Camp Invasion
Weekends at Falling Creek feel a little different. Throughout the week, campers head out on adventures across Western North Carolina. Some are paddling rivers, others are climbing rock faces, backpacking mountain trails, or mountain biking through Pisgah Forest. By Saturday, everyone is back together again. Cabins reconnect, stories get shared, and camp settles into a different rhythm.
Weekends are also a chance for campers to try something new. Instead of free time, boys have free choice. Tournaments, staff shakeups, and special activities pop up across camp, giving everyone an opportunity to jump into something that catches their interest.
This weekends theme was Camp Invasion.
The trouble began during Morning Assembly when Whit and Beans were delivering the morning news. Without warning, a group of aliens stormed the porch and launched an attack. Camp quickly learned that an alien overlord known as Extron had arrived at Falling Creek and intended to take over everything in his path.
Once the invasion began, it spread throughout camp including morning activities.
Tournament options included Flag Football, Fooseball, Archery, Riflery, Alien Fishing Tournment, Magic, and a 3v3 Disc Golf Scramble. Staff shakeups offered even more opportunities to get involved, including Land Navigation, Bucket Golf, Wiffle Ball, Spike Ball, Dino Climbing on the rock wall, Super Galactic Warrior Ball, and Alien Fly Tying.
At the Riflery Range, first-time camper Easton S. from Oahu, Hawaii, teamed up with cabinmate Evan G. from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Before the boys stepped up to the line, Range Guide Paul Heydenrych from South Africa introduced a special mission.
“We are training today to shoot these aliens.”
He held up a target featuring a green alien surrounded by scoring rings.
The boys immediately started talking strategy.
“Am I shooting left?” Easton asked.
“I shoot left, you shoot right and then we’ll add our points up,” Evan replied.
“Then we can win!”
“Sure thing. Turn your safety off, bro.”
The invasion showed up in other activities, too. At Fishing, campers competed to catch the most alien-looking fish. At Fly Fishing, boys traded natural colors for bright neon materials and created flies that looked like they belonged on another planet.
Even lunch joined the fun. The Dining Hall menu featured Planet Sandwiches, Saturn Rings, Alien Eyes, Galactic Salad, and Pop Rocks for dessert.
After rest hour, it was time for Domination.
Unlike Thursday night’s Evening Program, this battle took place in broad daylight. The bases moved to the Tennis Courts and Campfire, and the objective was simple: take territory and hold it.
Five zones were scattered across camp. At the start of the game, all of them were neutral. Campers raced to capture territory for their team while trying to prevent the opposition from doing the same. Once a zone had been claimed, the battle shifted to defending it or launching an attack to take it back.
A zone could feel secure one minute and be under attack the next. Teams worked together to capture territory, defend what they had earned, and look for opportunities to take control of another zone. As the afternoon went on, momentum shifted back and forth as campers battled for control of camp.
By the end of the day, the invasion had spread to every corner of Falling Creek. Alien fish were being caught. Alien flies were being tied. Alien targets were under attack. Meanwhile, hundreds of campers were locked in a battle for control of Falling Creek itself.
Around Camp
- Newton and Solomon were the Fooseball champs
- Buck, John J. and Payton E. were the Archery champs
- Trip and Evan won the Climbing Wall competition
- Lewis and William won the Alien Fishing Competition
- Cabin 30 and & 31 earned TWO perfect 10’s this week in Cabin Inspections. What will happen on Sunday Morning?