Traditionally the day after Color War is the day of rest. After four days of running, racing and rushing, we were all grateful for a simple and slow Sunday. Campers enjoy just hanging out with friends, lounging in their hammocks and soaking up every last minute of camp.

This morning we slept in late and enjoyed Sunday chapel and then had camp clean up, and boy did we need it. Color War brought great fun but also lots of trash and lost and found items. Each cabin was assigned a small area of camp where they would collect the trash and all the lost and found they saw in that area.

After lunch we enjoyed an extended rest hour to catch up on sleep after an exhausting four days, and then we gathered in the gym for a relaxing movie - Raya and the Last Dragon. The day of rest is the only day of the summer that we show a movie, so it is a really big deal to the campers to just be able to relax. No performing or competing is required for a movie, and this provides tremendous refueling for our campers as we head into the last few days of fun at camp. The head counselors popped popcorn and served candy from Gus’, which made the movie treat even better. Many campers made bracelets, braided hair, played cards or read a book during the movie, which is perfectly fine. Our goal is to provide a way for them to recharge and be ready for activities tomorrow.

For dinner we enjoyed a cookout on the field. This was the last cookout of the summer, and I found myself sad about it. Cookout is a camper favorite, not because the food is that great (although Bryan makes a pretty mean burger), but because this is a time of friendship, fellowship and casual fun. There is something so wonderful about throwing the frisbee, eating on the grass and relaxing with friends as you look up at the Blue Ridge Mountains that surround you. I am not sure which is more beautiful to me, the view or the sound of the laughter, the cheering and the chatter. In just 5 short days, all of this noise will disappear, and my world will get a lot quieter. Oh how I am going to miss that beautiful noise!

Our evening program tonight was campfire, which was the perfect way to bring our cabins back together and to kickoff our last week of camp. We sang, danced, laughed and even cried as we thought about how quickly the time has passed. We all enjoyed cookies and milk after campfire, one of my favorite camp traditions, and then we headed up to get a good night of sleep.

Honor Campers and Cabins

• Lower Camp Girls - Emory F., Cabin 12
• Upper Camp Girls - Katelyn S., Cabin 5
• Lower Camp Boys - Henry P., Cabin 27
• Upper Camp Boys - Rick P, Cabin 34
• Girls Honor Cabin - Cabin 11
• Boys Honor Cabin - Cabin 26