Towering Pines Blog

We currently live in a society that brings things to our fingertips within seconds or even milliseconds.  We don’t have to go to the library to seek information, but rather it’s right in front of us whether on our computer or on our phone. If we need something quickly, we can order it online and select “express shipping” so that we can expedite its arrival.  Drivers can pay more to use the “express lane” so that they can arrive at their destination faster.  When checking into the airport, there are even options to pay a fee in order to skip long security lines in order to get through more quickly.

Many times at work, there is pressure to finish a project or task in the shortest amount of time possible in order to meet the next deadline.  There can be the same pressure in school for students — to complete assignments as quickly as possible rushing through to get to the next practice or event.  The focus is often on the finished product rather than on the process.  We are constantly thinking of what’s next rather than what’s in the moment.  I’m guilty as charged! My own children often talk about the pressure to figure out what they want to do and that they feel “rushed” to get to the next step in life.  My consistent reminder is that life isn’t a race to the finish line . . . rather it’s about enjoying the process and the journey along the way.

Camp is a nurturing environment that focuses on the process and the journey! At camp we emphasize that “It takes a lot of slow to grow.”  This philosophy encourages intentional and gradual development in campers in every aspect including their physical, intellectual and emotional growth.  Towering Pines provides the opportunity for boys to develop skills in all of these areas over the course of six weeks.  This six week period provides campers the time that they need to not only gain skills and establish relationships, but to also “grow” at a pace that is unique to their needs.

Learning and living at a slower pace which allows for this positive growth takes an incredible amount of patience.  “Patience” was the theme Cabin 7, Iroquois, chose for one of our Sunday vespers this past summer.

Tanner, one of the Cabin 7 counselors had some extremely insightful thoughts that support the essence of what camp is truly about — taking the time to allow for the opportunity for growth in positive ways.

If a skill were learned in a week, a friendship built in a day, or a feeling felt in a single moment, life would be little but a series of passing interests and shallow relationships.  It is because these achievements pose such a challenge to us, require such careful practice and dedication, that they are meaningful at all.  At camp, it’s important that we exercise the necessary patience it takes to teach and learn them.  As an archery counselor I am often repeating advice about plucking or anchor points many times, but as campers are patient in their continued practice, I am patient in supporting them.  A counselor losing their temper, or worse, their motivation in helping campers expand their skills, would render this entire camp experience useless.  Interest will only take you some of the way, patience will take you the rest.

Here are some other reflections about patience that the boys of Iroquois shared:

• During sail race, to go fast and accurately toward the buoy, you must have patience for the wind.  If there is no wind at all, you need to be patient in order to catch wind. — Miguel MDC
• Without patience camp would not function and everyone would be stressed.  For example, in riflery, if no one had patience everyone would want to shoot every round, and people would not shoot well.  Also, people wouldn’t have focus to improve. — Andres A.
• Patience is essential to camp.  Without patience counselors would not allow campers to try new things because they would not have the patience to let campers figure things out for themselves.  Camp wouldn’t function the same without patience. — Will S.
• Without patience camp would crumble to pieces, and everyone would not get along.  For example, in horseback riding, everyone would not stay still causing the horses to freak out and possibly hurt someone. — Reid J.
• Patience is necessary during campfires.  When other campers are doing their skits, you have to listen to them and wait for them to finish before you can go.  Nobody would be polite without patience. — Ro G.
• Patience is very important at camp because it provides peace in our activities.  Like at lunch you have to be patient for your food or the bug juice. If there wasn’t patience, everybody would fight for everything, and it would be a mess. — JP B.
• Here at camp patience is vital in order for camp to function.  In activities like riflery and archery you have to be patient till you are ready, set and aiming in the right spot or else you could miss the target or scratch.  Without patience you could ruin your whole camp experience. — Jacob J.
• Patience is a very important and necessary part of camp.  Without patience every summer wouldn’t be the same, cabins and activities would not function like in tennis if you do a bad point, or miss a hit, everybody would be mad and angry. — Bosco F.
• Patience is a very important element of camp because without patience camp would be boring because everyone will get mad at everything people do, and camp wouldn’t be the same. — Diego O.

“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” — Napoleon Hill

Give the gift of camp to your child or loved one:  Register for Camp for Summer of 2025

May you find the time to practice patience over this holiday season and enjoy many moments that create lasting memories.

Angie Wenzl

• Camp Mom at TP
• Leadership Staff at TP/Office Manager
• Marketing TP/Woodland
• Leadership Team TP/Woodland
• Assistant Waterfront Director at Woodland
• Counselor at Woodland
• “Building in our hearts fond memories, Towering Pines for you.”