My kid who broke his finger the week he was to go on his first interactive outdoor overnight training made it to Friday!

We dropped him off in Puyallup at the meet up place, they checked his pack to make sure he had everything on the checklist (all was good). Then he carpooled to the secret location (secret to them, not to us).

To say I'm proud of this kid is an understatement. I tear up to think how brave he is to be doing this. I was freezing just standing there. My nose was numb and running, my feet were icicles, and my hands hurt.

He spent Friday night there and will spend Saturday night there, too. His days will be filled with learning how to find and treat people who got lost (or worse).

I'd like to think, if I knew it existed when I was his age, that I'd have done this.

But I don't know if I'd have had the courage and confidence that it takes.

He's all grown up now. And I love him to death!

This will be a great experience for him.

Originally, he did this to satisfy the volunteer portion of his IB high school diploma. But I think he could wind up doing this for years.

It's right up his alley. And I'm a proud papa today.