Patriotism

Today we celebrate Independence Day (got other plans for tomorrow…) so I gave a brief encouragement to the girls to protect the unique freedoms that our country enjoys. This age group is the future of our country, the future of our world. More than a dozen signers of the Declaration of Independence were younger than 35. Alexander Hamilton was 19. The campers of today will be the pillars of our country in just a few short years, they are not too young to consider what kind of leader they will be. From what I see, the world is in good hands with Generation Z.

I think that our forefathers expected more from their children. George Washington’s father died when he was only 11 years old, leaving his mother Mary with three children and few resources to run the farm. George, the oldest of the children, assumed responsibilities that made him a remarkable leader. He had no formal education yet learned to be a surveyor and at 16 years old traveled west for a big job. His mother depended on George to step up and those expectations ended well. At camp we see the capacities of these girls and marvel.

They have so many great character traits:

• Very Empathetic and socially conscious
• Very sensitive to diversity issues
• Embrace other racial backgrounds with ease
• Technologically savvy and use those skills for surprising impact (technology gives a larger audience)
• Highly educated and very intelligent
• Maintain high expectations from those in power
• Politically engaged
• Embrace change
• Embrace Honor Code (Kindness, See the good, and own their actions)
• Honest
• Diligent
• Spiritually engaged

If I were not at camp every summer my sense of the youth would probably be different. My opinions are not shaped by news stories or the opinions of my peers, but by my close contact with thousands of girls each summer. After taking a break for a year, I am particularly struck by how impressive they are. The girls talk to me at camp. I see them interact with each other and I hear their comments and concerns in an unfiltered manner.

Camp is a place they care deeply about and engage in every way. They are partners with us in maintaining and improving our community. Camp is like a little village… the campers are its citizens, the counselors it’s civil servants. There are employees (maintenance, kitchen, cleaning, administration) who are held to a high standard of work and collectively we agree to a social contract to live by the Honor Code and abide by other standards that are unique to this place. It adds up to a little slice of heaven… a nice thing to celebrate on this special day.

We are wearing Red White and Blue as we go to classes and meals today. Tonight will be the famous Greystone Carnival, an extravaganza worthy of the hype! The girls will get custom t-shirts and enjoy the best-planned carnival in Greystone history. We have rented every inflatable ride at Davis Amusements (Al purchased 5 new attractions just for this event). We will have more carnival food than ever before (we have increased the food options and put them in multiple locations to minimize lines). The cumulative effect of these changes is amazing… it makes carnival a laid-back event with girls strolling from station to station, seldom in a line as they rotate through the various carnival “worlds”. The night ends with fireworks after the famous Greystone Dance Contest ends. It is going to be a great day, as always.

A few details:

• Weather Sunny, Breezy, High of 74… perfection.
• Breakfast Waffles and Sausage Links… and A LOT OF SINGING & DANCING
• Lunch Hamburgers
• Dinner Carnival Food, NC BBQ, Grilled Cheese, Fried Pickles, Fried Mac & Cheese, Funnel Cakes, Cotton Candy, Ice Cream Cookies, and other stuff.

Thank you so very much for allowing your daughters to attend camp this summer. They are delightful. I think we are all better when together… especially this year.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!