Pictures from July 29, 2010 (password required)

I enjoy our morning assembly.  We sing fun songs and hear cabin inspection results.  I particularly enjoy some of our motion songs.  I like to lead the song “My Bonnie” with the twist of standing up or sitting down whenever a word beginning with the letter “B” is sung.  We will sing the chorus several times and speed it up a bit each time.  The verse “bring  back my Bonnie to me” gets pretty confusing as we begin to speed up the tempo.  During the inspection report today one of the counselors put on a long hair wig & acted out being a “surfer dude” as he talked about the “wavy sheets” on the beds.  The cabins that have consistently good results will earn a pizza party at the end of the session.

Cabin Overnights are a Blast!

Cabin Life

Each cabin group has a nightly meeting to go over the day and discuss successes, highlights, goals, and to talk about getting along as a group.  Living together under one roof requires some give and take, so counselors help to guide campers in being a good citizen & to think about how their actions affect others.  Every cabin goes on a cabin overnight with the next-door cabin during the first week of camp.  For the boys, it is a fun camping trip; our purpose, however, is much more than fun.  The overnight is a great time for a cabin group to bond together as a team away from the distractions back at camp. 

Just a quick note about pictures…we normally take over 100 pictures every day.  We try to get as many different campers in the pictures as possible and have as many different activities represented as is feasible. Generally, we take more pictures around camp than on trips, and some campers shy away from the camera while others jump in front of the photographer every chance they get. We don’t force campers to have their picture taken, so if you haven’t seen your son in a picture lately, email him and ask him to get in front of a camera!

The campers love getting letters and e-mails from their friends and family, so keep them coming. The campers don’t have access to computers, but we print the emails & deliver them with the rest of the mail. If you send e-mails, please be aware that we do not open or print attachments (pictures, word documents, etc.) and it works best if the e-mail has black text on a white background. Please remember (& tell grandparents)- no packages! It is generally best to send your last letters on Tuesday to be sure they arrive before closing day. We will deliver emails and faxes that are sent as late as Friday morning.

Dolly's Ice Cream is a "Chill Night" tradition!!

In addition to “Chill Night” trips to Sliding Rock and Dolly’s Ice Cream, activity trips have started.  Today there were two climbing trips and one river trip that left camp.

 Tonight’s after-dinner activities:

• “Insane Cow Posse” (Hillside & Connestee) are in the Gym.
• “Prevaricating Platypuses” (Lakeside, Foxhollow) Foxhollow is on a cabin overnight, Lakeside is playing a game at the Cabin Field.
• “Tasty Taco Squad” (Flattop & Chalet) are going down the waterslide!
• “Rabid Monkeys” (Windswept & Outpost) Outpost is on a cabin overnight, Windswept is playing a game on the Activity Field.
• “Kings of Leon – - itis” (Halfway, & Pinnacle) are playing a game on the Activity Field.
• “Atomic Hippie Squad of Justice” (Holiday Inn & Lookout)  are headed to Sliding Rock and Dolly’s Ice Cream.

In the upcoming days I will hand off the blogging duties to different staff members.  I hope you enjoy getting to know them!!!

Take care,

–Hank Birdsong

Pictures from July 28, 2010 (password required)

Greetings from Camp High Rocks! The second full day of activities has been just that…full.

All of the guys in Holiday Inn cabin spent the morning on the ropes course. Time spent on the ropes course is an opportunity for campers to get to know their cabin mates, work on different types of trust among the members of the cabin group, and have a great time. As with all activities at Camp High Rocks, we subscribe to the “challenge by choice” theory on the challenge course, which means we encourage the campers to participate in the activities, but the choice is ultimately theirs. The picture above shows the last element of the Ropes Course- a 450′ long zip wire that begins 42′ in the air!

Tonight Halfway, Pinnacle, Holiday Inn & Lookout cabins are going on their cabin overnights. Each cabin will hike to a different shelter on camp and spend the night. The guys will get to cook their own pita pizzas (with counselor assistance) and enjoy s’mores for dessert. After a night of camping they will be back to the main part of camp for breakfast in the dining hall. Cabin overnights are always a favorite of the campers! Every cabin group will go on an overnight by this weekend.

