Last month my family went on a week-long trip to Yellowstone National Park. My husband, our 18- and 23-year-old “children” (boy/girl) and our twin seven-year-old nephew and niece – along with my brother and sister-in-law enjoyed planned activities. These things were things we expected, planned and anticipated would occur – great food, park visits, family-bonding time through games, and a nature experience like no other. But in addition to our planned lessons about bison, eagles and geysers, there were opportunities to pick up some unplanned lessons along the way:

  • It’s nice when the Wi-Fi doesn’t work (A little divine intervention forced “real” unplugged time)
  • Graham crackers do expire
  • No matter how tired you are, the bright AM sun along with twin seven-year-olds “play fighting” will wake you up. . . Every. Time.

Another unintended lesson occurred when my brother was putting sun-block on my niece. A conversation began on protecting your skin which led to a statement from my 23-year-old about judgements on the color of her skin, which led to my niece making a statement about liking her skin – which led to my brother saying, “You’ve got to like the skin your in.” This prompted a poem:

Be happy in your skin

The one you were born in

The protection that it gives

The life if helps you live

It helps you to feel touch

Soft, hard, hot, cold and such

From within it you shine

I’m so glad you are mine

With the colors of your self

Your eyes your hair, such wealth!

It’s a cocoon for your parts

Your muscles, your bones your heart

Never have a doubt

I love you inside and out

Be happy in your skin

The one you were born in

As we dove into this topic, we also reflected on how the conversation changes as children grow – from seven-years-old into the tweens through teenage years, young adulthood and beyond. Think about that.

It made me reflect on the Camp Fire promise to youth, to help them discover who they are. An important piece of this is understanding your “spark” – the things within yourself that motivate you to action. The things that give you energy, bring you joy, and purpose – with an absolutely necessary foundational component; to be happy in your skin.

Lyn Lucas is the Chief Program Officer at Camp Fire First Texas. Lyn brings more than 20 years of experience working with children and youth. Her specialties include working with children in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, managing school-age programs and NAEYC-accredited early childhood education programs. She has served as a Program Director, Child Development Coordinator, Child Care Center Director, Regional Director, a Master Registered Trainer in early care and education and has taught numerous classes and workshops throughout North Texas. Lyn holds a Master of Education in curriculum studies and serves on the Texas Youth and Child Care Worker Association board.