Summer Solstice

We are cranking into the second weekend of the session. I can’t believe we are already two weeks in! Time at camp passes in a funny way. Days seem like they go on forever while weeks flash by. Today is the summer solstice and what other way to spend the longest day of the year but squeezing every last drop of fun from time at camp. 

Today had a typical start with the sun bright and the air cool. It was noticeable how many people were moving purposefully about before the wake-up bell rang. Lots of folks on various missions to be ready for the day, and for some cool trips heading out.

The paddlers beat everyone out of the door this morning, bound for a day on the Nantahala river. The drive over is significant so emphasis was put on starting the trip early, and with a group of experienced campers they pulled it off easily. The day sounded like it was big fun and resulted in a group of exhausted looking fellas when they made it back for the evening meal. 

A climbing group headed out early as well, making for the Nose of Looking Glass. The (mostly) dry weather was perfect for the climb and also made for a crew of tired-yet-satisfied telling about their adventure over the chicken pot pie dinner. Not to be outdone on heights, a group of hikers made for Black Balsam. Their day was spent cruising in the High Pisgahs with views stretching for many miles. Lots of sunscreen on such a cloudless day up there, lots of elevation gained/lost, and one of the better lunch spots available!

As seen in the picture above, the mountain bikers had a morning mission in Dupont with some of their older riders. They hit several of the classic trails in the forest including the descent down Ridgeline. It was a hard ride they all agreed, and one of their favorite trips they’ve been on at camp. Hearing from campers about how much they enjoy the trips that really push their abilities and endurance reinforces the counselor goal of doing just that. It also provides a wonderful debriefing lens to look back on hardships, difficulties, and maybe even complaints(!) in the moment. What seemed hard and was accomplished even so makes it a bit easier to take the measure of the next challenge down the road. 

In camp it was no different. Lakeside found plenty of challenging fun on the high ropes course. Lots of excited yells down to one of their cabin counselors to see how high they were and what they could do on the wire elements. 

Horseback riding had a range of different skills going during the day. There were some trail rides onto some fun and shady routes. There were games of Stoplight where campers try to make it, on horseback, from one side of the ring to the other. The catch being that when the counselor caller says “Red Light!” they must be fully stopped before the counselor turns to check. As you can imagine, there was lots of conversation about what constitutes “movement” as horses are slightly less assiduous regarding the game rules. Still other classes were practicing cantering, and even cantering over poles to experience the jumping motion at speed. 

As if that didn’t fill the day already, there was a group of eight or so campers participating in Horsemasters during their Choice Period. This is a voluntary offering for campers wanting a deeper understanding of horsemanship. While they learn skills, they then are offered chances to prove their mastery of those skills in order to advance through levels of the program. Today, the focus was on each camper tacking and untacking a horse by themselves.