Saying goodbye to a great friend

July 2015

By Tim Falendysz

The goodbye to Lyle

Tonight, we sit around this fire here as many scouts and scouters have done before, the difference tonight is we are part of history, being the last closing campfire of camp Robert S. Lyle, as we all know, camp will not be open next year and fate of the camp is yet to be determined. I share in the saddest of many of you. I came to camp for my first time as a young scout like many of you, my first year was in 1974 with my Troop but more importantly with my father, I fell in love with this camp the first time I was here, and have returned every year since (41 consecutive years). I love this camp and what it has to offer, so to say I am sad and disappointed, is an understatement, so I understand what many are feeling tonight knowing the end has arrived as a Council camp. When talking to a friend a few months ago, a friend said to me, Tim, if anyone should be bitter about camp closing, you might be the most justified person I know to have those feelings. The comment took me off guard a little, but something I had thought about before his comments, but I quickly reflected on his comments, and knew exactly why that was not much of a consideration. My father was very involved with me as a youth in Scouting the first few years and to be honest, I don’t remember a lot of “dad” moments at camp, because I think he let me go and do my thing at camp. In 2008 my dad passed away, in his final days, we all gathered in his hospital room and my dad gave his farewell speech, one of the many things that sticks with me firmly is this. He said “I have spent a life time making my family happy and making you all good people, and to think that at my death you would be sad and upset, would not be something I would have dreamt for my family, so please don’t morn my loss, but celebrate all the great things we shared when we were together”.When this friend asked why I was not bitter, it was not a real option for me and as my dad’s comments echoed back to me. When I look at what this camp has offered to so many people in its 52 years of existence, how can anyone be bitter about that? I have had the luxury to watch A LOT of people attend this camp over the years, and seen them grow to be better people because of the “Magic of Lyle”. I know that this camp has been the stepping stones for many people to be successful. Some are scientist, engineers, doctors, tradesman and so many other great assets to the community. I have talked to several scouts who have such great memories of Lyle, many of them re-shared those here this week and in the time since the closing was announced, some of those stories include master chefs who said they got their first love of cooking over the sheepherders and campfires of Camp Lyle. Not only has it been a key tool in helping people become successful in their own life, there are tons of lifelong friends made here at camp, and none of us can deny the importance of that, maybe some of you are sitting next to yours right now. So tonight as we sit here at the closing campfire of camp, I want to challenge all of you to think about what you have gained from camp Lyle, whether it was your first year here or some other number, remember what you learned. Just like this campfire emits light, heat and sparks, you as a Scout can take the things you learned here and emit them to those who you know and keep that Lyle Magic alive well into the future. Maybe it will be starting a fire for a family or social function, maybe it will be how to cook a meal for your family, but most importantly, it might be how you get along with others and be a leader not only IN scouting but in other aspects of your life as well. You may save a life. It might even be how your raise your own family.So as we close this campfire tonight, knowing that it is the end of an era, please hold your head up high and watch the fire and smoke rise up, and think about how you can keep the magic of Lyle moving upward and onward well into the future. Remember the words of one wise man, my father, and don’t mourn the loss of camp but celebrate all that it has given you as a person. Just like my father, this camp was given to us by the Lyle Family Trust in the early 60’s to make us better scouts and scouters, for us to have many happy memories of the great experiences we have shared as a Scouting family! I think over the years, it has been extremely successful. It is fine to be a little sad, but don’t let that sadness define you. Lyle has been great to us, and we should be proud to have the experiences we did at such a great place.

Thank you Robert S. Lyle!! 

— at Robert S. Lyle Scout Reservation.