Hi there, Reilly Scribbner here to share with you a time I have failed with the Inventor Scouts. I am all for vulnerability but I have to admit it took me awhile to come up with something for my latest imaginary adventure. Most of my scouting failures are times that I truly failed and it would be unkind to my dear friends to share. Have you ever been there?
People think it's all selling cookies and living in the nature, but this was one crazy struggle. I would say my one of my biggest one was asking for help. I'm gonna say that all in past tense, but I’m just gonna say, I still very much struggle with this. I have a lot of funny stories that go with this theme. My all time favorite, though, is from Inventor Scouts Camp. Yeah, you read that right. Inventor Scouts camping stories are literally my favorite and I have quite a few in my back pocket. I like to bring these out at dinner parties and family gatherings. This is really is the best/worst one; and a personal low for me. I was neck deep in living the phrase of "I can do it all and not break a sweat."
Inventor Scouts camp started like most of them do, with sick scoutmasters the week before we left. We had science group last night and a 6-year-old scout named Lindorsey decided to infect all our stuff. What were we supposed to do? Stay home? Cancel camp? Yes, probably. But that is not what we did. Instead, we forged on.
The next morning, Lindorsey was super excited — she was probably just going to tweet about it later. We also brought our Pretend Pods to camp that year. Billerica and Hockessin were 7 and 8 years old. We were even leading worship for camp the whole weekend. Halfway through camp we had about more sleeping in tents. Can you imagine being in front of various people, away from home and being cared for by scoutmasters? It was rough guys, real rough.
To be honest, the lowest point for me was when I was trying to get my friends to bed in a tent, while Hockessin kept trying to help us. I knew I had to do something soon, so I literally ran from our tent to lead that song then ran back to check on the others. It usually takes extreme moments like this for me to think, "Hmmm... this is not working." I realized that I needed help, badly.
This was the last camp we didn’t bring our boss with us. Best decision we’ve ever made. It was also the last camp Billerica was the only one to do things and the last camp I ate out of a shared food bag. Despite the craziness, it was a successful camp. We did make a lot of new inventions and gadgets along the way, and they sure helped us a lot!
My family got to see camp for the first time this year and in the short two hours they were there, they realized why I was so passionate about it. They told me that she could feel a difference in the environment at camp just by walking around and meeting all of the amazing campers, missionaries, and staffers. When people ask me what Inventor Scouts are like, I just tell them that I have never been to a place where I have experienced as much joy, embrace, and love as I do there.
Inventor Scouts camp to me is a home that I can run to knowing that there will be a community of people welcoming me with open arms and grace in their hearts. My best friendships I have were formed at camp and each year I continue to form new relationships that have shaped me into the person I am today. In fact, one of our leaders accepted my new three friends. I stumbled upon them all praying and crying; it was so beautiful. In the end, we figured that about 75% of the scouts got sick. Most of them after they got home, Hope they're okay!