After five days together, the campers and staff seem to be in the routine of camp. Our first-year campers are no longer “new” to camp. They have found comfort in their cabin, their new friends and on our beautiful mountain. Every session, I love to see the day when the magic of the cabin comes to life. On this day, the smiles are bigger, the laughter is louder and joy is everywhere. Today was that day for Session C. I can never quite put my finger on how this happens, but there is something different today that was not there yesterday.

The difference was clear from the moment the campers walked down to Reflect. We woke up to a chill in the air and a cloud covered sky, but it felt as though the sun was shining from the bright smiles on each face. As a camp director, the weather is a BIG deal. HUGE! We watch the weather like hawks, hoping and praying for it to cooperate with our programming and plans. (If I had it my way, I would order rain every night from midnight until 4 a.m., and sunshine all day.)

Waking up to an overcast day threatens thunder and lightning, which means cancelled classes and disappointed campers. However, the gray sky that blanketed Old Forge today could not hide the walking sunshine on the mountain. Three hundred and twenty rays of sunshine sang, danced, laughed and played, paying no attention to the clouds in the sky. And with gratitude, I realize…these campers are my rainbows!

Favorite Details of the Day:

• Reflect - Karl shared some wisdom from Cowboy Ethics about finishing what you start in life, and always finishing strong.
• Meals - Breakfast was French toast sticks, sausage, eggs and fruit bar, oatmeal and grits. Lunch was copycat Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and waffle fries and salad bar. The best part about lunch today was that it was DJ Thursday. We had music in the dining hall and a big dance party! It was so much fun! Dinner was a Thursday night tradition - Cookout! We enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, chips, cole slaw and chocolate chip cookies.
• EP - Casino Night!
• Weather - Cloudy with only a 20 minute sprinkle around 4:30 that didn’t stop any of our activities. No thunder or lightning…play on! The high today was 77 and the low was 64.