Pharr Wars & Illahee Dance

There was a disturbance in the Force at Falling Creek on Saturday.

As part of this year’s themed day, campers and counselors traded their usual camp attire for lightsabers, Jedi robes, and plenty of Star Wars-inspired creativity as camp celebrated Pharr Wars, a playful nod to Camp Directors Yates and Marisa Pharr.

Throughout the day, campers could choose from activities like Yoda Yoga, Jedi Mind Tricks, Yoda Swamp Building, Lightsaber Dueling, Jedi Mentalism and Ancient Texts in the Library, TIE Fighter Shooting at Riflery, Jedi Training at Weight Lifting, and Speed Climbing. Alongside the themed activities, campers competed in tournaments like flag football, disc golf, soccer, fooseball and more.

By the afternoon, the galaxy had come to Falling Creek.

The All Camp Game, Pharr Wars: Battle for Endor Forest, transformed camp into a battleground between the Empire and the Rebel Resistance. Campers began the game wearing flag belts while Stormtroopers, played by counselors wearing black flags, hunted them through the woods, fields, and activity areas. There was one catch: Stormtroopers could only attack when the Imperial March echoed across camp.

If a camper lost his flag, he immediately joined the Empire and began hunting his former teammates.

“It’s like a living video game,” Camp Director Yates Pharr said. “There are so many rules and nuances. Whatever part you are good at, you find it.”

Some campers hid in the woods. Others sprinted down camp roads trying to stay one step ahead of the Empire. Groups formed temporary alliances to chase Darth Ball, who roamed camp creating havoc with five black flags attached to his body. Any camper brave enough to pull his final flag would become the new Sith Lord.

“The counselor, Lucas, just got my flag on the turf field,” said Mickey D. from New Orleans, Louisiana. “I almost got away from him, but he just snagged it.”

Every time the Imperial March played, another wave of boys took off running. On Saturday afternoon, Falling Creek became its own version of a galaxy far, far away.

Meanwhile, preparations were already underway for the evening.

While campers battled Stormtroopers across camp, staff members were getting things ready in anticipation of welcoming our friends from Camp Illahee. Robinia and Betula wrapped up their activities a little early to get dressed, check the mirror one more time, and see if a quick shower could undo the camp smell before boarding the buses.

Before departing, Program Director Matt Sloan gathered the boys together for a few final instructions.

“Have fun, don’t be scared, and let them go first,” he told the group.

It was a short speech, but it covered just about everything the boys needed to know.

The bell rang and the younger boys finished up Pharr Wars. They headed to their cabins to prepare for Illahee’s arrival.

Soon the boys emerged from their cabins with wet hair, collared shirts, and freshly cleaned faces. Small groups gathered outside exchanging compliments and last-minute advice.

“Looking rizzy,” one camper told a friend while waiting outside the gym.

The comment earned a round of laughter and several boys immediately covered their smiles.

Not everyone approached the evening the same way. Holden K. from Hendersonville, North Carolina selected a white polo and navy shorts because, as he explained, “We have church tomorrow and I didn’t want to worry about a whole new outfit two days in a row.”

John J. from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had a different strategy.

“The secret is to ignore them so you appear alluring,” he said.

Then he revealed his ace in the hole.

“But I have a secret weapon. A Valentine Silly Band.”

When the Illahee campers began to arrive, there were nervous glances, a few deep breaths, and plenty of campers suddenly finding something very interesting to look at across the field.

Fortunately, those moments never last long.

Once the music started, introductions were made, old friends reconnected, and the dance floor quickly filled. Bo T. from Nashville, Tennessee decided not to wait around.

“I got one phone number before the dance,” he said. “But afterwards is when we really mixed things up.”

Later, he admitted that one camper in a black skirt had especially caught his attention.

Across the field, Lulu A. from Houston, Texas arrived wearing a pair of cowboy boots she had selected specifically for the occasion.

“I wear them every day at horseback riding,” she said. “But I did pick them out special for tonight. I am from Texas, so I always wear boots.”