It’s only the second day of camp — but our hearts are already full. Full of fun, full of friendship, and full of the kind of joy that only Camp Highlander can bring.
Today was our first full day of camp — and what a day it was! We had our first rafting trip on the Nantahala River, our first off-camp day hikes, and the first full day of five, jam-packed activity periods this session. I heard the first chant of the summer echo through the Dining Hall at lunch (show me how to get down…no way), danced my first Cupid Shuffle at dinner (dessert tastes better when you’re dancing!), and watched new campers’ light up with excitement as they tried activities for the very first time.
At dinner, we celebrated a line of “firsts” with shout-outs galore — from campers hitting their first bullseye at archery, to taking their first leap off the giant swing, to trying a new food for the very first time. Campers couldn’t stop talking about their new friends and raving about their counselors (who they’ve already declared the BEST ever). And even though they just arrived yesterday, there was one thing they all agreed on: Camp Highlander is the BEST place on Earth!
With the first-day jitters behind them, campers embraced the rhythm of day two with wide eyes and open hearts. They moved through their schedules with growing confidence, cheered each other on, and soaked in every moment with their cabinmates. Already, friendships are forming that feel like forever, and the pride in each cabin tonight for Cabin Challenge was unmistakable.
Everywhere I walked today, I felt it — the laughter, the connection, the sense that something magical is unfolding here on Old Forge Mountain. The spirit of Highlander is alive and well, and it’s filling our hearts more and more with each passing day.
Favorite Details of The Day
- Reflect at the Rock: This morning at Reflect, I asked campers and staff an important question: How do you want to be remembered this year? Do you want to be the friend who put others first, the one who showed gratitude by thanking others or someone or someone who lived each day well by loving those around them. I challenged everyone, including myself, to live this session well- live each day at Highlander with purpose that positively impacts everyone around us.
- Weather: We had a perfect morning with blue skies and sunshine and a lovely breeze in the air. It was truly gorgeous. Right in the middle of lunch, it was like someone turned on the faucet over Camp Highlander and the rain came pouring down. We couldn’t believe it. Out of nowhere a summer storm blew through camp. By the time lunch ended, the rain had stopped…at least we thought it had stopped. It came back with a vengeance mid afternoon and had everyone huddled under cover and playing games at activities that were rained out. The rain stopped about twenty minutes later but left a cool, crisp feeling in the air. The temperature is just right for a good night’s sleep!
- Meals: For breakfast we had french toast sticks, scrambled eggs, sausage links, grits, oatmeal and a fresh fruit bar. For lunch we had turkey and white cheddar ciabatta sandwiches, Miss VIcki’s assorted kettle chips, a salad bar and a sandwich bar. Dinner was chicken fajitas, black beans, cilantro rice, homemade guacamole, warm queso dip, chips and salsa. The disco ball went off and tonight, Bryan made us dance for our dessert. The entire dining hall got up and did the Cupid Shuffle before we enjoyed our warm, cinnamon and sugar churros.
- EP: Tonight’s evening program was Cabin Challenge. The theme was Star Wars so cabins dressed up in space, star wars or any other themed costumes to compete in various challenges against brother or sister cabins. The challenges were musical ice buckets, Pictionary, Limbo, Hula Hoop Lasso, Human Wordle, Lightsaber Battle, Clean the Spaceship, Sponge Relay and more. In the finale, Cabin 3 took home the EP trophy winning tonight’s Cabin Challenge!
About Melissa Fitzgerald
