Opening Day Excitement!
Greetings from Gwynn Valley!
Today was a very special day here at camp! Today marked the beginning of some of our longest sessions of the summer. The day started bright and early with camper families new and old excitedly streaming through the many paths of camp, in search of the whimsical cabin name our Greeters gave them in the parking area.
Throughout the afternoon campers had the opportunity to go around in their cabin groups to try out all sorts of activities! Some future naturalists made field journals in Camping Skills and Nature. We can’t wait to see what incredible natural wonders these campers fill them with this session. Several groups let their creative spirit run wild by making ceramics in Pottery, fabric crafts in Shady Grove, and tie-dye in the Bong Tree. On a hot summer day like today, I’m sure the groups that got to do some free swim and kayaking on the Lake were in their own little slice of Heaven! Two of our cabins got to see our water-wheel operated Mill in action. Originally built in 1891, we’re still shucking, shelling, grinding, and sifting corn at the Mill just like the pioneers did back then. And, though they weren’t harvesting any corn today, some of our campers also went to the Farm this afternoon. They got to meet our newly born baby goats, feed the calves, and pick a whole assortment of veggies!
On Mountainside, our older campers jumped into some big games and initiative exercises! Tomorrow our Mountainside campers will take on their first Mini-Adventures, an opportunity to sample each of the five adventure sports that that program offers. Over the next week, they’ll go expedition canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. As I spoke with the Mountainsiders arriving today, I was so delighted to hear each of these adventures mentioned as a personal favorite as well as many who said “I don’t know, I wanna do all of them!” We can’t wait for this community to get out on the rivers, lakes, crags, and trails!
Our Riverside crew spent the day getting ready to depart ALREADY on a four-night climbing excursion. Tomorrow, they’ll be Tennessee bound as they head to Foster Falls. In preparation, they spent the day packing backpacks full of supplies and learning how to use climbing equipment like belay devices! We can’t wait to hear all about the memories they make and the s’more techniques they perfect over the next few days.
Tonight, we sat down for dinner to the sound of animated chatter. Campers talking about the day’s activities with newfound friends and discussing exciting things that lay ahead: Fourth of July celebrations, Mountain Dancing, Adventures. All of this discussion we had as a community over one of my very favorite recurring meals here at GV: pasta bolognese, caprese salad, green beans, garlic bread, and– who could forget– BIG COOKIE!
As the evening comes, a very busy first day of camp will finally start to wind down. Many of our campers will head to the Lodge– as campers have done since the 1940s– to sing songs together, learn about the Tajar through a Young Leader enacted story, and meet our brilliant Program Leaders. To the sound of “Sheep May Safely Graze” our campers will head to their cabins where they’ll partake in nightly rituals of Friendship Circle– a time when our cabins circle up to talk about their days– and Serenade– wherein staff come by to sing cabins to sleep.
It’s been a very full first day of camp, with many full days to follow. We can’t wait for all of your campers to be able to share them with you.
