Nothing says fun like a game of basketball with Cabin 22! Today the boys learned a thing or two about the game from their amazing instructor Jared who taught them how to mimic the skills of basketball greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Cabin 22 brought their A-game and wowed everyone with their amazing shooting, passing, and layup skills. The boys even got to play a one-on-one game with one another to completely master the court. The boys dominated and truly looked like they were on their way to the pros!
The day has come…Camp Highlander’s Session B Opening Day! There were cheers, games, pictures, and happy campers today as the gates opened for session B campers.
As the cars arrived, the arriving campers were greeted by their cabins and counselors. Then the fun began as they went to the field for face-painting, tug-of-war, and soccer games.
The day ended with Camp Highlander’s signature campfire with music performed by Matt Manning. The campers danced and sang along as they all bonded by the bonfire. It was a day to remember and it will be a session campers will never forget!
Cabin 23 spent their morning doing none other than tennis! There is nothing like a good game of tennis on a nice summer day to get the morning started. The boys first learned the basics like serving, returning, and the basic rules of tennis. Then it was time to play! The campers separated into two groups, and had their very own tennis match. The games were exciting and fun for everyone, and their instructor Ali was extremely impressed by their incredible skills. Looks like Camp Highlander may have some future Andy Roddicks on our hands!
It was Camper Choice Day, and what could be a better activity than Camp Highlander’s ropes course. The ropes course is acres of fun and exciting activities campers can participate in and learn a little more about the ropes and themselves as well. Instructed by the highly trained and energized duo Megan and Anna—the campers got to learn first hand how to take a walk on the wild side or the ropes for that matter. First, the campers learned how to properly put on the harnesses and ropes, and then came the fun part, the rope wall! The campers went through mazes and ended up at the end or the course where they zip lined to the finish. It was thrilling and exciting for everyone, and truly something every camper enjoys!
There is nothing like a game of River Ball on a hot summer day. Cabin 10 had the opportunity to play today during their field sport activity. River Ball is a lot like kick ball, but wetter! It is played like regular kick ball, but the twist comes when the bases are loaded with buckets of water. It can get messy, but the girls of Cabin 10 didn’t mind, they were in it to win it!
We know a few of you may be missing your mountain home, so we thought we’d attach a little video of Matt singing at camp fire. Its a song from campfire’s past that’s sure to be a big hit with all our new campers…
One of the most popular activities during Camper Choice Day is the lake, and it is easy to see why! Many of the campers cannot wait for their turn to visit all of the lake activities, but on Camper Choice Day, they don’t have to wait any longer. There are so many fun and exciting activities for the campers to try like: the blob, wet willy, and the rope swing. The best part about being at the lake on a hot summer day? The lake itself! It’s refreshing and cools off anyone who needs a little replenishing.
Cabin 22 had an experience like no other in pottery class today! They learned how to mold clay and make amazing bowls. The boys used their creative side and created many unique and artistic-looking pieces. They even got to carve their names and whatever else they wanted to onto the bowls as well. Many of the boys will return to pottery during camper choice to glaze their pieces to make them even cooler!
Today the girls of Camp Highlander enjoyed a day of arts and crafts. They made all kinds of amazing things like postcards and candles. The campers were even more creative when they decided to make cupcake candles with lots of sprinkles. They even looked like the real thing! So parents, get ready because your campers are going to bring back so many amazing creations from arts and crafts, you won’t even know what to do with it all!
Camper’s Choice day is an exciting opportunity for campers to pick and choose which activities they would like to partake. They are every Wednesday and Saturday, and the campers get to create their perfect schedule. One of the many wonderful activities Camp Highlander offers is Native American Culture which is new this year at Camp Highlander. Today, the children learned how to make genuine dream catchers with their instructor Janice Crane. They also learned the significance and meaning of the dream catchers so they will be able to tell others in the future. The campers at Camp Highlander will have sweet dreams for sure!
One of the most exiting and exhilarating activities Camp Highlander has to offer is our riflery range. The riflery class is taught by the very skilled and talented Casey Reed who has extensive experience and training, so the girls of Cabin 11 were in for a really exciting class! The girls had the opportunity to learn about gun safety, loading, and how to shoot and aim properly. The girls couldn’t wait to get started, and by the end of class, they were truly professionals. Who said girls can’t shoot?
At Camp Highlander, the camper’s days are filled with fun and exciting scheduled activities throughout the day, but at sixth period, the campers get to choose which activities they would like to participate. Cabin 24 chose archery for their sixth period activity. The cabin wanted to learn more about the sport and how they could improve their skills even more. The archery instructor, Chad Hunter, demonstrated the proper way to hold an archery bow and arrow, and the proper way to shoot at a target. The boys of Cabin 24 were almost pros by the end of the period, and they cannot wait to go back!
Cabin 17 (Junior Girls) had one exciting morning at the BLT. The BLT, which stands for Blue Ridge Life and Times, is the monthly camp newspaper with Kelly Schwab as the Editor. The BLT class began with Schwab getting to know each cabin member and asking what they like to do in their free time. Then she explained how the newspaper worked, and all of the exciting and fun things campers can do for the paper such as: reporting, writing articles or stories, drawing pictures, taking pictures, etc. Instructor Schwab handed out the special press passes and let the girls go around camp and write stories about different subjects they found around camp. The girls wrote stories about butterflies, snake skins, and different plants they found. They were so excited to share all of their story ideas and coulndn’t wait to start their journalism careers here at Camp Highlander.
The anticipation was overwhelming. Thoughts of Camp Highlander ran through my head the whole night, and the excitement of going to camp kept me awake. The drive up to camp was too long; I kept asking my parents, “Are we there yet?” When we finally arrived, the butterflies were twirling in my stomach, and I began to get nervous. Then, I looked out my window and saw people waving at our car, jumping up and down, and screaming, “Welcome to Camp Highlander”, then in an instant all of my butterflies went away. My family and I got out of the car, and I was greeted by my entire cabin. I knew my cabin were going to get along so well because we all had so many things in common. I finally said goodbye to my family and made my way up to my cabin. I knew I was finally home.
The staff at Camp Highlander are so excited and pumped for a new year full of fun and high adrenaline activities for summer 2009 campers. In loo of the camper’s arrival, the wilderness staff are being trained and certified in the challenge course and ropes to insure the safety of every member of Camp Highlander. Their knowledge and experience are impeccable which will make each and every camper’s experience one they will always remember. So campers bring your sense of adventure with you before you leave home because this will be one activity you won’t forget!
