Categories

Archives

2027 Registration Opens Wednesday for Returning Campers

Camp has only just started to wind down and it’s already that time again: time to start thinking about next summer!   As…
Read more

Goodnight but not Goodbye

,
It always surprises me how quickly the end of camp arrives.  We closed our last session of the summer on Saturday…
Read more

Courage Beyond Camp

,
E Session radiates such presence, excitement, and fresh energy that it's difficult to imagine its conclusion just…
Read more

Summer Days and Weeks at Camp

,
One of the sayings you will hear our team say during the summer is “The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel…
Read more

Firsts and Lasts at the End of the Summer

,
And just like that, we've jumped into our final session of camp for the summer.  Today, we opened for E session,…
Read more

So Much to Smile About

,
Bittersweet feelings fill the air as our wonderful D Session and Starter Camp comes to a close. On the final evening…
Read more

Camp Fun and Whimsy

,
I love when we get to celebrate firsts here at camp!  A very exciting first we celebrated recently was the beginning…
Read more

Celebrating Culture & Community at Camp

,
While campers scatter across Gwynn Valley each morning and afternoon for their various activities and adventures,…
Read more

Kicking Off D Session!

,
I say this every year, but I truly can not believe our final three weeks are upon us. We had our third and final…
Read more

The Longest Session: An Ode to C Session

,
Three weeks ago, Opening Day arrived in a rush of duffel bags, cabin assignments, and that particular kind of noise…
Read more

On the Road Again!

,
As C session draws closer to its end, I find myself reflecting back on the midway point of this session; that…
Read more

Checking in from C Session! 

,
We were elated to welcome our C2 campers this week as the fun of C Session continues! The fun kicked off with some…
Read more

Camp Counselor Appreciation Day!

,
If you ask campers what they love most about their time at camp, the answer is often surprisingly simple. While…
Read more

Perspectives Around Camp

,
Sunset Over Friendship Circle The evening of Twilight Play was sparkling. Camp buzzed with waterfront play,…
Read more

Silence and Simplicity of Camp

,
Summer camp, by design, fuels boisterous and happy energy in children.  In only one day, the quiet mornings of…
Read more

Celebrating Simple Joys as C Session Begins

,
Just like that… C session has commenced! We were so excited to welcome our C1 and C Session campers to…
Read more

Another Beautiful Day: The Magic of International Day

,
What an amazing session we’ve had! After nearly 10 years of working at Gwynn Valley Camp, I can say with total…
Read more

Several Days of Fun in the Sun at GV

,
We have had quite the exciting weekend at Gwynn Valley! An air of magic always looms here, but with Main Camp,…
Read more

First Full Day of Camp Gives Us a B-B-B-BINGO

,
Not to be outdone by the bright and happy A Session that just wrapped, B Session has gifted us with a shining sea…
Read more

The Summer Begins – Opening Day at Camp

,
June 6th is a day that has loomed large on the calendars of our Year-Round Team and seasonal staff for the past…
Read more

Signals of Summer

,
  When May arrives here at camp it always feels like a promise, one that summer is just around the corner.…
Read more

A New Chapter: Announcing the Next Camp Director

,
I feel so fortunate to work with such a talented, creative, bright, and mission-driven Director Team. I am constantly…
Read more

Cabin Life – The Foundation of Success at Camp

The cabin might not be the first thing a camper talks about on the drive home, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t…
Read more

2025 Session Videos & Elated for Summer 2026!

,
We invite you to click the link and relive your Gwynn Valley memories from 2025—we hope they bring a smile and…
Read more

Season’s Greetings from Gwynn Valley!

Read more

The Health Benefits of Camp

At Gwynn Valley we write often about the benefits of summer camp, in terms of gaining confidence through overcoming…
Read more

Giving Day 2025

Having just celebrated Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays, and Gwynn Valley's 90th summer, I am so grateful…
Read more

Millwheel News 2025

,
In this year's Millwheel News, we reflect on a wonderful milestone—our 90th summer of adventure, growth, and…
Read more

The Magic of Small Moments at Camp

I peer out onto the Lake from my little office window. The view is beautiful. The trees are bright shades of orange,…
Read more

Young Leaders Explore the History of Camps in WNC

Nestled inside a mountain cove, Gwynn Valley Camp has been a place for development, connection and exploration…
Read more

Gwynn Valley’s 90th Reunion Celebration!

Our 90th Reunion Celebration this August was the most magical and memorable way to end a summer at Gwynn Valley…
Read more

A Peek Ahead to Summer 2026: Registration Information

Another warm and fun filled summer has closed at Gwynn Valley! This summer left the impression that new friendships…
Read more

Here Comes the Sun!

,
Camp has been filled with joy, sunshine and new experiences this week for our campers old and new. As we begin…
Read more

Summers Not Over Yet! E Session Kicks off Strong

,
While the calendar may be inching toward August’s end, the energy here at Gwynn Valley says otherwise—summer…
Read more

United Kingdom International Day

,
Wow, what an exciting week it has been in the beautiful mountains of Brevard! As evening thunderstorms rolled through,…
Read more

Sunday Traditions at Gwynn Valley

,
Sundays are busy days here at camp, filled with pancakes for breakfast, Special Day fun, and our Vespers service.…
Read more

Stories That Come Home

,
As D Session, MS3, RS3, and YL3 rolls on, Camp is buzzing with energy. Campers are busy making friends, trying…
Read more

An Amazing First Week of D Session!

,
The magic of Gwynn Valley has been alive and thriving, reaching new heights when we welcomed our D session campers…
Read more

A Wonderful End To C!

