Mondays always start with a lot of excitement here at The Rocks. We had 4 trips out of camp AND another group on the ropes course today. Mountaineering headed out with some Mini guys on a two-day perimeter hike. They will spend their two days traversing our 1000-acre perimeter. Rock climbing had a trip out to Looking Glass Rock this morning. Our mountain bike boys had another trip out to Dupont today. Paddling is taking a two-day trip to the Nantahala River. They will enjoy two days of fun and competition at the Camp Cup where they canoe and kayak downriver and slalom. It is always a fun event and a great skill builder.
The Mini boys are right into the excitement today. Along with those few guys heading out on the overnight, the Lakeside boys had a morning on the ropes course. Tomorrow Flattop and Foxhollow will get their chance. Tonight, the Foxhollow and Flattop guys headed out for their “Chill Night.” They will enjoy a night at the world-famous Sliding Rock with water coming down at about 65 degrees! A chilly event. As if that was not enough, the boys will then head to the locally famous Dolly’s Dairy Bar to finish up the chilling event with a little ice cream. It is one of our favorite evening events that the boys always look forward to attending.
Some parents feel like four weeks of camp is too long. If you ask any of the boys in our month-long session, they will just as soon stay for five. The four weeks adds a lot to a camper’s opportunity. Not only do they enjoy all the fun and excitement of camp, but their skills also progress to levels that equal some of our staff. The level of trips that happen in four weeks is incredible! It gives the boys an opportunity to take a five-day backpacking trip, and then turn around the next week and go on a two-day mountain biking trip. It’s impressive to watch a camper score a 45 in archery (five arrows) at FORTY YARDS! Or like some of the whitewater pictures from last week; young men learning to enjoy class III whitewater in a tandem canoe. It’s important to remember that these boys are not just being “guided” like a tourist through these activities. The boys learn not just to climb, but to be a climber. They not only learn what it means to belay a friend up the rock but also trust a friend to do the same. High Rocks is far from an amusement park.
I don’t want to confuse anyone. Some of these boys have worked several summers to get to this level of skill. Our new Level System shows just that. I would say that is precisely what makes the reward even more enjoyable. The life skills of learning what it takes to master a skill reach far beyond the trees here at High Rocks. And I haven’t even touched on the lasting friendships and independence they have learned over these last few weeks. I am so thankful for every one of the four-week parents that already understand everything I have mentioned above. High Rocks is so important in the development of young men!
Helpful details from our office staff.
Age Group 1 (Hillside, Connestee, and Lakeside): Games on the Soccer Field!
Age Group II (Flattop and Foxhollow): Chill Night! Our traditional Sliding Rock and Dolly’s Ice Cream Night!
Age Group III (Chalet I and Windswept): Gaems on the Tennis Courts
Age Group IV (Chalet II and Overlook): Canoe Fill Ups! Grab four dudes, hand them some bailers and buckets, then go try to sink eveyone else’s boat. Complete Chaos!
Age Group V (Pinnacle, Outpost and Sprucepine): Games on the Activity Field!
Age Group VI (Lookout and Halfway): Waterslide and Rope Swing!
It is hard to believe we only have a few more days left in camp. You wouldn’t know it by the schedule. It is still going full force here at High Rocks…all the way to the end.
Have a great night,
Don
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