 Well, I think this was a valuable experience for all of us. Why? That is because it is how everyone starts an article about trying something new. The first sentence you read above is probably the one of the most used sentences in the history of used sentences. The person writing or saying it doesn’t necessarily have to feel that way, it is just said because that is the whole point of trying something new. Though the concept that was new was not camping (We’re scouts we were born to do things like this). The new concept was to camp within the presence of others. Though it may not seem like a big deal but in a way it is. This was an opportunity for us to exhibit or survival skills as well as taking note of others. Not only that, it was a time where we could actually see the individual personalities of each group. These personalities included how a group communicated, what was the atmosphere a group gave off and how they presented themselves to others.
The Competition camp, win or lose (In our case, lose) was also a way we were able mentally improve ourselves. To me, the competition camp was a way for us to mutually help each other in a competitive way. As nonsensical as that sounds (And I can understand why), it is indeed true. When a newer group looks at a more experienced group, they may try and copy their techniques and make it their own. Now there are two groups sharing the same technique. As this goes on, those groups will inevitably meet other groups and they may trade specific skills and knowledge to each other and as this goes on, people will change those techniques will become better and better. At the end of the cycle, the experienced group from earlier may stumble across a terrific way of doing something and take it for their own, not knowing it was theirs in the first place. This is why the competition camp is such an efficient way for us to improve and to have fun.
 I believe I have gained a thing or two in this camp. The first thing I gained would be the ability to write such paragraphs in the last 15 minutes without stopping to think. Another thing I learned would be the fact that we need lots of improvement in terms of teamwork and communication (Though they sound the same. In a way, they aren’t. I won’t explain it, it would go on forever) I will be a man and take my share of the blame for this lack of teamwork and communication. I will say it truthfully right now that I did not make a lot of contribution in terms of ideas to my patrol. This is because we were already too busy having so many of each others ideas conflicting with one another. Thus this led to our downfall of not winning. Though the most people would say “It’s not winning or losing… its how you play the game” I believe that is not a satisfying statement at all. Not only is this a lazy way to think of things EX. One can always say in his or her mind “O… I did pretty well I guess” It defeats the whole purpose of the competition camp. Though it is true, one should never go mad just because he lost but instead of having the “I did my best I have no regrets” phrase. We should say “I will analyze what the others have done; victory will be ours next time” We are scouts, no longer are we cubs saying “Do your best Do your best” I believe we should do beyond it.
 
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