To the final minute, we were still sucking every possible adventure out of the time we had left in camp today.  None of this sitting around and not doing anything for two days.  Our final match of the camper-counselor tennis tournament was a big show today.  It takes a full four weeks to get all these games in to completeRead More »

What a full day of fun!  We still had boys out on trips in several activities including paddling, climbing, and hiking. Some of the boys today just made it into kayaking, and several boys just reached their highest rank, the High Rocks Archer, in archery.  In camp, it was a celebration of the sort all over the place.  There has beenRead More »

Wednesday was another excellent day at Camp High Rocks.  Occasionally, I get to take some kids out of camp. Today was one of them.  I had the opportunity to lead a small group of Mini Men down our first river trip of the whitewater progression.  These boys did such a great job.  I was super impressed with this being mostRead More »

While the rain was in and out throughout the day, it didn’t stop any of our fun.  We just played in the rain for some of it, but really it was mostly just a few showers here and there.  Most of the activities went on as usual while some just had a few modifications. The weather has been incredible this session! The low tonightRead More »

For years down at the paddling docks, there has been a constant theme of what was most important.  It was looking good, of course.  It was the sort of banter you might find when you gather a bunch of guys around each other as they all try to be cool. The jokes would go around, and everyone would laugh.  ItRead More »

Sunday’s are special here at High Rocks.  We want to be sure the boys have some time for reflection and to change it up a little bit.  Rest is important.  We give the boys an extra thirty minutes to sleep in on Sundays and we also share some important lessons down by the lake. Today was a perfect Sunday morning! Our firstRead More »

Wow! What a beautiful day!  Blue skies with just enough clouds to make it pretty.  I love Saturday mornings because it is one of the few mornings we do not have an executive team meeting.  It allows me to enjoy the morning a little bit more. Our mini men were crushing it today in their activities.  Flattop and Foxhollow wereRead More »

While cruising camp, I like to have questions ready for campers that will get them talking about their time at High Rocks. One favorite is “What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen today?” as it is so broad and is a question that they actually think about answering. Always fun to see how seriously some take it. The answers come asRead More »

It was another busy day out of the blocks this morning.  Our climbers helped us out with the wake-up bell since they were looking for an early start. There was a group of boys headed out for a two-day climbing trip.  We will not see them until after dinner tomorrow night.  Our paddlers also headed out today for a tripRead More »

It sure was fun to see so many Hawaiian-themed shirts today.  Waikiki Wednesday is so much fun! I so like how those shirts really look great in the pictures. The Mini Men continued through their activity journey today as they learn new skills and begin to work on a progression that will, hopefully, bring them back for many more summers. Read More »

As you can imagine, most of these mini men were likely up well before the bell as they ambitiously waited for the sun to come up and the day to begin. Once they settle into the expedition of camp, the long eventful days create less of the early wake-up. Starting with morning wake-up at 7:45 am, the boys worked hard onRead More »

I want to welcome all our Mini II families to our nightly gathering and give you some information about what to expect ahead. Some nights will have more than others, but my hope is to give you a sense of what we did today and maybe (probably) some lessons along the way.  It is so great to have you withRead More »

Another fantastic Sunday at camp.  We kicked the day off with some self-reliance of getting all of your cabin's laundry bagged up and loaded in the van before breakfast. Not a small task for a group of adolescent boys. After a wonderful breakfast, and a little music, Zoob lead our morning by the lake with a talk about understanding yourselfRead More »

What a perfect day to say goodbye to our Mini I guys. It seems like they just got here yesterday. We had a big send-off at assembly this morning while all the boys cheered for our Mini I guys as they made the most of their last morning.  The morning drop-off went very smooth and even some older brothers gotRead More »

Camp is a Blast! This morning was a cloudy and cool start to the camp day which made for a delightful breaking of our fasts over eggs, oatmeal coffee cake, fruit, and more.  Assembly was quick to get underway this morning and proceeded to jam on many of the favorite tunes our people clamor for. “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and anyRead More »

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the tropical system moved past us overnight.  While we had a touch of rain this morning, it turned out to be a typical summer day here at The Rocks.  We did need a little rain, so the overnight pouring was perfect!  Trips out of camp again today were varied once again. We hadRead More »

Wednesday had a big start once again this morning.  We had a climbing trip head out early again.  Two different groups hit the French Broad in canoes today. Mountain biking hit DuPont.  And, we had a day hike up Rick Mountain.  The boys are certainly hitting their groove. Life at High Rocks is about being present in the moment andRead More »

I am sure it will rain soon, but the last couple of days have been pure heaven up here at the High Rocks!  Once again today, the sun was shining, and the breeze was blowing just enough to keep the sailboats moving. The tripping program was in full force today! We had boys heading to Looking Glass for rock climbing.  TheyRead More »

After all the excitement yesterday, it was almost calming to start a "normal" day.  On my way up to the early "meeting of the minds." I enjoyed the peacefulness of camp that many do not see.  Still quiet, the morning mist rising as the sun warms the land... A wonderful blue sky as the sun burned through the trees.  ItRead More »

Today started with a bang, or should I say a guitar.  Jimmy Hendrix belted out the Star Spangled Banner for wake-up.  It has been a tradition for a number of years here at High Rocks. It was a fun treat for the boys coming back fresh from their cabin overnights. When I say fresh, it is sort of a marshmallow and pizza sauceRead More »