,
This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, and these SIX little piggies were born here at…
Read more

Young Leaders Learn GV’s Camp Legacy

,
This summer, the Cashiers Historical Society opened an exhibit on the history of summer camps in Western North…
Read more

GV Special Days!

,
One of our most beloved traditions at camp is our Special Days—days where the usual camp schedule is set…
Read more

Night Rides

,
Bicycling to the Hunt Farm, across the road from Gwynn Valley, is a favorite evening activity for many campers.…
Read more

The Peace of Wild Things

,
At first glance, it may seem counterintuitive, but some of the most peaceful moments in life can come from the…
Read more

The Magic of Gwynn Valley Evening Programs

,
As the sun dips behind the Blue Ridge Mountains and the fireflies leave their foliage shelters to glisten in the…
Read more

Opening Day Excitement!

,
Greetings from Gwynn Valley! Today was a very special day here at camp!  Today marked the beginning of some…
Read more

Top Moments from an Incredible 10 Days

,
As the sun sets on another unforgettable session at Gwynn Valley, we’re filled with gratitude and  many incredible…
Read more

Program Spotlight: Waterfront!

,
When the summer sun is high and the mountain air warms up, there’s no better place to be than the Waterfront…
Read more

Celebrating the Longest Day of Summer

,
Today is the Summer Solstice! What better way to enjoy summer than being nestled into 400+ acres of dense woods…
Read more

Opening Day at Gwynn Valley!

,
The drive through Brevard is quiet and peaceful, but butterflies flutter in first-time campers’ bellies as the…
Read more

A Week at Gwynn Valley: What Campers are Loving Right Now

,
The hills of Gwynn Valley are alive with laughter, song, and the joyful rhythm of camp life this week. As we settle…
Read more

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

,
Thursday at camp was International Day, and we were able to celebrate our fantastic staff members from New Zealand…
Read more

Simple Joys & Trying Something Difficult

,
Camp is officially underway, and it’s nothing short of magical. All around, you can feel the energy—laughter…
Read more

Summer Fun has Begun!

,
After months of planning, weeks of training and days of anticipation, we are SO excited summer has arrived at Gwynn…
Read more

Blog Series-Letter to My Past Camper Self

,
  Dear Zeke,  I’m writing this letter to you on the eve of your first day at camp.  Tomorrow will not only…
Read more

Blog Series – Letter to My Camper Self

,
Dear 7 Year Old Mary Kathryn, You’re about to enter a world full of wonder, growth and opportunity that will…
Read more

GV Welcomes a New Director!

,
Greetings from Gwynn Valley! As the summer approaches, we are very excited to announce a new addition to our…
Read more

Blog Series – Letter to My First-Year Camp Self

,
Dear Heather, Congratulations, because you are about to embark on a lifelong journey that will be the foundation…
Read more

Videos from Summer 2024 and Eagerly Awaiting Summer 2025!

One thing I love most about summer is the whimsy, creativity and fun the campers bring with them to Gwynn Valley.…
Read more

Brightest Wishes this Holiday Season!

Read more

Welcoming New Staff in 2024!

,
We are thrilled to be announcing 2 new but familiar faces to our Year Round team at Gwynn Valley Camp: Andy Dial…
Read more

Save the Date for Gwynn Valley’s 90th Reunion!

The ongoing camaraderie that surrounds our Alumni community and future generations of campers is a proud tradition…
Read more

Hope is Alive in The Mountains

  Before Hurricane Helene hit land, I was writing about the value of stillness for the GV Blog. The soft…
Read more

Goodbye Summer and Hello Registration!

,
The cabins have been sealed shut, the program areas packed away and a loud silence fills the air at Gwynn Valley;…
Read more

Closing Camp with Gratitude

,
And that’s a wrap!   With one final Friendship Campfire, our summer 2024 season is drawing to a close. …
Read more

Sun Shining Day at Camp

,
Another sun shining day here at Gwynn Valley! We’ve been so lucky to have great weather, great food and great…
Read more

Glimmers of Summer

,
It’s hard to believe we’ve had our last Opening Day of this summer here at Gwynn Valley. It seems like only…
Read more

Nature and Camper

,
“I see myself in his eyes, I’m kind of part of his world,” remarks six-year-old James.  His first Discovery…
Read more

Everyone Needs Play

When I was a small boy, my parents maintained a subscription to National Geographic. I remember going through…
Read more

A Culminating Camp Experience – Young Leaders

During my time as Assistant Director of Older Programs, working with our Young Leaders for the first time has been…
Read more

The Magic of Mountainside

The transition from Main camp to Mountainside, or your first year at camp as a 12-14 year old, can be intimidating.…
Read more

What’s Riverside?

,
This is a question I get asked by our Wildwood and Laurelwood campers each summer, parents on tours, and new staff…
Read more

Barbara Whitmire – Retiring to Move on to New Adventures!

,
Barbara’s office is right in the middle of our overall camp office, known as the Gatehouse.  It’s a good location…
Read more

Happy Holidays

May your Holiday season be filled with simple joys. - Gwynn Valley
Read more

Giving Tuesday – Share the Magic of Camp

Do you remember the magic of Gwynn Valley? We hear so often from alumni that their summers as campers and staff…
Read more

Millwheel News 2023

,
As the holiday season is fast approaching, we hope you and your family are able to spend time together and experience…
Read more

Gwynn Valley is Featured in Southern Living by the Editor in Chief

,
We were excited to be featured in Southern Living's June / July publication in the Editor's Letter who recognizes…
Read more

The Magic of a Camp Job: Staff Application for 2024 is Now Open!

,
In February of 2018, during my first year of college, my friends began daydreaming and talking about what they…
Read more

Registration Opens for Returning Campers on Wednesday!

