Written by Caleb Rummel
My favorite place in the entire world, Camp Tahkodah, is a place that has shaped me into the person I am today. It was there I learned how to organize towels by color, play “knockout,” ask a girl to a formal event and all the words to “McNamara’s Band.” I also learned more important things like God’s love, Christian service and the role one person’s life can play in another’s.I started going to Tahkodah when I was 12 years old (yes, that’s when I learned to make a bed well) and camped there for six years. I started going because my mom would only let me go to band camp with all my friends from school if I went to church camp, too.The part of Tahkodah that kept me going back and abandoning band camp was the counselors and Bible teachers who taught me what it is to be a person for God.The first day of my first year, Julia Henderson sat down by me and asked me if I wanted to go play ultimate frisbee. Wilson Robertson taught me about accountability and Christian brotherhood as my Bible class teacher in 2003.When I turned 17 I decided it was time to pay forward what was paid and apply to become an assistant counselor myself. My duties would include washing dishes and handing out snacks at the canteen, but I got to interact with kids and try to show them the love of God that was shown to me by the counselors who came before me.Once I had a year at Harding under my belt I became a counselor of my own cabin. They placed me in Cabin 11, the first I was in as a camper, and put me in charge of 11 10-year-olds. I was scared out of my mind and concerned for the mental health of the parents who would entrust their children to a 19-year-old kid. The only thing I knew to do was to follow those I had seen go before me.Any wisdom I could impart to the world would have to be credited to whoever taught it to me, but I know this:Pass on what others have taught you. I don’t just advocate Camp Tahkodah, but any avenue that would allow you to pass on your knowledge, because you must realize everything you know was probably passed on to you, so it is your obligation to pass it on to the next generation.CALEB RUMMEL serves as a photographer for the Bison. He may be contacted atcrummel@harding.edu.
