FLINT Induction and First Full Day

The docks were popular today with this great weather!

The bullfrogs croaked as the boys’ feet padded up the trail to the campfire area around dusk tonight. The lights-out bell had just rung, and camp was quiet besides the sounds of the mountain. The oldest boys in camp were the only ones still out of their bunks, and they were headed along the bank of the lake in silence, led by their counselors. The 12 of them were stopped at Bain Bridge by Yates, whose voice broke the silence, inviting them into the ceremony and acknowledging that they have what it takes for this summer. As the boys made their way into the campfire area to meet their mentors, they passed by previous leaders who were figuratively and literally lighting the way by candle, lining the trail. The path ended and the boys formed a line, their faces glowing with the flickering light of the lit campfire as they were invited to join something bigger than themselves.

Tonight was the induction ceremony for FLINT, our oldest group of boys in camp. FLINT stands for “Forging Leaders INTentionally,” and the program components are intentionally designed to foster leadership, service, responsibility, and teamwork for these rising 11th graders. FLINT boys are regular campers and have the freedom to sign up for the activities or trips of their choice, but they also have the chance to start taking on more of a leadership role at camp. For example, they can help plan special events, discuss leadership development with their FLINT mentors, enjoy a special day trip as a FLINT group, serve milk and cookies to the camp community nightly, or tend the campfire on Sunday nights.

After their FLINT summer, the boys are eligible to apply to be a man of STEEL. The STEEL program was formerly our CIT (Counselors In Training) program, and is for rising seniors in high school. STEEL stands for “Summer Training Encouraging Emerging Leaders,” and is highly competitive and not all applicants are offered spots, similar to our staff hiring process. The STEEL program builds off of the leadership development from FLINT, but young men in STEEL are able to choose an activity to help teach, and assist in a cabin of younger campers. This program gives them a glimpse of what is expected of a counselor, and helps prepare them if they choose to return in that role after a year of college.

During tonight’s annual FLINT induction, we were joined by this year’s men of STEEL, as well as previous STEEL members who are now current counselors. We were also joined by DASH, our young men who work in the kitchen as rising freshmen in college. The DASH crew is a new program this year, and is the “dash” in between camper and counselor life. Last year they were men of STEEL themselves, and next year they will have the opportunity to be full counselors. It was great seeing the four stages of the camper/counselor development program together tonight. From FLINT, to STEEL, to DASH, to counselors, the young men were all present at the ceremony to support the newest members of the program.

As the embers from the fire burned low, the newly inducted FLINT boys headed back to their cabins, excited for the month of growth ahead. We are looking forward to seeing these young men share their knowledge and skills with younger boys this summer. It’s been a packed first day of camp, and we’re looking forward to another big day tomorrow.

All smiles on the first full day of camp!

More Highlights From the First Day:

• we kicked off the session with a ton of preps! These preps help boys know how to be prepared for future trips of special activities, and set them up for success so they can be safe and enjoy bigger activity events. There were preps in sailing, mountain biking, blacksmithing, paddling, climbing, backpacking, horseback, and fly fishing!

• this morning was the first Morning Assembly of the session! Grant (one of our DASH crew) announced sports updates, HarryO had the weather forecast (It’s sunny!), and our skit was about hairy homemade hamburgers. The “woop woop woo band” played two favorites: “Fox on the Run,” and “Fire on the Mountain”

• The delicious meals for today started with breakfast wraps of sausage, egg, and cheese, with a grits station and a fruit and yogurt bar. Lunch was grilled cheese, fries, tomato soup, a full salad bar, cantaloupe, and oatmeal raisin cookies for dessert. To finish the day, we had seasoned roasted chicken, potato wedges, sautéed carrots, warm cornbread, and Oreo pudding for dessert.

• Sam in cabin Mohawk earned Warrior in Disc Golf, the highest of the five levels!

• We celebrated two birthdays at lunch! Mountain bike counselor, Zach, and basketball counselor, Ray!

• Evening Program was a variety of tribal games! Cherokee played games in the gym, Catawba was under the Dining Hall with ping pong and foosball, Tuscarora met on the turf field, and Iroquois was heading to the “thunder dungeon” for some dodgeball.

Eyes on the prize at the tennis courts

Reaching high at the climbing wall

Fly fishing on the lower lake