As summer of 2023 comes to a close and we reflect on another stellar summer here at Gwynn Valley, we feel…
Read more

Camp Helps a Child Develop a Powerful Identity

,
We awoke this morning to rain and thunder which passed over us by 8:00 just in time for campouts to return to camp…
Read more

Growing Up, But Not Too Fast

,
We had another beautiful morning today and by midday the sun was warm with some cloud cover and a lovely breeze…
Read more

What a Great Opening Day!

,
What a great opening today with lots of new first time campers and many returning to Session E.  As I write children…
Read more

Having a Great Time!

,
We have had a couple of wonderful days here at camp. When you’re having a great time, things tend to speed up…
Read more

Twilight Play and a Golden Glow

,
In the deepening blue light of late evening, silhouettes of campers pedaling bicycles down the long Gwynn Valley…
Read more

International Day! Learning about the UK

,
We have had a great start to our last three weeks of camp with lots of sunshine, blue skies,cool evenings and warm…
Read more

Life is Good at GV

,
We just finished our Tajar Ball celebration and although it didn’t rain much today, it has been cloudy with some…
Read more

Simple Joys

,
What a fun day at camp.  It was of course “special day” here where we don’t run normal programming and all…
Read more

Camp Ignites a Fire

,
Great start to our C-2 / C Session yesterday.  The weather was perfect, good for traveling and dropping off C-2…
Read more

Terrific Young People!

,
Our wonderful C-1 campers departed today and we are down to those terrific children who are staying at camp for…
Read more

Another Excellent Day at GV

,
Yesterday was another excellent day here at GV as I spent the morning visiting program areas. As I traveled…
Read more

4th of July

,
Wow -  the fun never stops here.  Yesterday was an unbelievable day as we celebrated the 4th at camp.  It was…
Read more

Winding Down the Session with the Tajar Ball

,
The weather has been beautiful this week and today was no exception! It was our last full day of programming and…
Read more

An Almost Perfect Day!

,
Yesterday evening, Hillside finished their day with stories about the Tajar acted out by their counselors.  Laughter…
Read more

Enjoying the Sunshine!

,
Yesterday, we were still a little damp here at camp, but spirits were sunny.  I must admit that we’re all very…
Read more

Simple Joys

,
Even though it rained today off and on, we went full on into program for our first full day of Session B. As I…
Read more

What a Fun Group!

,
"Those first few days go so slowly and way too soon it’s almost over."  This was said to me by a child in passing…
Read more

This Is What Camp Is All About

,
We’re in our second full day of Session A and we couldn’t ask for better weather and a great start to our summer.…
Read more

Another Wonderful Summer at Gwynn Valley

,
And so it begins, another wonderful summer at GV on a beautiful opening day filled with long waited expectations,…
Read more

So, How Far Do we Push?

Dear Friends,  I read an article this spring through Apple News entitled "How Far Should We Push Our Kids…
Read more

Welcoming New Directors

, ,
Greetings from Gwynn Valley! We’re excited to announce two new faces joining our Director Team for this summer,…
Read more

Help Your Child Get Ready for Camp

,
We are so excited you have chosen to send your child to Gwynn Valley and recognize the significance of the decision…
Read more

Returning Staff – Connecting Camp and Careers

,
We spend a lot of the off-season reading applications and interviewing prospective candidates. Finding folks who…
Read more

Check out the 2022 Video Highlights and start the Countdown!

The New Year and January bring about resolutions, self reflection, and a little bit of dismay as we put away the…
Read more

Giving Tuesday is Today!

Giving Tuesday is today! Please consider a donation to the Gwynn Valley Campership Foundation.   “Camp…
Read more

Millwheel News 2022

,
With trees looking bare and cold weather greeting us every morning, those of us at Gwynn Valley have so much to…
Read more

Camp – A Place to Learn and Grow

,
Camp has always been a place for our campers to grow. Away from the comfortability of home our campers cultivate…
Read more

Make New Friends and Keep the Old – The 85th +2 Reunion

,
As we welcome September, we are so grateful for a positive, fun, and successful camp season and a joyful 85+2 camp…
Read more

Tajar Ball

,
We awoke this morning to the Tajar’s folly with all kinds of pranks in downtown GV.  There were so many things…
Read more

Do Something Difficult Everyday

,
What a great start  to our last week of camp for our new campers who arrived yesterday for E session and for our…
Read more

The Simple Joys Abound

,
What a great day here with beautiful breezy weather starting our morning.  Today we were starting our week with…
Read more

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun

,
It’s hard to believe we are halfway through D session. Time has really flown by here at camp, and we hope it…
Read more

Developing Strong Friendships

,
As I write, my window captures our mountain’s silhouette of 5000 and 6000’ peaks, darkened by the vanishing…
Read more

What a Great Time We Have Had

,
We just finished our Friendship Campfire for the three week and 10 day session.  What a great time we’ve had…
Read more

Sunday at Camp – What a Special Day

,
Every Sunday at camp, when it’s not an opening day, is “Special Day” and today was very  special despite…
Read more

Camp Is About Connection

,
We welcomed our new campers for C-2 today and got off to a rousing start to begin that session. For those of you…
Read more

An Almost Perfect Day

,
It was an almost perfect day here at camp with great weather, a big rain during rest hour and everyone enjoying…
Read more

Another Busy and Beautiful Day at GV

,
Here we are at the end of another busy and beautiful day. We had some rain early this morning but it stopped right…
Read more

Simple Joys at GV

,
Our first full day at camp was pretty darn good.  We had a wee bit of rain just during lunch and it was over before…
Read more

A Golden Day of Summer

,
Today was truly a golden day of summer! We have enjoyed cooler temperatures, a lovely breeze today and lots of…
Read more

Great Day to be on the Waterfront

,
It’s been another great day at camp although hotter than usual.  We thought we might get some rain or a storm…
Read more

Great Opening Day!

