It sure was a busy Monday! We had several trips out the door this morning. Even our rock climbing trip headed out to do some rappelling while the wet rock was going to be too much of a challenge. Mountain biking hit the trails. Canoeing enjoyed the river at a super fun level. Even hiking went up to High Pisgah to enjoy the mist and maybe even a little misery.
Our other trip out today was another canoeing trip down the French Broad right here in Brevard. A great moving flat water section to learn new skills that will take them to the next step. Our paddling program always starts out in canoes and always on flat water. The canoe gives the boys a good vantage point for when they first hit the river and it gives them a bigger craft that is not as edgy as a solo canoe or kayak. It is a tried and tested tradition in these parts that go back over a hundred years. The boys will learn both the bow and stern positions on the lake and on the river. All of their strokes and maneuvers are designed to take them down the whitewater river progression. Once the boys have moved up to the second or third rivers in the canoeing progression, they can move into a solo boat like a kayak, C-1, or OC-1 (solo canoe). They will continue their progression in the canoe and the solo craft. Year after year these boys are challenged on new rivers with new skills. It is still one of our most popular activities. These boys in the two-week session are just starting along that progression that can eventually take them to Class III and IV white water a few years down the road.
You can’t change the weather, but you can change your attitude. It’s all about having fun regardless of what is thrown your way. These boys did such a great job today and so did our staff.
We had a fire going all day in the dining hall and I love seeing all the High Rocks hoodies out there. We went out and played, came back in to dry out, and then went back outside to play some. Our indoor venues were busy with all sorts of opportunities for these guys.
I think one of my favorites today was a staff member breaking into a solo on the microphone during dinner singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” The best part was that it almost seemed normal. The boys just watched it unfold like it happens every day.
So, does summer camp have to be fun all the time? It would be easy to say yes, but the magic is in the truth that it isn’t always fun or easy. It sure is worth it, though. What I am trying to say is while camp life at High Rocks is awesome, it is also educational. Sometimes that education can be frustrating and even difficult. For some of the youngest boys in this session, the hardest part was getting out of the car on opening day. The learning continues every day as they not only learn skills in their activities, but also learn how to interact with one another. The challenges of living with six other people that are not your family members should not be overlooked. While the cabin experience can be fun, it can also be challenging. I’m pretty sure your son did not say that the first thing on his list for coming to camp was to learn how to live with six other boys. The cabin experience also holds some of their greatest memories. You can’t have one without the other. High Rocks is way more than an amusement park. Today was no different. The adversity in the weather is actually what is making the memories today. Seeing those boys out in the rain even got me excited about going off the waterslide in the rain. It was so much fun!
Nothing is going to slow us down. I look forward to sharing all the excitement again tomorrow.
-Don
High Rocks is an authorized Special Use Permit Holder by the Pisgah, Nantahala, and Sumter National Forests. • Privacy • Site Map • Camp High Rocks © 2025
