Steve Johnson

Fire Mountain has always been a very special place for me. When I was younger it was where I'd go in July or August and spend a week with my friends. I always looked forward to swimming, shooting .22's at the rifle range and having a good time at the Sunday and Friday night campfires. Fire Mountain reminded me how to have fun in the outdoors. As I grew a little, I wanted to be part of the staff. Mainly I just hoped to have some fun but, most importantly, I wanted to be like the staff members I had seen when I was a Scout. Staffers like Craig Adams, Pete Brady, Jason Walter, Eric Maynard, Ron Bromley, just to name a few, really impacted me. They demonstrated how to live the Scout Oath and Law. After spending a few summers as a "junior staffer," I applied to work in more leadership oriented roles. During my last three years at Fire Mountain I worked as the assistant water front director, then the water front director and finally as the program director. Each one of these jobs taught me different things about the camp, the Scouts, the staff and myself. Whenever I think of this special place several of us call "our second home," my heart and mind flood with so many special memories. But one in particular rings true to me.

I think we all, as current and former staffers, can relate to this story in one way or another. While working on the water front, there was this one little Scout, he was about 4' 11'' and maybe 90 lbs soaking wet, who was always at the beach five minutes before everyone and he always stayed 5 minutes after the rest of the crowd had left. In fact, this kid was at the beach on the rainiest, coldest days (God knows Fire Mountain has had a few) and he always showed the same zeal as an entire troop at evening swim after a 100 + degree day in July. Well as the week progressed into Tuesday then Wednesday it became clear to me I was going to be "stuck" with this Scout all week; truth be told, I kind of enjoyed having him around. During the previous summer, the water front director and I had a running joke. We dressed up in swim goggles, flippers, shorts and beach towels and became the ultimate crime fighting duo--"Tan Man and Lotion Boy." These caped crusaders made regular appearances in skits, at flags and during campfires. I felt my little water front groupie deserved the right to become one of us, to join our ranks. Before lunch one day I asked this kid if he wanted to be part of the Fire Mountain Staff lunch time skit. Judging by the look on his face, I thought I just gave him a winning lotto ticket. I outfitted him with the necessary wardrobe of swim goggles, oversized beach towel, etc and briefed him on what he was to do. When the skit started, he came parading in the dining hall behind me in front of about 200 screaming Scouts, their leaders and staff. I caught a glimpse of his face during the skit and he seemed a bit overwhelmed. However, I'll never forget how much he smiled when the skit was finished. He was smiling from ear to ear. It was clear he had a truly memorable experience. For about 1 minute, he was on the center stage and, in his eyes, he was really important.

Like all weeks at Fire Mountain go, the staff went home on Saturday for their well deserved 24 furlough (i.e. McDonald's, laundry and a clean, comfortable bed) only to return on Sunday by noon to do it all over again. I was happy, but not surprised, to learn that C.K. Eidem, our program director, had received this kid's application for Staff in Training. He came on for a few weeks during the rest of the summer but I never saw him much. That summer came to a close and I spent the next few summers at Camp before I closed that chapter in my life and moved onto other pursuits. I never really thought much about "Lotion Boy" until August 2004.

I saw a flyer posted at my job for this young man's funeral. After the routine shock and awe we all experience once we learn someone we know has died, I made plans to attend the memorial. I was pleasantly surprised by how many people packed the auditorium at Edmonds Woodway High School. While making my way to a spot in the bleachers the young man's former Scoutmaster greeted me and thanked me for coming. I really felt awkward and did not what to feel or say. I mean, what do you say to that type of greeting? Several speakers addressed the good sized crowd and there was even a slideshow which celebrated this young man's all too short life. Then, the emcee asked the crowd if anyone would like to share any memories. I had a stirring in my gut but I could not bring myself to lift my butt off my chair. The same Scoutmaster, who had greeted me outside about an hour ago, took the podium. It was nice to hear him recount some of the memories he and the other members of the young man's former Boy Scout Troop had with him while he was alive. Then, out of the blue, I heard the Scoutmaster start talking about "Tan Man and Lotion Boy." My heart spilled over as I listened to him share with the crowd about how this silly skit changed the young man's perspective on Boy Scouting and really gave him joy. This brief moment gave the young man a chance to forget about all the medical problems weighing his body down. "He had fun," said the Scoutmaster. After he had finished speaking I decided it was my turn to address the crowd. I won't ever forget the lump in my throat when I stood before them and tried to speak. I just keep thinking it was strange speaking at the memorial service for someone half my age. As I spoke about the young man, I won't ever forget the smile on his father's face. I realized, at that moment, I had done something positive which impacted this young man while he was alive.

I believe this is the type of experience which makes Fire Mountain such a magical place. Anyone who has spent a week, a summer or several summers on the shores of Lake Challenge can relate to this story of "Tenderfoot Timmy" who never stopped following me around and just begged for five minutes of my time. The staff at Fire Mountain has the amazing opportunity to change lives. I had no idea the five minutes I took with Tim Schnurle at the swim beach that day, would make such a profound impact on his summer.

God, Others, Self.

-Steve Johnson
Fire Mountain Staff 92-95, 97-00