For many campers, their first experience with public speaking is not in speech class with a 3×5 card, but in the John Amos Field House with a walking stick clenched tightly in their hands.

The first Stick Night was held in 1994, on a suggestion from Arkansas deacon Mark Carroll. There were no microphones—the event was held outside—so we had to speak up. Camp director Dennis Leap went first, explaining that everyone would take the stick, introduce themselves, and then give a goal or two for camp. In theory, the event was meant to relieve the nerves of the new recruits, who would introduce themselves, tell a goal or two, and then pass the stick to someone else. In reality, we were a loquacious bunch, and Stick Night went well into the night.

After camp, Mr. Leap had all of our names burned into the stick itself, then traveled to Colorado with Local Elder Robert Locher to an elevation of 13,000 feet—taking all of us with him, as he had told us he would at the genesis of Stick Night. The original stick has long since been lost, but the event continues as our first introduction to many of our campers and workers 20 years later.

As always, there were many memorable comments made with stick in hand this year. Canoeing instructor Roger Brandon observed that he and his staff have had 61 camp experiences, the lion’s share contributed by him.

Volleyball instructor David Weeks identified his crew as a bona fide choreographer (ac freshman Paris Turgeon), a bucket of energy (sophomore Victoria Terrell) and Superman (Clark Kent, aka junior Charles Wittsell).

Flag football instructor Jason Cocomise observed that in his years as a camper, pyc “didn’t have flag football. We had volleyball. You can be grateful for that.” Indeed I am—volleyball was one of my favorite activities.

Archery instructor James Brandon, doubtless remembering the Fifth Commandment, set a goal to “keep the canoeing staff alive” (the archery range sits just north of the lake). Then a tidal wave of kitchen employees took to the floor to show the sheer manpower required to feed such a mass of people—followed by a solitary landscaper.

Then 144 campers, led by their counselors, took their turn. Many of the counselors commented on their desire to show the campers how amazing God’s way of life is and the life-changing effect camp has had on many of them. Many of the older campers, like David Warner of 4B, talked about their desire to reach out to the younger campers; 3G’s Eleisha Saranga even offered a threat: “If you don’t have a smile, I’m going to come find you.”

Many of the campers set a similar goal to 6B’s Seth Malone, who said, “My second goal, which I’ve already broken, is not to get injured.” Of course, this wiped out my memory of his first goal. 4G’s Lilian Harms echoed this goal, adding, “Don’t walk into holes.” In a slightly opposite goal, 2G’s Alicia Yocum set her mind not to injure anybody else!

The sole disappointed comment of the night went to 1B’s Jordan Saranga: “I heard our dorm was going to have neon orange shirts, so I’m pretty disappointed.” But like the others who held the stick last night, he didn’t look disappointed in his not-so-matching neon orange shorts.

And so another 144 campers have held the stick and been burned into our minds—just as our names were burned into the original stick 20 years ago.