Why Four Weeks?
July 21, 2014 by Don Gentle
For some of our guys, the morning started just after 6:00 AM. Our three-day climb took off to Obed Wild and Scenic Recreation Area for an advanced climbing trip. It is one of the best places to go in the southeast when it’s raining here. So, the boys packed up and headed west. They will spend three days climbing all sort of over-hung climbs. Finding the right hold is not the problem here. It’s being able to continue to hold on all the way up. I can’t wait to here about their adventure.
Some parents feel like four weeks of camp is too long. If you ask any of the boys in our month long session, they would stay for five. The four week adds a lot to a camper’s opportunity. Not only do they enjoy all the fun and excitement of camp, their skills progress to levels that equal some of our staff. The level of trips that happen in our four week is incredible! It gives the boys an opportunity to take a five-day backpacking trip, and then turn around the next week and go on a two-day mountain biking trip. It’s pretty impressive to watch a camper score a 45 in archery (five arrows) at FORTY YARDS! Or like some of the pictures show today; young men learning to enjoy class III whitewater in a tandem canoe. It’s important to remember that these boys are not just being “guided” like a tourist through these activities. The boys learn not just to climb, but to be a climber. They not only learn what it means to belay a friend up the rock, but to also trust a friend to do the same. High Rocks is far from an amusement park.
I don’t want to confuse anyone. Some of these boys have worked several summers to get to this level of skill. I would say that is precisely what makes the reward ever more enjoyable. The life skills of learning what it takes to master a skill reaches far beyond the trees here at camp. And I haven’t even touched on the lasting friendships and independence they have learned over these last few weeks. I am so thankful for every one of you four week parents that already understand everything I have mentioned above. Camp is vital importance!
On with today’s news… So today was another great one! Several more trips headed out again today. In camp, horseback riding began our very own three-day Rolex event. If you follow horseback riding, then you know the Rolex is this awesome Kentucky event that includes dressage, cross country, and jumping all in one. Well, our event may not be as fancy, but the boys will get to do the same disciplines over the next three days. our cross-country course runs through some of the trails and open pastures of our 110 acre property. It is sure to be a lot of fun!
Dinner was fantastic tonight! We had BBQ chicken, broccoli with scratch made cheese sauce, and rice. Of course, the usual salad bar had all you could need with more greens and options than you could imagine. The dessert was the kicker for me. Donnie created this scratch-made chocolate pound cake, then topped it with fresh made whipped cream. As if that was not enough, I took it one step further by adding a few pieces of crispy bacon from the salad bar! What a delight!
Our Mini II guys had early dinner so that they could head down to sliding rock for Chill Night! The night will finish with boys coming out of the mountain stream and straight over to Dolly’s Ice Cream Bar. It is always a favorite.
Everyone else wrapped up a great night of evening age group activities and then enjoyed one of my favorite snacks on the lawn; soft pretzels! They came hot out of the oven, brushed with butter, and sprinkled with salt! Delightful! I must be in some crazy food mood tonight. Anyhow, I enjoyed my pretzels with a little honey mustard to boot. I cannot continue to eat like I am a 14 years-old. Tomorrow is going to have to be different. But I am sure it will be amazing!
Have a great night,
Don