As I sit at my computer tonight, camp is quiet. The chanting has stopped, the face paint has been showered off, and every camper was fast asleep as soon as their head hit the pillow. Day Three was fantastic — full of great competition and nail-biting surprises! Or should I say… nail-hammering surprises! I’m getting ahead of myself.

The day was full of Blue Knights and Red Dragons battling it out in a day of intense competition. With more points up for grabs today than any other day of Color War, every event carried high stakes, and both teams brought their absolute best. The morning was packed with division-based competitions from archery to soccer to mahjong — it was a day full of intense competition no matter the event.

Morale and mindset are a huge part of Color War. What campers don’t always realize, though I’ve tried to tell them, is that every point matters! The Blue Knights had won every EP so far, and I could feel the Red Dragons struggling with morale today. The truth is, all the points earned during the day are worth five to ten times more than any single EP. The Color War EPs are for entertainment, just like every Evening Program at camp, but they’re not what matters most. It’s what happens during the day, with your friends and your cabinmates, that truly impacts your experience — and in Color War, what truly impacts the score.

The score had been leaning in the Blue Knights’ favor until 5:00 pm, when the afternoon brought one of Color War’s oldest traditions: Mountain Relay. This legendary race, dating back to 1976, features 58 different challenges and involves over 70 campers from each team. Every participant must complete their obstacle while carrying a baton — yes, the very same batons that have been passed down through generations since 1976.

The relay course is as creative as it is grueling: piggybacking a junior camper uphill from the barn to the gate, swooshing two three-pointers and two lay-ups at the slab, saying the alphabet backwards, putting on band-aids, hitting 20 points at archery, carrying cinder blocks from archery to the lake, kayaking around Silver Lake Island, blobbing a teammate, speed-walking, tossing frisbees, mini rope-burning, and much more. Every leg counts, and one small slip can change the outcome entirely.

From the moment the starting whistle blew, it was clear we were witnessing two teams evenly matched in talent, determination, and loyalty. Both teams were neck and neck, until the Blue Knights’ runner shot off like a bullet, giving the Knights a minute or two of an advantage. The Dragons stayed close behind for most of the race — never so far back that they lost sight of Blue ahead of them, which only motivated them to keep going, no matter what.

Both teams reached archery, but the Dragons got a little nervous and couldn’t hit the target right away, even though their archer was well-prepared. The Knights pulled ahead with a solid lead. But here’s the thing about Color War: that lead doesn’t really matter until it’s over. One slip-up, and the team in front can change in an instant.

The Knights arrived at mini rope-burning early, feeling confident about their lead — but I’ve seen it happen so many times, and this is exactly the spot where the tables can turn. And they did. The Red Dragons arrived at mini rope-burning several minutes behind Blue, but with strong coaching and cool nerves, the Dragons’ rope broke first. The next leg that tends to slow teams down is hammering a nail — each team must have one person hammer a nail into a 2x4 before running to ring the dining hall bell. It was a nail-biting leg to watch, and both teams did a fantastic job. In the end, the Red Dragons rang the bell first and became this year’s champions of the Mountain Relay!

The relay course is as creative as it is grueling: piggybacking a junior camper uphill from the barn to the gate, swooshing two three-pointers and two lay-ups at the slab, saying the alphabet backwards, putting on band-aids, hitting 20 points at archery, carrying cinder blocks from archery to the lake, kayaking around Silver Lake Island, blobbing a teammate, speed-walking, tossing frisbees, mini rope-burning, and much more. Every leg counts, and one small slip can change the outcome entirely.

From the moment the starting whistle blew, it was clear we were witnessing two teams evenly matched in talent, determination, and loyalty. Both teams were neck and neck, until the Blue Knights’ runner shot off like a bullet, giving the Knights a minute or two of an advantage. The Dragons stayed close behind for most of the race — never so far back that they lost sight of Blue ahead of them, which only motivated them to keep going, no matter what.

Both teams reached archery, but the Dragons got a little nervous and couldn’t hit the target right away, even though their archer was well-prepared. The Knights pulled ahead with a solid lead. But here’s the thing about Color War: that lead doesn’t really matter until it’s over. One slip-up, and the team in front can change in an instant.

The Knights arrived at mini rope-burning early, feeling confident about their lead — but I’ve seen it happen so many times, and this is exactly the spot where the tables can turn. And they did. The Red Dragons arrived at mini rope-burning several minutes behind Blue, but with strong coaching and cool nerves, the Dragons’ rope broke first. The next leg that tends to slow teams down is hammering a nail — each team must have one person hammer a nail into a 2x4 before running to ring the dining hall bell. It was a nail-biting leg to watch, and both teams did a fantastic job. In the end, the Red Dragons rang the bell first and became this year’s champions of the Mountain Relay!

Tonight’s Evening Program events included Teen Idol, our Color War talent show, and Harness Pull. The results of these events will be posted tomorrow as the Green Giants are still deliberating.

Tonight, like every camper on camp, my head will hit the pillow hard, and I’ll sleep soundly knowing we’ve had an amazing Color War. Stay tuned for the results tomorrow — I can’t wait. The final program is the best part, and I am so excited to see your kids on stage!