Final Trips & Wrestlemania
Boyhood Unplugged
Hard to believe that this morning we are waking up to our final full day of 2-Week Camp!
Yesterday the last multi-day trips returned from their adventures, so we could all spend last night and today together as a full camp community.
Outdoor Adventure
Yesterday we had trips return from paddling, mountain biking, and hiking in some beautiful nearby spots.
- Lake Tugaloo is where one paddling group spent a relaxing three days canoeing and swimming. This scenic lake is in South Carolina, just down the mountain from camp.
- Tsali Recreation Area is where the mountain bikers went for 2 days to shred some trails in the Nantahala National Forest. These fun and flowy trails circle Lake Fontana, offering scenic views throughout the ride.
- The Chattooga River is south of camp, and a great spot to hike. The backpackers spent three days walking along the river, playing in the water, and enjoying evening campfires.
- The Tuckaseegee and Nantahala Rivers are just the right challenge for paddlers looking to improve their whitewater skills. This group spent two days enjoying these popular local rivers!
Father Nature
Steve Longenecker (SFL) is known around here as “Father Nature,” often sharing his knowledge about the natural world through educational programs with the wildlife he cares for. Once the boys are more informed, they can appreciate and respect wildlife for the impressive animals that they are, rather than just being terrified of them, or thinking that some animals are inherently bad. They will also be more educated on what to do if they ever encounter these creatures while outdoors.
The boys were able to meet “Joplin,” the red-tailed hawk, who lives with SFL since he is no longer able to survive in the wild on his own. Joplin was born in Missouri, like SFL, and is named after his hometown. You can read more about SFL and his educational programming here on this blog from a previous summer. In it, you can read about “Gizmo,” the screech owl who is also cared for by SFL, and who was part of the educational program yesterday.
Nice Catch
The fly fishermen have been enjoying some great days on the water. We’re fortunate to have a top notch fishing spot in our private section of the Green River, by the covered bridge when you first come up camp’s entrance road. The boys are able to learn how to fly fish here, and there’s nothing like the smile when they finally reel in their first big trout!
Wrestlemania
After dinner, it was time for WrestleMania! The counselors went all-out with their wacky costumes, theatrical displays, and cheesy lines, and the campers cheered and laughed all night.
We hosted WrestleMania in the gym, with many different characters duking it out to see who would come out on top. Towards the end of the night, Colonel Mustard was up against the Ketchup King and the Mayo Man from the All-Camp-Game the night before, but in the end, “the Rizzler” was the final winning wrestler! We ended the evening with an impromptu dance party.
Here’s to the final full day today!