This is just a quick note about homesickness for those parents who may be ‘campsick.’ Our objective is to have a very active program with little “down time”. Our past experience tells us that as campers are acclimatizing to their new surroundings they will be fine as long as they are active. For a few boys to experience some homesickness is normal. Homesickness is nothing to be alarmed about and usually passes quickly. Homesickness is usually limited to slower times of day, such as rest hour or immediately before bedtime. If you get a letter or postcard that sounds a bit down, you can bet it was written during rest hour. These letters usually reach their destination by Wednesday or Thursday of the first week (but could be even later). Ironically, campers have usually become immersed in the camp experience and forgotten about homesickness by the time their letters reach home.

So, if you receive a letter from your son saying the he is not enjoying camp and would like to come home, do not be alarmed. Chances are that we have him ‘under our wing’ and that he has already moved beyond his homesickness and is enjoying his camp experience to the fullest. If you get a less than positive letter, feel free to call or email our head counselor, Woody Noland (woody@highrocks.com).  He does a great job of following up with the campers that might need a little boost. More times than not, Woody is already aware of any campers that are “down” and has already been working with them and their counselors. Letters from home should be encouraging and express how proud you are of his independence & that you look forward to seeing what he has accomplished when you come to camp on Parent’s day (August 7th).

• “Insane Cow Posse” (Hillside & Connestee) are playing a game on the Cabin Field.
• “Prevaricating Platypuses” (Lakeside, Foxhollow) are at the waterslide.
• “Tasty Taco Squad” (Flattop & Chalet) are in the Gym playing Chum Ball.
• “Rabid Monkeys” (Windswept & Outpost) are heading to “Sliding Rock” and Dolly’s Ice Cream.
• “Kings of Leon – - itis” (Halfway, & Pinnacle) are headed out for their cabin overnight.
• “Atomic Hippie Squad of Justice” (Holiday Inn & Lookout)  are headed out for their cabin overnight.

Have a wonderful evening and enjoy the pictures!!!

Take care,

–Hank Birdsong
Camp Director

 Pictures from July 27, 2010 (password required)

• “Insane Cow Posse” (Hillside & Connestee) are at the water slide.
  “Prevaricating Platypuses” (Lakeside, Foxhollow) are playing Danish Rounders on the Activity Field.
•  “Tasty Taco Squad” (Flattop & Chalet) are playing a game on the Cabin Field
• “Rabid Monkeys” (Windswept & Outpost) are in the Gym playing Chum Ball.
  “Kings of Leon – - itis” (Halfway, & Pinnacle) are heading to “Sliding Rock” and Dolly’s Ice Cream
• ““Atomic Hippie Squad of Justice”” (Holiday Inn & Lookout)  are playing a game on the Soccer Field

Tomorrow we start our cabin overnights with Halfway, Pinnacle, Holiday Inn & Lookout cabins.

Have a wonderful evening and enjoy the pictures!!!

Take care,

Hank Birdsong
Camp Director

Pictures from July 26, 2010 (password required)

Each age group picked a group name tonight that they will use all session. This group is the "Insane Cow Posse"!!

August 26, 2010

 Pictures from July 22, 2010 (password required)

Another great day at camp!  We still had a couple trips out today; one more climbing trip and one more paddling trip.  The mountain bikers continued to work on their “trials-style” obstacles and then cooled off on the water-slide.  It was another warm day today.  We did have some mid-day rain come through at rest hour that cooled it off a bit.

In camp, archery had a special day that really got the boys excited.  The staff put together a “Clout Shoot;” a game from medieval times designed to train archers to shoot extreme distances using a “high-trajectory” shot up and over obstacles.  We roped off and area and placed a flag in the middle of the soccer field.  We then used a long piece of string that would be a marker for a giant 10-ring. Then the boys got to let it loose!  The boys were very excited to shoot their arrows high in the sky at distances over 100 yards.  You should have seen their faces!  You would have thought we gave them a new bike or something.  A very exciting day in archery!  Camp always seems to bring out great creativity like that.  The staff here never cease to amaze me.  They are always great at finding new ways to keep the boys excited and learning something new.

