5 Year Honorary Dinner
To honor our camp veterans, we host a 5 year diner at Iolaire (Yates & Marisa’s home).
There were over 150 campers and counselors who have been a part of the FCC community for 5 or more summers. It is an opportunity for this group to spend an evening together, sharing stories, reminiscing and learning about each other and the paths that led us here to Falling Creek.
Chow Down
The boys enjoyed a special dinner that Alli, Chef Dee, and the awesome FCC food services team created that consisted of a delicious steak, sweet potato mash with gravy, sauteed mushrooms, fried onions, creamed spinach, an italian styled salad, and housemade buns.
The campers enjoyed their food with a beautiful view of the mountain range and greenery surrounding them. Laughter filled the air as we all held great conversation with friends that have become brothers over the years.
Hear from the Campers
Gabe M. from Pennsylvania is 13 years old and from cabin 24. This is his 5th summer here and he talked about how Falling Creek is a great place to meet new people as well as try new things. “This place really makes you think about who you are as a person.”
Jack S. is 13 years old, in cabin 23, from New York. This is Jack’s 5th summer here and he explained how FCC is a place that helps foster character development. “This is a place where you find out who you really are.”
Jonathan D. is 18 years old and is spending his 9th summer with us. He participated in this year’s DASH program and essentially got insight into what it means to be a counselor at FCC. “The years get better and better as each summer goes by, I hope to continue my legacy at Falling Creek.” He mentioned how the FCC Code is instilled in his everyday life, even away from camp.
Jim L. is 15 years old from Birmingham, AL and is celebrating his 8th summer with us. “Falling Creek is an absolute BLAST! I enjoy coming back each year and progressing in each activity.”
Berkley W. is 14 years old, from Greensboro, NC, and is joining us for his 5th summer. He spoke about how, every year, he pre-sets a goal for himself to achieve at FCC. “I set a goal every year, then I work hard until I achieve it.” He explained, even once he has achieved his goal, he is already internally thinking about the next goal to set.
Simon H. is 12 years old from Austin Texas. He is experiencing his 5th summer with us and described FCC as a fun, supportive welcoming community. “I really enjoy the experience and getting to participate in all the different activities.”
David Echeverria, who is a part of the year round FCC team now, also serves as the head of the Blacksmithing Program. David was previously a counselor here for several summers. It was fun for him to take a photo of three counselors this summer (Luke Dodson, Lawton Jordan, & Henry Koch) who were actually in David’s cabin at one point in their FCC camper career.
Speeches
Yates started us off by announcing that the community is a big part of the Falling Creek tradition. He gave thanks to everyone present and opened the mic for anyone who has been to FCC for over 10 years wanting to share something important to them from their Falling Creek experiences.
Rhodes Feild is 19 years old, from Greenville SC. and joining us for his 13th summer. He told us a hilarious, heartfelt story about when he started at FCC his older brother forced him onto a paddling trip. He went to the Tuck River (Tuckasegee) and was sobbing the entire time. His paddling instructor was our very own Jez from Australia, and little Rhodes had to hold onto Jez’s boat in order to make it down the rapids, still sobbing. This year Rhodes had the opportunity to work alongside Jez as a paddling staff counselor. When he asked Jez if he remembered this story, Jez replied “Rhodes, when I saw you paddling that day, I thought, this boy is never going to become a paddler, now look at you.” This is a core memory for Rhodes and has helped shape him into the man he is today, progressing in his paddling career.
William Ashcroft is 20 years old, from Texas and is celebrating his 11th summer with us. Ashcroft explained that the best thing about camp is the community, this place brings an incredible group of people together from all walks of life. We are able to connect with different people who have similar core concepts. This is the place where friends turn into brothers. Ashcroft told us about his first counselor at FCC, Will Walters, and how to this day he describes Will as one of the most influential people in his life. Will is a teacher and he and his wife Erin live in Asheville. When Ashcroft went into the FCC STEEL program at age 16, Will Walters was yet again his counselor, being his final counselor, coming full circle. FCC is where you learn and grow, hold yourself accountable, connect with yourself, friends, animals and nature. FCC is a constant in Ashcroft’s life.
Henry Smith. aka “Poptart” is 18 years old and from Houston, TX, joining us for his 10th summer as part of our DASH program. He explained how you connect with people here and you may find yourself interacting with them later in life. Poptart was struggling to decide which colleges to apply to attend later this year. He ended up contacting an old FCC counselor, who went to the same college he was thinking of applying to and asked for advice. Not only did this counselor offer assistance, he also connected Poptart with other former counselors that went to that college, one had even completed the same degree plan that Poptart is interested in. This idea gives us all a sense of how we are meant to be here at Falling Creek, together, experiencing this beautiful community. He went on to explain how his Uncle recently bumped into an old counselor from back in his day at FCC. “ You will end up connecting with people from Falling Creek down the road. You’ll be like, what’s up?”
The dynamic duo of Beans (20) and Whit (21) does not go unnoticed. Whit has been here for 10 summers while Beans is here for his 9th summer. They explained the story of how they met last year, during staff orientation. Despite having been going to FCC for 7 years together prior to this interaction, they never really met before. During staff orientation Whit was wearing a cool, knitted hat and Beans said “That’s a cool hat.” Thus creating the friendship and bond that they have today. It is never too late to meet new people and make incredible connections at FCC.
