Greetings from the Mountain!
Welcome to Karl’s Campfire Chat, my new monthly blog that highlights the four cornerstones of the Camp Highlander Creed. Our Creed is the foundation of camp – it greatly impacts our culture, and embodies the values we aim to live by each and every day.
If you’re a current camper, staff member or CH alumnae, you know that Highlander is much more than just a summer camp. We’re a family. Since 1957, Old Forge Mountain has served as home for thousands of boys and girls. Some start as campers and go on to join our staff. Others start as staff and go out into the world to pursue their career goals. No matter how you got to the mountain or for how long you were here, one thing is for sure – the values and ethics learned at Camp Highlander will prepare you for the challenges and success you encounter throughout your lifetime.
Words to Live By
Courage. Honesty. Integrity. Faith. These values are the four cornerstones of the Highlander Creed, and each one inspires boys and girls to approach every situation with an open heart and mind. Check out these five key ways Highlander readies campers and staff to take on any challenge life has to offer.
Courage
Courage is found within you and is realized through the support and love of those around you. Dare to be brave. Try new things. Stand by your friends.
Fear can be paralyzing. Whether you’re nine or 19-years old, fear can stop you from achieving goals or enjoying new experiences. At Camp Highlander, we aim to help campers and staff overcome their fears and to be courageous at every turn. Supporting each other is critical to developing and maintaining lasting friendships.
Honesty
Be yourself. Honesty builds trust. Trust is the foundation of our family. Be kind to others, honesty is shown in our actions not just words. Speak truth in love to your neighbor.
Being honest with others – and yourself – is critical to living a peaceful, happy, healthy life. Our Highlander family is encouraged to be kind to others, to always be honest, and to trust in each other to help get through any challenge, big or small.
Integrity
Be strong. Integrity builds confidence. Respect your peers, your elders and yourself. Lead by example. Win with integrity. Lose with integrity. Live a life of moral conviction, worthy of modeling.
One of the greatest attributes of Camp Highlander is that it brings so many people of all different ages and experiences to one magical place. Our diversity allows us to learn from each other on a daily basis. We take this responsibility seriously, and we encourage everyone to go forth with integrity every day. If we are respectful of one another, our experiences here and throughout life will be that much more rewarding.
Faith
Believe. Seek joy in your life. Never stop dreaming. Faith is the ability to receive, find and make meaning in our lives. Faith is being certain of what is not seen and sure of what we hope for…experience the magic of Camp Highlander.
As we get older, we tend to lose a little of our imagination, to see extraordinary potential in ordinary things. But as we all know, our mountain is full of magic. Every day, we try to harness that magic – we actively encourage everyone who comes here to have faith and believe that anything is possible, and to never give up hope. Dream big, but appreciate the little things in life that bring special meaning and provide memories for years to come.
The Camp Highlander Creed is upheld through our programs, our traditions, and especially through our experienced staff. Living each day by these four values helps build character and brings out the best in boys and girls while on the mountain … and throughout their lives.
From the Mountain,
Karl
About Melissa Fitzgerald