,
Opening Day for B Session was the best. Thank you for dropping off many returning campers as well as new campers…
Read more

That Silly Tajar

,
Today happens to be a very special day at Gwynn Valley. It’s the Tajar’s birthday! No one knows for sure how…
Read more

Camp – the Perfect Recipe

,
We had another great day here in the Valley with beautiful weather, brilliant blue sky, sunshine, and a lovely…
Read more

Off to a Great Start

,
What a wonderful opening to camp we have had with lots of sunshine, cool weather, fun, and friendships being formed.…
Read more

Growing Food and Leaders at Camp!

When is the last time you put your hands in the dirt to dig a potato, held a baby piglet, or maybe had a baby…
Read more

Communication – Partnering with Families

,
Dear Gwynn Valley friends and families, As we near the summer, we are getting very excited to welcome our campers…
Read more

Evening Programs – Old and New

,
A day at camp is packed. Packed with activities, with friends, and with memories in the making. I love walking…
Read more
Staff playing a game on the green

Returning Staff Highlight 2022

,
As we approach the summer of 2022, we are really excited about the staff who will be joining us!   Working at…
Read more

Wishing You Joy This Holiday Season

Yesterday marked this year’s Winter Solstice.  This longest night and shortest day of the year has traditionally…
Read more

Giving Tuesday is Tomorrow!

Giving Tuesday is tomorrow!  Please consider a donation to the Gwynn Valley Campership Foundation. “I would…
Read more

Dale Robertson Retires

,
After more than four decades, Dale Robertson has decided to hang up his tool belt and retire.  Dale first…
Read more

Registration for Summer 2022 has begun!

We are excited to gear up for another amazing summer here at Gwynn Valley!  We are so grateful that we were…
Read more

Tajar Ball E Session

,
We awoke this morning to the Tajar’s folly with all kinds of pranks in downtown GV. There were so many things…
Read more

Playing and Learning Outdoors

,
We had a cool and misty day today with some light showers but we continued to have fun at all of our activities…
Read more

Opening Day of E – Final Week for Older Programs

,
Great opening for E Session today; thanks so much for giving us a chance to host all the wonderful children who…
Read more

Tajar Ball!

,
What a day!  Tajar Ball has just ended and the sun has just gone behind our beautiful mountains.  On nights like…
Read more

Building Resilience and Confidence

,
We were watching the weather today here at camp and were fortunate to have a clear morning with no rain until rest…
Read more

Playing Outside, Growing Inside

,
We’ve had beautiful and warm weather today with lots of blue skies and sunshine. The lakefront, pool, and hiking…
Read more

The Simple Joys of Childhood

,
What a great day here at camp.  The weather couldn’t have been better with lots of sun and a brief shower right…
Read more

International Day!

,
We had a great day at camp today and were fortunate to not get rained on during activity times. It was International…
Read more

Camp Is A Magical Place by Grant Bullard

,
I hope you’ve all safely arrived either home or to your destination.  Opening day was great with cool nice weather…
Read more

The Land of Fun! By Grant Bullard

,
Greetings from the land of FUN! The Tajar visited us last night and there was evidence of his mischief in Downtown…
Read more

Farm Campfire!

,
We just finished our farm campfire (evening program) which was great fun with skits, baby animals, a band, stories,…
Read more

Cloudy Skies and Sunny Faces

,
Though the threat of thunderstorms loomed over our valley all day, activities went on all day without a hitch across…
Read more

Reconnecting with Nature

,
Today we began a new round of morning discoveries with our C & C2 campers. Campers were excited as they…
Read more

Simple Joys of Childhood by Grant Bullard

,
We were sad to say good-bye to our C-1 session campers today but are so happy to have our three week campers from…
Read more

Happy 4th of July!

,
Happy 4th of July and hope you all have had the enjoyable day we’ve had.  Our day started with a bit of history…
Read more

Another Day of Opportunity

,
Here at Gwynn Valley we are at the end of another busy and beautiful day. Although they were calling for rain,…
Read more

The Fun Doesn’t Stop Even in the Rain!

,
Wow and the fun doesn’t stop even in the rain!  Yes, it was a very rainy day today but fortunately, we were…
Read more

Making New Friends

,
What a wonderful opening day with only one small shower early this morning and then lots of sunshine and smiles.…
Read more

Sad To Say Good-Bye

,
What a great day here and I can’t believe the week has gone so quickly!  Isn’t that how it works.  When you’re…
Read more

Celebrating Australia and Argentina Day!

,
As I woke up early this morning to the sound of rain, I thought about our Mountainsiders all out on adventures…
Read more

Another Beautiful Day in the Valley

,
The weather has been beautiful this week with crisp, cool mornings, warm afternoons, and lots of blue sky. They…
Read more

Twilight Play Makes the Day

,
Today was another chilly morning at Gwynn Valley as the sun crested over the mountains. Breakfast was a huge…
Read more

A Beautiful “B Day”

,
Tuesday, June 15th dawned bright and with a refreshing mountain-crisp edge. Breakfast was burritos with egg, fresh…
Read more
B Session Opening Day! With one session of Main Camp under our belts we had a great opening day for B Session. …
Read more

The Week Has Flown By!

,
It’s been a full day at camp and unfortunately the last full day of Session A.  We just finished our evening…
Read more

It’s been a beautiful day!

