High Rocks is a place for fun and learning, for challenge and adventure, and for living in an environment that is geared to a camper's needs and interests. Aided by a well-trained staff we seek to teach and to inspire lasting skills and values.

We offer ongoing opportunities for success, a freedom from inhibiting competitive pressure, and daily instruction in activities which promote rapid development of skills, an increased self-esteem, and a sense of community.

The mission of Camp High Rocks is to foster the personal growth of youth through an outdoor oriented program that:

• promotes self-confidence and independence within a cooperative community of campers and staff
• offers challenging adventures with safety as the highest priority
• teaches skills experientially through a planned progression
• encourages teamwork and having fun in a non-competitive atmosphere
• promotes an understanding of the natural environment
• respects the individual

Jane and Sumner Williams started Camp High Rocks in 1958 and remained the directors for the next thirty years. Jane & Mr Will's daughter and son-in-law Townsend and Hank Birdsong took over in 1988 and are the current directors. The Williams family owns the entire thousand acre facility.

Townsend Birdsong wrote this article in 2005:

Many High Rocks alumni have asked about the history of camp so it is my pleasure to share a bit of its development through the years.

Jane and Sumner Williams founded High Rocks in 1958. Jane Bell Williams is the daughter of the late Frank Bell (“Chief”), who founded Camps Mondamin (1922) and Green Cove in Tuxedo, NC (1945). Jane and Sumner met as counselors at Mondamin and acquired the High Rocks property when they were married. After teaching at McCallie School in Chattanooga and Westminster School in Atlanta, Sumner secured a faculty position at Furman University. This allowed them to work close enough to the property to start clearing the lake and constructing Connestee and Lakeside cabins and the Main house. I believe it was Jane and Sumner’s dream to have their own camp and provide such wonderful opportunities to campers and staff alike.

Jane and Sumner opened the first summer in 1958 with 5 weeks of girls and 5 weeks of boys numbering around 20 campers their first summer. After a very successful first summer, Sumner proceeded to build in preparation for 1959. It continued for the next 30 years as one session of boys followed by one session of girls each summer until 1987.

The Hillside cabin was originally built where the lodge is today. When the lodge was added to the dining hall, Hillside was moved to its current location. The barn was located between the soccer field and current new outdoor rifle range. It is now used for storage and maintenance. The current barns were built in 1974 and 3 new riding rings were cleared.

In 1979 the dam was reconstructed. There was no water in the lake that summer. While it was being redone, we had a stream running through the lake basin and it was then that the camp regatta was begun. The regatta now takes place over the spillway and is a very exciting event at the end of each session. Fortunately, the dam was completed mid-summer so we had a pond by the end of that summer.

After 30 years of directing camp, Jane and Sumner announced their retirement. Jane retired in 1986 and Sumner in 1987. Hank and I decided to leave our jobs in Winston-Salem and move to Asheville to begin our career as Directors. We are so fortunate to have had a wonderful career opportunity. We look forward to sharing the positive impact High Rocks has on past present and future campers. The dream lives on in all of us.

In honor of my father, Sumner McBee Williams, I am sincerely yours,
Townsend W. Birdsong