Guardian Yearlong blog post originally posted on 9/8/13

Visiting the Scouting Camp

Meanwhile my mosquito bites are getting dark red and purple. Time to start writing my post, before the memories are fading.

I’m still struck by the experiences, although the daily routine has started again at home. My family and I visited the Scouting Camp near the Headwater bog, to stay with the guardians for one whole week in August. Curiosity is what I brought with me to Wisconsin and curiosity I kept the whole week.

Tamarack advised us guests to observe closely. I tried to follow this advice, although I sometimes had difficulties to restrain myself. I’d rather had joined all discussions and processing among the group. As we joined them, the group of guardians had had a hard time. They didn’t ignore any dysfunctional behaviour (according to the group), but pointed it out and were discussing it. In between long phases of silence – with me amongst them full of thirst for action. It took almost all week long until I adopted to my role as being guest.

The three of us participated in everyday life as much as possible: picking apples and walking on a road (absolutely no-go), cooked twice a day at the fire and ate breakfast and dinner, collected firewood and washed ourselves in the bog. Unfortunately we didn’t go scouting. Though we explored the area around us: the bog, the islands, meadows with berries, the bathing-creek and bear traps.

None of my anticipated fears came true, though I got to know other boundaries in me. Physically being in the camp took a lot out of me, although we even weren’t scouting. My positive impression is nurtured by the awareness being only guest for a short visit, for the coping with the conditions in the camp and simultaneously being active – e.g. by exploring the surrounding area – seems to me really hard. And time is always short.

Leaving a lasting impression is the way the guardians deal with each other. The mutual interest, the listening to each other without interrupting; over and over again the attempt to act as a group, not separating. We hardly spoke about our life beforehand or after the yearlong and spent only this short time with each other. Still I feel very close toeveryone. It was so hard to say goodbye. The more I’m interested in the developments and proceedings in the camp.

Katharina