,
It was another beautiful day at camp with the perfect mix of clouds and sun.  Our day started off with homemade…
Read more

Camp empowers young people

,
Camp empowers young people! It was an early morning for Riverside as they grabbed breakfast at 8:00 and headed…
Read more
Girls Jumping in Lake

Opening Day of Camp 2021

,
Dear Parents and Friends, Wow! We have been waiting two long years for today and what a great day it was at…
Read more

Rolling on the Flow Track!

,
We are so excited to greet our first campers on June 5 and have been working hard to get ready for a fun, great…
Read more

Susie Woodall Celebration by Robin Rose

,
May the Road Rise to Meet You… On December 20th, Susie Woodall, a friend, confidante and shining light for so…
Read more

Welcome New Year Round Staff

,
Greetings from Gwynn Valley,  A new year always brings opportunities for growth, change, and hope and…
Read more

Update on COVID-19 plans for 2021

,
Welcoming a New Year As we say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021, we are all hoping for a healthier and…
Read more

Giving Tuesday!

Please consider a donation to the Gwynn Valley Campership Foundation. “As I write to you…
Read more

A Leap of Faith

,
We need camp more than ever! As we plan, prepare, work on changes, and dream about Gwynn Valley…
Read more

New beginnings for our director, Maggie

Dear Gwynn Valley Families, We hope all of you are healthy and well as we move through these challenging…
Read more

Climb to new heights!

,
When you think about getting outside of your comfort zone at camp, climbing is often the first thing people think…
Read more

Mountain Biking is good for the body and soul!

,
As we settle into new school routines (and navigate all the challenges that come with school in the midst of a…
Read more

A Virtual Visit to the Farm at Gwynn Valley

,
We hope you are finding ways to enjoy your summer. We really miss all of our campers and we know you miss us too.…
Read more

Registration is Open for Gwynn Valley Family Camp 2020!

,
We are excited to offer a new way to experience the magic and wonder of Gwynn Valley Camp as a family! Although…
Read more

Somewhere South

,
At Gwynn Valley we LOVE celebrating local agriculture and honoring food cultures both locally and from our international…
Read more

Happy Earth Day

,
Happy Earth Day from GV! Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, celebrated April 22, 1970. Spending…
Read more

Tajar Folly/April Fool’s

,
Those of us who live at Gwynn Valley all year awoke to quite the silly sight at camp this morning. We found…
Read more

Mary Gwynn: Female Leader, Visionary, and Pioneer

In honor of Women’s history month, we want to share an article about our fearless leader, Miss Mary Gwynn, who…
Read more

Lessons Learned from the 2020 American Camp Association National Conference

At camp we always want to encourage children to try new things.  Whether it’s eating a hand-picked veggie…
Read more

A Connection to Camp

Although it is early February, we've had some beautiful spring weather here at camp with temperatures in the 60s,…
Read more

Millwheel News 2019

, ,
There are so many exciting things happening at Gwynn Valley these days! In this issue of the Gwynn Valley Newsletter,…
Read more

A Full Last Day of E!

,
Dear Parents & Friends, Another day has ended here at GV and we’re about to end our E Session and summer…
Read more

Free to be you and me

,
Dear GV families and friends,  The blue skies were totally uninterrupted today at Gwynn Valley, which…
Read more

Mountainside has returned!

,
Hello, families and friends! Guess what! There’s a guest author for today’s Gwynn Valley news! Allow me…
Read more

What a DAY!

,
Dear Parents & Friends, It’s been an incredibly beautiful day in the mountains.  I was not at camp…
Read more

Celebrating sunshine and friends from afar!

,
God aften Gwynn Valley families and friends!  Every Tuesday throughout the summer, campers and staff celebrate…
Read more

First Full Day of E

,
Dear Parents, Family, and Friends, Today was the first full day of E session and what a day it has been! We…
Read more

Sunshine in the Smiles of Our Campers

,
Dear Parents, Family, and Friends, We hope you all have reached your homes or the place you are staying for…
Read more

A Perfect Final Day of D!

,
Dear Families and Friends,  What a wonderful final day of camp! We started the morning with our very last…
Read more

Festive Days and a Little Haze!

,
Dear Parents & Friends, My guess is some of you watch our weather here on most days.  We had threatening…
Read more

An Amazing Costa Rica, Argentina, and Mexico Day!

,
Hola Familias y amigos,  Today was international day at camp and we were fortunate enough to learn about…
Read more

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun at Camp

,
Dear Parents, Family, and Friends, It’s hard to believe we are halfway through D session. Time has really…
Read more

A Truly Magical Special Day

,
Dear Parents, Families, and Friends, Today was Special Day at camp, and the last one of the summer. For Special…
Read more

A Great Day to be a Camper!

,
Dear Families and Friends,  Every day is a great day at Gwynn Valley, and today was no exception. We started…
Read more

A perfect day at GV for all!

,
Dear Families and Friends,  What a wonderful day at Gwynn Valley! Today was filled with adventure and…
Read more

A magical GV day wraps up with Twilight Play

,
Dear Parents and Friends, I'm not sure how your day was back home, but here at camp... Today was practically…
Read more

Another Perfect Day at Gwynn Valley

,
Dear Parents and Friends, Our morning started out very cool with temps hovering around the mid 50’s. Everyone…
Read more

A Magical UK Day!

,
Dear Families and Friends,  What a day! Today was International day at camp and we spent it learning…
Read more

The First Full Day of D

,
Dear Parents, Family, and Friends, Today was the first full day of D session, and what a full day it was. Campers…
Read more

A Perfect Opening of D Session!

,
Dear Families and Friends, Today was our opening day of D and what an incredible day it was! Skies were blue…
Read more

Sunny days and sad goodbyes!

,
Dear Parents, Family, and Friends, It’s hard to believe that we are already at the closing night of C session!…
Read more

Making Memories!

