First Days

We awoke to the cool temperatures of the NC mountains and the amazing aroma of ham frying in the pan and biscuits baking in the oven. I can only imagine that in the confusion of those first moments after reveille blows, both of these facts were noticed by all.

Camp is a place where we take note of what surrounds us. Our cabins accurately reflect the weather and whatever the kitchen is cooking can be accurately guessed. Both weather and food are big deals at camp and both provide an interesting backdrop for our fun filled days.

The weather promises to be hot for the rest of the week (highs in the upper 80’s) with scattered afternoon showers. Basically a replay of opening day till Saturday when a cold front arrives and knocks ten degrees off the temperatures. It is really a perfect weather pattern for the first week of camp.

We enjoyed our traditional first day breakfast of fried ham and apples, grits, and biscuits… but we REALLY loved the Breakfast Bar. It features an astounding display of breakfast food that never runs out (3 kinds of melon, two kinds of berries, grapes, home made granola, greek yogurt, steel cut oatmeal, cereal, and milk). Once again I was amazed that the breakfast bar never had a line nor did it ever run out of anything. It is a huge part of my morning routine in the summer… SUCH A TREAT!!! At lunch it becomes the amazing Salad Bar. Joy.

The girls are raving about the new Ice Huts which get a real work out every day. Each ice machine is a marvel of engineering and was custom built for our application. They have extra large storage bins (each one holds 260 pounds of ice) and high volume condensers (they make 80 pounds of ice an hour). By locating the three machines in convenient spots, the girls can always go to another machine if one happens to be out of ice (this rarely happens). Since the pellet ice can freeze into clumps, each storage bin has an automatic agitator that “stirs” the ice every ten minutes. The dispenser automatically dumps ice into the Nalgene water bottle and there is a quick fill water spout built into the machine… very sanitary. We also put automatic hand sanitizer machines at every ice hut, hoping the girls will frequently wash their hands while at camp (there is also, of course, anti bacterial soap at every sink and hand sanitizers on every table in the dining hall).

One other thing about the ice huts is the refrigerator drawers (which have string cheese) and cabinets (which have bean chips or granola bars). This little addition was for the sake of providing a little protein if a girl were to get “a little peckish” during the long day. We provide many opportunities for healthy snacks (Apple Cart, Watermelon table, cheese, granola, and bean chips) in an effort to be abundantly hospitable to our guests.

We do this for a reason… it makes for a happier camp. If even one camper or counselor finds herself able to more fully engage in the fun of camp because she is no longer hungry, it is worth it. We run a very happy camp because we art taking such good care of our girls in every way. Food and water are just the tip of the ice berg!

Thank you for reading the blog. I have a lot to say and will gradually say it over the next month. Many of these details will be helpful as you compose letters and emails to your girls. Let them know that you are enjoying camp too! They want to know that you are interested.

Have a Wonderful Day!