End Game and Final Campfire

It was a wonderful finish to our July session today. We kicked off the day with our advanced horseback riders giving us a drill team show in the big ring.  The next big event was the final match of the counselor-camper tennis match. The final two camper-counselor pairs matched off while several campers and staff looked on. A time-honored event that has gone on for decades.  It takes a full four weeks to get all these games in to complete the tournament.  What a great game and a great history here at High Rocks.

The final campfire is always my favorite, it is always a good closing event not only for me but all of the boys.  After all the music and stories, we celebrated three staff members who hit their 10-year mark.  We celebrate this with a special Fritz Orr paddle that is handcrafted just for them. Ten years is quite a feat for these guys and you have to put in at least a CIT season even if you start as the youngest camper.  It is so cool to watch them grow up at High Rocks.

It has been an amazing few weeks. We got a little dirty, a little crazy, and we may have even struggled a bit.  You know what, though?  We did it ourselves… Guided by some incredible young men. They are the coolest thing since sliced bread.  We learned new skills, new adventures, but most importantly some life skills along the way that school cannot teach us. We made some friends. We sure did love it! For us, it was never about the destination and it never will be.  Give us the journey… This is where the story is told.

 A few tips for the ride home tomorrow and next week:

• Be sure to continue the conversation about camp at High Rocks and what his highlights were.  The stories are great, but sometimes boys need a little help to get the conversation started.
• At some point, next week: Sit down with your son and go through the picture galleries. He hasn’t seen them yet. This will get him talking about camp and it is always fun to hear about what he was doing when a certain picture was taken. You will have your very own narrator.
• Talk about next summer. If your son wants to return to High Rocks next summer (and we hope so), go ahead and decide which session he will attend.  Enrollment begins on Sunday, August 13th at 5 pm.  You have a few weeks as returning campers, but after that, you may have a harder time getting a spot with the first-year applications coming in.
• Don’t forget about the parent survey.  We will send out a link on Monday. We enjoy feedback to keep making camp better each year. 

On behalf of the whole High Rocks team, thank you again for trusting us to mentor your son for these weeks.  It is always an adventure and always a privilege. Zoob, Woody, and I will be around at the pick-up stations. We look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow. You Rock!

Don Gentle

Today’s Pictures