JOY IN EVERY DROP

Just at the 2:15 snack bell rang, our land sports activity counselor was in the office and said, “Well, that’s my cue, it’s time to play!” I laughed and said, “that’s going to be a muddy game of ultimate after that rainstorm during rest hour,” and he smiled at me and said, “that’s the best kind!”

As a camp director, rain is often viewed as a nuisance or an interruption to our plan. Today, as I watched our campers and staff sing and dance in the rain, I was reminded of the simple joy the rain can bring on a hot summer day. Here at Highlander, rain is welcomed with open arms. It’s not something that disrupts our day; it enhances it. Rain turns the familiar into something special and offers new ways to explore and play. It’s a chance to splash in puddles, create new games, and see our surroundings in a fresh light. At camp, we don’t just endure the rain—we celebrate it! It’s a reminder that even in the wettest weather, there’s an opportunity for fun and connection. As we sing and dance in the rain, we are reminded to embrace the unexpected and find joy in every drop of this gift called Highlander!

Today was our first camper’s choice day of the session, and it was fantastic…rain and all! On camper’s choice days, every camper gets to choose and sign up for their favorite activities for the entire day and make their own schedule. These are definitely some of the most popular days at camp because we not only offer our traditional camp activities, we also have alternative activities outside of our regular programming. Some activities include reading, Taylor Swift Appreciation, making homemade pizza in our pizza oven, flag football, pickleball and more! These activities allow our campers to try something new and connect with others who have similar interests. Camper’s Choice days promote independence, allow campers to have a voice and give them control of their destiny. Most campers choose to travel to activities with friends, while others will sign up alone in pursuit of their personal goals, growth and interests. So many fun things to do and so many choices.

The best choice your children made today was choosing a positive attitude about the rain! Honestly, they inspire me! As EP was ending early because of the weather, Cabin 34 chose to dance outside the gym with the rain pouring down as they screamed and chanted 34, 34, 34!! A few moments later, all of the girls in Box Canyon (cabins 1-5) had a huge dance party outside in the rain with their friends. I just can’t stop smiling about it! Only at camp is this kind of fun waiting for us around every corner, and your children are finding joy in every drop!

Favorite Details of The Day

• Reflect: This morning at Reflect, Ed, our Intermediate Camp Boys Division Head, talked to us about remembering the good times. He shared that when he was a kid, his dad had to travel a lot for work. He said he missed his dad when he was away, but looking back he doesn’t remember being sad when his dad wasn’t with him …instead he remembers when his dad was there! He remembers staying up late to watch movies or play games and the wonderful memories they shared. He challenged all of us at camp to remember that while we may miss our parents, friends or even dogs at home, when we do get home all we will remember is how much fun we had at camp- the friends we made and the adventures we shared. He concluded by saying, not to waste a minute of making memories by mourning what you don’t have here at camp. Jump into camp and embrace every opportunity because these are the memories that last a lifetime!
• Weather: We woke up this morning to blue skies and sunshine, but rain was in the forecast. We had a beautiful morning and then a rainstorm during rest hour that stopped just as the snack bell rang. Then the sun came out and activities were in full swing. Light showers continued off and one all afternoon and through the evening.
• Meals: Breakfast today was Belgian waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, oatmeal, grits and a fresh fruit bar. For lunch we had walking tacos (bag of Fritos, ground turkey taco meat, sour cream, homemade guacamole, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and cheese) and a salad and sandwich bar with whole fruit. This is such a fun meal, and we love teaching campers how to make their walking taco…take a frito bag, add meat and all the fixings, grab a fork and enjoy! For dinner we had teriyaki chicken with vegetables, fried rice, vegetable egg rolls, and salad and sandwich bar. When the disco ball went off, the dining hall went crazy! And tonight, we all enjoyed a Highlander classic…Ice Cream Dream (an extreme ice cream sandwich delight)!
• EP: Tonight’s EP was a Jumanji scavenger hunt. It was so much fun. Our EP staff made this really cool Jumanji board and each cabin came down to roll the dice and start their first challenge. They moved along the board after completing their challenge in different locations on camp and would roll the dice again until the first cabin finished the board. Cabin 34 was the first cabin to complete all the challenges and win the game, taking home the EP trophy for tonight!