Camp Dance

June 12, 2010

Today, Saturday, was a regular day of activities in the morning and an all-camp activity in the afternoon called “Counselor Hunt.” There’s a long tradition of this event where once a session the whole camp essentially plays hide and seek, with the counselors hiding and the campers seeking. The game happens within the core part of the camp (not within the entire 215 acres!), but still there are loads of hiding places. And, of course, this is another oppo0rtunity to dress up. Today we had the cabin groups dressing alike (one transformed themselves into Ninjas!) and the counselors wearing their best camouflage. Each counselor is worth a certain number of points, 100 for each year they’ve been to camp. This makes some counselors worth a lot when they are found; Christine carried 1600 points, for example. It’s fun to see the cabin groups dashing about the camp, and to hear the shouts when they bag a counselor. I think a saw a couple of cakes for the top few winning cabin groups.

After dinner, we had our first camp dance of the summer. We loaded all of our girls up in buses and vans to make the short (6 mile) drive to High Rocks Camp for Boys. This was a square dance held outdoors on the tennis courts. When they first heard about this plan, some of the older girls didn’t quite know what to think since square dancing isn’t exactly “cool” these days, but once we got there, heard the music and saw that everyone, even the boys, was participating, they really had a good time. Being such a group phenomenon, there really isn’t much girl/boy pressure, and everyone swings a partner, holds a hand in the circle, and learns to do-si-do. It’s surprisingly fun to learn the moves, try them out together, and laugh when you mess up. We took a break part way through for cookies and lemonade, with a couple of dances to close out the evening. Oh, and by the way, for those girls who didn’t want to participate in the dance, we had an alternative; a couple of counselors hung out with them and made friendship bracelets while listening to the music. It was an exciting evening with lots of smiles and good feelings all around.

Granny Bingo

June 11, 2010

By Jeff Carter

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Grits, sausage, eggs and fruit for breakfast… homemade broccoli-chicken casserole, salad and butternut squash soup for lunch… cheese tortellini, focaccia bread, with roasted summer squash and peppers for dinner. It’s hard not to talk about the food at camp with this kind of variety and good healthy fare coming from Rick’s kitchen. Oh, I forgot to mention the chocolate chip muffins we had for muffin break and the chocolate pudding served for desert at dinner. The campers love when we have chocolate pudding because, beyond it being a sweet treat, it means the counselors have to clear their cabin’s table (instead of a couple of campers). It’s a long, funny tradition at Rockbrook that even has a short song to go with it.

After breakfast Clyde took a bunch of Juniors on a day hike to Moore Cove in the forest. (By the way, have you read Clyde’s Bio?) They looked great all geared up with their backpacks, water bottles and cameras. It’s a short bus ride to the trail head, and from there, a wonderful easy hike through the woods to a cool 40 ft waterfall. What’s neat is that you can walk under the falls and see from the “inside out.” The falls are narrow and delicate, and in the morning in direct sunlight. It’s truly beautiful.

Campers acting like old ladies at summer camp

Tonight the Juniors and Middlers played bingo in the dining hall, but not just ordinary bingo— Granny Bingo! At Rockbrook, everything is more fun when you can dress up and become a funny character. So tonight the girls pulled out wigs, glasses, robes and head scarves. They stuffed pillows inside their clothes (for an added effect!), and found a cane, or just walked around with a bent posture and talked with a scratchy voice. Very funny stuff. Of course, there were loads of prizes to win each round: stickers, card games, key chains, RBC sunglasses, etc. The counselors led the whole event by also dressing up and by calling the numbers “in character.” “N29… oh dear, I remember when I was 29… such a good year!” There are more photos in gallery, so be sure to check those out.

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A Full Camp Day

June 10, 2010

By Jeff Carter

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It was another full, busy day at Rockbrook Camp today with campers signed up for trips, special activities available, and a fun day-long theme to add even more silliness to the mix. Everyone was excited to learn about the surprise theme— Cartoon Character Day. This is when campers and counselors dress up as their favorite cartoon character. It’s certainly optional, but it was fun to see Minnie Mouse, the Tasmanian Devil, several princesses, and even spider woman running around camp. There are some very creative girls here who are always looking for a reason to dress up.

