When I travel in the off-season and people inquire about Camp Highlander, they often ask, “So tell me about your camp? What is it that makes Camp Highlander unique?” My answer is always the same…the people! Sure, Camp Highlander is located on a beautiful 240 acres in the Blue Ridge mountains, but that is not what makes it special. Yes, we have been reported to have better camp food than any other summer camp in the country, but our menus and recipes could be copied. Yes, we have nice facilities, housing and programming, but so do other camps. What really makes the difference is the people who love and care for you at Highlander. The campers and staff who gather in this place for a unique time in history are the ones who make each day at Highlander unforgettable and truly magical.

The campers and staff ARE Camp Highlander. They bring the spirit of camp to life with their love, their heart and their energy. The people are the most important part of our culture, and today was a day ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE! Today we were back together as cabin units, and all was right in the world at Highlander!

From the moment campers woke up this morning until they climbed into their bunks tonight, the focus was on spending quality time with the people who make camp feel like home: their cabinmates and counselors. At Highlander, the Cabin Unit is the heart and soul of our experience. It is so much more than just the group of friends you live with. The cabin unit is the place where you belong, where you feel safe to be yourself, where meaningful friendships are formed, confidence is built, and unforgettable memories are made.

Within each Cabin Unit, campers practice important life skills every day. They learn how to cooperate, compromise, communicate, and work through challenges together. They celebrate each other’s successes, support one another through difficult moments, and discover what it means to be part of a community. Most importantly, they have a whole lot of fun along the way.

To cap off an incredible day spent with our cabin groups, tonight’s Evening Program was Cabin Night—a special tradition dedicated entirely to cabin bonding. Each cabin had the freedom to design its own evening adventure, creating experiences that reflected the unique personalities and interests of its campers.

Some cabins opted for relaxing spa nights, complete with face masks, cucumber eye treatments, and manicures. Others chose action-packed fun with laser tag, ping-pong tournaments, and games of bombardment in the gym. Across camp, campers enjoyed a drive-in movie night, made midnight snacks in the camper kitchen, practiced karate chops in the woodshop, and took part in countless other creative twists.

Favorite Details of The Day

• Reflect at the Rock: This morning at Reflect, Virginia talked about the conversations you have with yourself. We all talk to ourselves all day long and don’t even realize that some of the things we say to ourselves are not very nice. She challenged us to take our thoughts captive and remember to be kind to ourselves.
• Weather: We were blessed with a beautiful day and the rain held off for us to enjoy a wonderful cookout on the field. Just as cabins were heading out for the Cabin Night adventures, it started to rain. We need the rain, but I find it very inconvenient. The best thing is that our campers don’t. I saw campers singing, dancing and laughing in the rain tonight. Nothing could steal their joy today…even the rain. Just as everyone got back to their cabins for bed, the rain started to fall much harder. We are supposed to have a constant rainfall tonight, but the skies should be clear by morning. The rain on the tin roof is the natures sound machine for a wonderful night’s sleep.
• Meals: For breakfast we had bagels and cream cheese, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, grits, oatmeal and a fresh fruit bar. For lunch we had chicken fingers, french fries, a salad bar and a sandwich bar. Dinner was cookout on the field with Bryan’s delicious hamburgers and hot dogs, pasta salad, cold watermelon, potato chips and chocolate chip cookies.
• EP: Tonight’s evening program was Cabin Night!

My favorite part of the day was Cookout. There is something special about eating dinner outside. Without tables, benches, or a formal beginning and end to the meal, campers spread out across the field, enjoying the freedom to socialize and play. Frisbees flew through the air, friends braided hair, cheerleading stunts were practiced, songs were sung, and dance parties broke out between bites of dinner. It was one of those simple Camp Highlander moments that reminds us how blessed we are to be together, at this time, with these people.

We often say that it is not what you are doing at Camp Highlander that matters…it is who you are doing it with. Today I saw absolute joy on the faces of all of our campers for that very reason. We love the activities, but we really love our friends. They are the people who make our summer unforgettable.