Fun in the Summer Sun at GV
As the heat of summer moves through the valley, I reminisce in the shade about how quickly the last three and even last six weeks have gone by! As we like to say, the days are long and the weeks are short at camp. The white hydrangeas have started to bloom early along the path to our dining hall, illuminating the green bushes with buzzing bees and sweet scents of summer. The last three weeks have been highlighted with many adventures, new faces (and pig snouts) at camp, and new friendships throughout the cabins and sides of camp.
This last week camp has been graced by many thunderstorms and much needed rain for the Farm and rivers. Our staff are quick to make accommodations to campers by extending rest hour with games in the cabin or impromptu activities when we can’t swim in the Lake. The Farm has been blossoming the last few weeks, with corn being picked frequently and nine piglets being born! The baby goats are keen to play and partake in some goat yoga with our campers down at the Farm as well. Cabbage, lettuce, squash and onions are bountiful from the Farm and our kitchen always gets creative with how to utilize these fresh vegetables at meals.
Wednesday we greeted our Mountainsiders and Riversiders from their epic adventures in the backcountry either backpacking the parkway, paddling the rivers and lakes in Western NC, mountain biking at the legendary Dupont National Forest or climbing from 9-5 at Rumbling Bald. Weary and ready for a hot meal, we celebrated being reunited at camp by having the Tajar Ball with a cookout of hot dogs, hamburgers, beans, watermelon, some delicious veggies from the Farm and of course some sweet treats!
Thursday was not only Packing Day but our Main Camp Trip day, or MCATs, where Hillsiders and Brooksiders can put their Discovery skill sets to the test paddling, climbing, biking or hiking in Pisgah Forest or Dupont Forest. This trip can be just a sample of what it’s like to endure adventures for our younger programs on camp. Building these skills through discovery and getting hands-on experience in these adventure areas start to familiarize campers who come back for our Older Programs. Other campers polished their blacksmithing projects, tied off their weaving designs, hiked to Connestee Falls and had one last taste of their favorite activities on camp for their summer.
It’s wonderful to see such magnificent friendships built over the last three weeks. Campers exchanging phone numbers and addresses to continue the sport of snail mail, campers walking around in XXL Gwynn Valley tee shirts so all their new friends can sign their name and endless friendship bracelets being hurriedly finished to remind each other of their woven bonds at camp. It’s very bittersweet saying goodbye to campers at the end of each session. I anticipate to witness the growth they bring to camp next year and I feel sad to say goodbye to that camper I knew this summer. It’s a gift to witness the nurturing of friendships amongst campers of different ages, nurturing that is modeled from our amazing cabin counselors, program staff, SIT’s, kitchen staff and everyone in between.
Closing Campfire is such a special gathering, all of the camp piles into the Lodge, singing and laughter fill the open air, wooden structure. From Chipmunk Hut to Echo, campers of all ages and sides gather to recognize and honor those who have returned year after year, summer after summer to soak up the simple joys of Gwynn Valley. We enjoyed a song from some counselor staff, a Debbie original song sung by Fine Arts discovery campers and a slide show by our amazing photography team. Main Camp closed campfire with “People Now” a song about grieving the end of an experience and holding those memories close to your heart. A beloved tradition and sweet tune sung our campers to bed before a tearful last Friendship Circle in the cabins. This is goodnight and not goodbye!
Looking ahead, we have three more extraordinary weeks of camp left! With D Session, MS3, RS3 and YL3 on the horizon, we look forward to soaking up more rays of sunshine and connecting with nature and campers yet to join us at Gwynn Valley!
