After 60 years of history at Camp Highlander, there is rich tradition that fills our days and our nights. These traditions are what make Camp Highlander special and ultimately binds us together as a family. It is the tradition of the schedule each day that provides comfort for campers because they know what to expect. The tradition of campfire that breeds familiarity from summer to summer reminding us that as we grow older, some things will never change. The tradition of camper choice days that foster independence and build confidence in every child. It is these things that make Camp Highlander unique, and it is these traditions that build a home.

Campers and staff will often ask, “Why do we do it that way?” Sometimes I know the answer, and sometimes the answer is “I guess because we’ve always done it that way.” These traditions that have “always been that way,” were started by someone who loved this mountain and wanted to make it better for someone who followed them.

That is exactly what happened today. Today, we made history at Camp Highlander with the birth of a new tradition. At 11:00 this morning, I loaded my golf cart with 300 mandarin oranges, “cuties”, and headed out to find the real cuties on camp. I pulled up to each activity, greeted the campers and offered a cutie from the cutie cart. I was amazed that while I was the one bearing gifts, it was I who received the joy. “No way…Really…Is this a thing,” someone asked. After the second activity of joyful faces, I said to myself…it is now. Now, it’s a thing!

This is how tradition is born. It starts with an idea, a desire to please or meet a need, and it becomes a necessity in the life of a culture. Today the campers were beside themselves that they were the FIRST session, the FIRST campers to ever have the cutie cart, and this was a moment they would always remember. Today, these campers, their smiles and their abundant joy made history at Camp Highlander, leaving a mark on this mountain forever.

Favorite Details of the Day:

• Reflect - JG talked about trees and dirt. He compared each of our lives to a tree. Trees that have good soil, plenty of water and sunshine will grow tall, with deep roots that keep them strong. We, like trees, must surround ourselves with things that feed us to make us big and strong - good friends, good morals and values and good memories. Watch us grow here at Camp Highlander!
• Meals - Breakfast was french toast sticks, sausage and fruit bar. Lunch - Club Sandwiches, Potato chips and salad. Dinner - Greek Chicken, Greek Salad, Hummus, Pita and Veggies.
• Dessert - They twisted our arms and we gave them Gus’s again…another glorious tradition at Highlander.
• EP - Rock at the Top. This is Highlander’s version of a lip-sync challenge. All dressed up in their costumes, cabins rocked the stage with their smooth moves and hip songs. Unfortunately, the Leadership Team got very confused and thought it was a lip singing contest. Let’s just say, we embarassed ourselves but made everyone laugh! It was a fabulous night!