If there was a competition for the most surprising, unexpected Color War break in Camp Highlander history…the Green Giants of 2025 would take first place. SHOCK is the best way to describe the reaction of campers and staff today when the Color War broke right in the middle of the day. In Bryan and I’s 24 summers at Camp Highlander, there has never been a break in the middle of the day. But this year, we pulled it off. We surprised them in the very best way, and they are SO EXCITED that Color War 2025 is finally here!
After last night’s fake break, everyone was expecting that Color War would break tonight at Square Dance. While we all love a square dance break, that was way too predictable for us. I heard everyone checking the typical clues for when the break would happen - the menu posted in the kitchen, the off-camp trip schedule, the EP schedule and the presence of Green on camp.
- Off Camp Trips: Cabin 29 had an all-day rafting trip today. Cabin 26 had a horseback riding trip this morning and Cabin 16 had a morning hike. The earliest it could break is at EP tonight?
- Menu - Cookout was scheduled for Thursday, but we never have cookout during Color War. Maybe it will break at Cookout?
- The EP Schedule - Top Chef on Wednesday. We haven’t done that EP in years. Maybe it’s breaking Wednesday night?
- Green - All eyes are on Green every moment of the day….“Melissa & Bryan are at breakfast”(of course, we are there every day)…maybe it’s breaking…“Bryan is on the mower”…not breaking yet.…“Spencer is off camp”…not breaking yet…“Mac hasn’t come back”…not breaking yet…
The truth is - there were NO CLUES. No signs. No reason for the Green Giants to break Color War in the middle of the day at snack time, but that is exactly what we did! While campers casually gathered in the center of camp waiting to grab their favorite snack before their afternoon activities, the snack bell rang 8 times (rumor has it 8 bell tolls spell COLOR WAR in Green Giant Code). Then…fireworks, 1-2-3-4. Cue O Fortuna over the speakers in the dining hall. Suddenly GREEN emerges from all corners of camp…on the roof of the dining hall, out from the Lodge, behind the office, from inside the snack room, coming down from boys camp and girls camp…green smoke and screams of excitement filling the air…camp magic filling our hearts!
It was an unforgettable break that people will be talking about for years to come! As we gathered in the middle of camp and each camper and staff member’s name was called, I was reminded why Color War is such a wonderful part of camp…belonging. Every camper was welcomed with open arms and big hugs onto their team today. Every camper has a place on a team and a part to play in the war over the next three days. Every event matters. Every point will count. Every camper will contribute to the end result. Everyone will leave their mark on the summer of 2025!
This afternoon’s competitions were relaxed, fun and full of spirit. While our evening events were competitive, FUN was the theme of today. We laughed, we cheered, we sang along to the music and we danced in the rain. It was truly so fantastic that I wish I could rewind it and do it all again. Instead, I will look forward to the busy three and a half days ahead. Days full of competition and teamwork, wins and losses and more growth than we could imagine. I love Color War! Not for the competition, for the community. There is truly nothing like it anywhere, and I look forward to sharing a piece of it with you each day here on the blog. Stay tuned for scores, highlights and so much fun because Color War 2025 has just begun!
P.S. Cabin 29
Did they miss the break? Did they go rafting? No and no. They had their own unique Color War experience. An hour and forty-five minutes into their drive to the Nantahala, the phone rang…they forgot the EPI pen for a camper on the trip (or so they thought.) Spencer left camp to meet them at an Ingles parking lot in Waynesville. When Spencer arrived, Nico blasted O Fortuna in the van. Spencer emerged from the car in his green shirt, and Cabin 29 had a Color War break before anyone else at camp. The van turned around and headed back to camp. They arrived back at Highlander just before 2:15, waited for the fireworks and ran into camp wearing their team colors and arriving at the start of the break…UNFORGETTABLE…EPIC…ONLY AT CAMP HIGHLANDER!
About Melissa Fitzgerald
