Julie Lim was nine years old when her dad started helping with Pathfinders. Julie went along for the ride, even though technically she was not old enough to participate. “They were working on macrame, and one of the kids did not get it, so I sat there and learned how to do it, and then taught her how to do it. And that was the start of my Pathfinder career,” says Julie.
For her family, including parents, brothers and sisters, Pathfinders has been a way of life. “It was my only extracurricular activity growing up,” Julie states. Julie took breaks from Pathfinders during her boarding academy and college years, but every time she went home she’d help with the local club.
Julie has attended all but two of the international camporees, beginning with Camp Hale in Colorado, but she states she does not have a favorite one. “Each of them has their own personalities,” Julie says. “At Camp Hale it was cold at night. And we had some Popsicle kids—at least one with hypothermia. Most of the early camporees, I’d sleep in a tent and I’d get sick.”
Julie attended the first Oshkosh, and later brought her own club as the director. At the last Oshkosh she was teaching honors for the first time. She taught three of them, in one booth outside: Marine Mammals, Cetaceans and Mountains. “I figured the Rocky Mountain Conference should sponsor the Mountains honor,” she says, smiling.
This year in Gillette Julie is with the Longmont and Greeley, Colorado, clubs. She is also a Pathfinder area coordinator. In addition, she works at Glacier View Ranch as their acting housekeeper. And now she is teaching the gingerbread house honor.
“It’s quite hectic. It’s taken me a month or two to gather all the materials for it. Everybody wants to come in [to the booth]. Nobody wants to pay for it. But with the amount of stuff that I have here, this is a costly honor.”
The first camporee in Gillette didn’t go as smoothly as hoped for, due to a variety of factors including inclement weather and last minute schedule changes. “I didn’t get as many houses through, so I’m going to have major leftovers, which means I’m eating it. That’s life.”
Julie’s advice to Pathfinder clubs wanting to have a good experience at the next international camporee is based on her many years of experience: Plan on long lines and waiting. Be courteous to others around you. Don’t run your generators all night. Pick up after yourself and your clubs. Take a trash bag to the evening programs. Bring pencils and pens. Keep an eye on your kids because they can get lost easily. Look at the list ahead of time so you know where things are located.
“Pathfinders is one of my passions, obviously,” Julie concludes while keeping a watchful eye on the Pathfinders finishing their houses. “Gingerbread houses are another of my passions. Can you tell?”
