What is Happening

First… I must fill you in on the Highland Games (last nights EP). Oh my goodness… it was so great! We have never done this EP before, so it caught the campers completely off guard. The fun started at Flag, when a bag piper stepped into view on the dining hall porch and began to play (that familiar tune which bag pipers always play). A processional parade of Head Staff marched in columns of two onto the pagent court with a guard of swordsmen. Laura and I had on a completely authentic (in a costume kind of way) Scottish outfits. Not expected… an important ingredient to the great EP. The parade took a couple off minutes, for we walked the entire circle then gathered to invite the girls to the games. Pretty good drama.

We ate a wonderful pizza dinner (yes, we make our pizza by hand… cook it on an Italian stone deck oven… finish with fresh chopped basil and olive oil drizzle), there were 30 pizza’s left over. Overflowing bounty is an important part of a good experience. Our crust is as good as anyplace, very thin and crunchy/chewy. Nice.

After dinner the rain hit. A hard rain which fell from about 6:50 to 7:30, the radar showed a huge cell descending on us and it rained harder than it has rained in a long time. As we waited, we wondered… will the games go on? Then the rain ended and the games began, tribes (determined by the color of the plaid headbands everyone got in the mail to wear to dinner), went to different places in camp to compete in various athletic events. There was the hammer throw, the flour toss, the egg carry… not all traditional Highland games, but pretty fun. While all this is going on, the mountains have thick wisps of cloud clinging to them like smoke (this is how these mountains are known as the Smoky Mountains). It looked like Scotland, and certainly added to the moment a touch of beauty that was unique and memorable.

Then… the power went out! Camp lost power along with 2000 other places in Tuxedo. Don’t know why, connected to the rain I guess. This just added another layer of excitement to the day, for the campers were going to get ready for bed in the dark! The excitement was palpable. Our Bagpiper played “Amazing Grace” in the dark of the pavilion after everyone gathered to end the evening, finally we were dismissed with a prayer. The power came back on after everyone was asleep (about 10:00). A good day.

Today will be a tear jerker for many, especially me. It is our 5 year celebration, a very sweet EP that was invented by my sister about 20 years ago to celebrate those campers who have been coming to camp a long time. Campers who have attended Greystone for 5 or more years (at least 3 of those years at Main Camp) are honored with a rose and special seat in the Gym where the program is held. The Senior girls (entering 12th grade, there are 30 of them!) then enter with Laura introducing them to the camp. Every aspect of this evening is impressive and inspirational, for these are girls who LOVE camp and have poured themselves into this place for many years. Just seeing the 150 plus campers who are being honored for long time camp attendance is amazing… such a long line! Then the Seniors give individual speeches, short “memories” of their favorite times. The emotion is absolutely genuine… there is laughter and tears… I will be more teary than most, for Catherine will be up there tonight. My little girl is growing up, this is her first “goodbye”.

The tapestry woven by these 30 threads is really beautiful. Nobody sees camp the same way after this program, we are all inspired to make camp “more”. How would I put my memory down on paper, tell 700 people about it in about 90 seconds? The answer is different every year, gets harder every year. The youngest and the newest campers are especially transformed, for they see that the camp experience really matters. When campers say it, we listen.

Weather… AMAZING!!! Literally 10 degrees cooler, a breeze from the North that is very refreshing. Nice just begins to describe it, it is wonderful. Scrambled Eggs, sausage, cheese grits. Lunch is smoked chicken, rice and gravy, green beans. Dinner tonight is quite possibly my favorite meal at camp now: Flank Steak, cooked on our wood fire grill with Apple Wood, seasoned with a wonderful spicy rub prior to grilling (cumin is the secret ingredient) and served with garlic grits and fresh tomatoes. A good food day, very good!

Thank you for giving us the honor of participating in your family’s life. We partner with you in promoting growth at a critical time of life. Family is the most important part of life, that you invite us into your lives is a huge trust. Nights like this emphasize the magnificence of camp in a way that every camper and counselor can see— we will all appreciate it more for the words said tonight.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Jimboy