Thank you all for making Opening Day so great! You filled out your forms (I know how hard that can be as my Program Director graciously reminded me this morning that I had not completed my daughter’s trail ride waiver), arrived on time (even early which made me so happy seeing you waiting for the gates to open), painted your car windows and showed outstanding Highlander Spirit on this super busy day. We appreciated your big smiles and positive attitudes. You didn’t let the bridge construction bring you down, and you waited so patiently in the car line for temperature checks. Seeing campers hanging out of windows and sunroofs, hearing your horns honking, and feeling the overwhelming love and support as you prepared to say goodbye to your precious children for the next two weeks made my heart so incredibly full.

When the last car pulled through the gym road gate and left Highlander, I heard over the radio “That’s it guys…they are all here!”I looked at the staff members gathered in my office, smiled big, and said, “All right then. Let’s get this party started!” And party is just what we did today!

The party officially started the second we walked into the dining hall for lunch. The campers were just so incredibly excited to finally be back home at Highlander. Suddenly, the entire room erupted as hands and fists started slamming onto the tables, perfectly locking into that unmistakable WE WILL WE WILL ROCK YOU beat—bang, bang, clap, bang, bang, clap! At first, the sheer volume made me think a hunger riot was breaking out, but then I looked around and realized it was actually the most beautiful music I could possibly imagine. This was the sound of our campers building community. From our very first meal together, returning campers were including new campers, using a simple, rhythmic beat to say, “You belong here.”

The community continued to build throughout the afternoon as our cabins set out for learning, play and adventure. This afternoon every cabin participated in TCOB (Taking Care of Business). During TCOB, cabins complete their swim evaluation at the pool and go through our camper orientation. Camper Orientation is where we lay the foundation for what it truly means to be a Highlander camper. We reviewed our safety and emergency procedures, talked about staying healthy and happy, and our foundational “rule of three” to ensure no camper is ever navigating camp alone. But most importantly, we talked about our culture of kindness.

At Highlander, kind is COOL. We teach our campers that being kind isn’t just a cathcy phrase on a t-shirt—it is an active, intentional 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 take root today as campers leaned into their cabin groups. After only one day together, I saw campers singing and dancing together at campfire tonight and laughing like they have known each other for years.

Camp has an incredible way of sparking deep connections that build life-long friendship. At Highlander, that friendship is best described as family. It starts with a simple beat at the lunch table that slowly, over time, transforms into the most beautiful melody, the kind you just can’t get out of your head and sing joyfully for days. Today has been a blast, and I can’t wait to see the joys and gifts this session will bring for our campers and staff. Thank you for sharing your precious children with us. We are deeply grateful for your trust, partnership and support. After an incredible first day on the mountain, I only have one thing left to say…SESSION A - WE WILL ROCK YOU!

Favorite Details of the Day

• Weather: Absolutely perfect. Cool, crisp mountain breezes paired with sunny skies and bright sunshine all day long. Just as we finished sining taps and I wished the campers goodnight, I felt the first raindrop. Perfect timing! Amazing weather! Fantastic day!
• Meals: Lunch was grilled cheese & tomato soup with french fries. Dinner was delicious pot roast 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.To continue our party theme, tonight we danced the cupid shuffle for dessert - 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.