We are all home tonight!  What a joy it is to have everyone in camp.  The guys all participated in “Cabin Night” tonight.  An evening centered around just the cabin group enjoying each other’s company and having a little closure to the session.  Some guys decided to hang out at rocky top while others thought s’mores around the campfire would be better.  Every cabin did something a little different and special.

Tomorrow will be utter craziness as the boys begin to have these feelings run through their body that they do not understand.  The boys will all have feelings of excitement that they will see their parents the next day; they will also have feelings of sadness as they leave all their friends and counselors that have brought them a wonderful month.  The craziness is created as their minds try to figure this out and make sense of it all. 

What an amazing four weeks it has been!  Laughter, excitement, sweat, and even tears, it is all part of the growth and community we build her at High Rocks.  These young men are not just campers, they are High Rocks.   Every boy that comes up that road becomes part of High Rocks and of course High Rocks is now part of them.  We are all now part of something greater than the sum of its parts; a magic that happens week after week and summer after summer and lives inside us all.

This will be the last night of pictures.  We’ll still put up some blog stuff tomorrow.  Don’t forget Parents’ Day on Saturday.  Please wait until 9:15 to arrive.  We will get things going around 10:15 with demonstrations, displays, and lunch!  Have a safe trip; we can’t wait to visit with all of you.

Don Gentle

Pictures from July 21, 2010 (password required)

Rippin' it up on the downriver race through the Nantahala Falls!

Since leaving the paddling program for the role of Head Counselor in the summers, it is rare that I get to join a river trip, so this week held quite a treat.  Townsend and I met up with a group of our canoers/kayakers/C-1ers/C-2ers for a day on the Nantahala River spent participating in the annual Camp Cup Challenge. 

This event has a long history that stretches back to my own time as a camper and after a hiatus of some years, it has returned in strength for the third summer running.  Camps from around Western North Carolina send almost 90 campers to test their skills in two events.

The downriver portion starts above the Nantahala Falls and runs to the first bridge, approximately a quarter mile. Constestants paddle a boat of choice as fast as possible while still navigating wave trains, rocks, eddies, hydraulics, and the frequent rafters.  The adrenaline burst and desire to muscle your way to the finish needs to find a balance with reading the currents and avoiding taking too much water into the boat.  Our boys did an excellent job of scouting potential lines prior to the race and sticking to their developed plan. Every now and then one of our boats would find themselves in the top hole of “The Falls” and exhibited truly impressive calm in extricating themselves from the difficult feature.  Not one of our guys appeared to hear the shouted encouragements from all the camps’ staff on the banks and in their safety boats, but they did seem to sit a little straighter and paddle a little harder past the fans.

After a break for a pizza lunch and some socializing between camps, it was time for the afternoon slalom event.  Taking place over a much shorter distance, campers had to navigate through a series of 10  gates for time while attempting to avoid touching each gate.  Depending on their designation, gates required paddling through them downstream, upstream, right or left.  The placement of each gate was carefully planned to challenge the participants with eddy lines, waves, fast currents, and rocks to hinder their progress down the course.  The High Rocks group was a mix of Upper Seniors down to Juniors and so the race offered a variety of successes. For some of our older guys, it was a chance to demonstrate some serious (and hard-earned!) skill with their incredibly fast stroke rates and masterful reading of the river.  The confidence and pride was apparent as they zipped by.  For the younger guys, it was an eye-opening experience to say the least.  This was not the biggest water they had seen, but they were being asked for a level of precision that pushed their experience to a new understanding.  It was great to watch one of the guys so nervous before the race he was shaking and unable to talk to his partner due to his butterflies.  As soon as the whistle was blown for his start, I do not believe his paddle could have physically been moved any faster all the way down the course.  Rocks were encountered, troublesome eddies kept pulling the boat off course, but at the finish line nothing could stop the HUGE smile (partly of relief) and the non-stop chatter all the way back to camp.

The race took place in front of all the camp groups making for quite the uproar for every boat. One of the amazing parts of the Cup is watching staff and campers from all camps cheer, encourage, and advise every single boat in turn.  Finish times are posted, awards are handed out in a raffle format, but no one leaves the race with any clear notion of overall winners, nor is that ever mentioned in the event.  It was beautifully done and was once again a hit with our guys who all appeared today at breakfast proudly sporting a Camp Cup shirt and with stories for everyone.

