Upper Senior Challenge

June 23, 2019 by Don Gentle

It was another fantastic Sunday here at High Rocks!  After a much-needed sleep-in, the boys worked hard to get their laundry up to the lot before breakfast. We had a great meal including scratch-made cinnamon rolls, then a little bounce around time in assembly before heading down to the lake for our morning service. One of our counselors, Micheal Barber shared a message about another one of our key pillars here at High Rocks. Adventure… Micheal did a great job sharing the importance of adventure, including key terms and ideas about comfort zones, change, and fear.

The rest or the morning all of the guys enjoyed a morning of choices in activities. It was a big morning for Zoob and myself. We took a little time to run our girls over to camp for the next 28 days. Our girls have been at Camp Illahee for over 5 years each. It is the highlight of their year! I enjoy hearing the stories, fun, and adventure. Even as a camp director, we truly get to see the parent side of the story. I wouldn’t have it any other way and they truly love Camp Illahee. Laurie and Gordon Strayhorn run a great program for great girls!

This afternoon we had another perfectly timed thunderstorm during our rest hour. The rain cleared just in time for our all-camp capture the flag game. The main event, however, was the “Upper Senior Challenge!”  Again, this event is similar to an adventure race that is put together very much like ‘The Amazing Race.” Teams have to move from place to place performing tasks.  Each clue takes them to another part of camp where they have to read and communicate the challenge appropriately to the other team members.  Most all of the challenges are activities some of the guys have been doing for years at camp.  Teams are divided up by cabin groups and only the oldest “upper-senior” group competes.  Activities included a lot of running, shooting sports, mountain biking, climbing, canoeing, the rope swing, tennis, soccer, fire building, and even pottery.  It was truly a challenge for these boys.  They all had a great time and cheered on each other throughout the event.  It is one of my favorite Sunday events in camp.  I really enjoy seeing these boys, some of who have been here since they were seven, show their mastery and skills they have learned through the years of camp.  We wrapped up the afternoon with another cookout on the lawn and then headed up to campfire for some reflective songs and another great story. 

Near the end of campfire, we handed out five-year backpacks for this session. There were 21 campers that received them tonight.  All of these boys are about to complete their fifth summer here at High Rocks.  We also have 25 boys this session who have been here five years or more! High Rocks is a place where you can grow up.  I have known many of these boys since they were eight and nine years old! I have watched them overcome challenges, work through frustrations, and have the time of their lives! I really enjoy seeing these guys come back year after year!  Interestingly, there is another 28 who are in their fourth year this session!  I am looking forward to handing out packs to those boys next year.

Darby (our extraordinary office manager and director of marketing and communication) made me promise to remind you of a couple closing session items.  First, if you plan on having your son’s trunk shipped home, please contact the UPS store in Brevard for details and payment.  You also need to let us know that you would like your trunk shipped.  We will deliver your trunk and/or duffel to the UPS Store in Brevard on closing day for shipment.

The UPS Store | Brevard
102 College Station Dr. Ste 3, Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: (828) 883-4701
Fax: (828) 883-4801
Email: store3439@theupsstore. com

Again, please contact Darby in the office at office@highrocks.com if you decide to ship a trunk and/or duffel and we will deliver the item(s) to the UPS store after Closing Day. Second, if you would still like to download high-resolution pictures or purchase a USB drive of pictures, be sure to let Darby know.  

It is hard to believe that we only have four day until we see all of the parents again! It is a fun-filled week that will not disappoint. I look forward to telling you all about it.

Pictures from this afternoon are still going up as of post time.

Have a great night,

Don Gentle
Today’s Pictures