High Rocks is located along Highway 276 in Cedar Mountain, NC.  The camp entrance is just across from Sherwood Forest Golf Course.  Coming from Greenville, SC, the camp is 4 miles from the NC/SC border.  If coming from Brevard, camp is 2 miles from the main entrance of Connestee Falls. Map to Camp . 

TRAVEL BY AIR

Airline reservations should be made early.  Please include this information on the enclosed “Travel Form” along with your son’s itinerary

We meet campers arriving by airlines in Asheville, North Carolina (AVL) and Greenville, South Carolina (GSP).  When planning flights to and from camp, try to book a non-stop flight.  If you have to use a connecting flight, be advised that airlines do not allow unaccompanied minors connecting to the last flight of the day.  In order to enjoy the first afternoon events, please have your son arrive before 1:00pm.  If you are making flight arrangements for the end of camp, we ask that your son’s departure be no later than 2:00 p.m.

Townsend Birdsong is our travel coordinator. Use her name as the person responsible for greeting incoming flights.  Out staff will meet your son right outside of security wearing a High Rocks polo shirt.

Unaccompanied Minor Information:  Please check with your airline concerning fees for children flying under the age of 15. Most airlines require this setup.

We recommend shipping your son’s bags rather than checking baggage (see “shipping trunks” below).  Having only carry-on bags allows a much quicker transition through the airport.  If you do check bags, be sure they are labeled with the “High Rocks” as well as your “home” address so they arrive here when lost. Please have a change of clothes and a swimsuit in the carry-on, just in case.

We ask that parents pay for all airline baggage and unaccompanied minor fees be paid in advance for both arrival and departure flights.  Please attach a copy of the receipt to your itinerary to avoid being charged twice.

NEARBY OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS

Overnight accommodations in the vicinity include the establishments listed below. There is a lot of local information available at www.brevardnc.com. Other possibilities include hotels in Greenville, SC,Asheville, NC, and Hendersonville, NC. Each city is about a one hour drive from camp. We suggest making reservations as early as possible, especially if you plan to be in the area on or around July 4th. 

CEDAR MOUNTAIN (3-5 miles from camp) 

Deer Ridge Vacation Rentals	(828) 862-8134
The Sassy Goose	(828) 966-9493
Rushing Water Cabins	(828) 885-2226
Foxfire Mountain Cabins	(864) 836-6712
Willoughby Woods Cabins	(828) 877-6247
Trout House Falls	(704) 572-4948

BREVARD (9 miles from camp) 

Morningside Farm	(828) 884-3516
Rainbow Lake Resort	(828) 862-5354
Deerwoode Coyote Lodge & Cabins	(828) 862-4705
The Inn at Brevard	(828) 884-2105
Hampton Inn	(828) 883-4800
Holiday Inn Express	(828) 862-8900

 

OTHER LOCATIONS

Earthshine Mountain Lodge (25 mi.)  Lake Toxaway	(828) 862-4207
Etowah Valley Country Club (15 mi.) and Golf Lodge	(800) 451-8174
Greystone Inn (25 mi.) Lake Toxaway	(800) 824-5766
The Pines Country Inn (15 mi.) Little River Valley	(828) 877-3131
High Hampton Inn (30 mi.) Cashiers	(800) 334-2551
Pisgah Inn (30 mi.) Blue Ridge Parkway	(828) 235-8228
Key Falls Inn (8 mi.) Pisgah Forest	(828) 884-7559
Skyline Lodge (40 mi.) Highlands	(800) 575-9546

The above listings are not meant as an endorsement of the establishments, they are included for your information. 

 

The camp fees are payable as follows: 

COMMUNICATIONS

The camp mailing address is:  

Camp High Rocks   

U.S. Mail  -           PO Box 210, Cedar Mountain, NC  28718-0210

UPS/ Fed Ex -     8551 Greenville Hwy

Cedar Mountain, NC  28718

(828) 885-2153

Campers are not allowed to make or receive phone calls at camp.  Due to scheduled activities, out-of-camp trips, and the physical size of our facility it would be very difficult (or impossible) to reach a camper on the phone.  If you have a phone message for a camper, calling our office and having them deliver it is the best option.  If you need to speak to someone about your son, please call the office.  We will get you in touch with the head counselor, nurse, or director depending on your needs.

