Tonight was one of those magical nights that reminds me exactly why Camp Highlander is so special. Dinner stretched on until 7:15—an hour and fifteen minutes of nonstop laughter, cheers, applause, and heartfelt words. Why? Because tonight was our last dinner together as a camp family, and it’s our tradition to make it our final “shout-out” of the session.

One by one, campers and staff stood up to share shout-outs and gratitude: to their cabinmates for being their second family; to their counselors for patience, kindness, and laughter; to the activity staff for unforgettable fun; to the kitchen crew for keeping us all fed and happy; and to our incredible maintenance team for fixing all the things. And, of course, to Camp Highlander —for being the place where all of the magic and memories happen.

The dining hall was alive with cheers, standing ovations, and smiles that lit up the entire room. It was so moving to hear camper after camper say the same thing in their own words: “MY CABIN IS THE BEST CABIN ON CAMP!” That truth warms my heart more than I can say.

Just under two weeks ago, many of us were strangers. Now, we’re family. We’ve shared the highs and the lows, laughed until our sides hurt, and learned so much about ourselves and one another. We’ve grown stronger, braver, and more confident. Camp has challenged us and carried us—lifting us to new heights while picking us up from the tough moments.

It hasn’t been about perfection, but about progress. We are all a work in progress, but Camp Highlander has brought us closer to becoming the people we’re meant to be.

Bryan and I are so grateful to you for sharing your amazing children with us! We have cherished every laugh, hug and high-five. This is my last blog of the session, because tomorrow I want to enjoy every last minute with your children. They are what make this place so extraordinary. Session B 2025 will go down in the books as one of the greatest yet—so thank you to our parents, campers and staff who made it possible. We love you!

Tomorrow we will:

• Pack up in the morning,
• Enjoy dancing in the dining hall at lunch
• Watch the HBA finals
• Have an awards ceremony
• Eat Papa John’s pizza in the cabin with friends
• Enjoy one final campfire of session B
• Watch the Session B Slideshow and WBLT
• And fall asleep dreaming of the summer of 2026

Favorite Details of The Day

• Reflect at the Rock: Today Jeremy shared the story of his favorite team winning the Superbowl in 2009 - the Pittsburgh Steelers. He shared that Santonio Holmes had the game-winning touchdown catch in the final seconds of the game. After the game when Holmes was interviewed about his performance during the game, he said that his motivation was a mantra he repeats…dare to be great! Greatness doesn’t just happen. Greatness is about taking risks and daring to do hard things. Jeremy encourage all of us as we leave this session to dare to be great!
• Weather: It was another fantastic day for Camper’s Choice on Old Forge Mountain! Despite some stormy forecasts, we enjoyed beautiful sunshine, clear skies, and a gentle breeze in the Carolina Pines. I’m especially grateful that our campers got one last perfect, rain free day to enjoy their favorite activities with their favorite friends.
• Meals: For breakfast we had cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, sausage links, grits, oatmeal and a fruit and yogurt bar. For lunch we had philly cheesesteaks, sweet potato fries, salad bar and sandwich bar. For dinner we had chicken fettuccine alfredo, roasted broccoli, garlic bread, and a salad and sandwich bar. And final dinner would not be complete without dessert - ice cream dream, a Camp Highlander signature.
• EP: Tonight’s Evening Program was a Camp Highlander classic: Mr. Highlander! This spoof beauty pageant for our male staff is always a hit. Cabins cheered wildly for their chosen contestants, campaigning all week with posters and shout-outs.Our staff went all in—dressing up, performing lip sync acts with campers, showing off hilariously silly talents, and answering interview questions with charm and humor. This year’s Mr. Highlander was one of the Cabin 24 counselors, Mr. Colin Wanless!