Highland Games & Final Campfire

Yesterday, the final day had the same excitement as any other morning at camp. We woke up, met at Morning Watch for a quick message (the theme of the day was Compassion!), enjoyed a hearty breakfast, and had another Morning Assembly for skits, songs, and announcements. Boys were able to enjoy two more morning activities around camp with their cabins, a morning free choice time, and an extended rest hour for packing after lunch.

In the afternoon, there were the final two activity periods for each cabin’s rotation. During this session, boys have been able to try 17 different activities around camp! There’s been time for sports, art, water activities, and classic camp activities like horseback riding or climbing, and unique activities like blacksmithing. We hope this week has given each boy a glimpse into the Falling Creek experience, and introduced the boys to fun activities they may not have signed up for or tried on their own.

Finally, after dinner last night it was time for the Highland Games! These are fun field day style games where we split into teams with face paint, cheers, and silly relays. One of the most popular is “mattress surfing”, where each team sits facing each other with their legs out (like a zipper) and passes four mattresses with riders down the line, over their legs. It was a test to see who would get the mattresses (and riders) down the fastest! The event ended with a huge dance party in the gym.

Happily tired from all the running around and dancing, we made our way to Campfire - face paint and all - for the final time this summer. With singing, skits, and enjoying the crackle of the fire, we were able to wind down and reflect on a great session. We end every final campfire with a candle lighting ceremony, and our hope is that the boys realize the power of their own light, and continue to spread it back home.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.” We are so grateful that you chose to share your sons with us this session, and thankful for the individual personalities they brought to the camp community this week. We look forward to seeing you this morning as you pick up your boys, and we can’t wait to tell you all about the fun we had. Hope you have safe travels to and from North Carolina!

Behold!