You probably know this, but public speaking ranks at or near the top of basically every fear survey. Scarier than heights. Scarier than spiders. In some surveys, scarier than death.

Now, I don’t think anyone hanging off the side of a cliff is thinking, “Nice, at least I’m not public speaking right now.” But that it’s even in the same discussion tells you how much people totally hate it.

Standing up in front of people is tough. Being vulnerable while you do it compounds the feeling.

Which brings me to the Boys Hut 6 speeches.

The Evergreen girls’ version of this is writing Wishes [LINK] to next summer’s campers. The boys have their own version. Theirs happens out loud, too.

At the Kenwood closing campfire, the Hut 6 boys, our oldest, each stand up in front of all of camp and give a speech about why camp is special to them.

They get called up one by one by their counselors. So each boy is up there by himself, the lake at his back, all of camp in front of him.

There were about 10 of them up there this summer. Next year, there’ll be 20.

In Front of People You Know

These are teenagers who are perfectly comfortable Snapping every minute, posting silly videos, playing in front of a crowd on the soccer field. Some of them love being the center of attention.

Standing up in front of people with purpose is a different thing entirely. And standing up in front of people you actually know, saying something that matters to you, might be the hardest version there is.

The speeches have some jokes. They have some sentimental stuff. Each boy finds his own way to say it. Nobody grades them and nobody polishes them. No notes up there either, they were winging it. As far as speeches go, they aren’t winning awards. But it’s not the point.

Because the speech isn’t really what the night is about. The standing up is.

A 15-year-old telling hundreds of people, out loud, that he loves a place and the people in it.

A fear that beats death for some people out there, and every one of them got up and did it.

Then again, maybe it’s not as scary as the surveys would make you think.

It’s way easier to stand up and talk about something when you love it.

When the place means a lot, and the people in front of you are the whole reason it does.

You got this,

Jack

PS - We are already thinking about next summer. I'd love to answer any questions you have about camp. Schedule a call to talk or text me! (Cell below).

114 Eagle Pond Rd, Wilmot, NH 03287
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