Today was another wonderful day on Old Forge Mountain. Sundays are special at Camp Highlander because they’re often the only day of the week that every cabin is on camp and they offer a slower pace, which is exactly what we need after a fun-filled week at camp.
Sundays are rich with tradition and tend to be quieter, giving us time to reflect on just how much we have learned, laughed and loved at Camp Highlander over the past week. Campers and staff enjoy sleeping in and slowly make their way down for breakfast at 9:30 a.m.
After breakfast, cabins gather together and line up for chapel. Chapel is one of the oldest traditions at camp, dating all the way back to 1957. While the format of chapel has changed over the years to stay relevant to our campers, the messages of building character and strong values has remained for over 60 years.
At Chapel this morning, we read the book “What Do You Do With a Problem?” We talked about how problems are really just opportunities. They challenge us, shape us, push us, and help us to discover just how strong and brave and capable we really are. Even though we don’t always want them, problems can change us in positive and unexpected ways.
After lunch, we have an extended rest hour, which most of our campers really love. Rest is an intentional part of our Sunday routine as it recharges us all for another fantastic week of activities, adventure and fun.
Our afternoon activity has been affectionately called SUNDAY FUNDAY for many years! Today’s Sunday Funday activity was Division Play Day! Camp was divided up to play games and enjoy time with friends. Senior Camp had a bombardment tournament in the gym, intermediate boys had a ping-pong tournament and played other games in the Rec Hall. Intermeidate girls enjoyed a craft day of painting inspiration rocks, making no-sew pillows and weaving friendship bracelets. Junior Camp had a blast at the Minute to Win It Showdown. The cabins competed in over 10 competitions and Cabin 21 was victorious overall, winning a trip to Gus’s this week.
Congratulations to our Honor Campers and our Honor Cabins for week 1 Session C!
Tonight at Campfire, as we sang some traditional songs, some silly ones and some more popular tunes, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the hundreds, even thousands, of campers and counselors who have sung the same songs, danced the dances, and laughed the same laughs in Sundays past. This is what makes camp simply timeless and simply wonderful!