We Love Mondays

It’s nice to see everyone back into the groove as we begin the last week of the session. There we a few trips out today with a bunch more headed out tomorrow. These last few days of the session always bring out some excitement as many boys are working on their skills. Paddling and shooting sports tend to be some of the most focused groups during this time of the session.

Pottery is firing pieces as fast as they can get them in the kiln. They will work again tomorrow to glaze and refire one more time so their pieces can be ready for closing day. It is no small feat to get all of these pieces fired and ready before the end of the session.

I had to help out our photographer today who was feeling a little under the weather. It put me out “into the wild” of camp. A great opportunity to see it in full tilt as I wandered from place to place. I took some opportunities while I was out including playing a few rounds of table games down at the pavilion. First, foosball. I felt pretty good given it was my first offering of the summer. Like any good camp director, you learn all sorts of skills with the job. I held my own and even taught the guys a few things while playing. Foosball is really a fun game. As you might see with these “social” games, there is constant banter back and forth about who is doing well and how cool the last move was. There is always a winner and a loser but you find the competition fun and rewarding whether you win or lose. What you really get out of it is some quality time with some cool guys. You even get to learn a few things about them along the way. As the game moved through its give and take, I found myself victorious but mostly satisfied with time well spent. I moved over to ping pong where there was a good game of “king of the court” going on. This is a great way to play a game where there are limited resources. It works very well for ping pong because a volley only lasts a short time. If you lose, you’re out. If you’re the king, you have to lose two rounds in a row before being unthroned. The opponents keep rolling through and everyone gets a chance to play. Kings come and go while the trash talk is constant and great plays are celebrated on both sides. Again, the loss is quick and fierce at times, but the game rolls on. You learn to celebrate each other’s success and failure together. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but if you step back and look at the dynamics, it is incredible. The social skills build as do friendships. Conversations even continued to the dinner table about who was king the most, longest, best volley, that one cool move… We all laughed and carried on.

I like that we provide an opportunity for the boys to gather like this. I also like to think that we are giving the boys one more arrow in their quiver. Maybe when they head off to college, these simple table game skills will help them make new friends in faraway places.

Age Group 1, The Cobras, headed out for Chill Night tonight. There are some pictures late from Sliding Rock. There should be some good ones. Might be after 10pm.

Your boys sure do make High Rocks a great place. We like to have more boys that are just like your sons. Remember, if you have any family friends in the area, the summer is the best time to see camp. Have them come by High Rocks to see it in action.   Send them to our tour page and we will take it from there. We love to show off High Rocks!  Here is a link to the Tour Page. Only three full days of camp left!  Have a great night!

Don

Today’s Pictures