It warm but it sure is wonderful! We are taking advantage of our lake this week for sure! It sure was great to see all the guys in their activities for several days. You can already see the magic or success and progress. Check out some of our first trip pictures posted tonight. These boys are ripping it up on the river and the trail. The groove is totally happening right now!
We are doing our best to keep these guys hydrated and cool. We even had a special post-rest hour hydration station with Gatorade today! it was a big hit!
Tonight, we had the last of our cabins head out for their overnights. The boys of Connesteee, Hillside, Foxhollow, and Windswept hit the trail tonight. We always make a point of getting a group picture before they leave, which makes for some fun pictures of the boys. My favorite, however, is to just watch and listen to the guys as they hike away into our 1100-acre wilderness. The older boys that have done it for years act just like the young guys doing it for the first time. They are all joking and laughing, excited about their evening in the woods around the fire, but they walk off like it’s just a trip down to the pool. comfortable and confident. I think the young guys know the staff has got their back, while the older guys just feel like they have it all sorted. The magic of the outdoors at High Rocks is everywhere.
Use this section to talk a little about “why we do what we do.” I know many of the parents are wondering how everyone is doing, and I hope the nightly blog and pictures give you a good sense of the daily routine of camp. In the next day or so the first letters from High Rocks will be arriving in your mailbox. There is the possibility of a letter coming home that may worry you. So, let’s talk about homesickness. It’s not a scary word. It’s all about growing up one step at a time.
After over 30 years here at High Rocks, I have some pretty good experience with kids and camp. That being said, a little homesickness is normal. More often than not, what you are reading in those letters today has passed. They are on to bigger heights. Remember, we are professionals. If you feel worried at all just drop us a line.
Don’t forget to do the same for your son. Give him some encouraging words; tell him how proud you are and how he will be just fine. Try not to go on about how the dog misses him, or all the cool things you are doing at home. When you are learning to take some steps on your own, sometimes you fall down and get back up. It’s definitely not a reason to stop walking. Camp is a super place to step out on your own. If you do feel like you need to give us a call, we are here to help. Don’t forget, the boys love mail. If you have not sent anything, emails are certainly a quick turnaround. Send often.
Age Group 1 (Hillside and Connestee): Cabin Overnights!
Age Group II (Flattop, Foxhollow, and Lakeside): Foxhollow is out on their cabin overnights, Flattop and Lakeside are on the Activity Field.
Age Group III (Chalet I and Windswept): Windswept is out on their cabin overnight. Chalet I are chillin at the canoe docks.
Age Group IV (Chalet II and Overlook): Games on the tennis courts.
Age Group V (Pinnacle, Outpost and Sprucepine): a great night for Rope Swing and Waterslide!
Age Group VI (Lookout and Halfway): Games on the soccer field!
Woody Noland writes on Friday and Tuesday nights, so look for his point of view tomorrow night. It will be a great report. Until then…
-Don Gentle
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