Opening Day Session A 2022 could not have been better! As each car pulled through the gates of camp, the staff got more and more excited about the two weeks to come. As campers filed out of their cars and headed through the tunnel, I watched the expressions on the face of each and every parent. I saw joy, laughter and excitement from the parents whose campers ran full speed through the tunnel to embrace the adventure that lies ahead. I saw tears behind big sunglasses from parents who knew they were making the best decision for their child, but couldn’t bear the heartache of watching them go. I saw the hope and faith in the eyes of parents who were sending their children off for the first time, trusting the staff they had only met for what felt like a second. I saw the look of confidence and pride from the parents who felt prepared and ready for the goodbye, knowing their child was safe and loved at Camp Highlander.
I saw you. I felt your fears, and my eyes frequently filled with tears for you. As a parent, I know that good-byes are hard, but they make the reunion so much sweeter. Over the next two weeks, I know you will miss your children, and they will miss you too. They will miss the way you tuck them in at night or the way you make their breakfast just the way they like it. They will miss their pets and maybe even their siblings. But this missing of things loved is the best reminder for them to be grateful for the wonderful life you are giving them.
We are blessed to be a part of that beautiful story you are building for your children. I want you to know that we are so grateful to have your children with us this session. We are honored to share the gift of camp with them over the next two weeks, and we look forward to giving you a window into our world through this blog. So stay tuned because the fun has just begun!
Favorite Details of the Day
- Meals: Our opening day lunch tradition is grilled cheese and tomato soup. Campers were very excited that the salad bar is back this year and many enjoyed a fresh salad at lunch. For dinner we had pot roast with potatoes, carrots and onions, homemade rolls and a mixed green salad with strawberries and feta. The dining hall went WILD when the disco ball was turned on towards the end of the meal. Dessert or dancing is the question…tonight we enjoyed both. Everyone got up and did the Cupid Shuffle in the dining hall before enjoying the famous Highlander Mudslide!
- Weather: The weather was absolutely perfect today, which many of you noted when you dropped your children off this morning. There was a delightful cool breeze in the air, and the sun was shining all day! The weather made a beautiful backdrop for us to jump feet first into activities this afternoon. Honestly, it was perfect! Weather like this is what summers in the mountains are made of!
- EP: To kickoff our session, we enjoyed one of Highlander’s oldest camp traditions for EP…campfire. We gathered around as a family and sang our favorite camp songs, danced our heart out and enjoyed the company of our new camp friends.
About Melissa Fitzgerald
