Dear Friends of Pine Island Camp,
Trips are a big part of the Pine Island experience. We send out more than 30 hiking and paddling trips each summer, and those who love them have been dubbed “trippin’ fools” (listen to “I’m a Camper at PIC” for context).
I’m among them. I’m a bona fide tripping fool. I know it can be confusing to those who like to sleep in a bed every night, and I understand.
Fourth-year camper Henry tries to unravel the mystery:
“The hard part is when everyone is silent and it’s raining, you’re cold, and all you want to do is get to your campsite and sit down and it seems like the trail will never end. And then you get there and you realize it wasn’t that bad and you eat and the food tastes like life. Those are the moments you remember. The friends you share these memories with are friends you’ll have the rest of your life.
Whatever might be happening on the trail, you can always change your attitude and just hike. It’s a mental game. The challenge is getting through it and overcoming the hard parts. And don’t forget the views on top of a mountain that last farther than your eye can see. On days like that, the moment you take your pack off it feels like you’re flying.
So that’s why I recommend hiking. It’s a fun challenge that you’ll tell stories about for years.”
It’s not for everyone. Some boys get bitten by the tripping bug at camp and go on to hike for the rest of their lives. Others try a few two- and three-night trips and decide they’d rather spend more time in camp earning master ranks. And that’s okay.
Not every boy needs to become a tripping fool. But there is something to be learned from getting tired, cold, wet, and uncomfortable, and discovering that you can change your attitude, keep going, and come out with a sense of accomplishment the other side.
It’s one of the many ways boys learn resilience at Pine Island.
All the best,
Sarah Hunter