Today is Tim Horton’s Camp Day. Proceeds from sales of all hot and iced coffee got to help send kids to Tim Horton’s Camps.
Not everyone gets to go to camp in the summer. But they should. Getting out into nature is important in my mind. And there are other things that can happen as well. Lifelong friendships can form.
I had a place to go when I was younger. And I also went to Cub Camp as a kid. It was a local spot for kids from all around the area. We really didn’t live far from one another, but we didn’t really know each other that well either. We probably did get to know one another later, when we got to high school and children from all those areas were herded together for school, but it was nice to get to know others from around the area when we were younger, too.
I’m not sure how it works these days, but at that time, you had to have a swimming buddy. It was all on the buddy system. You watched out for your buddy while you were in the water. So on the first day of camp, everyone had to pair off. Somehow, I ended up paired up with this guy from another group. We didn’t know each other, but we stuck together in the water for those few days and had a ball doing it.
I’ll be honest. I’m not sure if he remembers it. It was a while ago. Not everyone can remember when you were eight years old. But we ended up staying buddies for more than a few years. We became friends. He was best man at my wedding. And we continue to hang out with each other to this day. And tell stories that we hope our own children and grandchildren don’t hear, because we don’t want them doing some of the stupid things we did in the past.
But we made it. Partially because we looked out for each other. And it all started at a summer camp… well… more than a couple years ago.
It’s an experience everyone should have. So if you have a chance today, drop by Tim Horton’s and help out.