Please enjoy the pictures tonight.  Tomorrow is the last full day in activities so tune back for a final installment!

Woody

Pictures from July 20, 2010 (password required)

Today’s blog comes to us from Ryan Donovan.  Ryan is head of the Mountain Biking Program here at High Rocks and is enjoying his fifth year in that role.  During the year Ryan works in nearby Brevard for the Brevard College Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education Program.  He is a very well-rounded and skilled instructor who holds certifications in climbing, paddling, mountain biking, wilderness medicine, and wilderness ethics.  We are pleased to have someone like him return year after year to provide leadership and mentoring for the staff, and facilitate awesome skill development and experiences for the campers…  –Hank Birdsong

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

I was really excited when Hank asked me a few days ago, “do you want to write a blog entry?”  I immediately knew that this was my chance to get to do something that rarely happens…get to visit other activities!  So I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and headed off to tour camp at the three o’clock hour, and hopefully give a little peak into what is going on ‘around the rocks’.

At the canoe docks I got to sit in on one of Rob’s wet exit and roll prep lessons.  Each camper would capsize in their kayak and practice staying calm under the water until they gave the “tap, tap, tap” signal on the hull of their boat and Rob would roll them back up.  Feedback on proper position and safety practices would follow each attempt.  I couldn’t help but notice the huge leap in confidence that the campers experienced after each successively longer stint being upside down under water in the boat; something that they were scared to even think about just a few days ago.  I also saw great lessons in trust going on…’so, I’m going to flip upside down and hold my breath for as long as I can, then you’re going to flip me back up???  OK, sounds great!’

At sailing I found Will organizing our brave sailors for serious business; this is race week on the lake and the four sunfish were treated to some of the best wind of the session!  The race is head to head, but in the High Rocks spirit emphasis is placed on trying to work on improving your own skills and teamwork with your crew rather than ‘beating’ another boat.  Starting sequences were the main focus of the lessons and it looked like the instruction and practice were paying off big time with some quick starts.

In tennis the numbers worked out just right so that everyone was able to play a doubles match.  This is always enjoyed by the campers and gives them a chance to use the skills that they have been working on so hard in all of the drills that they do.  Much like the lake, the tennis courts looked like fun, but I had to keep moving.

Fun was top of the list in soccer as well!  The boys were locked in a heated camper/counselor scrimmage (8 on 4 ).  I saw several good plays as I was passing through; passing, shooting, and defense were all on display.  I was so impressed to see campers and counselors alike running so hard at the end of a long hot day.

In archery and riflery work on the finer points was the order of the day.  With campers progressing to shooting the bows at 20, 30, and even 40 yards the instructors must be doing something right.  I heard some great tips on body position and continuing to hold the bow steady after release.

The best way to describe the arts and crafts and pottery areas when I stopped by is “ACTIVITY”.  The whole place was buzzing with activity with clay being molded and thrown, a stop motion animation studio operating at full tilt, boats being made for the end-of-session regatta, and woodworking projects being finished up.  It was really neat to see not only the instructors working with the kids, but also to see the kids working with each other to lend a hand, a creative eye, or even a little elbow grease to see that the projects took shape exactly as they had envisioned.

The climbers were busy in the new bouldering cave pulling down hard on plastic (our affectionate name for indoor holds).  While climbing inside is not the real thing, it is super great training for real rock and is worth pursuing as a sport in its own right.  Here again I saw campers and counselors trusting each other and taking part in each other’s successes and opportunities for growth.

At the swim docks I came upon an intense, and somewhat complicated, game of Marathon Relay Race organized by Happy.  The class split into two teams and had a few minutes to pick a team name and come up with a warm-up routine.  Team names were interesting to say the least, but when the time came “Paco and the Tacos” and “the Purple Cobras” put on a pretty impressive warm up show that bordered somewhere between actual warm-ups, synchronized swimming, and general goofing off.  To top it off points were awarded by various celebrity guest judges (instructors from other activities) for “sick style”, “originality”, and of course “good sportsmanship”.  The lake sure looked inviting, but I had to move on.