After our excellent breakfast of bacon, home fries, fresh cut fruit, yogurt and cereal, several outdoor adventure trips packed up to leave camp. Clyde and Kelsey took a small group of senior girls for a day of whitewater kayaking on the lower section of the Green River. Also, the oldest campers, our “Hi-Ups” who have finished the 10th grade, went hiking in Dupont State Forest. They hiked to Hooker Falls and climbed down to the pool of water below to wade in a bit (and take photos of course!). After the early morning fog burned off, the skies were a wonderful sunny blue, making this a beautiful trip.

Every few days or so, Jessi leads a morning Yoga class for anyone interested. Everyone gathers in the stone “Hillside Lodge,” spreads out across the wood floor with their mats, and moves through a series of beginner Hatha Yoga poses. With calm music playing, and good friends all around, it’s a very relaxing time, and it feels so good! It’s surprising how much enthusiasm there is for these yoga classes, even from girls who have never tried it before. Jessi’s teaching is a big part of that, I suspect.

For our evening activity today, we had a very special campfire with our friend Gary Greene who is a talented story teller and musician. All the campers and counselors gathered at the Spirit Fire area to enjoy Gary’s stories (“Peanut Butter,” for example) and to sing several songs (e.g., “Little Cabin in the Woods” and “The Frog Song”). Michelle helped by staging a few jokes, and leading several RBC songs as well. One highlight was his reading of Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky while a few campers and counselors acted out different parts. Everyone was really engaged and entertained all evening. We loved it!

The smell of wood smoke outdoors, the sounds of crickets and frogs from the lake, being together like this in such a beautiful setting, signing and laughing … that’s real camp.

Cabin Day

June 9, 2010

By Jeff Carter

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Wednesday is cabin day at Rockbrook. This is a special day when after a morning of regular activity time where girls go the different camp activities they signed up for (alpine tower climbing, weaving, archery, riding, etc.), we do something special in the afternoon. There are many options, but what’s unique is that each cabin has their cabin day together. Instead of pursuing different interests and activities, the girls stick together on Wednesday afternoons.

Sometimes, we’ll plan something special for an entire age group, all the Seniors for example. Today, we took all the senior girls on a trip to sliding rock in the Pisgah National Forest. If you haven’t seen it before, Sliding Rock is a natural water slide formed by Looking Glass Creek as it plunges into a pool of water. It’s a classic mountain summer thrill and everyone loves it! On the way out of the forest, we just had to stop at Dolly’s for a cone of “Rockbrook Chocolate Illusion” ice cream. Yum!

The Juniors played group games in the gym, but after dinner were excited to learn they were going camping tonight. Tara our hiking guide would lead them out to our overnight camping outpost located on the Rockbrook property out near Rockbrook falls. With their sleeping bags, flashlights and bug spray 🙂 in hand, two cabins took the short walk through the woods to the outpost. Tara and Jessi built them a campfire, they roasted marshmallows and sang songs into the night. It takes a little while for everyone to settle down and go to sleep on the covered tent platforms, but that’s because it’s so much fun!

Oh! I forgot to mention the muffins today… Cranberry Walnut. They were awesome!

A Big Fiesta

June 8, 2010

By Jeff Carter

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A bunch of Middlers and Seniors took a whitewater rafting trip to the Nantahala River today. Our very own guides (Clyde, Kelsey, Sid, Mallory and John) gathered up the rafting gear (boats, paddles, helmets, PFDs and other safety equipment) and met us at the river. We stopped for a picnic lunch along the way, but by 1pm we were ready to raft. Since the weather was perfect, sunny and warm, we had a great time splashing each other, and even jumping in the water for a quick dip on calm sections of the river. Every boat ran the final rapid just perfectly.

Another highlight of the day was our dinner event— Fiesta Birthday Night! This is a special dinner where the dining hall is rearranged so that everyone in camp sits at a table according to their birth month… all the January birthdays together, and so forth. Each table shouts “Happy Birthday” to famous people born in their month: “Happy Birthday Barack Obama!” (August), for example. And, of course, each month has an elaborate cake to share as well. The food was an awesome Mexican Fiesta too. We had steak fajitas, beans, rice, homemade guacamole, diced tomatoes, cheese, salsa, and sour cream. The tri-colored peppers and onions really made it! All the campers dressed up for the Fiesta and the dining hall was decorated with piñatas and colorful posters. It was a great time.

After dinner, during the hour before evening program starts, the campers have free time, but we always have an optional group activity planned. We call these activities “Twilight Activities.” Tonight we had two Rockbrook Alumnae visit and hold a singalong. Elsa Claverie and Jo Littleton brought their banjo and Ukulele and a list of cool new songs to teach us. They actually weren’t “new,” but old traditional songs that we didn’t know. It was so neat to hear the singing, harmonies and enthusiasm in the room. It made everyone feel good… that feeling where the back of your neck tingles. There’s a short video on the RBC Youtube channel of the singing. Enjoy.

