For the third time, Lake Jocassee in Devil’s Fork State Park served as a gorgeous backdrop to our Father-Son Trek. The three nights and four days were nowhere near enough time to take in all of the spectacular scenery that Jocassee offers. However, it was the perfect amount of time for some unique father and son bonding.

Day one of our Summer 2015 Father-Son Trek consisted of setting up camp and a crash course in kayaks. There was also a new twist with a friendly game of “Ultimate Wilderness Survival”. We could all feel our survival ratings rise with this new-found knowledge!

Days two and three brought with them a couple of outdoor adventure opportunities. One was paddling through open water to a beautiful white sandy beach for swimming and lunch and the other was a relaxing pontoon ride to natural waterfalls for exploring, swimming and some great fishing. Luckily for us the fish were ready and willing to strike during our stay at Jocassee!

Whether it was laughing around the campfire, soaking up the sun on a warm sandy beach, or paddling a kayak in wide open water, this Father-Son Trek offered us the opportunity to find out what is real and true about ourselves and the world around us. Just ask any father who has taken the time to participate and he will surely tell you that there is just something special about these Father-Son Treks.

Janet Allison – Founder, Boys Alive

With Father’s Day only 9 days away the Cherokee Creek Boys School team would like to share very special Father’s Day reminder from Janet Allison, Founder, Boys Alive!

How do you get along with your father?

When Steve Biddulph, author of The Secret Lives of Men, asks this question in parenting seminars, men’s responses were similar, whether they were from China, Colorado, or New Zealand:

30% (or so): Barely speak
30% (or so): Prickly. Easily hurt with wounding comments and awkward exchanges.
30% (or so): Looks good – from the outside. Surface involvement but not much intimacy
10% (or so): He’s the best!

What are you doing now so that your son will be among the rare 10% when asked this question?

I absolutely encourage you to seek resolution with your own father – whether he’s been present or absent in your life. (More about that another time.)

With Hallmark images of ties, cars, and fishing with dad flooding every store, make this month the moment YOU take a stand.

Take a stand for the generations that will come after you, so they can answer that question with, “He’s the best!”

This Father’s Day, Take A Stand For:

• Protecting partner and children by being an involved father – positive, loving, and firm
• Valuing the wisdom of your elders and passing it on to your children
• Relating with partner and children with emotional honesty
• Providing for partner and children to the best of your ability

In 99% of our human history, elders – fathers and sons – hunted together, passing down age-old, hard-won wisdom which ensured the survival of the tribe. In our 1% of NOW, many boys and men suffer from the lack of guidance, mentoring, bonding, hardship, challenges, and connection.

They yearn to have this deep, hard-wired connection and supply it in less-than-productive ways when they join together to form gangs or other groups. Often these are peer-directed and lack the wisdom teachings that they so deeply crave.

Take a stand for fostering and recognizing ways that men and boys need to regain their feelings of being whole – down to their core.

Jacob, one of our full-time boys boarding school therapists, has been doing a focus group with the students entitled “The Art of Manliness”.

The group is covering a large variety of practical things that include such topics as:

how to dress for an job interview
how to tie a tie
how to be a gentleman
how to respectfully ask a girl for a date
what changes take place during puberty

In addition to these discussions, the boys each received first-hand experience changing a tire on a car this week. Michael, our maintenance manager, led the fun.

As you can see from the pictures, our boys didn’t just watch… they also go their hands dirty doing it.

The boys are turning into men right in front of our eyes. It all happens so fast!

However, the next time any of you get a flat tire, just call one of the Cherokee Creek boys to change it. They will do it… and do it like gentlemen! 🙂