***Since I don't have much free time I am not editing my posts from camp like I have been doing with other posts. I am leaving out full names of campers, only using first names, if any***
Today, when we had one of the younger groups at the canoe beach there was a particularly eager kid. He kept yelling his name at my co-staff in hopes it would lead to them checking him in sooner so that he could go get a desirable boat. Unfortunately for him ran to the boats before getting checked in, and by the time we brought him back to check in all the "banana boats" (i.e. sit-on-top kayaks) were gone. He was devastated. I actually thought he might even begin to cry. He said he never got to paddle around in the fun kayaks.
To try and make him feel special I asked if he wanted to come in a canoe with me. He said yes, and I let him pick his canoe. He picked a small canoe that is really just for two people. One of his friends wanted to join us, but my fellow boat-mate really liked the dark blue canoe we were in. He didn't mind if his friend joined us, but he really didn't want to change boats.
We squeezed the second camper in front of me on the ground of the canoe and we were off. I thought they might find it interesting if I gave us a mission, so I decided we would make sure that the rudders of everyone in a kayak were properly afixed. They took to our mission with zest and we paddled to and fro putting on people's rudders for them, and twisting/tightening them when they were loose.
Both the campers co-operated with me fairly well, so near the end of the period I thought we should do something fun. I asked them if they wanted to go REALLY fast, and they said yes. Starting from the shore we paddled to the end of the swim dock and back as fast as I could make us go. On the way back we went so fast the boat started rocking and we tipped. Apparently the campers thought this was even more fun than going super fast.
The first camper came up to me repeatedly to say how it was "the best canoe trip ever" and asking if we could do it again the next day. The second camper also enjoyed it, although seemingly not as much as his friend (although in fairness I think the first camper may have just simply been more expressive).
This series of events was a nice reminder for me of two things:
1: Not getting what we want isn't always so bad. Sometimes it can lead to something even better
2: It's amazing how something so simple such as going really fast in a canoe can make a child's day. Spending time around kids is helping to serve as a reminder to enjoy some of the simple things in life that we adults often take for granted.
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