,
Dear Parents & Friends, We just finished our Tajar Ball celebration and the skies cleared just before the…
Read more

Twilight Play, Adventures, and More!

,
Dear Families and Friends, We have enjoyed another great day at camp! Campers worked hard on their final…
Read more

A Farm Filled Day

,
Dear Parents, Family, and friends, Each day is important and fun at Gwynn Valley but today really seemed to…
Read more

Moon Landing Special Day!

,
Dear Families and Friends, ​ Today was another SPECIAL day here at Gwynn Valley. Each Special Day has…
Read more

A Great Day at Camp!

,
Dear Families and Friends,  ​What a great day we had here at Gwynn Valley! With plenty of activities,…
Read more

A Wonderful Day for the Books

,
Dear Parents, Families, and Friends, It’s been another fun filled day at camp. Our campers started the day…
Read more

New Zealand and Spain International Day!

,
Dear Families and Friends,Kia Ora and Hola! Today was International Day at Gwynn Valley and we were able to learn…
Read more

C-2 Opening as C Dances On!

,
Dear Parents and Friends, It’s been a great day to open our C-2 Session and thanks for bringing your children…
Read more

C-1 Closing…C Session, MS2, RS2 and YL2 march on!

,
Dear Parents & Friends of C-1 Campers, C-1 Closing Thank you for a great ending to our C-1 Session today!…
Read more

The Last Full Day of C1

,
Dear Families, Friends, and Loved Ones, It’s a wrap on another day here at Gwynn Valley, and what a…
Read more

A World Cup Special Day

,
Dear Families and Friends, What a special day we had at Gwynn Valley! Today was Special Day here at camp,…
Read more

Another Gorgeous Day at Gwynn Valley

,
Dear Parents, Families, and Friends, It’s been another gorgeous day for the books! The sun was out all…
Read more

The Layers of Friendship!

,
Dear Parents and Friends,  It’s hard to top July 4th at camp but darn if we didn’t do it today. …
Read more

A Fantastic Fourth of July!

,
Dear Friends and Families,  Happy 4th of July! What an incredible day we had celebrating Independence…
Read more

Twilight Play, Adventures, and an Inspection!

,
Dear Families and Friends, ​Another great day has passed at Gwynn Valley and what a full and exciting…
Read more

A Great Day at GV!

,
Dear Families and Friends,  Every day at Gwynn Valley feels like the best day, and today was certainly…
Read more

A Fun Filled First Full Day of C and C1

,
Dear Parents, Family, and Friends,  What an amazing first day of our C and C1 session. We had a great opening…
Read more

A Great Opening Day! C Session 2019

,
Dear Families and Friends,  What a wonderful day we had at camp! Today was our opening of C and C1, MS2,…
Read more

B Session Closing Day 2019

,
Dear Families & Friends, Thank you for a great ending to our B Session today! We’ve had a wonderful time…
Read more

The Perfect End to an Amazing Session

,
Dear Parents, Family, and Friends, The final night of B session is here at Gwynn Valley. It has been an…
Read more

A Fantastic International Day!

,
Dear Families and Friends,  What a wonderful day we had at camp! Every Tuesday we have an International…
Read more

Another Beautiful Day at Gwynn Valley

,
Dear Parents and family, It was another beautiful day at Gwynn Valley. Everyday is filled with the joy of…
Read more

A Fantastic Summer Solstice!

,
Dear Families and Friends, Another wonderful day has passed here at Camp Gwynn Valley! Today is the Summer…
Read more

The FUN Never Stops and There’s More!

,
How do you spell fun at camp?  All capitals, right! FUN! I see it everywhere I look and it’s like waves…
Read more

What a Way to Celebrate Australia

,
Dear Parents and Families, What an amazing day! We had our first International Day here at camp and it was…
Read more

Enjoying the Natural Wonders of Camp! B Session 2019

,
Dear Families and Friends, What a wonderful day here at Camp Gwynn Valley! Our first full day of B session…
Read more

B Session Opening Day 2019 – A Fun Filled Day!

,
Dear Families and Friends, Today was a wonderful day at camp! With the opening of B, the sending off of Riverside…
Read more

Sunshine and Smiles – A Session 2019

,
Dear Families and Friends, After several rain showers the last few days, a warm sunny day was greatly appreciated…
Read more

Another Great Day

,
Dear Family and Friends, Another great day has passed at Gwynn Valley. Each day brings more fun and excitement…
Read more

The Simple Joys of Camp

,
Dear Families and Friends, As our first full day of A session comes to an end, I’m reflecting on the day…
Read more

Opening Day Session A – 2019

,
Dear Parents and Friends, We hope you are safe and dry back in your home or maybe on the way to your next destination. …
Read more

A Stepping Stone to Amazing Things

,
Beyond the Summer: Gwynn Valley Staff Updates is a series of blog posts to help share the stories of our amazing…
Read more

Growing Up at Gwynn Valley

,
Beyond the Summer: Gwynn Valley Staff Updates is a series of blog posts to help share the stories of our amazing…
Read more

The Newest Member of the Year Round Team

,
Greetings to our extended GV family and friends, 2019 has arrived and we are so excited to have summer…
Read more

Wishing Everyone Holiday Cheer

The Holiday Season always provides a time to look back on the previous year. Memories recalled and gathering together…
Read more

From the Ground to Our Table – DELICIOUS

Every summer at Gwynn Valley we serve hundreds of campers and staff with food from our self-sustaining farm, and…
Read more

2017 Session Highlight Video’s Are Here!

Dear Campers, Parents and Friends, We hope you are well and having a good start to the New Year!  Camp is right…
Read more

What’s Important About a Camp Experience!

