Jakob

Jakob started coming to camp when he was 8. He bit a kid once. He ran away from his counselor and hid in the woods (more than once). He fought with his brother in the cabin (many times). He was a weird kid. He didn't listen. His parents were clueless and unhelpful when I called. He and his brother came 2-3 times each summer. Whenever I saw their names on the registration list, I cringed. And I considered (several times) telling their mom that they couldn't come back to camp.

When he was 10 or 11, he got to camp and refused to get out of the car. I was already dreading having him at camp and I briefly thought, well, maybe he won't come...

And then his mother dragged him out of the car. Like, he was holding onto the doorframe screaming "I'm not going" while she pulled at his feet. I am laughing as I type this because I remember checking in campers, greeting parents like normal while he SCREAMED in the background. 

When she finally got him out of the car, she literally peeled out, tires spinning in place in the gravel before she was gone. He sat on the road and refused to move. 

I figured he'd snap out of it soon enough.

The counselors called out names and everyone left to move into their cabins. He continued to sit there. 

I figured he'd get bored.

Everyone went to the dining hall for dinner. He continued to sit there. 

I sat next to him and tried to reason with him. He started throwing rocks at me. I was calm. I reasoned some more. He threw more rocks. 

I finally picked up a handful of rocks and threw them back at him and told him to get up and go to dinner. Probably not one of my finer moments in youth development, but he did. And he made it through the week. And ever since then, we've had a strange bond. 

Jakob is 16 now and a Leader-in-Training. He LOVES camp. He's excited to be a leader. He wants to be a counselor. He's helpful in activities. He's awesome. 

And every time I look at him, I can't help but shake my head and laugh a little and think about what an awful little kid he was and how much he's changed in 8 years.