It All Starts With Courage

In the first few days of camp, I am overwhelmed by the courage at Camp Highlander. Leaving home for two weeks for summer camp takes an incredible amount of courage, whether it is your first year or your tenth. Each year brings new cabinmates, new counselors and even new challenges to overcome, and courage is the key to making the most of the journey. It is courage that leads you to meet your best friend, enjoy the thrill of the giant swing or ask someone to dance at square dance. Courage is the first step to the unforgettable memories and life-changing moments that make up the camp experience.

This morning at Reflect at the Rock, I wanted to inspire our campers to be brave and make the most of today, tomorrow and every day they have at camp. A session at Camp Highlander is full of endless opportunities–all you have to do is decide to make each day yours. As I was reading a book to our campers and staff, I realized that while the book seemed to be about courage and bravery, there was a deeper meaning that held great value for all of us. The line read…

While the world tells our children who they have to be or what they have to do to be accepted, at Highlander they know they are loved just the way they are. This is the ONE LOVE of Camp Highlander. Even if I don’t measure up, don’t reach my goals or do what I set out to do, I am loved. This kind of love that campers feel gives them the confidence and courage they need to try, knowing they are safe and loved.

The Highlander Creed says “Courage is found within in you and is realized through the support and love of those around you. Dare to be brave. Try new things. Stand by your friends.”

Courage was everywhere on Old Forge Mountain today, and we are just getting started.

Favorite Details of the Day

• Reflect at the Rock: Today I read the book “Tommorrow I’ll Be Brave,” by Jessica Hische. I changed the end of the book by adding a few rhymes about being brave at camp with friends by your side. The book encourages kids to promise that tomorrow, they will try new things, do their best, and be brave. We call that courage at Camp Highlander.
• Meals: Breakfast was biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage and fruit bar. Lunch was turkey and cheese ciabatta melts, potato chips and salad bar. Dinner was mexican rice bowls with adobo chicken, homemade guacamole, salsa, cheese, sour cream, black beans and sauteed vegetables. They were amazing! And for dessert tonight we had churros!
• EP: Cabin Challenge - Highlander University Battle of the Nerds! The photos say it all…this was SO MUCH FUN! The cabins dressed to impress, and they competed in all different challenges like trivia baseball, ships and sailors, musical ice buckets, tic-tac-toe relay, nuke em, gaga ball, telephone, flag em and more. Cabin 12 was the winner tonight.
• Weather: The weather was beautiful and hot today. We had sunshine all day, and we loved every minute of it!