I found myself closing off ties with my local community, selling off unwanted and needed items and packing the basic essentials for travel. I purchased a plane ticket and I was off for sunny Florida. I had flown into Tampa International, and was awaiting a transport van from Eckerd Family Youth Alternatives. I had been picked up and driven to Camp E-Nini-Hassee, Floral City in a small town on the outskirts of Inverness. There I was to join with other new counselors recruited for the program in what was called Catatoga’s.

This was the training program for the wilderness and teaching certifications portions for the counselors. We underwent several weeks of close relationships, scenarios, role playing, and training for various aspects of the program. We became certified, in first-aid, canoeing, life guards, trip planning, communication skills, and counseling techniques. We underwent family counseling teachings, and certifications, were educated on the aspects of human services and dealing with the many facets involved with these agencies and court systems as well. We participated in a specially designed ropes course to develop personal and team trust issues and gain self confidence, and so much more.

I was truly in my element. What better way to gain insight into myself, others, and be in nature the whole time. Having successfully completed Catatoga training, I was assigned to a boys group at that camp. In all, Eckerd was comprised of many, I believe at the time was 12-13 camps scattered around the South and Northern regions, in seven states .E-Nini-Hassee was a co-ed camp with separate sections of camp for the two sexes. This in itself posed many issues within the camp facility. I had been assigned to the group known as Checata’s, with two other counselors and a master counselor.

A new chapter in my life had begun. My divorce had been finalized and I received documentation to such while living in Florida. I had a new perspective on my life and my goals. I had again found a purpose. Having the ability to impact a child’s life, in positive manners was a gift. These kids had experienced and seen things I never imagined. Most came from broken homes, drug ridden pasts, and abuses beyond imagination, some were placed via Social Services, others thru courts; basically it was their last stop before juvenile jails. Most were involuntary placements, though few came of their own will.

Our purpose was to give them hope, guidance, and education, and to create a family structure such as the likes they never knew before that time. We were to gain insight to their individual circumstances, and attack issues surrounding the negative behaviors that resulted from these, provide a positive release for dealing with these issues, and to help them break free from self destructive behaviors. Build confidence levels, and to provide structure for their daily lives. We accomplished this in a great many ways. Being in a wilderness setting was an entirely new experience for many of them. Most having come from city lifestyles, battered and deplorable living conditions and so forth.

Basically they were thrown into a survival situation. Create shelter, feed and care for yourself, and grow personal and interpersonal relationships, and communication skills. We would make all aspects of the experience dependent upon the individuals within the group. If you wanted your next meal at chow time, and with the rest of the camp, you needed to cooperate and accomplish set tasks for the day. Those could have been tent construction,laundry, dining hall set-up, and so forth. All structures where built by the group of kids and their counselors.

(typical set-up with kitchen area, sleepig quarters, library, tool tent, laundry area, and tool shed and a pow-wow areaoff to the back of the site.)

 As there was more than one group co-existing on the grounds property, Laundry, showers, program components, and all daily activities were tied to set schedules. No group ever in the time I was there was able to complete the set tasks and schedules on time. Disciplinary issues had risen on a continual basis throughout the day’s events. After all, that’s what we were there for..to address these issues and alternatives for dealing with them. Peer pressure was a huge factor in this undertaking.

On occasion we would schedule trips depending on the group’s overall behavior and successful operation. We implemented teaching techniques during the pre stages of planning these trips as well as during the actual events. With schedules, menu planning, itineraries, and specific responsibilities having been assigned, the kids were able to get mathematics, science, and other course credits throughout the experience which they would need to graduate with a high school level of competency.  We would take extended 7-21 day canoe trips on local and some out of state waterways, rivers, lakes, etc. We took van trips to out of state destinations and camped along the way, and hiking trips were always a delight.  I saw the biggest gator I had ever seen on the Ocklawaha River. This thing was a monster...Longer than the canoe we were paddling, and as big as a dang ‘ol Cyprus tree. We actually thought it just that, as we approached the area along the river bank. Suddenly, it took off swimming and created quite the fright among the kid’s, and I have to admit it put a lump in my throat as well…All remained unscathed, however we decided to relocate camp that day, we had apparently approached its nesting grounds and were not about to contend with that.

I had a great deal many experiences while at E-Nini-Hassee some good, some not so favorable, but in all it was definitely a growing period for me as well as the individuals involved with the program and its components.

A few months had passed and the boys group had been dissbanneded, and campers as well as counselors relocated to other area camps. My next assigned area was to camp E-Kel-Etu, at Silver Springs. I found myself smack dab in the middle of the Ocala National Forest. All things considered, it too was a pleasant stay. The routines were the same, had several new kids in my group and a few counselors I had known from Catatoga’s as well. It was here I had learned of my ex-wife’s plan to have her new husband attempt an adoption of my son Nathan. I had been served with court papers stating my attendance would be required to contest such an action. Next chapter in my life had begun to unfold.