Friday June 1st we're heading back to camp!
Those of you that have been with us since the beginning may remember this POST about Eric and I heading up to Los Prietos Boys Camp and putting the kids through an afternoon of working out. (yes, this was before Eric sat me down and gave me the “paragraphs” talk )
I still think about that day quite often and I’m sure that Eric does as well. It was exhausting for us both as we were the only ones there responsible for keeping about 80 kids moving and interested for two hour long sessions.
As I wrote about two years ago, the day was far more rewarding for two of us than I believe it was for the kids and we know that they got a hell of a lot out of it. I ended up writing two speeches about our experience up there and even used one as my competition speech last year for Toastmaster’s International Speech Contest.
So what’s the deal with Los Prietos and why do we go? Great question.
Los Prietos Boys Camp is SB County’s housing facility for trouble boys. It provides a structured environment where the kids can learn about teamwork, discipline, and some of the life skills that are absent in their lives.
I first learned about LPBC through Toastmaster’s, as the camp has its own group called Toastmaster Soldiers where the kids learn how to express themselves through public speaking. It’s a kick ass organization run by Billi Jo Starr and JP Luvanvi (who’s delicious food you all ate this past Saturday).
We go up there because we can. We go up there because once you realize beyond the tough stares, the why the fuck should I listen to you’s, the neck tattoos, and hard attitudes lie young men and young boys. By the end of our hour with them, they had magically transformed themselves back into kids and we could see that even if it was only for an hour, they benefited from someone voluntarily caring about them.
These are young people that have grown up in far different environments than you and I did, through no fault of their own. No one tattooed me at age 13, nor did they tell Eric that being part of his family meant being in a gang. Once you hear what these kids have lived through, it’s easy to forget their wrongdoings and see the humanity in them that’s right below the surface yearning to come out.
This year we’d like to take a crew of CPC’ers up there with us. Anyone and everyone is welcome, we’ll be leaving CPC around 10am and be back around 2pm. The only requirement is that you come with an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to help out.
Post to comments if you’d like to join us for this.
- tb/em
Today’s Workout:
1 Round for Time
20 Overhead Squats (95#/65#)
20 Pullups
200 M Run
15 Overhead Squats (95#/65#)
15 Pullups
200 M Run
10 Overhead Squats (95#/65#)
10 Pullups
200 M Run
