First Term In Stride

Boys are in full stride now, enjoying friendships and learning from counselors. I have been able to walk around camp a good bit the last few days and see activities in action.

At the river this morning campers took turns blobbing each other into the water! If you’re unfamiliar, the blob is a giant inflatable balloon basically, made out of strong rubber and filled with air. But not too full. Just enough sag coupled with the weight of one camper jumping onto it launches his buddy at the other end into the air before splashing down into the water.

Disc Sports took a break from the much loved frisbee golf course to get in some games of Ultimate Frisbee on the athletic field. It’s most similar to soccer in skill and strategy. And quite a workout of constant movement!

I was told by campers that today is mud day at Earth Games. I strategically chose to not walk by Earth Games! I’m not sure I have much more explanation for mud day, not sure it needs it. The joys of camp.

I noticed this morning that Wilderness counselors had broken out the compasses. They taught boys a bit about orienteering and then guided them through a course using the compasses.

Team Sports is playing a game called Angle Ball during this rotation. Involving a football, a plunger, and a lacrosse stick, how could it not be fun? The plungers sit upside down on top of two metal poles, positioned at angles on the athletic field. A red playground ball sits atop each plunger. Two teams compete to knock off the opposing teams red ball with a football. Opponents can use the lacrosse sticks to defend said playground ball atop plunger. Elements of 2 hand touch football come into play because if you are tagged you must pass the ball. If the ball is dropped at any point it turns over to the other team.

Yesterday at Project Adventure, our ropes course activity, boys challenged themselves on the high ropes course, navigating the Low V Swing and the Vertical Playpen. The playpen is named because it’s almost like climbing on playground equipment, except vertically about 30 feet in the air, while hooked to a belay rope of course. From the ground, you begin on a rope swing and then transition to tires suspended one on top of the other. From there you move to horizontal logs that are positioned like an ascending ladder but the rungs are farther apart. And finally the spider web net brings you to the top. We love a ropes course for boys because it provides both physical and mental challenge. And safe risk!

A group of 1st year chiefs enjoyed a day of adventure at Sand Rock Village yesterday, led by our guide friends from Higher Ground out of Rome, GA. Sand Rock is about 30 minutes from camp, a mecca for rock climbers because of the vast array of large boulders. Our boys got to try their hand at some real rock climbs, cliff rappells, and cool hikes through the area. There’s a gorgeous bluff vista looking out onto Weiss Lake near Gadsden, AL. Weiss Lake is the terminus for the moving waters of Little River.

I should also mention our Chief 2’s grand adventure. Yesterday morning they departed for the Appalachian Trail in western NC. It’s a pinnacle trip for these boys. They’ll spend 3 days on the trail with their counselors and guides from Higher Ground. They’ll cook all of their meals, filter the local water, and carry everything they need for the trip on their backs. It would be an understatement to say they were pumped to head out when I met with them yesterday morning. The weather looks fantastic in their neck of the woods this week. They’ll hike out of the woods at the Nantahala Outdoor Center near Bryson City, NC for a day of inflatable kayaking on the river.

And of course it’s Tuesday so you know what that means! Taco Tuesday!! We enjoyed our buffet dinner al fresco with our cabins before a fun evening of Glee club singing and night program games.

Thanks for reading and good night for now, Glenn