As I stood in the dining hall this morning making announcements, I felt tremendous gratitude for the fantastic staff that we have at Highlander this summer. Over the past week, we have trained, practiced, rehearsed, planned and exhausted the how-to’s of being a staff member, but FINALLY the day is here when we get to DO what we came here for…to LEAD, LOVE and SERVE!
We have some amazing young men and women who will lead your campers through the adventures of the next week. They are ready to serve your children each day at activities, in the dining hall, in cabin life and more. But most of all, our mission as a staff is to love your children through it all - through their successes and failures, showing grace and compassion to all of them as they grow and learn from each and every experience at camp!
The Highlander staff were beaming with excitement to welcome our Kickoff campers, the long days of summer and many unforgettable moments ahead. The arrival of the very first car sparked a time of joyous celebration and endless possibilities for friendship and fun. Camp powerfully ignites our spirits and invites us to immerse ourselves into the simple life of a child, embracing the beauty and splendor that surrounds us and the chance to be young and free.
Our first day of Kickoff Camp was absolutely magical! This session will be fast and furious, so we are filling each day with as much fun as possible. Campers jumped right into activities after rest hour and have a fun-filled afternoon. We had a really GREAT first day of camp today. It was filled with joyful energy, some nervousness, plenty of laughter and contagious smiles. We are so grateful to each and every one of you for sharing your precious children with us! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Favorite Details of the Day
- Weather: Absolute perfection! I cannot believe how gorgeous the weather was today. When we arrived for breakfast, we were all freezing with temperatures in the low 50’s, but we warmed up really fast as the sun was shining brightly in the clear Carolina blue skies. By mid day, it was hot outside and everyone was excited about taking a quick swim in the pool. There was a nice breeze that whispered through the trees this evening and cooled down our wonderful campfire .
- Meals: We enjoyed our opening day tradition of grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch! Campers enjoyed the salad bar and sandwich bar as well. For dinner we had yummy fried chicken with steamed vegetables, macaroni and cheese and hushpuppies. When the disco ball lit up at the end of dinner, we all danced the cupid shuffle and enjoyed some famous Highlander Mudslide for dessert! YUM!
- EP: We started our night with a pirate themed scavenger hunt and ended the evening at the opening campfire. This is one of Highlander’s oldest traditions, and campers and staff enjoyed dancing and singing to their favorite campfire songs.
About Melissa Fitzgerald
