Author: Don Gentle

Best of Times Our Monday started off with a bang as climbing, paddling, and mountain biking had trips out the door early this morning. After a nice rain late last night, the blue skies and wonderful breeze all day long made for a great start to the week! The June Mini guys headed right into… Continue reading Best of Times

Welcome June Mini Campers I love Sunday mornings at High Rocks! This morning was a particularly wonderful morning. A cool breeze, sun, and I get to sleep in a little bit later than 6:30 am.  Although I still woke up early, it felt a little more restful since I did not have to rush off… Continue reading Welcome June Mini Campers

All Style No Speed If that doesn’t sum up summer camp at High Rocks, I’m not sure what does. I heard this phrase most of the day as the hikers were “underwater hiking” today.  As I walked around camp, it is exactly what I saw.  These boys were all about style.  It couldn’t be described… Continue reading All Style, No Speed

TGIF at Camp! It is hard to believe that we are already wrapping up the first Friday of the session. Aweek has flown by in a way that only camp can do.Today promised that same bustling activity with our cabin overnighters returning in the early morning hours, clearly feeling like they had conquered the experience though… Continue reading TGIF… at Camp!

Jersday Thursday Another Theme Day at Camp High Rocks!  It was so fun to see all the jerseys today.  I really enjoyed asking the guys about their teams and why they chose that particular jersey.  It sparked some fun conversations. We had all sorts of fun trips out of camp today including mountain biking, paddling,… Continue reading Jersday Thursday

Waikiki Wednesday!!! Morning assembly is just about what everyone needs to start their day.  Imagie if you woke up every day with your new friends, enjoyed some breakfast, and then broke out into motion songs and power squats (seen above)!  it practically adds years to your life! You can’t miss the Hawaiian Themed shirts in… Continue reading Waikiki Wednesday!!!

Tie Dye, Taco, Tiger, Tuesday I sure do like waking up at Camp High Rocks!  The calm before the storm is delightful. Our day starts early at the Camp House. Izzie and I get up about the same time to have coffee before she heads down to the barn.  We get up around 6:30 am… Continue reading Tie Dye, Taco, Tiger Tuesday

Did We JUST Get Here? I enjoyed the first glance of the lake this morning in a bit of a mountain fog as it slowly lifted into the sky.  Not too far behind was the first wake-up bell of the season.  It is almost always followed by a primal “Good Morning High Rocks” that echoes… Continue reading Did we really JUST get here?

2025 Summer Kick-Off After over thirty years here at Camp High Rocks, I still get excited about opening day of the summer.  So much has gone in to what we started today.  I love what we do and I love our families.  Six months ago, it was certainly a little different.  I guess I should… Continue reading Summer Camp Kick-Off 2025!!!

Positive Impacts of Camp The holiday season is a great time of year for a camp director.  While there is plenty to do, most deadlines are far off in the distance. It requires some discipline, but not usually a lot of stress.  December, in particular, allows for a lot of goals, lists, and reflection. I… Continue reading Positive Impacts of Camp

Chadwick’s Next Adventure As we look forward to another season ahead and an exciting 2025, we are sad to say goodbye to Chadwick Young as he moves on to new opportunities. Chadwick first came to High Rocks in the summer of 2018 by way of Brevard College. As a cabin counselor and mountain bike instructor,… Continue reading Chadwick’s Next Adventure

Until Next Time It was a quiet morning with the groups out for their cabin overnights.  It was fun to see them roll in telling me how it went as soon as they saw me.  It is a time-honored tradition that goes back many decades.  We feel an overnight camping experience in the woods is… Continue reading Until Next Time