August 9 2024
If you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one. C.S. Lewis, The Horse And His Boy
I assume not many people are going to read this blog… but every year I do it as a comfort on this poignant day (writing has become a great therapy for me to process this crazy job). If you are reading this it is because you love camp like I love camp. It has become part of your daily routine. You might even miss camp tomorrow, just like me, so today let’s look back for a moment and appreciate what is past.
I have written the blog every morning since June 1. That is about seventy days… enough time to establish a routine that I enjoy very much. The Blog encourages me to notice the little things about life that make it so delightful (first rays of sunlight in the morning, the last light of day reflected in the clouds at night, dew on grass, rain on face, children playing, adults working with a smile). Life is good and there is no place better to highlight that fact than camp.
The delight and inspiration of life is clear when the campers and counselors are enjoying a day at Greystone. Those moments are nonstop… 24-hour-a-day 7-day-a-week experiences (good and bad) formed by the people who call it home. I live this life in a very similar way to the campers and counselors (delighting and despairing of situations that arise unexpectedly). When such a moment occurs, I pray (including Him in the moment). Later on, I write… thus the Blog. You, the benefactors of camp, should know the delight and inspiration of this place.
My Thoughts On The Summer
- Various viruses hit us in June and became a part of the challenges God intended for 2024. About 5% of our camp was impacted over the summer and that proved to be very hard on the Health Hut. It was also hard on those who felt poorly, but everyone managed the situation well and we found a lot to laugh about in the moment and in the end.
- The counselors, kitchen, office, maintenance, and cleaning crews worked together better than ever. They accomplished every routine and unique request exceptionally well. We have never done better.
- The campers were wonderful… as usual!
- This year’s renovations were appreciated, each making camp better for the girls. Kitchen, Tennis, Pickleball, Waterpark, High Ropes, High Adventure, Basketball, Volleyball, Fine Arts, Ceramics, Woodburning, Farm & Garden, Riding, Mountain Biking, Tentalow bathrooms, water system upgrades, septic upgrades, roads, White Hall Scullary, and River Trail were better than ever.
- We entered this summer expecting it to be our best summer ever. It was.
- Every session was amazingly good… parents, campers, counselors, and directors agree.
- Every session was safe and filled with programs that surpassed our expectations.
- Every session provided momentum as the summer progressed, we found ourselves ending on a high note. August Camp officially marks this year as one that is worthy of being called “the best ever.”
I look back on the past few months with a profound sense of gratitude… Thank You, Jesus! It is very hard to say how it could have been better. 105 is in the books, and it will be a year to remember fondly.
So we close this chapter of camp history with a profound sense of gratitude.
- To our parents who trusted us.
- To our campers who made every day a delight.
- To our Head Staff team, year-round employees, and counselors who inspired and instilled confidence.
- For The Lord To HIM be the glory!
Thank you for reading… it has been a pleasure.
