Summer Hiking Birthday Party

Tonight was birthday night at camp, but a few girls were heading out for an overnight backpacking trip and would have to miss the celebration back at camp. Rather than go without, however, Jessi made arrangements to bring a few party things with the hiking group. Yep, they had their own birthday party out in the woods, complete with balloons, streamers, and an awesome cake! It was a lot of fun, and a big surprise for everyone.

Super Hero Day!!!

It was super hero day today at Rockbrook. We all came up with our own versions of super-heroism and dressed the part! Talk about creativity… it was amazing. There were lots of “Super Girls” and other “Incredibles,” but here’s a great shot of Whitney as “Feather Girl.” Her arch nemisis was another Hi-Up (Becky) dressed as “Backpack Girl.” You never know what Rockbrook campers will come up with, especially when we have a chance to dress up!

Third Session of Camp Opens!

Today the campers attending our third session arrived. We greeted everyone this morning (even after picking up a few at the airport), settled into the cabins, and got together in the dining hall for our first lunch. It was so great to see everyone, old and new campers alike, finally at camp. So many great activities and events planned… it’s going to be great!

Childrens Camp Games

Basketball! Dodgeball! Kickball! Four Square! Volleyball! And more versions of tag than you can count! There always seems to be some kind of gym sports camp game going on— counselors and campers running around and having fun in the Rockbrook gym. One of the best things to do is to make up a game. Take something you already know, like dodgeball for example, and then change it up somehow, like by having 3 or 4 teams instead of 2, or playing with a really huge ball, or having a “come back to life” ball. Gosh, the options are almost endless!

NC Summer Camps

The lake at Rockbrook is built between four really big rocks, gigantic bolders in fact. That’s really cool because these rocks make perfect places to lounge in the sun, catch a few rays, or just to leave your towel as you swim. Sunbathing during free swim is a pretty popular activity with our older girls (seniors). Hidden in the woods, the Rockbrook Camp lake is our own unique oasis in the summer.

Girls Summer Adventure Activities

Here’s a middler (who’s finished either the 5th or 6th grade of school) climbing up the route called “Whim” on Castle Rock. It’s just one of the rock climbing routes we have on the camp property. There are definitely some challenging spots, with a cool “foot-switch” move about half way up, so we’ve given it a rating of 5.6. Overall, this climb is about 70 feet high, but it feels much higher because it’s got an amazing view of the French Broad River valley from the top. In fact, this picture of Ashleigh is that view.

Just a glimpse into the great outdoor adventure we have at camp.

Camp Builds Independence for Kids

We’ve often said that attending an kids summer camp like Rockbrook helps children become more self-sufficient and independent. But how does it work? What is it about being at camp that makes this kind of growth possible?

One secret is that camp provides a structured environment where we give children the chance to make their own choices and decisions. At Rockbrook, the girls choose their own activity schedule, rotating to new choices twice a week. There are these structured activity times and plenty of open times throughout the day, thus providing both adult supervision and limits within which the girls feel free to decide what to do. Altogether, camp is a place where kids find success (not to mention tons of fun!), through their own efforts, making choices.

It’s no wonder so many people think of their camp experiences as the most important thing they did as a child.