Thoughts on Justin Brown.

I remember I was a first year unit leader in Almontacha and while I had a great staff but the campers were sometimes very difficult to deal with. I had picked Justin for my staff because when we had talked during orientation he seemed like a basically good kid who I thought would relate well to the campers since he was closer to their age than I was. He had told be about some trouble he had gotten in as a youth. I struck me as more naivatte than malace.

It turned out he was a great asset particularly given the tough kids we were dealing with. Justin was easily able to relate to them but was still loyal to me and helped me keep things mostly together as a unit.

The third week of camp I had some particularly difficult kids from Springfield. There were about 15 kids who came together and often pushed me at every turn. It got so bad that during a two hour hike things spiralled down to all out mutiny.

I had worked int the stables for a number of years and as I was walking out of the staff lounge that day I saw the Aquestian director walking in. In jest I cried out to him "Please take me back in the stables. I will do anything if you let me go back." Justin must have overheard this exchange and took me seriously. Later he implored me stay and he really wanted me to stay the unit leader. It was really a great lift to my spirit to know that he was so concerned about me and really wanted me to stay (even though I had no real intention of quiting). I had often had older staff that I really felt were great role models for me and for the first time I felt like I had a positive influence on a younger staff member.

The funniest story of Justin and I was when he canoed back to the unit and left the boat there for the night so that he could canoe back in the morning which aquatics staff was allowed to do. the next morning I got the kids awake and sent them off towards breakfast. I was running a little late and Justin suggested I canoe in with him. I agreed and jumped into the front of the boat. He started to climb in the back and pushed us off and as he did so he lost his balance and we both flipped off into the mucky waters of Lake Echon. Now on top of being late I was smelly and wet. We both had to rush and take showers before breakfast and of course we were much later by the time we finally arrived. I think Justin felt bad about it but I tried to make light of it as if it were no big deal.

A few years later Justin was Killed in a car accident. When I heard about it I was shocked and saddened. We had both been in Brebuff the previous year (I had returned to the Stables where I belonged) and he had become one of my closest friends at Camp. He had a great heart and and was a great guy. During orientation there was a charity auction and Justin and I had pooled our money and bought a squirt gun that we often used to surprise unsuspecting staff and campers. About a year ago I found it in my basement when I was cleaning things out. It was time to throw it out and let it go. I haven't forgotten him or the friendship we had though.