And last but not least…mountain biking!  Mountain biking is definitely the most physically demanding activity here at camp.  These kids work incredibly hard because, as we always say, “you have to pedal up to get to go down”.  I am so proud of the campers and my staff to see them still giving one hundred and ten percent even though it has been pretty hot and everyone is feeling just a bit worn out from all of the excitement and activity that camp has to offer.  This summer has seen a flurry of trail work being done by the mountain biking staff and it has been paying off big time in providing new and interesting challenges for our campers. 

So I hope that you enjoyed my little report about what was going on ‘around the rocks’ this afternoon.  I know that I enjoyed getting to see other activities and watch other instructor in their element, doing what they do best, all the while building skills and relationships with the campers.

–Ryan Donovan

Pictures from July 19, 2010 (password required)

Tonight we continue our “guest columnist” event as Chase Ferree takes the stage to write a little about camp from his  perspective.  Chase is a sophomore at the fine school of Washinton University (Wash. U.) in Missouri.  He has been a camper for five years and is now in his second summer as a staff member. I hope you enjoy what he has to say. -Don Gentle

To think that we’ve got fewer than five full days left at camp is absolutely mystifying. Though this is my second summer here as a staff member and my seventh at High Rocks, I’m still so surprised at how the end of the session just sneaks up on all of us!

All is well, though, as this session draws near to its close. As Don said yesterday, the three-day climbers are enjoying some sweet climbs out at the Red River Gorge, for their first full day of climbing. Paddling’s got two trips out, mountain biking one, and there’s going to be a great two-day hike going out tomorrow. I’ll be leading that last trip to Slate Rock in Pisgah along with another hiking counselor, Peter Kleinhenz (also our fishing head). Pete has extensive knowledge and experience working with reptiles and amphibians in his native Ohio; those of you with kids who have been on one of his trips should check out the pictures they’ve taken of these amazing creatures! If we’re lucky, there are a couple of species of salamander I hope we’ll come across in the next two days.

With so many campers and staff out on trips, there are only a few times during the session during which everyone is in camp – usually just Saturday and Sunday. These days are often two of the most fun per week, and the past weekend was no exception. This past Saturday night was marked by a particularly excellent (and globalized) square dance with Keystone Camp; at the end of the festivities nearly every one of their campers performed a dance to the song “Jai Ho” from the movie Slumdog Millionaire – the song had hardly to begin before our guys jumped in with them. And of course, Sunday’s Olympics were another highlight. As one of the Ghostbusters, I must say both Will McDonough, with his note-perfect Ghostbusters attire, and Peter, who portrayed Kentucky’s Turtle Man to brilliant effect, stole the show. And, as always, Sunday night was capped with a wonderful campfire and several stories from Dan Noland, who always knows how to captivate the campers.

After the busy weekend, we were all looking forward to a return to routine; today has been great for that. It’s also been a particularly beautiful day around camp; though it started off with some rain, keeping things cool, it was hardly noon before everything began to brighten up. The afternoon clouds are in gorgeous formation outside, preparing for what should be an excellent sunset, and the lake is alive with all sorts of activity. If you listen hard when you’re down on the waterfront, you can hear the “pocks” of tennis balls coming from the courts, where more than a few matches are going on. The camper-counselor tennis tournament is coming close to its end, with some more matches today during Choice Period, and I’m hoping the final will be a match for the ages (I know who I’m rooting for!).

For the Monday starting the last week of camp, I don’t think we could ask for a better one. I’m definitely looking forward to what’s shaping up to be one of the best weeks of the summer! Take care and have a great night!

Best,

Chase Ferree

 Pictures from July 18, 2010 (password required)

"The Mystery Machine"

"The Ghostbusters"

Not only was it Olympic Sunday, but we also had a “sleep-in Sunday!”  This morning we let the boys come up to breakfast at their leisure.  Many chose to sleep-in just a little, while some took full advantage of the extra time!   We had some events going on in the dining hall and lodge for those that woke up early, including Krispy Kreme doughnuts for breakfast and a few Looney Tune classics!

