Jun 20, 2013 by Jimboy

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The End

For most of you this is the last camp blog of the summer.

For some of you this is the last camp blog of your life.

So I say “Thank You”.

  • Thank you for sharing your girls (I know that it is a big deal to send them off for three weeks).
  • Thank you for investing in camp (anything this expensive should be considered an investment, think of it as an investment in your daughters development and education).
  • Thank you for reading the blog (to make it onto your daily reading sources is an honor).
  • Thank you for allowing our camp to have a place in your family.

We are now family. The Greystone connection is quite strong… the family feeling dominates the dining hall (campers wave, counselors call out, and there is a comfortable ease of conversation that feels wonderful). It permeates our entire day, especially when we are in the cabin, which has become very special to each girl here. Each girl is now a part of the Book that comprises the Greystone story and they are proud of their role in this 94th chapter.

Our camp family had a nice day yesterday (sunny and low 80’s; perfect for our last full day of classes). We still have classes today, but only during the morning as we use the afternoon to finish packing and have a big final assembly to try and return unmarked and unclaimed lost and found items. The Smoked Beef Brisket was amazing, the best we have ever done. Nice bark (the dark tasty edge that BBQ fanatics love), good smoke ring, moist meat, very tender… it would be a $20 plate at a very good BBQ joint. We sliced it thick and ate it without sauce, just like real BBQ fanatics! EP finished the night with a HUGE council fire and beautiful closing vespers service by the lake.

A 3/4 moon rose high above the lake and fireflies lifted slowly from the grass around our feet as we gathered in perfect silence to light our candles. This simple ceremony ties the summer together for the girls and gives them a simple image to take home. The lesson is clear: “Decide to be a light in this world.” Alone you make a difference, together we can change the world for the better. Choosing to make life better for others… unselfishness… this is the secret of Greystone.

Today we will have our last Breakfast Club (I tell the fable of the Frog and the Scorpion and encourage the girls to “keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole”). I did not anticipate it being an emotional moment, but when the punch-line came (BECAUSE I AM A SCORPION) I did tear up. These girls are so sweet, so kind so good… our heartfelt desire is that they will always choose the good things; that they will always shine like stars.

We had our last Morning Assembly (I gave the devotion from Luke 17:12-19, “the ten lepers”… a devotion on Thankfulness). It too was an emotional moment, especially as Meg sang the song “Worth” for the girls (urging them to embrace their much loved status as daughters of the King). We will have our last everything today. Even in a short camp (we consider 3 weeks to be short), it will be a poignant day that will be savored.

The Bible reminds us that our days are like the “grass of the field”, quickly changing from vibrant green to dormant brown. Now that I am 50, I get it… who knows how many days they will be given in this life? Make the most of each and every one of them. I think that camp days are some of the best days we have in life; at least they have been that way for me. I am very thankful for each and every moment I am given in this place and many campers and counselors feel the same way.

Tomorrow you will pick up your girls. Arrive early (not as early as opening day, but know that most parents wiil come early— we recommend that you arrive between 8:00 and 10:00) and be prepared for a glorious reunion. When you drive out of the gates of camp be prepared to talk! I suggest that you not use cell phones, ipads, ipods, or any of that stuff for at least a couple of hours. Don’t even turn on the radio! Let the girls fill your car with the stories of the summer. Let them tell you everything that is on their mind. It is a wonderful opportunity for a family DMC, perhaps the best conversation opportunity you will have for a very long time.

I can’t get out to take pictures today… closing camp pulls me back into the office during these busy days. Interesting trivia, we will have taken almost 50,000 photos at June Camp. YIKES!

Tonight we will celebrate the ending of camp with a GIANT BANQUET… an event that is amazingly difficult to pull off and a delight to the campers (who consider it to be the best EP of the summer). I can’t tell you about it because it is a top secret theme and any hints will ruin the surprise for the girls.

So this is good-bye. Thanks again… it has been a pleasure.

Jimboy