Stories That Come Home
As D Session, MS3, RS3, and YL3 rolls on, Camp is buzzing with energy. Campers are busy making friends, trying out new activities, and creating memories that they’ll hold on to long after summer fades away. Whether it’s riding a horse, shucking corn, climbing, biking, paddling, or sharing laughs at meals, these experiences are turning into great stories. They’ll bring these stories home, slipping them into conversations with family or quietly sharing them with friends later on.
Our Riversiders just got back from a fun and challenging climbing trip to Foster Falls, Tennessee. They returned home tired but happy, beaming with pride over their accomplishments. They spent the past few days scaling sandstone cliffs, cooking meals together at their campsite, and taking refreshing dips in the swimming hole under the waterfall. Now, they’ve returned to camp to get some rest and begin training for their paddling adventure. I can’t wait for the experiences that will become stories on their next adventure!
Meanwhile, the Mountainside campers are wrapping up their Mini Adventures. Over the last few days, they’ve thrown themselves into activities like whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, backpacking, and canoeing. They’ll soon choose which adventure to focus on for the rest of the session, a big decision that empowers them to take ownership of their journey. Before long, they’ll be heading into the forests, rivers, and mountains of Western North Carolina with their groups. These trips foster strong friendships and create lasting memories. We can’t wait to see what each group discovers as they begin their training days and embark on the adventures in the coming weeks.
On Main Camp, everyone is gearing up for Special Day on Sunday. Special Day is a day with an alternative program centered around a mystery theme, along with a late wakeup and pancakes, of course! So far, we have had days of Aliens, Disney characters, and Superheroes. I’m excited to see what the theme will be and what stories come from it. Campers are finishing a week packed with Discovery classes, and there’s been a lot of learning, growth, and laughter along the way. Whether it’s paddling on the lake, getting creative with fabric crafts in Shady Grove, or exploring the farm, they’re building confidence and having a blast. Special Day is always a highlight, filled with games, costumes, and plenty of camp wide goofiness. It’s a chance to celebrate everything that’s happened so far and enjoy something a little different together.
All across camp, whether campers are heading out on a big adventure or spending time with their cabin groups, there’s a sense of purpose and excitement in the air. Each day is filled with small moments of growth, like trying something new, helping a friend, or simply being present in the rhythm of camp life. These moments may feel simple now, but they are shaping stories that will stick with campers long after they’ve left their cabins and packed their bags.
As we look ahead to the rest of the session, we’re excited for all that’s still to come. There are more songs to sing, trails to explore, challenges to tackle, and memories to create. We will also celebrate UK Day this coming week, and I’m looking forward to seeing what our staff have planned to celebrate England, Scotland, and Wales. Campers are writing their own stories each day, and we feel so lucky to be part of this chapter in their lives.