After our leisure wake-up we headed down to the lake for our morning service lead by our most enthusiast counselor, Ashley Upchurch.  She focused on the importance of relationships.  Our morning service was followed by our Sunday choice period where the guys had options including bouldering, paddling, ping pong, disc golf, swimming, and many additional opportunities.

We started the afternoon with the kick-off to our Olympic festivities.  As many of you know, we divide camp in half and create a situation that requires a resolution.  The resolution involves the events of all camp Olympics.  This year the teams were the “Scooby Doo and Mystery Machine crew” vs. “The Ghostbusters.”   The costumes were great and the excitement even better.   All ended well with the “Ghostbusters” pulling ahead in the end, giving them first-bell rights at dinner.  As usual the focus was on the events and fun.

Our three-day climbing trip took off just after lunch today for the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.  They will spend the next three days climbing some of the best sandstone in the southeast.  Our head of climbing, Chris Dorrity, has many connections up there and a lot of knowledge about the area.  He has arranged with two different landowners to get the kids on some private rock faces others only dream of climbing!  Chris has been heading up our climbing program for over five years.  He is well known and a well respected climber in the southeast.  He recently finished a bouldering guide book for Rumbling Bald; “The Rumbling Bald Bouldering Guide,” which has turned in to the “must have” guide for this newly developed area.   Like most all of the young men we hire here at High Rocks, Chris is not just an amazing climber; he’s a great role model for our boys who also climbs very well.  He has added a lot of wonderful attributes to our program and continues to make it better every year while he leads these boys to new heights and takes them places they have never imagined.

As we head into our last week of the session, there is still a ton of excitement ahead.  We’ll keep you posted on all the fun!  Have a great night!

Don

 Pictures from July 17, 2010 (password required)

Adventures on the New River in West Virginia

The last Saturday of the session!  Of course next Saturday is parents’ day, but that is quite a different day.  It’s hard to believe we only have a week to go!  I know many of you are excited while some of you are just starting to enjoy the peace a quite.  However you feel, we hope that you realize that these four weeks during the summer is not only fun, but part of your son’s education.  We have saturated these boys with knowledge, physical endurance, creativity, socialization, and many skills.  We pair that with a whole lot of self reliance, teamwork, perseverance, friendship, and fun to complete an experience matched nowhere else but High Rocks!

In about ten days I will ask all of you to take part in a very important study; one that not only affects High Rocks, but many of the amazing camps here in the mountains of North Carolina.  The study is designed to show the economic impact of summer camps in our mountain communities.  You may not know it, but summer camps in our area are getting hit from all sides including permitting, building codes, school calendars, and even the DOT.  As a founding board member of the North Carolina Youth Camp Association (NCYCA) I have committed to helping North Carolina camps in many ways.  One particular way the NCYCA is currently helping is this Economic Impact Study.  Help us give camp a say with legislatures by showing your support of this study and the importance of summer camp!  Be on the lookout for the e-mail a week from Tuesday.

So, back to camp!   I woke up this morning to once again continue a long tradition of camp directors here at High Rocks making pancakes for the whole crew on Saturday morning.  Dan Noland did the bulk of the work, but I was definitely a strong second.  We made more cakes then the boys could eat!  

I stepped out of the kitchen and into assembly to get these still-sleepy boys ready for the day.  I enjoyed leading the morning motion song and the excitement of getting them jazzed up for the day!  The morning continued with a group of boys heading off to a wonderful horse show, pirate day down at the climbing tower, a treasure hunt in sailing, and other cool games in paddling and archery.  The boys of hiking made some sort of Mexican crepe all morning.  A wonderful sort of pancake smothered in butter, toasted in a pan, then covered with cinnamon and sugar.  It was a great time in activities today.

This afternoon around 5pm the boys headed back to the cabin for a much needed shower and a change into clean clothes.  We then enjoyed a nice dinner on the lawn and wrapped up the night hosting the girls of Keystone Camp to a square dance!  What a great day!

There are some great shots from the three day whitewater trip on the New River in West Virginia.  A great trip for a group of our most experienced paddlers.  Have a great night!

Don Gentle