Today was a first in Camp Highlander history. Our Evening Program director, in a stroke of absolute genius, gave us not one Evening Program, but TWO. One for the evening. And one for the daytime. A DP, if you will. A Daytime Program. And what a DP it was.

At Assembly this morning, we discovered a crime was committed on camp. Someone had broken into Gus’s Place overnight and stolen the candy. The suspects were unknown. The culprit was still on the loose. And it was up to every single cabin on camp to crack the case.

All day long, as cabins moved through their activities (some campers even dressed as undercover spies), clues were waiting for them. Each activity held a piece of the mystery, and the excitement of it threaded through the entire day. I watched campers moving across camp with excitement and energy, buzzing with theories, comparing notes and piecing it together. It was teamwork, problem solving and so much fun!

The rain had other plans for our cookout tonight, so we moved the party indoors — and you know what? It was just as good. There is something cozy and a little chaotic about an indoor cookout that has its own kind of magic.

And then — after Camper’s Choice sign-ups — everyone stepped outside to find a surprise waiting.

The Dolly’s Trolley was parked outside the gym with the most delicious ice cream on earth! These moments — the unexpected treat that no one saw coming — are some of my favorites of the summer. The delight on these kids’ faces is something I never get tired of.

Favorite Details of the Day

• Reflect at the Rock: Ava reminded us this morning to embrace the gift of camp. She talked about being thousands of miles away from her family, who she missed, but that Highlander is like home and we are her family too. She challenged us all to make the most of our time together because in a few short days we will be campsick for each other and this amazing home away from home!
• Weather: We woke up to rain this morning. As a camp director, I love that because we need rain for our wells. In a perfect world, it would only rain at night and be sunny all day. We were lucky today that we had mostly sunny skies with a brief afternoon shower that didn’t disturb our activities or fun!
• Meals: For breakfast we had french toast sticks, scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit bar, yogurt, granola and cereal. For lunch we had turkey and cheese ciabatta sandwiches with chips, salad bar and whole fruit. For dinner we had a cookout - hamburgers, hotdogs, pasta salad and cold watermelon. The favorite treat of the day was definitely Dolly’s!
• Evening Program: Daytime CLUE and The Talent Show

The perfect ending to our fantastic day was tonight’s Talent Show.

When I was seven years old at my very first sleepaway camp, I sat out of my cabin’s Talent Show act because I was too afraid to get on stage. I watched my cabinmates perform — imperfect routine, forgotten steps, and all — and I watched the crowd go absolutely wild for them. The clapping, the cheering, the pure joy on my cabinmates’ faces. And sitting on that old wooden floor on the outside of it all, I felt the sting of my own choice. I had let fear make my decision for me.

Tonight’s show was a true celebration of everything our campers are made of - COURAGE. Violin and keyboard instrumentals, a shadow puppet show, gymnastics routines, Salsa dancing, cheer routines,comedians, guitar solos, interpretive dance, and more skits than I can count — including the Princess WWE performance from Cabin 29 that had the entire crowd laughing until it hurt. The range of talent and entertainment on that stage was fantastic.

The support from the crowd was my favorite part. The clapping, the cheering, the hands waving in the air — everyone in unison saying we see you, you’ve got this. And the performers felt it. Their faces changed. The nerves got smaller and the smiles got bigger, because the family in that audience was holding them up the whole time.

What I really missed in that talent show all those years ago at summer camp was not the stage…it was the love of a camp family. Our campers definitely felt the love tonight, and I am so proud of them.