It’s hard to believe that today was the last full day of activities. It was another wonderful day with fairly warm temperatures that kept most of us on the lake, particularly this afternoon. It still looked like another day at camp out there.. Some boys were still heading out on trips including paddling and climbing, and even pottery and crafts.
The after dinner event of cabin night went very well. The rain parted just enough for those cabin groups making fires for smores. Many were on the lake or just chilling in the gym for fun. Cabin night is always a great night to get back together and reconnect for the night! The boys will go over their highlights and goals later tonight during their cabin meeting.
I was privileged enough to host the upper senior age group at the director’s house for the evening. The upper senior dinner has been a long tradition at High Rocks. With the help of some awesome staff, we put together a fine steak dinner with sides including corn, salad, and Texas toast. I will say, that we had so much meat that they didn’t finish it all. We wrapped up the meal with cheese cake for dessert. After the meal, we all enjoyed a little discussion about the Upper Senior Challenge Results. We passed out their Upper Senior Challenge T-Shirts. Finally, we discussed what their future at High Rocks might look like including opportunities for continuation in the upper senior age group, counselor aides, counselor trainees, assistant counselors, and future staff. It was a great group to hang out with for a few hours. I look forward to seeing most of them back next summer.
Family Camp 2026! Join us over Labor Day Weekend (September 4 – September 7) to experience High Rocks as a family. It’s a chance to share the camp your son loves, complete with campfires, camp activities, and some time in the mountains.
It is so much Fun! Check out the details!
We’ll handle the meals, gear, and schedule so you can enjoy quality time together. Parents, siblings, and even grandparents are welcome! Registration is open now, and space is limited to 28 families. Whether you’re reliving camp with your son or introducing a younger sibling to the fun, Family Camp is a great way to wrap up the summer.
Tomorrow we have regular activities in the morning and then we will start our transition after lunch. First, we start packing our trunks for pick-up on Saturday morning. We wrap up the afternoon with a camp-wide game. It has been a highly exciting event over the last few years. We will shower before dinner and then enjoy a sit-down meal that is served by our head staff. Finally, we will head up to campfire one last time to sing some songs, listen to a story, end then hand out our ten-year paddles. It is going to be quite a day. Always a lot of excitement and emotion.
While I’m thinking of Closing Day, I’d like to pass along a few logistical details. Closing Day on Saturday morning, will run from 9:15 am to 11:15 am. You are welcome to arrive anytime during this window. There are not assigned times for closing day. If previous years are an indication, we expect most parents to arrive before 10:45. If you are running late, give our office a call so we can let your camper know.
There will be one more quick blog tomorrow along with a few pictures from our last full day including the banquet, the end game, and final campfire. We will certainly have them tired and ready for home.
It was another great day here at High Rocks!
Don Gentle
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