My heart was racing and I could not stop smiling as the gates swung open at 8:30 this morning. As the first car drove through the gates and made their way to the gym, the cheers from the staff of 2024 were overwhelming! We have been preparing all week to meet the campers, and we were ready…ready for adventure, ready for friendship and ready for fun! And boy have we had a FUN first day of camp!
As each family drove through camp this morning, my heart overflowed with joy watching every smiling camper patiently wait to meet their counselors and run through the opening day tunnel. This tunnel has been a cherished tradition at Camp Highlander for years, symbolizing a warm embrace that welcomes every camper, whether new or returning, into the Highlander family. The best part of the tunnel is what awaits every camper on the other side: new friends who will soon feel like family and new surroundings that will soon feel like home.
We are incredibly grateful to each of you for sharing your children with us. It is a gift we will cherish throughout this session and for years to come. I look forward to meeting you here each day and providing a glimpse into the magic of Camp Highlander.
Our afternoon was filled with fantastic activities and new adventures with our friends. The sun was shining and the energy was electric on camp. I took an afternoon walk with our camp dog, Lovey, to see the fun for myself. I was overhwelmed by the bonds that had already formed within cabins in just a few short hours. The smiles from campers were precious, but the joy on the faces of the staff was unreal. These amazing staff members have been waiting all week to meet your children, and today they were living the dream! After 23 years as a camp director, I told our staff in training last week to embrace every moment, enjoy every day because this is the BEST job they will ever have. And today they all agreed that I was right! We have fallen in love with your children in one short day! Thank you for sharing them with us!
Favorite Details of the Day
- Weather: AMAZING!! The sun was shining, and there was a cool breeze in the air…it was picture perfect!
- Meals: We enjoyed our opening day tradition of grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch! Many campers also enjoyed our yummy salad bar and sandwich bar! For dinner we had delicious pot roast with carrots and potatoes, salad bar and homemade rolls. When the disco ball lit up at the end of dinner, we all danced the cupid shuffle and enjoyed some famous Highlander Mudslide for dessert! YUM!
- EP: We started our session off with a pirate hunt. Just at the end of dinner as announcements were being made, a couple of pirates came and stole the EP trophy from the dining hall. The EP staff begged the Highlander campers for help in tracking the pirates and recovering the trophy. After the pirates were found the the trophy was returned, we all enjoyed our opening campfire. This is one of Highlander’s oldest traditions where campers and staff enjoy dancing and singing to their favorite campfire songs.
About Melissa Fitzgerald
