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Howdy there, Jimmy James here, back for a second year at good old Camp Augusta. I almost feel guilty with all the fun there is to be had here, but we work for it too. I learned so much last year about all sorts of things that were new to me and my eyes were opened. As I cruise around with open eyes and an open mind, I’m ready to deal with whatever comes my way. I am originally from the Mojave deserts of Southern California, but I claim the foothills of Southern Oregon as my home, for that is where I grew up since I was a young lad. It’s nice to be in California, but then again it doesn't even matter where we are, because camp could be anywhere and it would still be just as great.
It would seem that my lot in life is instruction. I just finished my second season at Kirkwood Mountain teaching people of all ages (mainly kids) how to snowboard. I enjoy teaching younger generations not only because they are the future, of course, but I feel that I learn more from teaching children than any peer or elder. The little bit of free time I get consists of things like playing music, hiking, swimming, stretching, free running (parkour), climbing, fire spinning, disc golf, and anything else I can find a way to learn. Like many who have been here before, I am looking forward to certain aspects of camp, such as all the climbing, swimming, archery, ninja clinics, fire spinning, and way too many other things to name. There are a good few many new bells and jingles at camp this year such as a couple wooden canoes, a new ropes course, a chicken coupe, and some new mountain boards as well. It’s all too much to take in right now, so I suppose it’s time to just think about the present and let the future happen as it will.
The boundless creativity that unfolds here is certainly one of my favorite aspects of camp. We literally have the freedom to propose any idea that we can think of and sometimes, if the idea is playable with camp and safe enough, we get to follow through with our idea. That kind of freedom gets me thinking and I’m not the only one. It is my theory that we should create a new clinic every year. Last summer was about halfway through when a few of us got to thinking about an expansion of the ninja training playstation into an actual clinic. We got ideas from all sorts of staff members and campers, and the last two sessions of the summer, we had a full ninja clinic with levels and different games for the kids. The campers had a lot of fun with the clinic and it gives us the chance to debunk the false ideas people (namely kids) get about the peaceable, artistic, and ancient ninja.
Though there are many new additions to camp this year, it is still camp and the feeling we get when being here remains the same. Personally, I will expand on everything I learned last year and try to learn as much as I can this year so that I can pass the knowledge on as best I can. Overall, I’m more than stoked (excited) to get beat down by everyone while learning how to sword fight. Summer’s almost here, or it is here depending on when your reading this. Either way, here’s to another lively summer season.
Fare thee well, Jimmy James.
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