Final Main Camp Trip Highlights
Thursday already?
It’s hard to believe that it’s the final full day of Main Camp. Yesterday we had our final trips return to camp, including a brand new STEEL tradition. We also had our awards show, and SFL shared his educational snakes and birds of prey program.
Here are some highlights from our Wednesday!
STEEL “BOG” Trip
Earlier we shared a blog about the annual FLINT trip to the top of Looking Glass (TOG), and this year the STEEL guys have started a new tradition. It’s called BOG, or “Bottom of Green”, and they hike from the Lower Green River put-in to the famous Narrows section of the river. They hiked next to and even in the river for some parts, and it took them about 4.5 hours! Matt Sloan and Yates Pharr also joined them, and said that it was a great time.
Trips that returned yesterday:
Mountain Biking
- Fire Mountain Trails - mountain biking 2 Day
- Dupont State Forest - mountain biking day trip
Rock Climbing
- Linville Gorge - rock climbing 3 day
- Gilberts Rock - climbing day trip
Backpacking
- Panthertown Valley - backpacking 2 day
- Mt. Mitchell - backpacking 3 day
Paddling
- Tuckasegee/Nantahala River - paddling 2 day
- Lake Fontana - paddling 3 day
Visit From “Father Nature”
Steve Longenecker also brought native snakes and birds of prey for a special educational program during the morning. Steve (known at camp as SFL) has been a long time outdoor educator, nature enthusiast, falconer, rock climber, and “lump chef” at Falling Creek since 1975. The boys loved getting to learn about rattlesnakes, copperheads, red tailed hawks, and screech owls, gaining a greater appreciation for the wildlife native to this area.
Awards Ceremony
Finally, we gathered in the evening for the Awards Ceremony at the end of the session. Each activity recognized up to three boys for going above and beyond this session, and it was great to see all the encouragement, recognition, and celebration the campers gave each other.
We also recognized all the Rangers and Warriors in each activity, which are the highest and second highest levels in the activity progression system. Every boy who earned these progressions or received an award will be noted in the upcoming issue of our annual Grow & Behold magazine!
Regardless of whether they were formally recognized, we’re proud of all the campers this session and looking forward to one incredible final full day at camp today!