Because Camp Highlander was founded nearly 50 years ago, we have a vast community of alumni. Each month, we’ll spotlight one outstanding former camper or staff member who attributes some of their post-camp success to their experiences and lessons learned while at camp.
Brooke and her grandfather, Mr. H.
If you’ve been to Camp Highlander, you have interacted with the Harris family. As a camp staple for several decades, the Harrises have touched so many lives and brought so much to our Highlander family. Alumna Brooke Harris Raish is part of the Harris family legacy on Old Forge Mountain.
Brooke began her Camp Highlander journey before she could even walk. Both of her parents worked at camp, and her grandfather, the beloved Mr. H, has worked at camp for more than 30 years. “I was lucky enough to be able to spend the first six summers of my life riding horses down at the stables with Mary and enjoying campfires every Sunday.” Brooke continued, “It took a while for my parents to convince me that ‘BLT’ wasn’t a song they played on the radio!”
Brooke grew up at Camp Highlander.
From 2000-2004, Brooke held a variety of positions at camp, including Junior Camp Counselor, Head of Junior Camp and Scheduling Specialist. “Everywhere I look on the mountain… in front of the infirmary, in the gym, or down at the pool, I can tell you something that happened there that made me laugh so hard, my stomach hurt. Life is so busy and living in such a big city, I go, go, go. Being at camp means you get to slow down, enjoy the beauty of the mountains, and spend time with others who appreciate the magic of Highlander as much as you do!”
There were certain activities that Brooke particularly enjoyed. “I loved hay rides! The kids had a great time riding on the flat bed, and we’d go up to the cemetery, where I’d tell the stories that I’d heard as a child at camp.” She continued, “Lake Lure was also always a favorite. I spent most of my summers in Cabin 16, and those girls always impressed me when they were trying wakeboarding for the first time. They demonstrated such courage by volunteering to strap the board on and jump into the water, having no idea what was going to happen next. One day, all 10 of my campers got up on the wakeboard — it was definitely a confidence and team-building experience!”
Brooke also loved going to Dolly’s for ice cream. “My last summer, I convinced the bus drivers to pick us up a little early from off-camp trips and stop at Dolly’s on the way home. You were only supposed to go to Dolly’s after you went to Coon Tree, and cabins usually only went to Coon Tree once a session. Not my cabin! We went to Dolly’s every time we left camp, until my grandfather, Mr. H., found out and put an end to it!”
Brooke married her husband, Andrew, in 2011 and has a 14-month-old daughter, Marin. She has been a teacher for more than 10 years, and she attributes her love of teaching to her days spent at Camp Highlander. “Before I became a counselor, I knew I enjoyed working with children, but I was not sure a lifelong profession in education was what I wanted. After my first summer in Junior Camp, I not only knew that I wanted to become a teacher, but I also realized the age group with which I wanted to work. Every summer solidified my decision, even more. Each session brought a new group of children with a new set of dynamics, and as I got to know each child, I acquired many skills that I use today as a classroom teacher.”
She continued, “Camp gives everyone a chance a lead in various ways, and the leadership opportunities I experienced, from being able to serve as Head of Junior Camp or White Knight Lieutenant, helped me to realize that I would like to hold a position of leadership in a school. As a result, I went to graduate school and received a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision in 2010.”
The skills Brooke learned while being a counselor are invaluable in her profession. “When you are a counselor, you are a role model for every child with which you come into contact. I learned how to put children first and myself second, and how to communicate with patience and compassion.”
Camp Highlander will forever hold a special place in Brooke’s heart. “I feel blessed to have been able to make so many memories and work with such an amazing group of individuals. Throughout any given day, some memory of Highlander crosses my mind, and it always makes me smile.”
Our Alumni Spotlight focuses on Camp Highlander alumni who have utilized skills learned at camp to excel in their adult life. If you — or someone you know — has gone on to achieve goals and can attribute some of that success to experiences at camp, please email your contact information and a brief summary to .