New Club President Charlotte

With the start of the new year, our own Associate Director and longtime Rockbrook girl, Charlotte Page, has taken over as the President of the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County. The Boys and Girls Club is a remarkable community organization providing after school programs for kids ages 5-18. It serves as a “home away from home,” where children are supported with tutoring, character and leadership training, health and life skills, and of course plenty of fun activities.

This is big news! The Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper just published a story about Charlotte’s new role as president. Here’s a link to read it. Other Board members and staff of the Boys & Girls club are excited about Charlotte’s leadership. “Charlotte brings a commitment to and a knowledge of youth that’s invaluable,” said one, and “Charlotte obviously loves kids and has a keen interest in seeing them progress,” remarked another.

Congratulations Charlotte! There’s a long history, going back to Nancy Carrier, of Rockbrook’s Directors serving the children of our local community. It’s so great to see that tradition just as strong today.

You can learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County on their Web site.

Frampton Becomes Program Director

Everyone at Rockbrook is thrilled to announce that Catherine Frampton, affectionately know around here as simply “Frampton,” has accepted the full-time position of Program Director. She worked as the Assistant Program Director last summer, as a cabin counselor for several summers before that, and came to Rockbrook as a camper as well. With this solid camp experience, and with a freshly minted liberal arts degree from Sewanee, Frampton is bringing great skills and experience to her new job.

Frampton replaces Mandy Horton, who after holding this position for five years, has accepted a job working for Agnes Scott College in Atlanta as one of their student recruiters.

Here is a press release announcing Frampton’s new position. The news has spread far and wide!

Congratulations Mandy and Frampton!

Excitement Bubbling Up

Today we opened our third session of camp, and it started out with excitement bubbling up all over. You could see it on the hill when each camper arrived and the counselors let out a cheer. You could see it on campers faces as they literally jiggled in the back seat of the car ready (so ready!) to hop out and get started. These girls have been waiting all summer long for camp, so they were ready to explode with excitement. It was there in the big bear hugs between two friends finally reunited. And we certainly saw this excitement during lunch, the first meal, when it took about 3 minutes for the whole camp to launch into the “Bubble Gum” song.

It’s always a real moment of pride for us to open a new session of camp because it lets “the outside world,” our parents and campers, and their family and friends accompanying them, see all the good things we enjoy at Rockbrook everyday. They can marvel at the sheer beauty of the place, the big trees, stone lodges, and traditional, rustic cabins tucked in the forest. They can enjoy the truly cool mountain air and gaze off the hill at the mountains beyond. Most importantly, they can personally meet some of the wonderful people here. Our cabin counselors are fantastic young ladies. It’s clear when you talk with them that they are marvelous, caring, confident, and energetic women, and will be great role models for the girls at camp. Likewise for our camp Directors, Sarah and Charlotte, Mandy, Sofie and Catherine— these are highly experienced and dedicated Rockbrook people, super organized and responsive. I’m sure you’ll get to know several of these folks, and I’m equally sure you’ll be impressed.

After lunch, which included Rick’s comforting, homemade macaroni and cheese, we all assembled on the grassy hill of camp to meet the Line Heads (the counselors who lead each age group) and Directors, and to sing a few songs. The Hi-Ups, our oldest campers, took a turn teaching a song, and the Directors all joined in to perform a funny “Shower Song” that reminded the campers to bathe while at camp. “Jumping in the lake is not the same…!” Down in the gym, the counselors next took turns presenting short skits to introduce themselves and their activities to the campers. It’s helpful for everyone to learn what activities are offered this year and who will be teaching them. Here too, the campers see that being a little silly is part of the fun here at Rockbrook and that everyone, counselors, directors and campers alike, enjoy it. At some point or another, we’re all dressing up, dancing around, singing and laughing our heads off.

Later, each age group came down to the lake for their “swim demonstrations.” With all of our lifeguards assembled, plus all the Directors, every camper and counselor took a turn demonstrating her swimming ability by jumping off the dock, swimming out 60ft, back another 60ft, and then treading water for 30 seconds. Doing this successfully, confidently, earns you a buddy tag and a cool green bracelet that signals a swimming ability strong enough to tackle our new water slide. If a camper’s swimming skills are weak, she receives a special colored buddy tag (alerting the lifeguards) and must wear a life jacket in the shallow end of the lake. She can also redo her swim demo during any free swim, and the lifeguards are always happy to help work on her strokes.

