What Makes Greystone Better: A Mom's Perspective

When I was ten years old, I hated summer camp. Attending a summer camp with un-airconditioned tents and alligator-infested lakes in central Florida in the middle of July wasn’t particularly fun or enjoyable. So, when the time came for me to chose a summer camp for my two daughters, I was bound and determined to find something better.

And then I learned about Camp Greystone. Needless to say…. mission accomplished!

Greystone is, without question, one of the most beautiful camps you’ll ever find. The mountain setting is stunning, the grounds are impeccable, the cabins are well-maintained and comfortable, the activities are numerous and varied, and the food is delicious. (Also to note: no alligators in Lake Edith).

And as wonderful as those things are, they’re not what makes Greystone better.

What makes Greystone better is what happens after the trunk is unpacked, the last load of (seemingly endless) laundry is put away, and the familiar hum of the school year has begun again.

It’s when your daughter reminds you to say grace at the dinner table.

It’s when you receive a note from the teacher complimenting your daughter on making every effort to include others.

It’s when your daughter asks everyone in the family to have a “tech free weekend,” because she knows the freedom that comes from putting the phone down and focusing on the now, not the screen.

It’s when camp has taught your daughter what true friendship looks like, and that’s reflected in her decisions about who she does (and doesn’t) spend time with.

It’s when you meet other Greystone families and develop lasting friendships, and not just because your children are friends.

It’s when you hear a funny story from camp, or a Breakfast Club joke, or a spontaneously joyful burst into “Happy Am I,” months after they arrive home. It’s when my daughters see that I’m stressed on a rushed morning trying to leave for school, and they tell me “Mom, repeat after me: It’s a great day and I feel terrific!” (It works, by the way).

Camp is a big thing. It’s a long time away from home and a significant investment in time, money and resources, and they’ll come home with memories of over-the-top Carnivals and EP’s and other big adventures.

But what makes Camp Greystone special is in the little daily moments that show how her camp experience has nurtured the virtues of courage and selflessness, and deepened her love for the Lord, in a way that nothing else can. And it’s these things that will last a lifetime.