2024 Alumnae Sparks

Hello Greystone Alumnae!

Another year has passed and another community of campers and counselors have experienced the unique growth and joy that only camp provides. It was a wonderful year in Tuxedo! At the same time, we have been reminded of the hardships and trials that often arise unexpectedly and how God provides in every circumstance.

Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina on Friday, September 27th. While we knew the storm was coming, the impact was a surprise (we have never had a storm like Helene before). We recorded 24 inches of rain, most of which fell in a 10-hour window that morning. The waters of Lake Edith rose quickly to the flag pole, covering two tennis courts, the pastures, and the Barn. The stage at the Shepherd’s Gazebo floated onto the Pageant Court, and we had to rescue the farm animals and horses. The damage at camp was manageable, but many of our neighbors were devastated. We were able to provide food and water for hundreds of neighbors (we had stocked up for a college RUF retreat that weekend that ended up being canceled), and even now we are hosting a few local families whose homes are being repaired. We are thankful that God has always used Greystone as a blessing!

Our 105th summer was wonderful. The hard work of our staff and leadership team paved the way for an incredibly smooth summer in every way. The largest number of campers (3% over 2023) we have ever had presented a challenge: accommodating all that wanted to re-enroll with gracious ease. The program was expanded, cabins rearranged, programs adapted, and infrastructure improved with this goal in mind. The camper and parent surveys were overwhelmingly positive (98% of our parents would recommend Greystone to a friend, and 83% of our campers re-enrolled for 2025 during the early bird enrollment).

We know you, our biggest fans, are interested in the details, so here is a brief summary of what’s going on…

In 2024, we added these wonderful facility updates:

• Renovated four Tentalow bathrooms (the new design allows for two showers and three changing rooms in a brightly lit and sparkling clean space)
• Renovated the White Hall scullery for our popular Cooking program
• Renovated the pool pump house
• Built a one-hundred-foot retaining wall along the lake between the fishing dock and track
• Purchased two new mowers and a new heavy-duty dump truck for our Maintenance crew (it takes a lot of equipment to keep our facility in top shape!)
• Upgraded the camp water supply with a second well and upgraded the water pressure system with a second pump
• Built a professional-grade mountain biking trail system on Apple Hill
• Replaced all 12 canoes and purchased a new canoe trailer for whitewater trips

The Great Day Fund grew in significant ways:

• Over 80% of our staff donated part of their summer pay (a record)
• More parents than ever donated to our scholarship fund (surpassing the generosity of the alumnae group for the first time)
• Scholarships given from the fund rose from $244,000 to over $250,000 in 2024 (we are grateful we can provide generously due to donations from families and alums!)

For 2025, we are continuing to make things better:

• Renovating the Bungalow 1-4 bathrooms with our new layout
• Expanding the Health Hut Porch (making it four times bigger and more versatile)
• Repairing hurricane damage (the Barn, River Trail, riding rings, bridges, and pastures)
• Building a new stage for EPs and performances at the Shepherd’s Gazebo
• Adding a new ten-court pickleball area next to the FORT
• Replacing our Skee Ball machines with a new game area under the Dining Hall porch: “The Cave”
• Completing our change from Kubota to Ventrac with new mowers (the men say it is a good move!)

Thank you for your continued support of Greystone and for allowing us this opportunity to serve the campers and counselors who love camp so much. God is glorified in this place, and it is an honor to be a part of that mission every year.

We also want to thank you for participating in camp life in such a meaningful way. Helping with Opening or Closing Day (several of you helped us, and it made a huge difference; join us in 2025 by signing up in the spring through our Blog!), mentoring the Honor Council (we now have a well-structured leadership program and a handful of alum voices were one of the best improvements this year), and contributing to The Great Day Fund. Your impact is growing and making a difference in the lives of these girls.

We love you and look forward to seeing you at the 2025 Alumnae Weekend next October. Enjoy reading the Sparks!

With love,
Jimboy and Margaret