First Day, Hooray!
Let The Adventure Begin!
Yesterday was the first full day of Main Camp, and everyone was ready to get their activities started. This week’s theme is “Initiative”, and all over camp the boys were modeling initiative spirits by jumping into preps, progressions, activities, and even trips!
Andy led the first Morning Watch, echoing the theme and setting the mood for a great first full day. Today’s blog features a few highlights, as well as plenty of photos!
The quote below is from our 2023 Counselor Journals, which introduce the theme each week and share a thought to consider each day.
“Our hope at Falling Creek is that camp is full of opportunities to take initiative, and as staff we are charged with being people who do so. We are encouraged to initiate positive interactions with the people around us, as well as taking initiative with any task at hand. You can also take initiative in your own life by doing things like implementing an exercise routine, making a career or study plan, or starting tasks early so they’re completed before the deadline. When you take the initiative to help others, you are following your Servant’s Heart. When you take initiative to do the right thing, even when no one is watching, you are following your Moral Compass. Initiative takes bravery and humility when done well.”
After breakfast and Morning Assembly, boys could either head to their first 3 activities for the day, or join one of the many trips that was already heading out on adventures off-property.
Trips That Returned Yesterday:
- Gilberts Rock (x2!) - there were two different climbing trips to nearby Gilbert’s Rock, a great outdoor rock face to master the basics.
- Dupont State Forest - This is one of the great public forest & trail networks we have here in western North Carolina. There was a big crew that enjoyed some fast and flowy mountain biking (and exciting creek crossings) in Dupont
- Green River Flats - while not off-property, this group of backpackers headed down to camp’s section of the NC Green River to enjoy the day and hike around
- Sailing & Fly Fishing - both activities took place on camp property, at our dock on Lake Summit, and at the Green River Flats. However, since both activities take full half-day blocks, boys can sign up for these experiences daily, and enjoy them for 3x the length of regular activity periods!
- TOG Trip - there will be a full blog coming later this week all about the TOG trip in Pisgah National Forest, but the group of F.L.I.N.T. guys enjoyed their day of hiking together, and had excellent weather for the occasion!
You didn’t have to leave camp to find adventure though! There was plenty going on right here on the mountain. Boys were working on their kayak roll at the lower lake, identifying local flora in nature, getting in their workouts at fitness, running plays at flag football, reaching the top of the wall at climbing, challenging friends to pickleball and tennis matches, catching fish in the upper lake, starting projects in the arts activities, strategizing moves in chess, and more.
Once everyone was back on property for the evening, it was time for dinner and Evening Program! This time we split into Line groups to play games at the tennis courts, turf field, and Thunder Dungeon.
Some cabins headed out on their Cabin Overnights for the session last night, which we’ll detail more in tomorrow’s blog!
It was a fun first day, and we’re happy that a whole month of these days are ahead of us.
