About eight years ago, I attended my first year at Camp Jones Gulch – a small YMCA camp in the hills of Pescadero. When I first attended, I could not even begin to understand the profound impact that this place was to have on my life. While the friendships and the experiences have shaped my life and created bonds and memories I will cherish forever, something the camp gave me has been even more valuable than I could have ever expected.
Camp Jones Gulch gave me the YMCA Ragger Program. The story goes that in the early 1900’s, at a camp up the road from Jones Gulch, there was another camp called Loma Mar. Back in those days, this camp was an all boy sports camp. At the end of the summer, all the little boys would compete in an Olympics-like competition which would test to see who could run the fastest, jump the highest, swim the furthest, and so on. One particular summer, a young boy named Billy, who was suffering from Polio, attended the camp. Billy was confined to a wheelchair and could not participate in any activities that the camp offered, but he didn’t allow this to break his spirit. He was always cheering for his friends and offering them support through everything, though he could not enjoy the activities himself. The camp director at the time was known as “King”. All of the kids loved King. When it came to the end of the summer, Billy cheered for his friends at the Olympics and King noticed. Knowing that Billy could not be recognized for any of the athletic awards, King went down the street to a small shop and purchased a blue bandana. When it came time to present the awards, King called Billy up to the stage and tied the bandana around his neck to recognize him for his incredible spirit and love for his friends. This was the first “ragger”.
Today, the Ragger program is different. It isn’t an award so much as it is a way to set a goal. We like to call it “an outward symbol of an inward goal”. Every year (or so), campers sit down with a Ragger of a higher color and discuss what the goal is that they would like to set for themselves and how they would like to achieve this goal. They talk about the obstacles that they may face and how they will overcome the adversities. As someone moves up in rag colors, the goals they set become more and more challenging and time consuming. Some goals last a year, some last a lifetime.
This goal setting and counseling then culminates in a ceremony that is performed in the forest at camp. Blindfolded by their rag, those seeking to become a Ragger are led down a path. The ceremony is silent, apart from the voices of those who lead the group of those seeking to get rags. The leaders share with them information on what it means to make this commitment and stories to help lead them on their path to not only achieving their goal, but also become a person who is dedicated to the morals of a Ragger. In the end, new Raggers are seated surrounding the Ragger’s symbol and left in complete silence to think over their goal and the words they’ve heard.
At first, I didn’t truly understand the impact of the rags. It wasn’t until my gold rag that I truly began to understand. That was the first year where I truly needed guidance. I needed someone to help me and to believe in me. I needed something to hold onto when it seemed like there was nothing else I could truly grasp. I needed help and I found it in words written on a small triangle of gold cloth – a constant reminder of the goals I’d made and the promise I’d taken as a ragger. To this day, that gold cloth is one of my most prized possessions.
To describe what it truly means to be a ragger to me would be tedious and long winded. Instead, I will use the Ragger’s Creed, since these are the words I try to live my life from everyday.
I would be true for there are those who trust me
I would be cure for there are those who care
I would be strong for there is much to suffer
I would be brave for there is much to dare
I would be friend to all the foe the friendless
I would be giving and forget the gift
I would be humble for I know my weakness
I would look up and laugh and love and lift
I’ve been a Ragger for almost more than half of my life, and I will be one for the rest of my life. I cannot express my gratitude for this program and the way it has forever changed my life.
on top of the world 