Some Things Never Change.....

During my melancholic post yesterday, I mentioned the fact that I can easily get lost when I am looking at pictures or stories in the museum which are decades old.  As a matter of fact, I find time moves quickly when I do that; what seems like a few minutes is actually an hour.  However last evening I came across something that supported my notion of what little changes through the years.....even if the years are decades.

I was rearranging a few thing on the bookshelf late last evening when I came upon a number of old staff annuals from the 80's.  I knew I had these but I hadn't seen them in awhile and only stumbled over them while cleaning things up.  The staff started developing a seasonal annual in the the mid-80's and it has been a staple of every season ever since.  It has developed from a stapled, mimeograph copy to multi-colored, pictured productions.  However that appears to be the only substantial change.  By mistake I found myself reading through these old copies which essentially put an end to the night.  There were the usual personal statements and living will & testaments which are focused mainly on the current staff.  This was interesting because if you never knew the staff members of that particular era you would find that by reading some of this stuff, you probably would get a good idea of who they were (or at least what others perceived them to be).  I came across one section and had to chuckle as the material there could have been easily written today.  It was a section called "Don't You Hate it When......" and here are a few of the responses that would resonate with the staff of today:

Living in Upper Lena and being the Staff Guide for Ranger campsite.

Living in Upper Lena and being the Staff Guide for Rangers two weeks in a row.

Getting up early to wake up your troop in Rangers only to find that they are already awake.

Running to get your fire gear on during a drill and then running to the drill only to find out it is lost bather drill and you need to get wet.

You forget your uniform shirt for dinner and try to zip your jacket up far enough so that no one will notice.

A scout asks "What time is Wilderness Survival Merit Badge" during beach orientation.

You have to explain the merit badge requirements to scouts at least 20 times.

Mike stares at you disapprovingly or just ignores you altogether.

Walt (Camp Director) yells at the entire staff about the dirty staff kybos when it was your day to clean the kybo and you forgot.

These were all from the 80's but ring true today as most current staff members could connect with these statements.

Although there is a lot of continuity at camp, things do change.  We have had various camp programs such as our beach bonanza which came into existence about ten years ago and will morph to something else in the future.  Our closing ceremonies are shorter and earlier than they were twenty years ago.  I still hear new songs and see new skits and I have yet to truly utter the words, "I've seen it all now."  Staff experience remains about the same, but the staff is in constant renewal; keeping the best traditions of customer service and scouting skills from the past but bringing in new enthusiasm and excitement for the present.  I guess that is the only time this saying is absolutely true, "old in years but young at heart."