A Different Kind of Gamble

So I am at training for camp. For those who haven't been to summer camp in ages, or have never been there, let me set the stage. Imagine if you will…

The setting: wilderness and a clear blue lake far removed from the bustle of the city. The nearest town is a but a map speck, consisting of one main road sprinkled with small businesses which close down early in the evening. The main restaurant with a bar closed at 10pm on a Saturday. Phones don't call outside the area, unless you have a calling card or people who love you enough to accept collect. Cell phone reception is pretty impossible unless you stand on one foot, under just the right tree with the wind blowing in a northeastern direction. Wi-fi, do I need to elaborate on its nonexistence? Only one computer is set up with an internet connection for about 40 staff, so you can just guess how available that is.

The rules (or at least a few key ones): No fraternizing, no drinking, and no smoking.

The people: Well of course there is clearly a wide variety of participants. People who genuinely care about youth but don't necessarily have tons in common beyond that and the fact that we are all together for a huge chunk of our summers. And let's be real, while we are all amazing (seriously the staff and volunteers this year are such an incredible crew), that doesn't mean we aren't a bit odd. I mean, we willingly chose to come way out here to work with teens in bum$%* Oregon, and we like it. Nothing wrong with that, it is a testament to our passion for youth work, the future, the arts, the natural environment, etc… but it does point to the fact that chances are high that we are not quite like the general population. We are a quirky bunch.

The result: New and interesting forms of entertainment. And that my friends is what I want to tell you about, but I didn't think any one would be able to understand without first knowing the circumstances.

So here is a little game we play- now when I say we I by no means am referring to the bulk of the staff, maybe like 20%. You've heard of poker most likely, its nothing new- but what makes it crazy is what we gamble and put on the line. It can't be a drinking contest, it can't be about stripping, and well no one brings a bunch of money out here cause there's really no point in that. So we gamble with what makes sense and it looks a lot like double dog dares.

Before he cards are dealt everyone antes up with a task on the line. For example, if you lose or fold you have to take 2 drops of tobasco on the tongue. If you are willing to take that risk, you are in and get dealt a hand. Then people raise the stakes as we go around the circle, someone might add in eating a couple shakes of salt, licking the bench, putting your hands in the compost, smelling everyone's left shoe, holding a wad of dirt in your mouth, wet willies, and so on. It teaches you a lot about your own limits as wells as those of others at the table.

So, of course I played, it is a tradition amongst some of my closest camp comrades- which must say a lot about me, if birds of a feather flock together. Today I ate a burnt up wood remnant from the campfire, licked bark dust, sprinkled cayenne pepper on my tongue ate salt, sniffed 7 people's shoes, licked the stair railing, pulled a couple of hairs from my head for my comrades to eat (hee hee), took a deep wiff of kitty litter smelling compost and tomorrow will have to spend a couple of hours with honey on my eyelids. And while many of those things were unpleasant, there were worst things that I opted out of by folding, and even more nasty stuff that others had to do since I was fortunate enough to have several decent hands. Why take the risk? Cause it is soooooo funny to watch others do stupid stuff and to have the ability to input on what that stupid stuff has to be. I mean, at least I didn't have to eat a piee of someone's hair or put ice down the front of my own pants like others did!

Clean adult recreation at its finest!
Well I have to get to bed, cause campers come in the morning, although it clearly age is nothing but a number, cause these sort of antics must say something about our levels of maturity. I mean if your friend drank dirt water, would you?!

My answer: If your hand is good enough, you won't have to!