Twilight with Elsa and Jo

June 8, 2010

By Jeff Carter

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Super alumnae Elsa Claverie and Jo Littleton visited us at camp tonight and brought their ukulele and banjo. They held a special “twilight” activity for campers and counselors who wanted to learn a few traditional songs, and just enjoy singing together. It was a wonderful hour of song, laughter and smiles. Here’s a short video of a round we sang. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55NemL2XZY8

Activities for Everyone

June 7, 2010

By Jeff Carter

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The first day of activities this session is full speed ahead with all of the activities ready for action. As we all enjoyed perfect summer weather (warm during the day and cool at night), campers were making pottery, designing weaving projects, and decorating their first pillow case. A few girls also went rock climbing with Clyde, our adventure director. Girls shot arrows and guns, did flips at gymnastics and cannonballs at the lake. Down at the equestrian center, Cara had girls up and riding.

Halfway through the morning at our “Muffin Break,” everyone ran for a treat freshly baked by Liz. We look forward to seeing what flavor she makes for us everyday. Today, lemon.

After rest hour, Jerry, Jessi, Tara and Michelle took a big group of campers on a hike to Kilroy’s Cabin. This is a special hike to a remote part of the Rockbrook property that first takes you to Castle Rock where you can rest and enjoy the amazing view of the French Broad river valley. From there, the hike is a bushwhack through the forest with no trail as a guide. Jerry knows the way, but few others can find the old abandoned cabin. Kilroy’s Cabin is the center of an elaborate, and maybe a little bit spooky, story told at camp. I’ll save the details for later, but it involves a nurse with red hair, love, jealousy and a car crash late one stormy night on a slippery bridge. Ooooooooo. (cue eery music!).

For dinner, a classic camp favorite was served— spaghetti with red sauce. In addition to the salad bar, each table had a bowl of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and basil, and warm bread. It really hit the spot after our action-packed day. But that’s pretty normal for Rockbrook. Camp is action!

Rockbrook is Open!

June 6, 2010

By Jeff Carter

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Hooray! Rockbrook is now open for the 2010 summer season! After months of planning, hiring staff members, and preparing for the summer, it feels so great to have campers arriving. It’s what we look forward to all year long, so it’s wonderful to finally begin.

Excitement was everywhere this opening day. It literally jumped out of the cars as the campers arrived. For most of the campers, they haven’t seen their camp friends all year long, and now that they are back together, it’s hard not to squeal with delight and give each other big hugs. It doesn’t take long for groups of two or three old friends to be happily stomping around camp. Several parents commented how quickly and easily their girls feel right at home at Rockbrook. When you have this many friendly people in one place, that makes good sense.

When cabin groups begin to form, the counselors right away begin helping everyone get to know each other by playing group games. New campers like being able to hop right in and learn everyone’s name, and everyone is happy to meet their cabin counselor. The barn staff bring up a few horses to the opening day events so the campers can meet them, and get excited about riding this summer. Cara Thompson the equestrian director is busy throughout the morning meeting all the girls who want to ride and assigning them lessons.

At lunch, our first meal together, Rick and his crew prepared us some great comfort food: homemade macaroni and cheese, fresh steamed broccoli, fruit and salad bar. Later for dinner we had homemade chicken noodle soup, sweet potato biscuits, apple butter and fresh green beans. And for dessert Liz, our baker, made a chocolate caramel bar. It’s always amazing to see what the kitchen crew prepares for us at camp. Always fresh, always homemade, it’s real home cooking!

Later that afternoon, we all enjoyed skits performed by the counselors introducing the activities they teach. Signing, dancing, costumes, and lots of silly funny acting came together to make everyone smile. With 25 different activities, you can imagine this was quite a variety show!

Next we rotated through camp tours, swim tests (“demonstrations”), and activity sign ups, with each age group taking a turn. This checks out everyone at the lake, where they receive their buddy tag. It orients everyone to the camp activity areas and other important landmarks around camp. And it lets the girls select the first set of activities they’ll have this week. It’s very exciting because, at this point, even if they are new to RBC, they are familiar with the options, have met their cabin mates, and can sign up for the activities that most appeal to them.

After today, all of us are ready for camp, and it’s fun already!

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