Main Camp’s Final Days: One More of Everything

One More of Everything

By the time you read this, trunks will be packed and many of you will already be on your way up the mountain. But the final days of Main Camp did not look much like winding down. Boys returned from trips with gear piled around, hurried to finish projects, checked off the last pieces of progressions, and rehearsed for one more night onstage. Even with pickup getting closer, there was still so much camp to squeeze into those final days.

One More Night on Stage

The Talent Show and play filled the gym with music, comedy, costumes, and the kind of encouragement that makes it a little easier to stand up in front of everyone and try something new. Among the performers was Parker S. from Alexandria, Virginia, who sang an original song in front of an audience for the first time. He admitted that he was nervous beforehand, but decided there might not be a better place to give it a try.

I was so nervous before, but this is the most supportive environment you could ever be in, and I just decided to give it a go.

His song included a line about Tuxedo, the small town Falling Creek calls home, and it brought down the house. Parker also found one clear advantage to being the only person in the room who knew exactly how the song was intended to sound.

“The biggest benefit of writing and performing your own music is no one knows what it is supposed to sound like.”

The theater group followed with the play they had been building throughout the session. After weeks of learning lines, shaping characters, and figuring out how all the pieces fit together, the boys finally had an audience. Activity leader Matilda Tobon from Mexico summed up the night simply: “I’m so proud of everyone. They were all wonderful!” The applause from the boys in the gym made it clear they agreed.

Finishing What They Started

Across camp, boys used nearly every available minute to finish what they had begun. George C. was still at work in Arts & Crafts on his own version of “Falling Creek-opoly,” while other campers finished pottery pieces, sanded woodworking projects, checked progressions with counselors, and returned to activity areas for one last chance to demonstrate a skill.

On Thursday morning, Sanders G. from New Orleans, LA caught the final two fish he needed to earn Warrior in Fly Fishing. Fly fishing guide Will Walters had watched him work toward that goal throughout the month.

Sanders lost a lot of fish this summer and had to really work to earn this Warrior. He stuck with it, showed perseverance, and got it done. I’m super proud of him.

There was still time for a little competition and one more trip, too. Mike Nuckles and Davis S. won the Pickleball Tournament, while the boys of Cabin 35 spent their last day together on a sailing trip.

Back from the Mountains

The final out-of-camp trips returned on Wednesday after a full week across all four adventure programs. Rock climbers traveled to Gilbert’s and Pisgah, while another group spent three days in Linville Gorge. Backpackers headed out for a two-day trip to Flat Laurel and a three-day trip to Linville. Mountain bikers took on several camp rides, a day at DuPont, and the three-day “Goon Squad” trip. Paddlers spent the week on the Lower Green, a one-day Mystery Trip, the three-day Little SKITA, and a two-day trip on the Tuckasegee.

Scott S. from Hilton Head, South Carolina, returned from the Goon Squad trip carrying his backpacking gear and mountain biking helmet, still excited about the fastest parts of the ride.

This trip was awesome! The best part, hands down, was barreling downhill at top speeds, like 35 to 40 miles per hour.

Robbie T. from Miami, Florida, came back from a three-day mountaineering trip in Linville Gorge. We have followed Robbie’s progress several times this session as he worked toward Warrior in Rock Climbing. A few final elements remained just out of reach this summer, but the trip gave him the chance to take on more responsibility and see how far his skills had already come.

This trip was cool for me personally because I was able to lead a rope and belay someone as they were ascending. My goal is still in place, and I worked hard all session.

Robbie had thought this might be his last summer at Falling Creek, but by the time he returned from Linville Gorge, he had changed his mind. “I have another year in me. I’ll be back!” he said with a smile. By Wednesday, all the boys were back in camp in time for Awards Night and one last full day together.

Awards That Sound Like Camp

Awards Night gave the boys a chance to celebrate the work happening across camp all session. Activity leaders recognized Rangers and Warriors, shared stories, and presented awards with names that could only have come from a summer at Falling Creek.

Vance M. received the Arts & Crafts award for “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Grandma Potato Helicopter.” Patton James described him as a boy with “a wildly funny imagination” who is also a great artist. Mitchell S. earned Pottery’s “Where My Mug At?” award, but Evi Jane Garnett’s explanation showed how often he had been in the studio.

