front of a crowd of hundreds of people and confessed their love for Camp Highlands. First time Cubbie, Erik Anderson, who talked about all the amazing activities at camp. Colt, Christopher Russell, who was nearly swept up in emotion talking about overcoming his homesickness and his new Highlands family. Junior, Ian Pratt (great-great-great grandson of Doc Monilaw) who wrote his speech on the back of a riflery target. Senior, Diego Casas, second generation camper, who recounted his memories of the many summers he’s spent here at Camp starting with Kent Overby as his counselor, “The Best.” He spoke of the feeling he had when finding his father’s name written on his bunk. He said, “What I definitely won’t forget is what camp teaches us every day, to be Worthwhile Men….I am proud to be a Highlands Man.” I agree.
I’m sure I missed lots of good silliness during Tin Awards, and I know I missed moments of parental proudness for Honor Camper awards. But I think hearing about Camp in the words of those bold young men was the perfect way for me to usher out First Term.
I can’t wait for these guys to be struck with moments of pride in themselves for their accomplishments small and large. I can’t wait for them to live out the “I’m Third” philosophy in their everyday lives. I can’t wait for them to be more in tune with the natural world around them. I can’t wait for them to have that snow globe moment – slow motion, sweet and perfect. But mostly, I can’t wait for them to come back next summer.
And on that note….
I ❤ CH // tracy b.
 

Leadership is a common theme running through the program this summer at Highlands. Andy B. works hard before camp creating the pre-camp program so that our leadership staff can teach our counseling staff much of the same material from year to year, but in a fresh new light. This summer, there’s a focus on what makes a good leader. Not only are we emphasizing it for the staff, but we’re also giving them the tools to pass that knowledge on to their campers.
Yesterday during our Sunday Assembly, we saw leadership in action. A handful of guys defined some of the Highlands Honor Camper Qualities and gave an example of someone in their life that exemplified those qualities.
Casey Zinser spoke about Cleanliness and said, “His mother loved to clean and had taught him to be clean inside and out.”! Pep was Tavenner Smith’s inspiration and he spoke of his father who was always encouraging him to “try everything.” Nick Morgan, one of our camp buglers, called out his friend Charlie Yokom saying Charlie was a picture of Good Fellowship noting that he always had a smile and a “hello” for everyone he met on the path. John Milner talked about how Lois and Ronkow, our Highlands cooks, were examples of Generosity, since they give so much of their time and energy to make sure we always have great food to eat. KC Stanner spoke about how any camper at riflery and archery were examples of Self-Control, since you have to follow the rules in order to keep others safe. Tucker Nienhaus also said any camper who was living the “I’m Third” philosophy was an example of good Camp Spirit. Walker Harrison told a story of how his bunkmate Jack Burney was Dependable during a hiking trip in the Porkies. In a nod to the Army victory during the Track Meet, Drew Lezon said that General Pat Gallagher showed Inititive by charging up the Army and giving motivational speeches throughout the morning. And summing it all up Ian Pratt told about how his counselors Alec Grassi and Tom Lubenow showed strength in Leadership each night during bedtime when they help the guys in cabin 9 set goals they can work on the next day.
Now THAT was motivational. It was awesome to hear the words come from the camper’s mouths. Each of the speakers was from Senior division except for Ian Pratt (who happens to be the great-great grandson of Doc Monilaw!). The boys had to show initiative by volunteering without hesitation at breakfast and I watched as the younger boys listened intently – one could almost see the gears turning in their heads!
Every Sunday Assembly is a great opportunity for boys to reflect on some of the less tangible qualities of a summer at Highlands. It’s a time when they can process the successes they’ve had during the week and consider the goals they’d like to set for the days ahead. And while Assembly is always good, this Sunday was particularly outstanding. Ross gave his annual “I’m Third” speech and then he introduced Colin O’Brien who was on the Illinois State Championship baseball team Oak Park/River Forest high school.
Colin told the great story about his team’s unlikely trip to the championship. He spoke of the outstanding leadership of his coach, and more importantly the leadership and selflessness of the guys on his team.

He said, “Every player, whether they played or not, did what they could to win the game. We put others second, in this case our team. Throughout the season, people got benched for various reasons. But each person who was benched didn’t pout. They didn’t throw a fit. We only cared about the team.”

There are so many reasons I feel lucky to spend my summers at Camp Highlands. But one of the biggest reasons is that I literally get to see the magic manifest here at CH. In my own experience, our son, a 10-year old Cubbie, has had an amazing transformation already this summer. I hear him talking to other kids and it doesn’t sound like him. He sounds like the guys on Senior Row, or like his outstanding counselor and activity counselors. For all my lecturing on being a Worthwhile man, the experiences he has here at Camp, the role models he encounters around every corner are truly defining. And while of course he has a long way to go, I believe these days at Highlands (in the way they’ve shaped Mike and Andy Bachmann) will make our son the best he can be. In the words of another outstanding Highlands leader, Snow Nothdurtf, “How lucky we are.”
And on that note…
i ❤ CH // tracy b.