Speedy ways to get a message to your son are to FAX your message or send it by email. You may email your son at: camper@highrocks.com.
Please put the camper’s first and last name in the subject line. For example, Mark Smith's email would be addressed camper@highrocks.com with Mark Smith as the subject.  Or send him a fax at (828) 884-4612.  There is a 75-cent charge to his store account for each fax or email received.  We will print out all faxes and emails and deliver them with the regular mail at 12:30 p.m.  Campers do not have the ability to send faxes or emails, nor do they have access to computers.  We do, however, encourage them to write home often! Campers are not allowed to have cell phones at camp.  Campers who arrive at camp by plane and use cell phones during their travels need to leave them at the office until Closing Day.  

You will receive correspondence from camp in the form of letters from your son's counselor and a newsletter from Hank.  In letters sent from you to your son at camp, it is generally best to ask about the camper's experience or to comment on what he has already written.  Numerous references to home, family, pets or saying "we miss you" can turn a borderline homesickness case into a full-fledged outbreak.

If there are ever any changes to the camp schedule due to unforeseen circumstances, we will contact you by e-mail or phone to let you know of any alternate plans.  Likewise, parents will be contacted if their camper spends an overnight in the infirmary or is seen by a physician.

MEDICAL RECORDS

Parents will receive a camper medical form in the spring. It is very important that this be carefully completed, signed by parent and doctor, and returned to camp no later than May 15th.  Our camp R.N. must have the records prior to opening day in order to prepare infirmary records and to alert the staff to special situations.

Any prescribed drugs should be delivered to the Camp Nurse upon arrival at camp.  Use of tobacco, alcohol and non-prescribed drugs will not be permitted among campers.  We prefer to keep camp a smoke-free environment; please assist us with this desire.

VISITS

Due to the short duration of our sessions, there is no visitation until Parent’s Day.  The Parent’s Day program runs from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the last day of each session; details of this will be sent to you during the camp session.  There are no facilities for housing visitors at camp.

FOOD

In the interest of good dietetics we request that no gum, candy or food be sent with the campers. Please help us avoid problems in this regard by explaining this request to your son before he departs for camp.

NO PACKAGE POLICY

We feel that packages interfere with the camp experience and that the focus on them leads to unintentional competition within the cabin groups and sometimes even hurt feelings.  Therefore, “care packages” are only accepted in the event of a camper birthday.  All others will be returned to sender.  Any costs will be charged to the camper's store account.   Please tell family and friends!  NECESSARY items such as a camper's forgotten shoes, tennis racquet, extra glasses, etc., may be sent to your child c/o Hank and Townsend Birdsong. Any medications should be sent to the attention of the Camp Nurse.  Flat envelopes for sending such items as a magazine or newspaper articles should be less than $3.25 postage.  Envelopes over this postage amount will be returned to sender.

ACTIVITY CHOICES

Please talk with your camper about the activities in which he may want to participate.  After lunch on the first day of camp he will get to visit activity areas, learn about the rules, opportunities, and trips involved.  He will sign up for his activities on the first night of camp.  This allows him to start his activities the first full day of camp.  Be sure to complete and return the riding registration form by May 15th.

CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT

High Rocks does not specify a camp uniform.  We recommend plain, durable clothes that are washable rather than requiring dry cleaning. Please do not send expensive clothes, or new, unwashed clothes. We try our best, but camp life is not easy on designer clothing!  Laundry is a weekly service, at no additional charge to campers.  If an item of clothing should not go into a dryer, it is the camper's responsibility not to send it to the laundry.  It is important that all items of clothing and equipment be plainly and indelibly marked with the camper's name.  Sharpies work great or use a high quality clothing label.  Be sure to write down your son’s full name and not just initials.  Please label everything, including shoes, towels, sleeping bags, equipment, etc.

