Not Even Fair
July 13, 2017 by Don Gentle
It sure has been impressive what I have seen out of these boys in just over a week and a half. Those Mini I boys have been on a wonderful ride lately. I really enjoy seeing them heading out on trips, building skills, and even make it to all of their activities…mostly on time :). As a parent, I have to stop myself every time I want to help my daughters do something, especially if I know they can do it themselves. The beauty of camp at a place like High Rocks is that these boys ARE doing a lot for themselves. Sure it is a nurturing environment, but we provide purposeful opportunities for these guys to work it out on their own.
Sometimes I don’t even think it is fair for parents to compete with what can happen at camp because these counselors are the coolest thing in the world to these kids. This little factor along with the “fun” factor of camp creates a perfect environment for growth, self-reliance, and a little grit. The “grit” is the ability to work out the day to day events of life that happen. It could be getting to your activities on time, or it could be deciding what trip to go on. Sometimes it could be working through a disagreement in the cabin. I really enjoy seeing the growth. The skills they have been learning in their activities has also impressed me. They are really working hard! Some morning it looks like they can barely stand, but they certainly aren’t going to miss that next trip…
We had a wonderful selection of trips out the door again today. Our climbers were over at Cedar Rock in Pisgah. Th mountain bikers took a morning trip over to DuPont. A swimming class went to Hooker Falls in DuPont. We also had two half-day canoeing trips on the French Broad River.
I can’t believe the Mini I guys only have one more day of camp! A reminder to Mini I parents; try to arrive between 9-9:30. We will do a quick tour beginning just after 9:30, head down to crafts and pottery to pick up items, and then finish with some snacks in the lodge. We can’t wait to see you on Saturday morning!
We look forward to seeing the five-day hikers back tomorrow. It is going to be a great weekend! Have a great night!
Don