Dear Boundless Families:
The Young-ins returned safely very late Saturday night bearing tales of fortune and valour and insanity. More on this in a moment.
The Elders finished the river last night and camped over at Driftwood Provincial Park. I was with them the moment they dipped their last paddle stroke, kissing the earth of Ontario and feeling like heroes; returning to a ticker tape parade that exists only in their own minds. But their sense of triumph is very real.
I came upon them Saturday evening about an hour after they made camp at Lac Robinson. A couple of boats were out fishing – indeed those students with a hyperactive fishing disorder nourished their team with fresh fish every night. Andre was vigorously scrubbing the frying pan. In what took about 8 minutes, he decried that Boundless will never again see a fishing pan so clean. A bunch of them were apres-portage collapsed in a heap, knees touching knees, stirring the dinner pot, offering me the warmest greeting that I could ever expect to get from an age group that are apt to regard old dudes like me with diffidence.
I handed out chocolate bars like business cards. But this was hardly necessary. While they relished the gift, I was already “in” because I spent time with them on Day two. The next morning, during their descent of Red Pine Rapids, a chain of five rapids that will either leave you feeling like a God, or like a humbled b..ch, I offered chocolate bar awards for the most spectacular dump and the most pathetic dump (not the bowel movement kind of dump but the tip your canoe in rapids kind of dump). Okimi, their safety coordinator, one-upped me by offering to buy the ENTIRE TEAM chocolate bars if nobody dumped. I snickered at this promise of endless Snickers.
It took all of us three seconds for my promise to be the one of record. Notwithstanding their dumps, their success yesterday, in what was a 15km paddle in a gentle July rain, with the river now totally in their wheelhouse, inspired a formidable sense of pride. Chocolate became an afterthought to the real sweets of learning.
The Elders have had their challenges. For some their demons are real monsters. They have had to beat them back. And this took enormous energy. They have experienced a year’s worth of growing in 13 days. Many of the lessons are not yet conscious for them despite our incessant efforts to de-brief and process the experience. Four students will be officially high school graduates in 24 hours. The Elders return home tomorrow emboldened and feeling immortal.
The Young-ins arrived on the Dumoine on Day 6, in what seems like a century ago, to a severe thunderstorm that left the access roads behind them closed for 24 hours. They had to set up camp in the same storm, amidst their first acquaintance with the river, which must have felt at the time like shaking hands with a dragon.
Trevor remarked that the group didn’t give a damn about any old dragon. That nothing could trip them up. That their cohesion, gaiety and work ethic all combined to make a group of pubescents turn into something utterly beautiful. Trevor has asked me to warn you parents that virtually all the kids want to return and that you shall be accosted upon their return.
A Wonderful session. Thanks everyone.
Steven
