Latham Springs - Part 7

Since I can't post what I originally planned just yet, I'll start out with some general camp memories... (no pun intended)...

THE GENERAL
Ah, Keith Patton and that 4-wheeler... We all remember General Patton motoring around during rec, worship service, after clean cabin, lights-out... basically any chance he got, making sure people are where they're supposed to be. Think you can sneak out at night? I can't TELL you how many times I heard in the cabin, "Yeah, but what if General Patton sees us?" And he did. God may be omnipotent, but Keith was the next step down! If you saw his lone headlight on that 4-wheeler coming, you KNEW to get down and pray.

And I bugged him every year I was a sponsor to let me go for a ride... and I always got a very non-committal, "Ok, but..." If I missed out on one camp experience... it was that I never got to ride that stupid thing!

WATER BALLOON FIGHTS

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! Late night water balloon fights (in the cabins, out of the cabins, anywhere, anytime) was a right of passage for the guy groups. Not sure what girls did in their cabins, but I can't imagine it being as fun as this. Or as destructive. Busted pipes, windows and doors eventually led to a sanctioned water balloon fight. Basically, water balloons were the marijuana of camp... Contraband smuggled in and treated like currency. And the powers that be LEGALIZED IT!!! You libertarians you!!! lol

Three main water balloon memories stick out...

1) The first year of the sanctions fight, some of us were on the balcony off the hotel, overlooking the field. And we had a launcher. Now, these launchers are serious things. Given the right angle, strength and balloon type, these things can launch a balloon 1/4 mile. So, if you're hit by one, it's like getting hit with a cannon. And don't EVER hit anyone in the head! You may just knock it right off their shoulders. Well... I don't recall who was with me, but the very first time I'd ever used one of these, there was a massive fight going on in that field. I pulled back and let fly... smacking some Jr High kid in the hip as he was running around. I have no idea who it was, but that kid literally got knocked off his feet, writhing in pain as he tried to get up. And I was nearly a football field away from the poor sap. That was the only shot fired with that launcher. Too dangerous. (But funny!)

2) I don't remember the group, but every night, as a sponsor, I would, uh... oversee certain night time activities to make sure things didn't get out of hand. See? You may not be able to stop the fights, but if you can keep them under control, then people are less likely to get hurt. Well... speaking of launchers... we would come out of our cabin and I'd let the guys launch balloons across the field, hitting some of the girls' cabins. (Of course, we had to beware The General... we had a lookout!) The girls' cabins are FAAAARRR away from the Sr Cabin on the Hill, but we had perfect view. I loved hearing girls (and their sponsors) complain that someone came to their cabin throwing water balloons in the middle of the night. No... long distance warfare. :)

3) Boys of Summer: The Sequel... One thing about me, as crazy as it sounds now, I was actually very against bringing water balloons to camp. Too tempting to get yourself in trouble. Ask any of the seniors I had, and they'll tell you I mandated they not bring balloons. I know some did, but it DID reduce once I layed that law down. I wasn't going to let something stupid derail any efforts and distract what camp was about. That said... I DID allow the late-night launching... and one Armageddon of Water.

Shane Robert, Greg Sommers and Ryan Boozer were all planning a major attack on some group on the Back 40. Thing is, they also knew how much I didn't like water balloon fights. They can damage property, hurt people, and make a mess that must be cleaned up. No sense in sabotaging Spirit Stick, leadership responsibilities or Clean Cabin for the sake of a water balloon. They all knew my stance on this. So, while they were all prepping for a fight (black clothes, black masks, etc), I walked into the cabin and caught them all. John Hodgkiss and Rick Katterich came in behind me and were a bit concerned with what was going on. They gave me the freedom to handle our groups as I felt necessary. (More on that later) But, when the kids saw me come in, they pleaded and begged me to allow them to go out. Apparently a challenge was issued by the other cabin and, come on... you just don't punk the senior boys!!! I'll never forget this... as they begged me to let them go out, I stayed very stern, looked at Hodgkiss and told them, "Guys, I'm sorry. I can't. I can't let you go out there... (faces and shoulders around the room sink)... WITHOUT ME!!!!"

The room erupted and Hodgkiss just gave me a grin. I haven't heard a war cry like that since Braveheart... those guys were all out pumped. I did stop it for a second to lay down some guidelines to keep things from getting too carried away. (And I assured John that I'd be out there making sure we, uh... they didn't.) And it. Was. Awesome. :)

WALLY BALL

This was more of an old-school game since it was yet another thing banned, outlawed and forbidden as the years went by. But, while I was a camper, what could you do when you first got to camp? What could you do when you didn't want to be in the heat? Wally Ball. Our cabins were set up where there were two cabins on either side of a combined middle room. This middle room had a nice large wall and was large enough to manufacture fun. All you needed was a raquetball. The rules were simple. Catch it with one hand or risk getting pelted. We'd throw the ball against the wall and the goal was to catch it with one hand if it came to you. You could dodge or whatever, but if the ball hit you or you didn't catch it w/ one hand, you'd better make your way to the big wall and touch it before someone else caught it and pelted you where ever they could. Head, back, legs, butt, crotch... BUT... if they threw and missed, THEY would have to go touch the wall before someone hit THEM. Needless to say, you didn't want to play shirtless (and I even saw one kid wear a cup!) Great fun. Good exercise. Lots of hurt feelings, welps bruises. This was one game where there were no participation ribbons because as long as you played, you won.

Funny thing is, Latham Springs put a rule banning us from playing because of 'safety and protecting their property'. While I DO remember a lot of tears, I don't recall every seeing anyone break anything.