Dear Parents & Friends, As I write, leaves are falling and the beauty of camp captivates my attention pulling…
Read more

Eclipse at Gwynn Valley Was Spectacular!

Parents and friends, The recent solar eclipse at GV was spectacular.  We hosted several groups of friends and…
Read more

Campers: Looking Forward to Your Arrival!

Our first day of camp is just a few days away and boy are we getting excited to welcome you to Gwynn Valley for…
Read more

Remembering Betty Gwynn Boyd

Betty Gwynn Boyd, 85, of Winter Park, FL, formerly of Black Mountain and Brevard, NC, died peacefully in her sleep…
Read more

Summer Camp and Children’s Mental Health

Dear Parents and Friends, On Friday I will be attending a workshop on Mental Health for Camp Leaders. The North…
Read more

Change and Transition Starting the Year Off!

Dear Campers, Parents and Friends, Happy New Year to all of our Gwynn Valley families and friends! It seems that…
Read more

Happy Holidays from Gwynn Valley!

,
Dear Campers, Parents and Friends, As we all know, blessings come in so many different ways.  As families and…
Read more

Give Thanks and Get Outdoors!

Dear Campers, Parents, and Friends, One of my favorite times of the year is approaching this week- Thanksgiving…
Read more

The Spirit of Camp and Election Day!

  Dear Parents, Campers and Friends, We are winding down from probably the most beautiful time of the year…
Read more

Lets Not Stereotype Girls… We All Get Scared!

Dear Parents and Friends, Recently I was sent a New York Times article by one of our camp parents entitled “Why…
Read more

Happy Presidents’ Day!

Dear Parents and Friends, Happy Presidents’ Day and hope all is well where you are.  In my last news update…
Read more

Making Camp Better!

Dear Parents and Friends, Tomorrow Feb. 9th, several of us on our leadership team head out to the American Camp…
Read more

Nature and Camp – The Right Medicine!

I was probably in high school or college when I realized that I had ADD. Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s we…
Read more

GV Campers at Cyclo-cross Nationals!

We sometimes say that “camp is a human powered event”.  I see that every day in the summer, as our campers…
Read more

Happy New Year!

Campers, Parents and Friends, Here's hoping you and your family have a wonderful beginning to the New Year, 2016.…
Read more

Inclusive Sports at GV – I Like It!

I just read a short blog about Inclusive Sports on the American Camp Association’s website and thought of our…
Read more

Grant Sails Into Wilmington!

Dear GV Families and Friends, I was in Wilmington, NC last night for a show hosted by the Jean and Connor Keller…
Read more

New “You Rock Supercamper Video” and More!

Dear Parents, Campers and Friends, Greetings from camp and hope all is well out there in homeland.  Downtown…
Read more

New Gwynn Valley Video!

Dear Camper Families & Friends, Greetings from Gwynn Valley! Fall is nipping at our heels, and the cool…
Read more

Star Staff and How They Supervise!

Alright, this is going a bit far.  I just read an article about a dad that keeps an eye on his daughter with…
Read more

Through the Eyes of a Camper

My own personal view of camp is important, but in the big scheme of things, camp is all about the children.  I…
Read more

Good Camp Counseling is Good Parenting!

Most of you may be wondering what to expect of your camper’s counselors.  It’s an important question as we…
Read more

Happy Holidays and New “You Rock” Video!

Happy Holidays Everyone, We hope your holiday preparations are going well and you and your family are looking…
Read more

Re-Wilding Your Child!

  We just completed a great summer here at Gwynn Valley. This was all made possible by the great staff that…
Read more

See You Soon!

Camp is right around the corner and what a summer we have in store. As I write many of our staff are here and…
Read more

Camp Shows in Your Area Are Coming Soon!

PARENTS AND CAMPERS!!! Check our website travel page for upcoming shows all across the Gwynn Valley map. We’ve…
Read more

Kids Mountain Bike Race at Gwynn Valley 9/7/13

GWYNN VALLEY MOUNTAIN BIKING CAMPERS AND PARENTS - JOIN US SEPT. 7TH! Don't miss the 2013 CYMBL Race here at Gwynn…
Read more

CAMP TIPS FOR PARENTS

As we get closer to our camp season it’s important to follow these suggestions as you begin to make a decision…
Read more

Now accepting On-line Payments!

We are so excited to be able to offer the convenience of making payments on-line!  Go to our Applications and…
Read more

Day Camp Applications coming soon!

For those of you who are eager to get your child or grandchild into Day Camp, we have a special surprise this…
Read more

Welcome Maggie Curme!

,
Gwynn Valley is excited to welcome Maggie Curme as our new Assistant Director of Older Programs.  Maggie comes…
Read more

New Arrival, Recycling and Happy Holidays!

Campers, Parents and Friends, Last week we had a new arrival at the stable; a new horse named Frost.  He came…
Read more

New Video and More!

Camp's new video has been with us on the road for several weeks but we've just uploaded it to our website.  If…
Read more

CYMBL Race at Gwynn Valley

Dear Parents & Friends, Gwynn Valley just hosted the first race in a series for CYMBL (Carolina Youth Mountain…
Read more

CYMBL Race Tomorrow At Gwynn Valley

Dear Parents & Friends,Gwynn Valley is hosting the first event of the CYMBL races series tomorrow, Aug. 18th,…
Read more

Latest Video From Session E!

,
Parents & Friends, Here is our last installment of video from Session E.  You will see scenes from Main Camp…
Read more

New Video Up for Session E!

,
Dear Parents & Friends, We have some video footage up from the past several days!  Click on this link …
Read more

Picture Uploads :(

,
Dear Parents & Friends, We're having some difficulties uploading photos and some of yesterdays photos are…
Read more

More Session D Video

,
Parents & Friends, Thought you might like to see some footage from D.  Hopefully E will follow in the days…
Read more

Video Update from D Session!

