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 Gwynn Valley yesterday. Opening Day was filled with smiling, familiar, and fresh faces as campers received their cabin assignments, settled in, and gathered for a delicious lunch together.
Cabins then jumped into the afternoon excitement, and, quite literally, the pool for swimming! They also participated in activities including, but not limited to: campfires, farm visits, hiking, sports, kayaking, and more. Watching new friendships form so effortlessly is one of the most special parts of opening day. Given how quickly these campers connected with one another, you would think they had known each other for a lifetime. After an afternoon filled with new friendships and laughter, cabins enjoyed a Bolognese pasta dinner followed by signature “Welcome to GV!” cookie cakes to finish – a fittingly sweet addition to an even sweeter day.
However, the fun didn’t end there! Campers headed to after-supper activities, choosing from options ranging from Wading in the Creek to Thunderball before gathering in the lodge for our C Session Opening Ceremony. During the ceremony, our head counselors asked campers to raise their hands if they had made a friend that day. In an instant, every single hand shot into the air. This was a simple yet significant reminder of just how quickly the Gwynn Valley community begins to feel like home.
The evening also featured Tajar Tales performed by our very own Young Leaders, introductions to our program areas and staff (which, of course, featured a baby goat), and an opportunity for campers to see where everyone is from around the world. It was such a gift to have so many countries and states represented in one room.
The next morning, campers received their Discoveries, and we kicked off our first A Day! Some went to the farm to dig up potatoes and play with chickens, while others made floral candles in the Bong Tree or forged metal hooks in blacksmithing. Horseback riding, archery, pottery, and countless other activities were all in full swing, making for an exciting first day of Discoveries. In addition, Mountainsiders began embarking on their first mini-adventures. In the afternoon, campers chose from a variety of sign-up activities based on their interests. Groups tried out stand-up paddleboards on the lake, others explored plants and wildlife species at camp, and some got creative making pinch pots in the pot shop. With so many adventures to choose from, the only thing you won’t find at camp is boredom!
As the day came to a close, cabins enjoyed mountain dancing in the lodge with Debby or gathering around campfires to roast marshmallows for s’mores. Before lights out, each cabin circled up for Friendship Circle – a cherished Gwynn Valley tradition where campers reflect on the day’s adventures and share what they’re looking forward to throughout the rest of the session.
C Session is truly so special at Gwynn Valley, and we are so blessed to have such a welcoming, nurturing, and joy-filled environment. With so many new friendships already taking root and countless adventures still ahead, we can’t wait to see all that this session has in store. How exciting that this is only the beginning!
– By Evie Eikhoff
