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THESE CAMPERS ARE AMAZING
There is something that happens on the first full day of a new session that I never get tired of watching. Just yesterday Camp Highlander was brand ne...
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Gray Skies Disappear When the Campers Are Here
We woke up to rain this morning. Not a light drizzle. Rain. The kind that settles into the mountains and makes everything soft and gray and quiet. The...
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Save the Best for Last
I am not someone who likes to save the best for last. I know that is the popular thing to do, but to me…we should strive for the BEST every day. Don’t...
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Learn & Grow
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 happen...
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Wishing and Hoping
As a camp director of 25 years, I’m used to boos. Announce cabin inspection on a Monday morning after a two-day break, and you’re going to get them. I...
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Weekend Update: Sunday
Sundays at Camp Highlander are intentionally slower, less structured, and always full of sweet surprises. They offer the perfect balance of rest (we s...
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Weekend Update: Saturday Session A
I made a resolution this year that I need to tell you about. This is Byran and I’s 25th summer at Highlander and upon reflection I’ve realized that th...
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The Fan Club
As a camp director, I find myself replaying conversations I had with so many of you in the off-season. I remember the stories you shared about your ho...
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The People
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 High...
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Choosing Wisely
Think about the hardest decisions you’ve made in your life. Maybe it was where to go to college - close to home or across the county. Maybe it was whe...
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A Sweet Surprise
There are two things we absolutely need to succeed each summer at camp… great staff and great campers! This session, we are incredibly blessed to have...
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A Great Day
There is something special that happens on the first full day of camp activities. The anticipation of camp has subsided, the routine is in motion, and...
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The Rhythms of Camp: Session A is Here!
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 th...
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A Good-bye Kiss
There’s a unique kind of energy that takes over the mountain when our campers step into the driver’s seat of their own experience, which is exactly wh...
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CLUE, COOKOUT & COURAGE
Today was a first in Camp Highlander history. Our Evening Program director, in a stroke of absolute genius, gave us not one Evening Program, but TWO. ...
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Shout Out to Kickoff Camp
There is a gift we give every camper the moment they arrive at Camp Highlander, and it doesn’t come wrapped in ribbon or tucked inside a trunk. It’s a...
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Six-Seven
The day started with a very important question for our campers. During breakfast announcements, I asked “Can anyone tell me what today is?” Hands wer...
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Opening Day Kickoff: Full Hearts on Old Forge
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 ch...
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Building Resilience at Summer Camp: A Non-Therapeutic Approach to Mental Fitness for Kids
THE BOTTOM LINE Non-therapeutic residential camps that are intentional about character development occupy a critical middle ground between purely recr...
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Separated Co-Ed Camps: The Best of Both Worlds for Families with Brothers and Sisters
A “separated co-ed” camp houses boys and girls on opposite sides of the property in gender-specific cabins while bringing them together for meals, tra...
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Electronics-Free Summer Camps: Why the ‘Analog Childhood’ Movement Is Reshaping How Parents Choose Camp
Electronics-free summer camps remove all personal digital devices, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, gaming consoles, and earbuds, for the...
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The Complete Parent’s Guide to Choosing a First-Time Sleepaway Camp in Western North Carolina
The ideal first sleepaway camp for a young child offers a short introductory session of six to eight nights, a counselor-to-camper ratio of 1:5 or bet...
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How To Find The Best Boys Summer Camp In The U.S.
How To Find The Best Boys Summer Camp In The U.S. Choosing a summer camp for your son can feel overwhelming. With hundreds of options across the count...
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Best Summer Activities For Boys: Building Skills, Confidence, and Lasting Memories
Best Summer Activities For Boys: Building Skills, Confidence, and Lasting Memories Summer break stretches ahead with endless possibilities. For boys a...
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