When I was a little girl, the night before the first day of camp was always filled with a specific kind of magic. I would lay my clothes out on the chair, check the packing list one last time, and lie awake for hours, my stomach doing little flips of nervous excitement. I was imagining who would be my counselors, whether I would get a top bunk or a bottom bunk and what my new best friend would be like that I haven’t even met yet.

This morning, as the sun began to peek over the ridgeline of Old Forge Mountain, I felt that exact same flutter in my chest.

For the past week, our staff has been here on the mountain training, working, and preparing. They’ve been cleaning cabins, learning safety protocols, and setting up activity areas. But more than that, they’ve been preparing their hearts. They’ve been sleeping in camperless cabins, imagining who would fill the empty beds, and waiting for the moment this camp would finally become what it was meant to be. Because a camp without campers is just a collection of cabins and trees. The real magic only begins when they arrive.

And oh, did they arrive today!

There is nothing quite like the energy of Opening Day of Kickoff Camp. The moment the first cars began rolling through the gates, our counselors let out a cheer that could have been heard all the way down in the valley. We were ready. We were so excited. And just as I promised the staff after a long week of waiting, your children’s smiling faces were worth the wait!

After the last car pulled out of the gym road gate, we jumped right into the rhythm of camp life. Gathering in the dining hall for our first meal, you could feel the energy. Campers were singing, learning the dining hall chants and having so much fun.

Our afternoon was filled with fun activities,adventure with our new friends and what we call “Taking Care of Business (TCOB).” During TCOB, cabins complete their swim evaluation at the pool and go through our camper orientation. Camper Orientation is where we set expectations and about what it means to be a Highlander camper. We reviewed our emergency procedures, how we stay safe, healthy, and happy, and our “rule of three” (which means no camper is ever alone). But most importantly, we talked about our culture of kindness.

At Highlander, kind is COOL. We teach our campers that kindness isn’t just a nice idea—it is an active choice we make every single day in how we speak to one another, how we include each other, and how we lift each other up. I loved watching kindness grow within our cabin groups today. After only one day together, I saw campers holding hands as they walked to activities, dancing together at campfire and laughing like they have known each other for years. This immediate connection is special to camp, and I can’t wait to see what joys and gifts this week will bring for our camp family.

Favorite Details of the Day

• Weather: Absolutely perfect. Cool, crisp mountain breezes paired with sunny skies and bright sunshine all day long.
• Meals: Lunch was grilled cheese & tomato soup with french fries. Dinner was “the best pot roast ever” (according to a first year camper)with carrots, mashed potatoes, and yummy rolls. Our salad bar, sandwich bar, and buttered noodles were available as alternates at both meals. And after dinner tonight, the disco ball turned on and the dining hall erupted in screams. When the disco ball is turned on it means we are dancing in the dining hall or we are having dessert.Tonight we danced the cupid shuffle AND enjoyed the famous Highlander Mudslide.
• Evening Program: Tonight’s EP was one of our oldest traditions - Campfire! We enjoyed live music, dancing with our friends and making memories by the fire’s light.

It was a busy, full, and fabulous first day. As I sit here writing this tonight, camp is finally quiet. The campers are tucked into their cabins with full hearts, dreaming of the adventures to come. And the staff…they are down for the count too. It’s a BIG job they have caring for your precious children, and I am so proud of all they did today to lead, love and serve our campers. We can’t wait to wake up tomorrow for more fun. Thank you for trusting us with your children this week. It is a gift and privilege to share this time with them, and I hope you enjoy this little window into our world each night! It might just have you dreaming about all the fun at Highlander too!