Our climate is apt to include some cool weather, especially in June; our days are usually mild, with nights requiring two or three blankets.  Some boys, especially the younger ones, have occurrences of enuresis (bed-wetting) at camp. The change in climate can be one affecting factor.  If a boy has a known or anticipated pattern of enuresis, we request that he bring a protective sheet, and also suggest that he bring at least two extra bed sheets.  It would also be helpful if you would notify us in advance. 

Personal camping gear should include a suitable pack (we recommend a pack with a frame, not daypack or book bag type), and a lightweight sleeping bag with a stuff sack.  The sleeping bag should have synthetic fiber fill like Polarguard or Quallofill.  Down-filled or cotton-filled sleeping bags are not recommended.  There is little backpacking in the two week session, so don't worry too much about high tech gear for that session.  Basic backpacks are available at camp for all sessions at no additional cost.  A coated nylon poncho or raincoat will be necessary at camp.  Thin plastic ponchos or raincoats will not survive even the first rainstorm.  Gore-Tex or other waterproof-breathable rain gear is another suitable option, but is more expensive. 

Campers do not need and should not bring a knife or axe to camp.

Boots or hard-soled tie shoes with heels are needed for horseback riding.  A hiking boot can double as a riding boot if it has a good exposed heel that helps the shoe stay in the stirrup.

If your son is dependent on eyeglasses, it is best to send a spare pair to camp in case one set gets lost.  These can be kept in the office if you wish.

There are several excellent sources for equipment.  From personal knowledge we recommend:

Diamond Brand handles several good lines of equipment and is located near High Rocks.  Let us know if we can be of further help in planning your equipment or clothing needs.  An additional list is available below for printing (or in your parent pack) for attaching to the inside top of the footlocker to help your camper know what is packed.

Campers SHOULD NOT BRING any food, candy, lighters, matches, knives, water guns, balloons, aerosol or spray cans, trading cards, computers, electronic games, televisions, video players, cell phones, or wireless devices.   Electronic items that are allowed include: digital still cameras, Kindle readers, and music players like IPods and other mp3 players.  These items may NOT have any videos or games on them and should only be used with headphones.  Do not bring external speakers to camp. IPods and other devices with videos, games, or wireless capabilities are not allowed. Camp does not assume responsibility for lost articles. 

For shipment of clothes and bedding we recommend a footlocker and duffel bag. Both can be checked on plane tickets.  Please keep the trunk/footlocker size to no larger than 14 inches high and 36 inches wide. The company listed below makes high quality trunks that will last for many summers. There are many less expensive versions, including plastic-style trunks now on the market that will work for one or two summers.

C & N Footlocker

www.everythingsummercamp.com

(800) 535-2057

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT PACK LIST

We recommend that you use this list as a guide for the clothes and equipment that you bring to camp. All clothing, including shoes, athletic equipment such as tennis racket, fishing gear, etc., should be clearly marked with your camper's name. 

• 8 T-shirts
• 1 sweatshirt
• 2 long-sleeved synthetic tops (Under Armour Coldgear, mid-weight Capilene, or mid-weight Duofold/polypro)
• 8 pair undershorts
• 8 pair socks
• 2 pair hiking socks (not cotton)
• 5 pair long pants (jeans or khakis)
• 5 pair shorts
• 2 bathing suits
• 2 pair pajamas
• 1 fleece jacket
• 1 coated nylon poncho or raincoat (not thin plastic)

• 2 pair tennis shoes
• 1 pair Teva/ Chaco style sandals or other water shoes to get wet (with heel strap, not flip-flops). Old tennis shoes work well. Crocs do not work…
• 1 pair hiking shoes (broken in), preferably lace high top, with heel for riding

