There is a kind of learning that no classroom can teach.
It doesn’t happen at a desk. It can’t be tested on a Friday or measured in a grade. It happens in the in-between moments — in the negotiation over who gets the top bunk, in the patience required to wait your turn, in the courage it takes to speak up when something isn’t right, and the humility it takes to listen when you are. It happens in the mess and the magic of living alongside other people every single day.
That is what your children are doing at Camp Highlander. And I want you to know how much they have learned and grown this session.
Every moment of a camper’s day is an opportunity to practice valuable life skills. Camp is the classroom. The cabinmates are the curriculum. They wake up and immediately have to consider someone other than themselves. They compete with grace and cheer genuinely for someone else’s win even when it stings. They sit across from someone at dinner who sees the world differently and find a way to share the table and love them. And when the lights go out and something is bothering them, they have to decide — do I say something, or do I let it go? That is emotional intelligence at work.
Employers will tell you they can teach almost anyone a hard skill. What they cannot teach is the person who works through tension with grace, who leads without ego, who shows up for their team even on hard days. Your child is learning to be that person. Right now. On this mountain.
From cabin clean-up to asking someone to dance at Square Dance — these small things are quietly building something enormous in your children — resilience.
We believe that because of Camp Highlander, they are more prepared for whatever life throws their way. And we are so proud — not just of how much they’ve grown, but of who they’ve chosen to be while they were here. That choice matters more than any lesson we could ever teach.
Favorite Details of The Day
- Reflect at the Rock: This morning at Reflect, Natalie talked about being thankful. After eight days together, we are so thankful for the gift of camp, friendship and fun.
- Weather: This weather has been incredible! Seriously, it is what Camp Director dreams are made of…rain all night, sunshine all day! We had rain last night that brought the most exquisite breeze through the Carolina pines today. It was a sweatshirt morning, swimsuit day and sweatpant night. The breeze was beautiful and the sun was bright. Tonight, the cool air turned crisp and gave us all the perfect temperature to snuggle in our beds and dream of more fun at Highlander tomorrow.
- Meals: For breakfast we had biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, grits, oatmeal and a fresh fruit bar. For lunch we had hot dogs, macaroni and cheese and french fries, a salad bar and a sandwich bar. Dinner brought me back to my childhood in Louisiana - chicken and sausage jambalaya, sensation salad and french bread, with our salad and sandwich bar. For dessert, we all enjoyed Gus’ after Camper’s Choice sign ups.
- EP: Tonight’s EP was Square Dance. Our last dance of the session, and everyone was SO excited. We had so much fun dancing on the field with the cool breeze in the air. It was a magical night that no one wanted to end.
- Special Events: Junior Camp was surprised tonight after square dance with a giant slip and slide party on the field. One of the boys said “This is the best day of my life!” Another camper said “I love it here!” My heart was so full. Some of our Senior cabins also enjoyed a sweet treat after Square Dance - a popsicle mixer and social time with their brother and sister cabins. This was another great moment for our campers to practice navigating social situations with peers in a place where they feel loved and safe!
About Melissa Fitzgerald
