Today is International Friendship Day, and there is no better place to celebrate friendship than at camp! Camp friendships last a lifetime. Ask anyone who has spent even one summer at camp, and they will say the same thing…camp friends really are the BEST friends. At Camp Highlander, we remind our campers and staff to focus on building quality friendships with their cabinmates and worry less about the quantity of friendships that social media promotes. Rather than worrying about how many friends you have or how many “likes” you can get, at camp, you have the unique opportunity to form quality friendships super fast with deep connection.
There was no better way for us to spend quality time with our friends than at camper’s choice today. After two weeks at camp this session, it was more about the company than the content of the activity choice. Today I watched campers spend the entire day with their best friends at camp, and their joy was solely found in the ones whom they shared those moments with. At camper’s choice sign ups last night, I heard many campers say, “I don’t care what we do, I just want to be with you!” To me, these camp friendships are everything!
Camp is winding down, and we are all aware that we have one last day together. Goodbyes are hard, but only because the time together has been so precious. We can’t believe how quickly this session, this summer has passed and honestly, we could not have had more fun if we tried.
This is my last blog for the summer. Tomorrow, I will share my last day with your children and our staff. I will soak up every conversation, cherish every hug, appreciate every smile, take pleasure in every laugh and treasure every tear.
Thank you to our campers for giving your best to Camp Highlander – for your laughter and your joy that brings life to Old Forge mountain. Without you, there is no Camp Highlander. We love you!
A huge thank you to the hard-working, selfless staff who have given their summer to changing your children’s lives, and they have done a fantastic job! They have laughed AT me, laughed WITH me, taught me to Griddy and made my summer unforgettable! I am so proud of the people that they are, the example they have set for your children and I am honored to have worked alongside them! CH staff, we love you!
Thank you to our camp families for your support of Camp Highlander and for connecting with us on this blog each day. I hope it has given you a window into our world and that you have felt the spirit of Highlander at home. Our hearts are full of gratitude and love for you!
Favorite Details of the Day
- Reflect at the Rock: Today at Reflect, Lyndsey celebrated friendship day by talking about the value of camp friends. She reminded us that camp friends tell it to you straight, they see you through it all and they last a lifetime! I couldn’t agree more!
- Weather: Picture perfect! The skies were overcast and gray when we woke up, and we were expecting another rain shower. At the start of second period, the sun came out and there was this gentle breeze that lingered from the morning ALL DAY! It was incredible!
- Meals: Breakfast this morning was french toast sticks, sausage links, scrambled eggs and our fresh fruit and yogurt bar. Lunch was copycat chick-fil-a sandwiches, waffle fries and a salad and sandwich bar. For dinner we had baked ziti, roasted broccoli, garlic bread and a salad and sandwich bar.
- EP: Tonight we had one of my favorite EPs of the summer…Rockin with the AC’s. Cabins coordinated lip sync and dance performances with their favorite activity counselor and performed in the gym. I love EPs when campers have to get up on stage because it allows them to challenge themselves in a safe place. Performing in front of hundreds of people is hard, but with their cabinmates by their side they are making memories. EVERY cabin participated in tonight’s performances, and I was so so proud of them!
About Melissa Fitzgerald
