RK Ramblings

I began this school year in strange state of mind about River Kids...See, as
many of you know, last year was truly magical...for the kids, the parents,
and for me personally. River Kids was created as an organization to protect
and preserve rivers, but I've always seen it as much, much more.
For me, from the very first meeting, RK has always been about recognizing
the precious gift of opportunity and about determining for yourself what
your effect upon the world might be. In turn, I've always seen it as my
mission in all of this to guide members to recognize and utilize their power
to affect change. That mission began when the first group of kids heard
Chad Pregracke's story and challenged me with, "Why can't we do something
like that?"
From there, I can remember discussing the structure of meetings, voting on
"River Kids" as the new title for the organization (no one knows how close
we were to being called "Order of the Wacky Water Warriors"), hashing out
the mission statement and so much more...all during recesses and after
school, and occasionally when we were supposed to be doing something else -
guilty.
Anyhow, when I was ironing on the original hand-drawn logos for our first
t-shirts (an annoyingly tedious task that undoubtedly won't make anyone's
bucket list) I never dreamed that we would be doing the things we are doing
now...but I suppose what's more important is...I never believed we wouldn't.
I just knew that the kids could do some truly amazing things if the
conditions were right.
And last year, I couldn't have asked for more. Not only in terms of the
kids' accomplishments, but in how each of us, adults included, grew into
something more than we were before. And while each group has contributed
over the years, last year's group truly defined for the first time just what
a River Kid really is...a group of compassionate, creative, respectful,
funny, caring, hungry (all the time it seems), hard-working, dedicated,
nature-loving, optimistic, confident, willing, insert your own additional
adjectives here, and always evolving youth. Tough collection of adjectives
to live up to indeed.
Which brings me back to my strange state of mind to begin the year...Last
year ended on such a high, that I was both excited about the prospects of a
new year's work, and nervous that maintaining a magical experience would
prove too challenging...After all we had more than doubled in size to over
50 members and would have to somehow help these 30 or so new kids understand
what took a year or more to impart upon the previous members. How in the
world were we to accomplish such a daunting task???
Well, after a bit of thought and a couple mocha lattes, it dawned on
me...I'm giving myself too much credit...and responsibility. While I
certainly helped provide opportunities, I didn't cause the magic of last
year...I was simply a participant in it...no one really can "cause" such
magic...Nor can anyone simply stumble into it of course, but I believe now
more than ever that it is my job simply (and sometimes complexly) to provide
opportunities and guidance, but it is in the hands of the kids as to when
and how they become a true River Kid. And it's in the kids' hands as to
where River Kids goes.
Soon after I sat down and spoke heart to heart with the new members...I
explained that there is a yet-to-be-discovered reason they are in River
Kids...and there will be a time when they know why they joined this
organization; and what it really means to be a River Kid...and that moment
will look and feel different for every person. It may come to them after
spending an hour digging up a 20-foot section of garden hose from the river
bed, or when they collect their first donation, or when they write a letter
to the Mayor and receive a response, or it may come while paddling the
Meremac, or...
So, while the kids that "get" River Kids have continued to succeed, there
are others that have yet to figure it out...(I've come to realize, that's
how it will always be...Nature of the beast, so to speak.) I've had a few
good conversations with adults and kids about how tough it is to have been a
part of last year's magic and work with those who are still unsure of what
it takes to be a River Kid...So, at this last RK meeting on Friday, I
brought this concept back up with the group...and we talked about what it
really means to be a River Kid. All those adjectives from above could have
been listed...And then I asked a tough question, "By show of hands, who here
has seen someone in our group acting in a way that is NOT like a River Kid
should act?" Let's just say that if there was anyone not raising a hand, I
couldn't see them because of all the hands blocking my view. It was
eye-opening and humbling for all. We ended there by agreeing that having
great potential is not enough...we all need to make an effort to be more.
We all continuously define River Kids in our actions, good or bad.
This is a particularly valuable sentiment at this point of the year. We are
poised upon the cusp of the most active portion of the year...and if there's
anyone looking for opportunities to grow, they'd have to be metaphorically
blind to miss 'em.
It's our promise as RK Coordinators that we will be there every step of the
way to provide opportunities and empower every River Kid. And we'll be
there to celebrate when they "get it." And I hope if you're lucky enough to
be there (or have been there already) when they get it, that you'll share
your stories with us. By the end of the year, we should be able to put
together one heck of a scrapbook.
No joke, at the end of the year, I would really like to collect stories from
kids and adults that feel they have something worth sharing...stories and
thoughts about what it means to be a River Kid or River Kid Family...And if
you don't want to wait and feel like sending something now, I'd love to hear
from you...maybe we can post it on our website for all to see.
Thanks to you all, kids and adults, for continuing to help River Kids grow
up.
Ben