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Look Who Went To Camp!

February 28, 2012

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\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWhile looking at the American Camp Association website, we came across this interesting list of celebrities and leaders who grew up attending summer camp.\r\n\r\nWe here at Rockbrook know that camp is a place that fosters creativity, independence, character development, curiosity, inspiration, fun and leadership.  Just take a look at the list and you will agree that “Camp gives kids a world of good”!  We wonder what future leaders are in the ranks of Rockbrook right now? 🙂

Goodwill Plantation Website

February 24, 2012

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Web Site Logo for Goodwill Plantation South Carolina

It was back in 1888 when the mother and father of Nancy Carrier, Rockbrook’s founder, used $100,000 to buy the Goodwill Plantation down in central South Carolina. This is where Nancy was born and lived until she moved to the mountains of North Carolina, where Rockbrook Camp is currently located. Two of the smaller cabins from the plantation were eventually moved to Rockbrook when the camp was established in 1921. These are the Goodwill cabin and the Curosty cabin. Now there is news that the current owner of the Goodwill Plantation, Larry Faulkenberry, is restoring many of the plantation buildings, making them available for guided tours and even vacation accommodations. He has reconstructed the Millhouse using the original 1760 cast iron waterwheel and millstones. There is a 4-bedroom Lodge overlooking the 80-acre millpond, nature trails and other historic buildings. Visiting the plantation is by appointment only, so check out the Web site to find out more.

Goodwill Plantation Heyward House
Goodwill Plantation Water Wheel
Goodwill Plantation Original Cabins

Take a Summer Camp Survey

February 17, 2012

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The Magic of Summer Camp

Each year the Rockbrook staff participate in the American Camp Association Annual Conference.  It is held in different locations around the country and features different speakers, camp suppliers, and opportunities for networking and sharing.  Last year we had the pleasure of traveling to San Diego, CA where we really enjoyed the keynote speaker,  Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D.  Thompson has written several books about raising happy, healthy children.  He is currently writing a new book and is looking for input from former campers and counselors.  If you are interested in taking his survey and sharing some of your Rockbrook memories, just visit his website where you will find the summer camp questionnaire.  Have fun walking down memory lane!

You may also want to take a moment to read his most recent blog post,” What’s The Magic of Camp?”.  It is a great summary of what we here at Rockbrook already know.  Rockbrook is a very special place!

 

Rockbrook and Richard Sharp Smith

February 9, 2012

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The Rockbrook House, 1930's

The Rockbrook House, also known as The Clarke Carrier House, is located in the center of Rockbrook’s property.  It was built in 1895 by Henry Peck Clarke, father of Rockbrook’s founder Nancy Carrier.  Clarke hired Richard Sharp Smith, supervising architect of The Biltmore House, to design his mountain home.  The house was completed in 1895, just a few months after The Biltmore Estate was completed.  At that time, Smith opened his own architecture firm and began designing homes and civic buildings around western NC.  He is considered to be one of the most prolific and influential architects during the 1900’s in the Asheville area.  He, along with his firm Smith and Carrier, designed over 700 structures throughout western NC. His work is known for its Craftsman and Colonial Revival Styles,  such as the use of pebbledash stucco on the exterior, half timbering, and diamond pane windows.  These features are all part of The Rockbrook House.  (Note the diamond pane windows flanking the front door).

As you travel the back roads of western NC, you are sure to spot examples of his influence around every turn.  We here at Rockbrook are proud to share a piece of the architectural history of our region. Here are some other examples of Smith’s work around NC.

Kanuga Conference Center Cottages, Hendersonville, NC

Annie West House, Asheville, NC

The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

Anderson Auditorium, Montreat, NC

The Name Game

January 27, 2012

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Come slide down the slide at Rockbrook
Zipping down the water slide at our camp reunion

During our camp reunion back in August, one of the highlights for the alumnae was sliding down our brand new water slide.  The tower stands at 30 feet high and the vinyl slide itself slides for 50 feet.  It is so much fun to climb the tower and then fly down the slide to the lake below!  Here are some great photos of the slide that were taken during the summer.

Now that the slide has been broken in properly by all of our campers and alumnae, we are ready to come up with a creative name.  A few suggestions have been put forward, but a name has not stuck.  If you have any suggestions just send us an email at office@rockbrookcamp.com or comment below.  You may just become a part of Rockbrook history by inaugurating the slide with an official Rockbrook name.  Let us hear from you!

Congratulations Kristin and James!

January 19, 2012

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Rockbrook Wedding

We were so happy to learn of the recent nuptials of Rockbrook alumna Kristin Abele.  Kristin and her husband James were married on January 14th in Key Biscayne, Florida.  A mini Rockbrook reunion took place as Kristin’s sisters Lauren and Madi (both former campers), as well as Anne Romatowski and Kelley Hubbell were in attendance.  Kelley, Anne and Lauren were even able to come to Florida a week early for a some fun adventures before the big event.  Kristin reported that lots of camp songs were shared that week, even at the wedding.  We love that Rockbrook spirit!  Kristin even mentioned that many of the wedding guests could instantly recognize the special bond that all RBC girls share!

Rockbrook Spirit

Here is an update from Kristin herself:

“As an update for me…aside from getting married…I started my own business, with my husband in fact. We own and operate The Found Gen, which is a story/scripting group based in Miami that offers writing and editing services with an emphasis on marketing to businesses–we write copy for websites, blogs, newsletters, email marketing campaigns, proposals, marketing presentations, film scripts, commercial scripts, keynote speeches and more–and now after our wedding, we’ve even started getting requests for wedding ceremonies now! And, I completed my first novel last year and now that the wedding has come and gone–i’m aiming to edit it and send it out to be published this Spring.”

Congratulations Kristin and James!  We are so happy for you both.

Rockbrook Wedding Fun
Kelley, Kristin, Madi, Lauren and Anne

Rainbow over Rockbrook

January 10, 2012

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Rainbow over Rockbrook Camp

 

While driving out to Rockbrook recently we spotted this amazing rainbow!  If there was a pot of gold to be found, where better than to find it at RBC?  I wonder where it would be?  Maybe near the Junior Lodge, Castle Rock, Rockbrook Falls or Dunns Rock?  Where do you think it would be?  I think the hidden treasure of RBC is the treasure we carry in our hearts filled with the wonderful people, friendships and memories that we all share!

In the words of poet William Wordsworth: “My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.”

Summer Gardening

January 4, 2012

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From homemade pizza, to felafel and feta salad, to Mexican tamales, the Rockbrook kitchen staff serves up top-notch culinary creations. While earlier days at Rockbrook didn’t offer the same international variety of foods, it could boast of a bountiful, sustainable, and local food source. A 1926 RBC brochure states that the vast majority of the food used at camp was produced at the Rockbrook Farm, located across the road from camp on Greenville Highway. The farm, which was personally managed by Henry Carrier, provided all of the fixings for a balanced, healthy meal: eggs, chicken, lamb, mutton, milk, cream, butter, and vegetables. Rockbrook even cured it’s own ham and bacon for the summer.

Long rows of vegetables at the Rockbrook garden
Campers gather corn from the farm

Rockbrook currently does not have any large-scale farming, however it does have a rich garden. Located on the lower sports field, the RBC garden was started in 2009 and has been growing steadily ever since. Campers enjoy maintaining a variety of plants, and are especially excited to pick ripened vegetables, such as squash, zucchini, edamame, bell peppers, tomatoes, and beans. Once picked and washed, these vegetables are featured in the dining hall’s salad bar. Below, you’ll find a few of our favorite shots from a garden workshop this summer, where campers delighted in making tussie mussies and building a scarecrow!