Independence Day It was great to see so many of the guys who brought festive items for the Independence Day celebration. The dining hall was covered with red, white, and blue.  We brought up our own basket of “flair” the guys to use as well. We belted out “freedom music” all morning.Independence Day is a great time to be atRead More »

It's All About the Lesson The flow of camp is already in full force.  Boys are heading out on trips, learning new skills, and making this summer at High Rocks THEIR experience.I hope you have enjoyed some of the pictures showing all the instruction going on here at High Rocks.  These boys are really learning a lot of new thingsRead More »

Waikiki Wednesday I know the four-week parents have heard this a bit, but I love the mornings here at High Rocks! The cool air in the 60s (63 to be exact) each morning is what does it the most. I must be honest the calm and quiet that is the morning might be a little why I like it too.Read More »

Get Ready to Adventure I enjoyed the first glance of the lake this morning as the sun flickered in the slightly rippling water with a few water bugs here and there that looked like rain drops.  I enjoyed an early morning up at the camp house with some coffee and a couple of leftover biscuits that I heated up.  ARead More »

July Sessions Opening Day I love opening day! For me, I am just as excited to see the parents as I am to see the campers. It sure was a wonderful morning. I enjoy meeting new families and connecting with old friends as well. After over 30 years here at High Rocks, I am even seeing my old campers thatRead More »

Last Day and Final Campfire Here’s to another wonderful session and a great June!  When you meet up with your son tomorrow, I can’t guarantee he has a clean shirt left. What I can tell you is that he has had a great time and he is tired. While he may be excited to see you, he is also thinkingRead More »

Upper Senior Dinner and Cabin Night It was another sunny and warm day today.  The breeze kept it tolerable as the last of the trips were heading out this morning.  Boys headed over to the Nantahala River for paddling. The climbers took off to The Nose of Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah.  Mountain biking and hiking were home today.Tonight, mostRead More »

Mountain Life is Good Today was clear, breezy, and warm to start the day. Though much of the East Coast is sweltering under temperatures much hotter than we get on the mountain, these couple of days have been notable. It has certainly made the lake a prime destination for activities and for free time options!Already out of camp this morningRead More »

We Love Mondays I sure had a wonderful Monday.  I was able to lead a boy of mountain bikers this morning.  I really like taking moments like that where a guy my age gets to show these boys he still has a little steam left in the engine.  We headed over to Dupont State Forest.  We are so lucky toRead More »

Upper Senior Challenge Sunday It was another fantastic Sunday here at High Rocks!  After a much-needed sleep-in, the boys worked hard to get their laundry up to the lot before breakfast. We had a great meal including scratch-made cinnamon rolls, then a little bounce-around time in assembly before heading down to the lake for our morning service. You will seeRead More »

Square Dance Saturday Saturday morning at High Rocks means pancakes and it has for almost 60 years. Certainly, every Saturday I have been here in the summer we have had pancakes. Over the last few years, we have even gone old-school and moved back to the made-from-scratch buttermilk pancakes. In the past, I used to help out with pancakes everyRead More »

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 everyRead More »

Jersday Thursday Again Life is good on the mountain!  Not only do we enjoy all the wonderful views, cool mornings, a passing shower, and even wonderful sunsets.  Mountain life has many advantages. Especially, life at 3000 feet.  This morning it was a cool 50 degrees.  We got to about 78 degrees today.  Our elevation allows these reasonable temperatures to beRead More »

Over The Hump It was another mountain morning up at High Rocks! Life at 3000 feet sure feels different.  I really enjoy the cool mornings. I think it makes it feel like camp.  Put on a cozy sweatshirt and by the end of breakfast, it’s down to the tee shirt.  Really, the June session campers get the best of it. Read More »

Those Magical Camp Moments Today dawned bright and cool. A light breeze off the lake made that extra blanket feel good until the morning bell rousted camp from their beds. With the morning feeling so routine now, cabin crews worked efficiently through their morning chores and arrived to ready for breakfast. The schedule has become ingrained and meal times areRead More »

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 their activities this morning.  I feelRead More »

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 to my morning meeting andRead More »

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 any other way.  The styleRead More »

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 were excited about a big,Read More »

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, and climbing. I put a fewRead More »