The Legacy Project

In all we do, we seek to provide a way for our campers, counselors and alumni to be a part of this mountain home and the ‘One Love’ of our camp family forever. When you’re here, whether that was 60 years ago or just last summer, you’re part of a magical, incredible journey. Your Highlander story, from your very first summer at camp to your last, becomes a huge part of your life. And when you leave, sure, you take pieces of it with you —in memories, t-shirts, photographs and various mementos— but you move on, and so does camp.

And while we think it’s wonderful that camp leaves its mark on each and every one of us when we leave, we want to provide a way for everyone to be able to leave their mark on camp as well. With that goal in mind, we are incredibly excited to announce the Legacy Project — a camp renovation project years in the making that will provide the opportunity for everyone to leave a little piece of themselves at camp.

Essentially, the Legacy Project is an intentional effort to update the Assembly Court and its surrounding area. From sunup to sundown, the Assembly Court is one of the most heavily used areas on camp. We gather together there each morning, participate in certain activities there throughout each day, and meet together once again each night to kick off most of our Evening Programs. And while the Assembly Court has served us well, hosting memorable event after memorable event, it is in serious need of repair.

And that’s where your partnership comes in. As we begin this renovation project, you, our camp family, will have the opportunity to sponsor a portion of the beautiful centerpiece of your mountain home. Cobblestone pathways, stone steps and benches, and even newly planted trees can all be dedicated (through engraved messages or accompanying plaques) in your name, commemorating a special person or unforgettable memory from your camp experience, your favorite cabin, a group of friends, your color war team, or the meaning camp holds in your heart. Think of it as a lasting love letter, given from you to camp, celebrating the part you’ve played in the legacy we share.

Every year, when our gates close for the off-season and autumn settles in on Old Forge, we get straight to work improving our beloved mountain home. We update cabins, bring new life to activity areas and build exciting additions on camp. But while most of these projects are about improving the physical aspect of camp, the Legacy Project is about much more than that.

It’s about all of us, the Camp Highlander family, who have explored these mountains and walked these trails and slept under these stars. It’s about joining together to build something bigger than ourselves, something that commemorates the legacy of those Highlander alumni who have come before us, something that serves our current campers and counselors, and something that will continue to play a vital role in the daily life of camp each summer for generations to come. It’s about each of us forever leaving our own mark on the legacy of Camp Highlander. Because a legacy isn’t much of a legacy without the people who made it all possible. We love you and can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Coming Summer 2020 - Your Legacy at Camp Highlander!