,
D Session Creeks, UK Day, Fishing, Farm and More from Gwynn Valley on Vimeo. Parents & Friends, Check…
Read more

Video – Riverside and More!

,
Riverside and Main Camp Arborist Climbing from Gwynn Valley on Vimeo. Here's a snipet of some video from…
Read more

A Session Kayaking Trip

,
We were paddling the Upper French Broad that comes out of the Pisgah National Forest. The West, North and East…
Read more

Leaving Your Parents for Camp!

Dear Parents, Campers & Friends, Here's a recent article by Bob Ditter, who is a widely recognized consultant…
Read more

Thank You Georgia and More!

Dear Parents, Campers and Friends, As the temperature hovers close to 60 today, I’m reminded of the last couple…
Read more

Happy New Year!

Countdown to Camp!We are so excited because there are only 160 days until camp begins!  The new year brings a…
Read more

HOLIDAY GREETINGS!

Dear Campers, Parents & Friends, Even though it’s a fairly warm day here at camp, true winter has been…
Read more

A home show presentation near you..

Gwynn Valley Camp is on the road!  Our camp shows are hosted by camper families and are for returning campers,…
Read more

Friendship at Camp!

Making new friends at camp is one of those bonus aspects found under “the benefits of camp”.  Some friendships…
Read more

When is my child ready for summer camp?

Every parent wants their child’s first stay away from home to be successful and a good first summer camp experience…
Read more

Popcorn!

Our road trips to promote camp are coming to an end over the next couple of weeks.  I’ve seen a lot of new…
Read more

Paving the Way!

There is that great adage that says, “those who precede us”.  Well in this case it’s a big brother. …
Read more

Season’s Best and Happy New Year!

It’s just a few days before our Holiday weekend here at camp.  The grass is the field looking out from my office…
Read more

Happy Thanksgiving and Forward!

We hope everyone is doing well and had a good Thanksgiving Holiday.  We're headed toward the next big part of…
Read more

Changing Seasons!

As leaves begin to fall and our mountain weather changes for the arriving season, my thoughts turn to the…
Read more

2010 – A GREAT SUMMER!

  Thanks for coming to camp campers and thank you parents, for sharing your children this summer.  We had…
Read more

The End of a Fabulous Season at GV!

Dear Parents & Friends, Camp is way too quiet.  All the campers have gone and most of our staff have said…
Read more

Millwheel News, Spring Edition

In accord with our ongoing efforts to reduce waste, we are posting the latest edition of our camp newsletter here…
Read more

75th Reunion Invitations in the Mail

We're continuing to plan for our big reunion, celebrating 75 years of Gwynn Valley.  The reunion will be held…
Read more

Camp Has a New Addition – 4 legged variety!

There's a new addition to Gwynn Valley in form of a 4 legged friend.  Her name is Sophie and she'll be here this…
Read more

Happy New Year!

It’s another very cold day here at camp but compared to other parts of the nation we might even be having a…
Read more

Snow at Gwynn Valley!

“Season’s Best” We got our first snow fall this past Friday Dec. 18th.  Here at camp we got a little over…
Read more

2009 Millwheel News

  We have just mailed our camp newsletter, the Millwheel News.  If you would like to receive one via mail…
Read more

Water, Smiles and Paddlers

Water has been falling from the sky since mid September and it feels like it’s a tropical rain forest here…
Read more

New Video and Transitioning into Fall

Fall is officially here in our western North Carolina mountains.  I’m never glad to see summer pass because…
Read more

Staff Renewal and Development

On Monday, Tues. and Wed. of this week four of us attended the Southeast American Camping Assoc.  Conference…
Read more

Hamish’s Visit

For those of you that were here this summer when the piglets were born, you may remember that Hamish the pig was…
Read more

Only 355 Days Until Camp!

Dear Parents & Friends, Anne, the kids and I just returned  Monday from a relaxing week at the beach and…
Read more

Video from E Session

,
Video of E Session Farm.  We've had a great summer and hope to see you all next year, our 75th year here at Gwynn…
Read more

Paddling & Biking Video

,
  Parents & Friends, This is video taken two days ago on the French Broad and also at Dupont…
Read more

Camp Starts on Friday June 12th!

Our first day of camp is two days away.  If you are a new camper family we welcome you. If you are a returning…
Read more

Staff Arriving and We’re Rolling

  Everywhere you look staff are working and getting ready for the coming summer.  We've had a core group…
Read more

Counting the Days and Because of Camp!

As I was coming to work this morning I heard an old song that probably none of you campers have ever heard or…
Read more

Hurray for May!

Can you believe it's May already.  As I walked through camp and up to the dining room this morning, I realized…
Read more

New Website and More!

Welcome to Gwynn Valley's new and improved website.  I hope you'll find that it really speaks to our reputation…
Read more

Green in More Than Name Only

Every magazine under the sun has published a "Green" issue. Let's hope that all those magazines are getting recycled.…
Read more

Promotional Shows & Travel Schedule

The 2008 and 2009 Promotional Shows & Travel Schedule are now online. Come out and join us at one of our shows…
Read more

Fall at Gwynn Valley

Dear Friends, It is truly fall here in our mountains. We had a wonderful 2008 season at Gwynn Valley and are busy…
Read more

Christmas in the Valley

Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year! As we get farther into this festive season and approach the beginning of…
Read more

After the Summer

By now many of you have started back to school and are into your routine at home. We miss the sounds of your laughter…
Read more

Winter Greetings

Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and is enjoying the beginning to the new year. This is travel time…
Read more