Kickoff 2025: No Joke

The fun, joy, and growth we’ve seen this week at Kickoff Camp has been NO JOKE. Every day brings something new to celebrate, but what stands out most is the heart our campers pour into every moment—through their kindness, their courage, and the way they lift one another up. One of the unique gifts of Kickoff Camp is its intimate size. It gives us the time and space to really see each camper, to know their stories, and to appreciate their growth. I am so proud of each and every one of our campers—not just for what they’ve accomplished in activities, cabin life, and evening programs, but for the many ways they’ve surprised and inspired me with their spirit, perseverance, and kindness throughout the week.

Tonight’s Talent Show was packed with incredible performances—singing, dancing, magic tricks, gymnastics, basketball dribbling, stomp routines, jumprope, chicken dances and musical solos—but what truly stood out were the jokes. And not just one or two—we had more comedy acts, stand-up routines, and laugh-out-loud moments than ever before.

Our campers had the entire gym roaring with laughter. From perfectly timed one-liners to cabin comedy lineups, the creativity and confidence on that stage were nothing short of inspiring. Comedy takes a special kind of courage. It means standing in front of your peers, taking a risk, and hoping your punchline lands. And tonight, our campers delivered with boldness, joy, and heart.

Courage filled the gym tonight with every act that got on stage, but there were a few that made the night unforgettable.

Then there was the camper who sang Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things with so much heart that the crowd swayed their arms, sang along, and begged for more when the DJ booth tried to fade him out. The cheering was so loud, he returned to finish the song in front of a screaming, fully captivated audience.

The crowd was shocked and excited for the camper who hit the stage with full karate form, performing martial arts moves to Kung Fu Fighting. The crowd absolutely lost it in the best way—cheering, singing and dancing along with every kick and chop.

And I will never forget the camper who started the week missing home, unsure if camp was the right place for him. Tonight, he stood tall on stage, captivating the entire gym with his dazzling magic tricks and charismatic stage presence. My heart was full to see that the real magic was not in his tricks but in his heart - the magic of Camp Highlander.

These are the moments we live for at Camp Highlander. They show us what’s possible when kids feel safe, supported, and free to be exactly who they are.

The magic of the Talent Show isn’t just about what happens under the spotlight—it’s in the courage it takes to step into it. Whether it was their first time on stage or their fifth summer performing, every camper who got up there showed a kind of bravery that made us proud. And just as powerful were the cheers, laughter, and standing ovations from their fellow campers, proving once again how supportive and uplifting this community truly is.

At Camp Highlander, we celebrate every kind of talent—but tonight, we celebrated something even greater: the confidence to be yourself, the courage to try something new, and the power of laughter to bring us all together.

So to all our young comedians and talented performers—thank you for reminding us that camp is not only a place to grow, but a place to giggle, dance, and sing together. No joke… tonight was unforgettable.

Thank you for sharing your precious children with us this session. Thank you for allowing Camp Highlander to be a part of your family, and for connecting with us on this blog each day. Tomorrow I will soak up the last moments, big hugs and belly laughs with our campers and look forward to seeing you on Friday!

Favorite Details of The Day

• Reflect at the Rock: This morning at Reflect, Emily talked about being thankful in all times - good or bad, we can always learn and grow when we are grateful. We are so grateful for Kickoff Camp 2025!
• Weather: The weather was picture perfect today. Sunshine and blue skies all day! Warm sunshine with a slight breeze through the Carolina Pines. I love NC summers!
• Meals: For breakfast we had french toast sticks (again because they LOVE them), scrambled eggs, bacon (which they also LOVE…41 pans of bacon!!!), grits, oatmeal and a fresh fruit bar. For lunch we had walking tacos, a Camp Highlander signature - frito bags stuffed with taco meat and all the fixings. And yes, we eat out of the bag…why…becuase this is camp and we are all about making memories, like eating out of a bag. We also had a salad bar and a sandwich bar. Dinner was a cookout on the field - hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, pasta salad, potato chips and juicy, cold watermelon. AND to top it all off…the Dolly’s Trolley drove up at the end of cookout to bring us the BEST ice cream on earth!
• EP: Highlander’s Got Talent!