Only One More Day?
August 10, 2017 by Don Gentle
It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is our last full day of activities. This session goes so fast! What a joy it has been to have these boys with us! Tomorrow the transition begins. We will wrap up activities in the morning, then begin the process of finding all our stuff and packing up. The rest of our afternoon will be a fun color war event, then shower and off to our final banquet followed by campfire.
It sure has been quite a session. The weather was perfect the first week, and a little wet here and there this week. It did not stop the boys from enjoying camp to the fullest, we were just able to use more of the clothes we packed :). I have watched boys try new activities, make new friends, and even eat vegetables. I enjoy seeing how these boys make camp their own.
Camp High Rocks is not school and it is not home. We are definitely not an amusement park. Rather than just “wee ha,” most everything we do has a purpose. It might just be cabin clean-up to the boys but to us, it’s teamwork and responsibility. Choosing your own activities after you leave home seems simple enough but to us, it’s independence and discovery. Working through levels and a progression in our activities makes sense, of course. But it also teaches hard work, patience, and determination. Living with six other boys in the same room sure sound like fun. Our hope is that it teaches understanding, empathy, and friendship. Camp, particularly at High Rocks, helps these boys have real experiences, real conversations, and real adventure. It is a vital experience for boys.
Saturday is going to be a crazy day of emotions and excitement. The boys will be excited to see you, but upset to leave. We have added a few notes below to make sure you have a good idea of what is happening. Most importantly, let him show you what camp is to him. He will most probably lead you by the hand and won’t stop talking for hours. Just listen to what camp has done for him. It won’t come out in sentences that spell it out. You’ll have to listen and watch how he speaks and what he talks about. It was definitely time well spent with purpose.
Parent’s Day Planning Guide for SATURDAY:
- Arrive between 9:00 and 10:00 am. This should give you time to load up your trunk, park, and meet the campers out side of the lodge. Campers will still be in assembly until around 9:40-ish
- Once the assembly is over each camper will be able to show you around and demonstrate the activities of his choice. This will begin around 10:00 am.
- He will want to introduce you to all of his activity counselors. The best is to just follow along and listen to all of the great stories he has to tell.
- Make a point to catch up with his cabin counselor. He may be in an activity area that he teaches. Your son will know where to find him.
- Please plan to stay until noon and join us for an early lunch that starts around 11:15. If you were not planning to stay for lunch originally, don’t worry- we always plan for extra & will have plenty to go around.
- At some point during the morning-
- Stop by crafts to pick up any projects.
- Go to the cabin to pick up personal items that were wet or did not fit in the trunk (all of his items should be on his bed)
- Check out at the camp office & health center to pick up your packet (please bring a checkbook in case there is a small balance due) and any medications.
- Peruse the “lost & found” items in the lodge
- It is fine to bring other family members or friends that might be interested in seeing camp.
- Don’t forget, if you enjoyed the pictures, you can still buy a download subscription or flash drive of over 4500 pictures on closing day. We will have few extra.
What’s Next? I always have parents ask about the difference between our two-week session and our longer sessions. The two-week session is meant as an introductory camp experience and all of the trips during a two-week session are beginner level trips. In every session, our goal is to have a progression of building skills in the activities. When boys move on to longer sessions as they get older, we are able to build on their previous experiences and keep them at an appropriate level of challenge. As you are planning for your son next summer we are happy to help with any questions you may have about which session may be the best for your son.
I will put up a short closing blog tomorrow night with some color war pictures. It has been a pleasure and an honor to host your boys this summer. Thank You!
Don