This week Townsend spotted a Common Loon, which decided to hang around the High Rocks Lake for a few days.  None of us could remember ever seeing a loon here at camp.  Townsend is a big fan of the loon and enjoys seeing the birds on her annual family trip to Algonquin Provincial Park in Canada.  She gave us hourly updates on what the loon was up to and checked up on him for several days until he left.

High Rocks Common Loon Sighting

The Common Loon is surrounded by an aura of myth and magic. Among a wealth of Native American tales, a loon created the world in a Chippewa story; a Micmac saga describes Kwee-moo, the loon who was a special messenger of Glooscap, the tribal hero; and the tale of the loon’s necklace was handed down in many versions among Pacific Coast peoples. The loon’s voice is its most recognizable characteristic. The Yodel, its territorial call, given only by the male, is called the “song of the loon.”

The Common Loon breeds mostly in Canada and winters in many places throughout North America.  It sure was fun having him around for a few days!  Maybe he’ll be back next spring.

Common Loon stock photo

The globe is getting smaller every day and the reaching arms of Camp High Rocks continue to grow!  A couple of weeks ago two High Rockers, Sarah Robinson and James Platts-Mills, found each other in the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala.

Sarah and James, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Sarah has been volunteer teaching in a town called Santo Domingo, Suchitepéquez for the last several months.  James just happened to be not far from there volunteering in a medical clinic in San Lucas, Toliman.  The two ran into one another having dinner at a place called La Casa del Mundo, which translates as “House of the World,” a hotel that is only reachable by boat or foot and located right on Lake Atitlan.

If you have not seen it, Lake Atitlan is amazing.  Some people feel like it is one of the most beautiful areas in Guatemala, if not the world!  The area is rich in Mayan culture and produces many products like coffee and sugar cane!  Lake Atitlan is said to be over 340 meters deep! 

I find it amazing that these two met in such a wonderful place.  It is great to see what caring and positive impacts people can have on the world; we only hope that they found some of their desires, character, and compassion rooted here at Camp High Rocks.

A little history on our two world travelers…

James Platts-MIlls and Sarah Robinson

Sarah Robinson was on staff summers of 2004-06.  She returned to help out last fall of 2008 with our LEAP school group program.  Sarah will be back once again for our 2009 season this spring and summer!  We are very excited to have her back!  In the meantime, Sarah is heading to El Salvador to be an “Official Observer” in the elections, and then off to Honduras before she comes back to the states in April.  Funny thing is that Zoob Gentle (my wife and Associate Director here at High Rocks) was once Sarah’s babysitter!

James Platts-Mills is finishing his last year of medical school at UVA; he graduates in May and is hoping to secure a residency in San Francisco.  James was a camper from 1991-93 and then served a year on staff in 1997.   He is also getting married on May 9^th in Charlottesville to Shanti Levy – who he has known since the 7th grade.  Way to go James! 

The Platts-Mills have always been a big supporter of High Rocks, sending all three of their boys to camp.  James’ twin brother, Oliver was camper from 1991-93 and is currently working for an investment firm in Charlottesville.  Their older brother, Tim was a camper from 1986-89 and came back as a staff member in 1992.  He is currently an emergency medicine physician at UNC in Chapel Hill.

March 1st was a rainy and cold day at High Rocks.  By morning on March 2, we had over eight inches of snow covering everything (not to mention NO POWER!).

We were able to venture out in our four-wheel drive car and get several pictures of a snow covered camp:

Camp High Rocks Entrance

Townsend in Front of High Rocks Infirmary

Icicles on Lakeside Cabin

Camp Road

Hank Wielding Chainsaw to Clear Trees from Camp Road

Rich Mountain (taken from campfire hill)

High Rocks Swim Docks