• 2 sets of sheets (single bed)
• 1 pillow
• 2 pillow cases
• 2 blankets
• 3 towels
• 3 washcloths

• 1 book bag / daypack (used for day trips)
• 2 Nalgene type water bottles; 32oz. or canteens (1 if not backpacking)
• 1 large bike-style water bottle for mountain biking
• Flashlight or headlamp (normal size for ease in backpacking)
• 1 lightweight sleeping bag (not cotton or down filled) rated around 30°F
• 1 sleeping bag stuff sack (to fit sleeping bag)
• 1 laundry bag
• 1 roll-on or lotion bug repellent (no sprays)
• toilet articles - comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.
• small ditty bag (to hold toiletries)

The following items are optional. They can be helpful for certain activities, but are not required:

• Backpack (either internal or external frame)
• Camp has packs that can be borrowed      
• Closed cell sleeping pad for backpacking
• Hydration Packs like a Camelbak are recommended for mountain biking
• Tennis Racquet
• Can of Tennis Balls
• Fishing Pole and gear; single hook lures only please
• Climbing Shoes
• Ping Pong Paddle
• Disc Golf Discs
• Soccer Shin Guards
• Camera
• Writing Paper and pens
• Stamped, pre-addressed envelopes

For Shipment of clothes and bedding, we recommend a footlocker and duffle bag.  Both can be checked on plane tickets, however, we recommend shipping by UPS or Federal Express.

PREPARING YOUR SON FOR GOING AWAY

You can do much to prepare your son for going away to camp, especially if it is his first camp experience.  Talking honestly with your son about what to expect can ease the transition from home to camp.  Many boys expect camp to be fun all the time.  While your son should expect to have fun, you can tell him that he will at times feel many different emotions: elation at discovering new friends, fear of confronting a new situation, disappointment when a game or project hasn't gone well, and even sadness to leave friends at the end of a session.

Homesickness may occur, especially if your son is young or living away for the first time.  Homesickness is neither a dislike of camp nor evidence of camper maladjustment.  It is normal.  Discussing this with your son and letting him know that this is a common feeling will make it easier to deal with should it occur.  If it does, the most appropriate action is to let your son stay at camp, except in very unusual cases.  Our camp staff members are trained to work with homesick boys and within a day or two most boys have completely recovered.  If you receive a letter that is less than positive at the beginning of camp, don't worry too much -homesickness is usually over by the time the letter reaches home. 

In your letters to camp, it may be helpful to ask about experiences at camp rather than to dwell on happenings at home.  Try to put your own feelings of separation into proper perspective, and then write your son an encouraging response.  Express your confidence in your son's ability to cope and that the staff is there to help.  It is usually a good idea to avoid making references about how much you will miss your son and it helps if parents avoid talking about what they will be doing while their son is away.  If you receive a letter that is cause for concern, don't hesitate to notify us by phone.  Since gaining independence from family is a developmental task that all must face at some point or other, camp can be a positive step in the life of a camper.

SHIPPING TRUNKS

Due to the continuing unpredictability of airlines and luggage handling at airports, we strongly recommend that trunks be shipped to High Rocks by UPS or other commercial carrier.  Please note that UPS does not cover damages to a trunk/duffel unless it is in a separate container; only the “contents” of what is being shipped will be insured.  We will ship trunks and duffels home at your request. The exact cost is obtained from the carrier and the charges are billed to the camper’s account and collected on Closing Day.

OPENING DAY

If you are driving to camp, we ask that you plan on arriving between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  You will be met halfway up the camp road, and given some information about the check-in process.  We may ask you to wait a bit until the upper parking lot is less full before going on up and unloading. At the top of the camp road in our main parking lot, we will unload your vehicle, and walk you and your son to the camp office, where you will check in. A staff member will then help you check in at the infirmary (leaving any medicines with the nurse) and then will walk you and your son to his cabin to meet his cabin counselor. Your son's trunk and other belongings will be transported to the cabin by the time you arrive to meet the counselor.