4th of July at Falling Creek!
At camp, every day feels like a party, but that was especially true yesterday! The 4th of July brings even more excitement than a typical day, and the festivities began as soon as we woke up. Some of our horseback staff rode through the cabin areas, shouting “the British are coming!” as soon as the wakeup bell rang. We always have Krispy Kreme doughnuts for Sunday breakfast, but today we were also treated to a red, white, and blue special - pancakes with red strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream to get in a patriotic mood!
Since the 4th of July fell on a Sunday this year, we balanced the revelry with some of our typical Sunday traditions, including a more rigorous cabin cleaning. After breakfast, everyone returned to their cabins to clean them and organize their trunks, before the directors came around to check them. They also changed into their white polos for church, which was our first church service of the session. The theme of the week has been “unselfishness,” and our church service followed that theme with the skits, songs, and readings. We enjoyed some free choice time afterwards, and then had our usual “Sunday fried chicken” for lunch. The afternoon however, was all about celebrating the 4th!
Everyone changed into their bathing suits and met at Morning Watch to walk down to the Green River flats. This is the area by the covered bridge at the bottom of the mountain that you all drove in on for opening day. On the way down, boys and staff wore their most patriotic outfits, and some even had speakers with them to play music and keep spirits high as we paraded down. We even stopped at the waterfall field for Sunday Sundaes! With chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, along with an array of toppings, it was the perfect sweet treat on a hot summer day.
As we finished the ice cream, everyone continued to walk down to the flats, where a multitude of fun games, music, and equipment were waiting. Boys could choose whether they wanted to go tubing in the river, play in the giant mud pit, or relax in their hammocks. There were also plenty of sports to choose from, including football and frisbees to throw, a soccer field and badminton court set up, a giant chess set, spike ball, 9 square in the air, and balancing on the slackline. There was so much to do, and it was all up to the boys to choose!
Tubing down the river was one of the most popular choices, especially on such a warm day. They would start at the covered bridge and leisurely float down to the ford. Many boys also enjoyed hanging up their hammocks in groups with all their friends, and chatting or reading in the shade of the trees. Another exciting activity was the mud pit, and Yates even jumped in! Everyone got a kick out of trying to cover him in mud, and they set up a tug-of-war rope to try and pull each other in. Afterwards, it was back to the river to rinse off and get back to playing!
Once we had worked up an appetite, everyone gathered with their cabins once again and walked up the hill to the waterfall field again. We ate dinner in the field against the backdrop of Falling Creek Falls. Everyone enjoyed a hamburger cookout with pasta salad, coleslaw, baked beans, watermelon, cookie bars, and Cheerwine!
That evening, we finished walking back up to camp to shower and change before Campfire. We announced this week’s new theme during Campfire: Self Discipline. It was also an exciting evening as the new members of the Honor Council were tapped. The Honor Council is a peer elected group of campers that represents the camp community. After being voted in by fellow campers, they are held to a high standard and have the responsibility of meeting with leadership staff and attend the weekly staff meeting to be the campers’ voice. Each year new members are voted in as some age out of camp and don’t return. These campers have all shown to the community that they live by the Falling Creek Code. This year, we’re excited to share that Will C. from Dunwoody, GA, Rodgers M. from Charleston, SC, and Wade P. from McLean, VA were all tapped as the newest Honor Council members.
For the first time ever, we also gave counselors the opportunity to vote in one of their peers to become a member of the Honor Council. Previously, counselors would only be able to be in the Honor Council if they were elected as campers. This year, Andy Killebrew from Lexington, NC was tapped to join as our first counselor addition. We’re proud of all the new members of this peer elected group.
This Campfire was also special because we were able to introduce our newest Journeyman, William Z. from Atlanta, GA. A camper can become a Journeyman if he has reached Warrior (the highest of the five levels) in at least three different activities. He must also display that he lives by the four parts of the Falling Creek Code, and choose a mentor to help him through his “journey,” which will happen at some point toward the end of the session. If the Journeyman completes the final tests during his journey, then he will have the honor of being a “Keeper of the Flame,” which is a rare honor that only a few have earned.
Will has chosen the backpacking counselor Andrew Krusen as his advisor to help him prepare for his upcoming Journey. During Campfire, his mentor Andrew read this description of him to the whole community: William originates from two German words; willeo, which means will and determination. The second word being helm, meaning protection and helmet. Put together these words are Willehelm, and it means resident protector. Friendship is his wonderful gift. He is daring and vivacious, genuine, venturesome, and difficult. He is somebody who battles to guard his standards and cherishes the dangers and difficulties. William is somebody extremely dynamic; he jumps at the chance to practice with persistence.
Finally, we finished the day with Simon’s famous fireworks show at the lake. Everyone exited the Campfire area and chose a spot around the lake by the Dining Hall to watch the fireworks. The show was impressive, colorful, and grand, earning many “oohs” and “ahhs” throughout, as the explosions of color reflected off the lake water and shot into the night sky. It was the perfect finale to a great day! We’re creating a video that will better showcase the day’s celebrations, and can’t wait to share it with you soon!