Fourth of July at Camp!
Every day at camp is full of energy—but on the 4th of July, we take it to the next level.
Boys showed up to breakfast decked out in red, white, and blue, piling their waffles high with strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream. Then at Morning Assembly, the crowd went wild for the much-anticipated Hot Dog Eating Contest. Everyone loves a hot dog at 9:30am, right? Especially Yates, Whit, Beans, Schlierf, Cole—and this year’s champion: Ford Layman.
After breakfast, cabins headed down to Green River Flats to start the morning right: hammocks, soccer, tubing on the Green River, volleyball, home run derby, spikeball—you name it. The only rule? Choose your own fun.
The best part about today is it's not overly programmed,” said Yates Pharr. “Boys get the day to choose hanging out in their hammock or playing games all around the Flats.
Some boys jumped straight into the river or slid down the slip and slide. Others played pickup games in the field or kicked back with a book under a shady tree. That’s the heart of today: freedom to be a kid, freedom to choose.
One of the biggest draws? An all-out volleyball game led by costumed counselors. On days like this, they’re like your favorite cousins — bringing the energy, setting the tone, and laughing at every missed spike. They're not there to impress anyone. They’re there to make it fun, to show kids it’s okay to mess up and keep playing. Their attitude is contagious. Kids who were hesitant at first came out of the trees, and soon it was 25 vs. 25 and still growing.
After cooling off in the creek or relaxing in hammocks, everyone gathered for a classic picnic lunch on the field—hot dogs, baked beans, watermelon, and a whole lot of sunscreen.
After a quick rest and a change into dry clothes, campers gathered for the Freedom Games—a high-energy block of field challenges that included the mattress pass, sack races, and the crowd favorite: the Ultimate Challenge.
This new camp tradition brings the entire camp together for some friendly competition. Campers are split into three teams—Red, White, and Blue—and enter a circular arena on the field. Each camper wears a belt in their team’s color and takes turns stepping into the ring for a fast-paced last-man-standing style game where the goal is to pull off the belts of the opposing team.
Older and younger boys were mixed together, calling each other into the ring and cheering from the sidelines. The stakes felt high. As one camper put it, “If you can pull a flag off another camper, you are a weapon in camp.”
The highlight? Watching the Red team rally from behind to pull out a thrilling win!
The Freedom Games ended with a well-earned treat—funnel cake fries and fried mac 'n' cheese balls—before campers headed off to free choice. The docks were buzzing with boys swimming, paddling, and soaking in the joy of a summer afternoon well spent.
The day wrapped up with an American bar-b-que dinner including, Smoked Ribs, pulled-pork collard greens, and yes—rice crispie treats with red, white and blue sprinkles, afterwards boys went to the All-American Roadshow EP which featured Bingo, cotton candy and popcorn! Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: Simon’s legendary fireworks show.
The sky lit up. The boys cheered. And just like that, they leaned back on the field—full bellies, wide eyes, and memories made.
It’s Easy to Call It the Best Day of Camp… …but maybe the best part is that it wasn’t packed with rules or rigid schedules. It was about giving boys the space to choose their own way to celebrate—and being surrounded by a community that cheers them on.
That’s what makes the 4th of July at camp so good. Freedom, fun, and the reminder that sometimes the best traditions are the ones you get to make your own.