Rich Syzmanski

I have had the rather rare opportunity to see Fire Mountain from three unique perspectives. Firstly from the perspective as a camper. Secondly from the perspective of a Camp Staff member and, thirdly from the perspective of Camp Director. Each of these positions has afforded me the opportunity to spend a great deal of time at camp and to meet many truly wonderful people. And, for me, it is the people who have made my Fire Mountain experiences most memorable.

As a Scout at camp, I was in awe of the Camp Staffers. What cool guys! What a cool job. What great role models. Staffers like Richard Stone, who helped me through the Small Boat Sailing Merit Badge. Knots and all. Every year they'd knock my socks off.

Also, every year, my Scoutmaster, Wayne Mitchell, took our troop to camp. I didn't realize at the time what an effort that was. But, now as an adult,I understand. Each year Mr. Mitchell used 50 percent of his vacation taking us to camp. To him and every other Scoutmaster who has ever taken a troop to camp, I say thank you. You really make a difference

As a Camp Staffer, I found myself as part of an enthusiastic and highly motivated team. While my peers were bagging groceries or mowing lawns, I found myself planning and organizing activities. A lot of what I am today came from the guidance and leadership given by the Camp Director and Program Director I worked for at camp. People like Dick Weakly, Jack Siegal, Guy Thomas and Mike Armitage. Each of these people gave me and many other camp staff members the opportunity to take on big tasks and the support to accomplish them.

As a Camp Director, camp becomes a really big place. It no longer is bound by the property lines that define it on a map. But, it expands to include hundreds and hundreds of people taking on roles to insure the program continues. To the Scout at camp, these people are all but invisible, but, without them there would not be a camp. People like Gus Ducket, Pete Van Wagnon, Ted Carpenter, Dave Nelson and the many, many more volunteers who work both literally and figuratively in the trenches to maintain and improve the physical plant. Then the Council Board Members who help raise the funds to build and expand the camp. The Council Staff who deal with the day to day activities of taking reservations, processing bills and giving directions to that new Scouting family who is taking their son to Fire Mountain for his first Summer Camp.

Bottom line, when I think back on Fire Mountain I think of all the people who share their hearts and souls to use this chunk of occasionally muddy land to make a positive difference in the lives of kids.