Campout Report
First Time Camper
Wilson’s Promitory – 10th Campout

12th – 14th March 2004

Prior to the camp-out to Wilson’s Promitory, I had only recently returned to meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous after more than two years absence. I had never been on one of The Deal camp-outs before and after much indecisiveness, decided to go. There were a lot of new faces in the group whom I did not know and though there were some people I did recognise, I hadn’t any contact with them for some time. This left me feeling apart from and uncomfortable at The Deal meeting. During the camp I was able to relax, let down my walls and make some connections with the other guys on the camp. It did not take long for me to start feeling apart of rather than apart from and to begin to gain a real sense of belonging. There was the opportunity to be of service, to get involved in a number of fun activities, and to attend meetings held in the camp site – leaving me with little or no time to be thinking of self and to enjoy life as a sober person. Best of all though was seeing how the experience benefited some newcomers. I could see them come out of their shell a little, begin to relate and as such feel less alone, and hear them express astounding insights into their own and relatively new experiences of the program of recovery. I could kick myself for having denied myself this experience for so long and I consider myself privileged to have been apart of this years first camp-out. Can’t wait for the next one!

Peter N