A fitting end to my week at Alpha I.

During the week I’ve reflected several times on my experiences and milestones granted to me by my participation in 4-H, and tonight on the final night, I have again been granted a wonderful memory. I’ve also reflected about how watching the younger campers, like my brother, develop and grow into happy, upstanding, charismatic young adults, gives me a whole new dimension of happiness and pride.

At the end of every week of camp, H’s are given to campers who embody the qualities of each H. Head, heart, hands, and health… and then one Spirit of Camp award, for the camper that represents the best of all four. Having been honored like this before, takes no power away from the feelings of honor, gratitude, respect, and awe. Tonight, though, I was given a new milestone, one that will probably stay with me for the rest of my life. Tonight, I was called out as an H, to stand alongside my brother, who was also given an H award.

In the midst of the glow of a campfire, and the glow of hundreds of candles, one held by each camper and staff member, we led the entire camp through the candle lighting ceremony. Passing by stations where fellow campers had volunteered to sing soft heartfelt songs, or play them on instruments… we walked along with the other 4-H friends we’d made that week, and our fellow award winners.

At this point I have to say that one person in particular, I did not know at the beginning of the week at all. Tonight, I called him a brother as well. Kenny, you’re officially a Venturino. He is the truest example of a 4-H friend I can think of. I see so much of myself in him, and even more potential. From strangers to brothers, he was also honored with an award and we walked together through the candlelight to the final night of camp, where we found an incredible final reflection ceremony to send us off to bed.

So, at the mention of bed, on tonight, a night that has me feeling that I am already dreaming, I will close by saying this.

Whether total strangers, or brothers, to stand beside someone in 4-H… brings people closer together than anything else life can offer.
How How.