Published on September 23, 2025
When you peddle 5-6 hours each day it is a chance to take in everything around you in detail in a way not easily done in a vehicle. You have a chane to reflect on where you are in this stage of your life and how the people you have met along the way have shaped who you have become. Anything you see, hear, smell, or touch while peddling can trigger a memory. Today I peddled through Aiken, SC and the only reason I know that town is because I became friends with Al Boni. In the course of my 40+ years in boy scouts as an eagle scout and leader I served as an Aquatic Director at many summer camps around the United States. In order to be an Aquatics Director you have to attend National Camp School to get intensive aquatics training that results in a certification that is good for 5 years. It was at National Camp School that I met Al Boni. Al lived in Aiken, SC and was a brilliant engineer/scientist with Dupont. He gave generously with his time and resources to scouting and was recognized as a national aquatics expert for BSA. He led camp school for many years. Their are some 6-7 National Camp Schools held in different regions each summer around the US. Al always led the one that moved around to a location where one was needed so it changed pretty much every year. The summer I met Al he was impressed with my energy and skills especially in the area of rowing and invited me to be on his national camping school staff next year and I was thrilled to accept. I helped Al on his staff for 4 years in a row! He was a great mentor for me and he created a team that delivered some great training for BSA Aquatics Directors. This past summer my grandson Aiden got to go to summer camp for the first time. I rode up to the council camp on my bike on a whim to check it out having never been there before despite only living 20 miles away. I met the Camp Dircector John and he told me they were short on Aquatics staff. After talking to him for awhile I thought I might be able to help out if they could be flexible with my schedule and then I could be there when Aiden came to camp week 3. He introduced me to Candy who was their Aquatics Director and we were pretty much aligned on our aquatics philosophy so I offered to be part of her staff as a "worker bee" which was a refreshing change from not being in charge. I resurrected my camp name "Aquaman" and it was very rewarding teaching swimming and lifesaving to the scoutsn once again! Candy ran a safe, tight, and fun program and it was a very HOT summer! Never forget those people that impact the course of your life as Al Boni did for me in such a positive and profound way. Al passed away sadly during the time of COVID but his legacy in aquatics lives on!