He is always the first boy in the studio. He is always working hard and helps clean up every day.

Nolan H. was named Ultimate’s “Lord of the Layout.” Dair MacFarland said the award fit both the way Nolan played and the effort he brought to the activity.

He is a master diver and a super-fast runner. Nolan is a really hard worker.

In addition to its standard activity awards, Soccer named the “Best 11 at FCC,” announcing a full starting lineup of players who had stood out during the session. Paddling presented the “Broken Nose Award” to Bawer L., whom the counselors called “a kid with the most grit we’ve ever seen.” After breaking his nose and going to the hospital, Bawer was back on the river the next day.

Other recognitions marked goals that took nearly the entire session to complete. Luke J. earned Ranger and Warrior in Backpacking. Alex L. reached Warrior in both Pottery and Riflery and was also named Riflery’s “Topshot.” Jack T. completed Ranger and Warrior in Nature and Theater, while Porter H. earned Warrior in Cross Country and received Soccer’s FCC Hardest Worker Award.

The evening also included recognitions that extended beyond one activity area. The tenth-grade FLINT campers were honored, and the Men of STEEL received their gray fleeces. Yates recognized the Journeymen and introduced two new Keepers of the Flame. The Honor Council was recognized for its work during the session, along with every boy who completed the FCC Ironman.

The gym moved between laughter at the award names and loud cheers for boys reaching goals their friends had watched them work toward all month. Every activity presented two camper awards, so there were far more names called than can be included here. The complete list of award recipients, Rangers, Warriors, and other session recognitions will be included in this year’s Grow & Behold magazine.

One Last Day Together

The final day brought the kind of traditions that make perfect sense once you have spent a summer at Falling Creek. The Lost and Found Fashion Show gave unclaimed shirts, towels, shoes, and other mysterious belongings one last opportunity to find their owners, modeled with far more confidence than most of the items deserved. There were also Longenecker Lumps, warm pieces of fried dough rolled in cinnamon sugar and best eaten immediately. After so many summers, the Lumps have become part snack and part camp history.

For the final All-Camp Game, the Men of STEEL planned Infection. A small group begins the game infected and tries to pull the flag belts of the other players. Anyone caught joins the infected group, while doctors and antidotes hidden around camp give players a chance to return to the game. Organizing it meant choosing locations, explaining rules, assigning roles, and making sure the whole camp could play.

After spending a month together as STEEL, this is the perfect way to end our experience,” said Grant L. from Charlotte, North Carolina. “Running an All-Camp Game is hard work to organize, and it marks our transition from campers to counselors.

Wade M. from Charlotte, North Carolina, said preparing the game required every member of the group to contribute.

STEEL has taught me how a whole group of guys has to pull their weight to make something successful like this All-Camp Game. We always make sure it’s a good time.

The rain was pouring by the time Infection began. A few boys complained about soaked socks, squishing shoes, or being drenched to the bone, but most spent the next hour running happily through camp, chasing one another and trying not to become infected. Deep in the woods, John Stanfill waited beneath a camouflage tarp in his role as one of the doctors. After he was found and brought back to “The Bank”, John sent boys hanging around back into the game. “You are comically dry,” he told them. “Get out there and play!”

By the end of Infection, the Gold team had completed a come-from-behind victory in the month-long Green and Gold competition. The final game ended with muddy legs, waterlogged shoes, and boys who had been far too busy running from one another in green paint to worry much about the rain.

One Last Campfire

The rain that had been coming down all during the final day never let up enough for Campfire to move outside, so the boys entered the McGrady Family Gym by cabin and settled into the room in silence. Yates opened the evening by explaining that Final Campfire is more formally known as the Ceremony of Light, a tradition that has closed Falling Creek sessions since the first summer in 1969.

The new Keepers of the Flame lit the campfire in the fireplace, and counselors held the lanterns their cabins had used throughout the session during Evening Embers. Directors, line heads, and members of the STEEL took turns reading about the light each person carries and the ways those gifts can be shared with others. The setting was different from the usual Campfire area in the woods, but the quiet attention in the gym gave the ceremony its own kind of stillness.

The evening ended with a series of familiar camp songs. With the room dark except for the fire and cabin lanterns, everyone sang “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and the final Main Camp version of “Taps.”