Today at Camp Highlander was one of those magical mountain days where the weather kept us on our toes — beginning with bright blue skies and warm sunshine, and then a surprise pop-up shower that rolled in right at lunchtime. It cooled us off just enough to make puddle-splashing not only acceptable, but irresistible.
We woke from our magical naps — serenaded by rain on tin roofs — to sunshine once again, and headed out for afternoon activities under clear skies. But just as fifth period rolled around, the sky opened up once more, and instead of running for cover, we walked right into the rain with open arms and wide smiles.
The truth is…when you’re at Camp Highlander, every moment feels like a gift… even the rain.
Whether we were paddling down the Nantahala River, hiking to breathtaking vistas, or diving into our on-camp activity periods with full hearts and even fuller water bottles, the energy at Highlander today was contagious. The rain didn’t slow us down — it gave us a reason to laugh a little harder, run a little faster, and dance a little longer. It helped us truly soak up the fun in every part of the day. At Highlander, we don’t wait for perfect conditions — we find joy in whatever the moment brings.
Tonight’s Evening Program was square dance — one of our most beloved Highlander traditions. With the field too wet from the afternoon showers, we moved the fun to the gym, where the energy was higher and the dancing even higher. After three classic square dances that left us hot, sweaty, and breathless with laughter, we wrapped with the Footloose line dance — a grand finale we all cherish.
And then, as if on cue, the skies opened up again. Campers dashed back inside, rain-soaked and squealing, only to find the party hadn’t ended. The music cranked back up and the gym became a dance floor all over again — full of electric slides, church claps, biker’s shuffles, and a whole lot of joy. Because rain, we’ve learned, is the best excuse to keep dancing.
Today, we embraced it all — the sunshine, the showers, the puddles, the playlists, the belly laughs, the quiet moments, and everything in between that makes camp feel like home.
We are so grateful to be here. Grateful for new friendships, brave hearts, and the way Highlander helps us live fully, love deeply, and laugh loudly — no matter the weather. Because happiness isn’t about waiting for the rain to pass… it’s about dancing right through it.
Favorite Details of The Day
- Reflect at the Rock: This morning at Reflect, Mac talked to us about building a house. You see, each of us is building a house with our choices each day. The house we build is based on the types of choices we make, but that is the house we have to live in. He reminded us to choose wisely and build a life that we will be happy with for many years to come.
- Weather: Sunny skies and rainshowers…we embraced it all today at Camp Highlander!
- Meals: For breakfast we had Mrs. Kaye’s homemade whipping cream biscuits, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, gravy, grits, oatmeal and a fresh fruit bar. For lunch we had french dip (roast beef) sandwiches, french fries, a salad bar and a sandwich bar. Dinner was chicken fettuccine alfredo, roasted broccoli and garlic bread, with a salad bar and a sandwich bar. After the camper’s choice announcements, everyone started chanting Gus’ chant. We did have Gus’ tonight (candy or soda) and the campers were SO happy!
- EP: Tonight’s evening program was Square Dance. It was the best way to get everyone out of their shell and into the HIghlander spirit!
About Melissa Fitzgerald
