Difficult Decision

Last night was brutal.

Around midnight, it started to rain. There was thunder and lightening. It wasn't a terrible storm, but I had 24 teens and 5 staff in the middle of the woods, so I was wide awake, unable to sleep, knowing they were out there. I checked and re-checked the weather online and it wasn't severe weather, but I was still worried.

The problem with rain on the camping trip is that there is literally no place for them to go. They are in the middle of the woods and there is no shelter at all. If there was an emergency, I would personally hike in and get everyone out. However, when it's bad weather, but not an emergency, the best option is to leave them out there.

Attempting to get 30 people out of the woods in the middle of the night in the rain would be more dangerous than them braving the weather. The trail is narrow, curvy, uneven, hilly, and it would be difficult to maneuver in the pitch black (even with our biggest lanterns and all the flashlights). In addition to dangerous, it would be absolutely terrifying.

Once they got back to camp, we would have to try to find enough bedding for everyone, since we would have to leave all of their stuff behind. I don't think we have enough bedding in all of camp for that many people, so it wouldn't exactly be a nice warm, dry bed like they would need.

Again, let me be clear- if they were in danger, I wouldn't hesitate. But they weren't and so I made the tough decision, knowing they were most likely wet, miserable and not sleeping, to leave them out there. I hate tough decisions like that!

They returned this morning with a wet sleeping bags, bug bites, completely exhausted, but still smiling. They'd had a good time, minus the wet night. We're all exhausted today, but everyone is safe and still happy, and the sun is shining, so life is good.