One quick last reminder… we are posting photos every day online and you can see them after logging into your Campminder account. Checking these is a great fun and you can easily share them by email or on Facebook. Enjoy!

Clyde Wins Outstanding Teacher Award!!

We’re so pleased and proud to announce that Clyde Carter, our amazing Outdoor Adventure Director, has been named the Outstanding Experiential Education Teacher of the year by the Association for Experiential Education (AEE). This is an international award recognizing that Clyde has “demonstrated an active passion for experiential education principles and theories,” has “practiced innovative, experiential educational methodologies,” and has consistently shown “the highest ethical standards in working with students.” We knew Clyde had been nominated for this prestigious award, and recently that he had won. In late November, he accepted the award at the AEE International conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In addition to working full time in the summer as Rockbrook’s Adventure Director, Clyde is an Associate Professor of Recreation/Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education at Brevard College. In 1989, with encouragement from Jerry Stone, Rockbrook’s Director at the time, Clyde came to Brevard to establish the College’s Outdoor Leadership major, one of it’s most popular offerings. He helped develop Brevard College’s Voice of the Rivers (VOR) program in 1997 and led expeditions in 1999 and 2008.  Throughout the year you can find Clyde teaching courses on Risk Management, Experiential Education, Wilderness Leadership, as well as Rock Climbing and Kayaking.

Congratulations Clyde!

Hello from Jessi Nixon

Last evening Mandy got to enjoy dinner with former Staff Director Jessi Nixon. Luckily, Jessi lives just down the road in Arden, NC. Jessi wanted to make sure that everyone got a big “Hello!” from her, and she is so happy that everyone is excited for summer 2011 at Rockbrook. Here are some quick updates on Jessi.

Former Staff Director Jessi Nixon

Jessi’s currently doing about a million different things. She is training for another mini-triathlon. Last year, she did her first one along with directors Mandy and Charlotte. So, she is spending lots of time in the pool and on the bike. She is living with a retired lady with whom Jessi spends lots of time and helps her around the house. Her graduate program in Charlotte is taking up a lot of her energy as well. Jessi is constantly on the road and cannot wait to begin her second semester in Christian Leadership. Her other main focus is her part-time job as one of the youth directors at a church in Arden. She continues to love working with youth and the directors team there.

If you would like to contact Jessi, let us know. She would love to hear any updates from our fabulous Rockbrook counselors!

Rockbrook Wedding Anniversary

This is a very special day for Jeff and Sarah Carter because it’s their wedding anniversary. It’s also a special day for Rockbrook because the Carters are the only owners and directors of camp who were also married at Rockbrook as well. So in a way, it’s Rockbrook’s wedding anniversary too!

Here are just a couple of photos from the wedding— August 17, 1996.  Friends and family members came for the whole weekend with some staying in cabins. The ceremony was held in the upper lodge and the reception in the dining hall.

Happy 14 years!

Learn more about Sarah and Jeff (and see a more recent photo!).

Meet Jeff and Sarah

Meet Jeff and Sarah Carter, the owners and directors of Rockbrook. They are the dynamic couple that keep camp running so well, and are full of surprising talents and experience. For example, did you know that they are both educators with years of experience teaching elementary, middle, high school and college students? Did you know that they both began working at Rockbrook in the mid-1980s and continued to do so for more than 20 years now? Did you know that they met while working at Rockbrook and got married at camp (in the senior Lodge)? Did you know they are both musicians with Sarah playing fiddle and Jeff guitar? Did you know they are the parents of two girls, Eva and Lily? Well, it’s all true!

And there’s more to know, so hop over and learn more about Sarah, or learn more about Jeff. And then get in touch with them. They’d love to hear from you.

Directors Dress Up!

An Intergalactic Preacher, a Zombie Bride, Elmo and Cookie Monster? Wait, who are these people? It’s Jeff, Sarah, Mandy and Jessi!