Why They Come Back: The Magic of Falling Creek
Every summer, boys pack their trunks, hug their families goodbye, and head to Falling Creek—some for their first year, some for their eleventh. What is it about this place that keeps them coming back?”
We asked a few of our longtime campers (including a first-year returner!) to share what brings them back to the mountain year after year. Here’s what we found:
They Grow Here
Summer camp is one of the few places where boys get to stretch without pressure. They try new things, fail sometimes, and then try again. Whether it’s figuring out how to make a fire, navigating a hiking trail, or simply managing their own gear, camp quietly teaches independence and resilience.
Max A., an 11-year camper from Durham, NC (who didn’t even miss coming to camp during COVID!), shared:
Camp was the first time I was ever away from my mom and dad. I had to learn to do things for myself—things they usually did for me. I had to put away my laundry, make my bed, manage my own stuff.
Living with a group of boys for a month teaches you a lot. You learn how to get along with all kinds of people, even if you don’t come from the same background or see things the same way. That changes you.
He also noted how the experience has carried over beyond camp:
Last year, I helped plan and guide a paddling trip with friends. Everything I needed to do, I’d learned here. It felt incredible. Camp is more about the community than the place — I can’t imagine a summer without Falling Creek.
It’s the People
The friendships are real here. Whether it’s during cabin cleanup or late-night overnights, boys build deep, lasting bonds.
Miles S. from Wilmington, NC, and C.R. from Asheville, NC, have both been coming for over five years. Their favorite memory?
In 2021, we did a mountain bike–hike–paddle trip over the 4th of July. We rode at Fire Mountain, hiked at Tsali, and paddled to a lake island where we camped in a rainstorm. We slid down a hill in our life jackets. It was awesome.
Plain and Simple Fun
Where else can you pass your swim test in the morning, learn blacksmithing after lunch, and end the day with a cabin overnight?
Just ask Keigo K., one of our youngest campers, who spontaneously shouted after completing his swim test:
Cabin One is Cabin FUN!
Camp Feels Like Belonging
From Green vs. Gold games to cabin life and Campfire songs, Falling Creek offers rhythms and traditions that make boys feel grounded and seen.
Jamie Maloy, a DASH A counselor from Tallahassee, FL, shared what brought him back to serve:
I came here for two years in middle school during Main Camp. As I grew older, I knew I wanted to come back and be the kind of counselor I had. This place is family. There’s nowhere better.
FCC Builds Leaders
Older campers take what they’ve learned and begin teaching others—not just in skills, but in mindset.
Ben Kampine, a mountain bike guide and counselor from Nashville, TN, explained:
"I learned to mountain bike at camp, but now I’m learning to teach it. Just because you know something doesn’t mean you’re good at explaining it. Being a counselor is hard—it pushes me out of my comfort zone every day."
He added with a smile:
"Someday I hope I can send my own kids here."
A Few Questions We Asked (And You Can Too!)
If you’d like to ask your son what keeps bringing him back, here are a few good questions to try:
- What’s one thing you’ve gotten better at since your first year?
- Who’s a friend you’ve made that you didn’t expect?
- What do you miss most when camp ends?
- Which tradition do you look forward to the most?
- What’s your favorite off-camp adventure?
- Has anything at camp helped you outside of camp?
- What’s a memory that always makes you laugh?
Whether it’s their second summer or their tenth, boys return to Falling Creek because they grow here—and they know it. They come back for the fun, the challenge, the friendships, and maybe most of all, for the feeling of belonging.
That’s the magic—and why they come back.