Middlers Go to Sliding Rock

Yesterday we took the entire Middler Line to Sliding Rock, the wonderful natural water slide nearby in the Pisgah National Forest. We loaded up all 75 (5-6 grade) campers and counselors and had an exciting afternoon and evening with lots of trips down the rock to plunge into the chilly water. And since it was surprisingly uncrowded, the girls got to slide a lot. It’s such a classic summer activity here in the mountains, everyone loves it! On the way down the mountain, we just had to stop at Dolly’s for a cone of “Rockbrook Chocolate Illusion” ice cream. Yum!

Summer's Time for Dancing

You just never know when the Rockbrook girls will be ready to perform! Here’s a group of “Juniors” (K-4th graders) down at the lake showing off some of the moves they’ve been learning at the dance activity.  At a summer youth camp for girls, it seems dance and dancing is always just a moment away.

A Girls' Summer at Camp

Here’s a great old photo of girls at Rockbrook Camp enjoying their summer swimming and sliding down into the lake. We’re not sure when the photo was taken, but in the background you can see the Hillside Lodge with very little growing around it, and since that lodge now has a giant oak tree in front of it, it must have been taken quite a long time ago.  The familiar NC vegetation, the big rocks, and the same feeling of summer really come through in the photo.

How do you like the belts on the girls’ swimsuits?

Summer Camp Feelings

“Rockbrook is a haven.
Well, that’s how it feels to me.
The crystal streams, the endless sky,
The tall and leafy trees…
I love the beauty of this place,
And all the things to do,
Like riding, swimming in the lake,
And climbing towards the blue.
Camp’s the best time of the year,
But the days – they just fly by!
Before long we’re at Spirit Fire,
Tears flooding our eyes.
It’s sad that camp must end so fast,
But one thing’s always true:
Through all our days, oh Rockbrook,
We will never forget you.”
— Nell, camper 2nd session 2007

Summer Games for Kids

What is that thing?! Well, the kids at camp have named it “The Toy,” but it’s basically an aqua ropes-course, a climbing structure made of wood and rope suspended over the water on one side of the Rockbrook lake. The most popular game kids play on it is really challenging— you try to reach the farthest of 5 rings (like the girl in the photo) as you go out hand-to-hand over the water. Of course, if you don’t make it, there’s a fun splash at the bottom! But if you do make it to the last ring, and only a few kids have, we announce your name in the dining hall and reward you with a special treat/prize. Do you know what the prize is? Let us know in the comments!

Tournaments and Sock Hops

This Monday morning at Rockbrook started with a bang, literally! Three groups of girls were taken to Camp Carolina for Boys to compete in various activities such as riflery, archery, and tennis. The girls were triumphant in riflery, but unfortunately did not beat the boys in archery or tennis. After the tournaments the girls enjoyed a refreshing dip in the Camp Carolina lake. Two of my campers Courtney and Sami participated in the tennis tournament and thoroughly enjoyed their time today. Another one of my campers Cecile participated in the Archery tournament, and had the same sentiments. The sport tournaments are an oppurtunity for a few campers to show their skills against their rival: CCB.

Around lunch time Sarah and Mandy announced a Rockbrook surprise: 50s restaurant night! The dining hall was decorated in various themed posters, such as a jukebox and records. The kids were given a menu to choose their meals from, just like a real restaurant! The counselors played waitress, and took their cabin’s orders. Everyone enjoyed their dinner, and the surprise was a success!

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!

Countdown To Banquet: Less Than A Day!!!

This is usually the most stressful time of the summer for my 15-year-old campers, because as banquet planners a day before the big night, there are usually a million more things to do and a million more reasons to stay up 24 hours straight. Thankfully, we were given a break from all of the intense preparation today. Around 11:00 AM, Jerry approached the CA’s with an idea for a hike, and shortly after, we all loaded on to the buses and headed into Pisgah National Forest. After a vigorous drive over narrow, winding dirt roads, we stopped at a pull-off and commenced our hike. Once we made it to a clearing that had a perfect view of Looking Glass, we had a long talk about what the girls were going through, how they were handling CA responsibilities, and we were able to spend some quality time together and relax away from camp. Furthermore, not only did we go for a hike, but we stopped at a swimming hole on the way out of the forest. The drive home was quiet, but I haven’t heard the end of how much fun the girls had today; I can definitely agree when they claim, “this was one of the best days all summer.” Now that they have started moving posters to the dining hall in the stealth of night and actually setting up, all of their careful organization and creativity is falling into place. At this point, all of the CA’s are too excited to sleep, and frankly, so am I!

Jump On The Springboard – DIVE IN!!!

Something pretty great happened to me today, down at the lake in the mid-morning hours: I joined the 440 Club. In order to join this prestigious Rockbrook organization, you have to swim 100 laps across a certain distance in the lake, and once you complete those 100 laps (440 meters), you get to go to Dolly’s as a reward. Honestly, who wouldn’t attempt the 440 for a chance to go to Dolly’s? Which is why I was accompanied by about 7 other campers and 2 other counselors desperately trying to complete the 440 before the deadline tomorrow afternoon. Not only is it another one of those Rockbrook traditions that campers come back to each year, but it’s something to work hard for, something to accomplish, and it’s hard to understand how satisfying it feels to see those stars filled in on your personal 440 card unless you are actually completing the distance yourself. I spent some quality time with the lake today, which I haven’t done in awhile, and I now understand why tons of campers race down at the beginning of every free swim. Despite the cold water (which is very easy to get over) swimming down at the lake was probably the most fun I’ve had during free time since I came to camp. Wait a second, a trip to Dolly’s because I had so much fun in the lake today? I know what flavor of ice cream I’ll be ordering!

Sliding Rock Camp Fun!

Another amazing trip we take while at camp is to Sliding Rock in the Pisgah Forest. Only a few miles from camp, we’ll take a whole group of girls over for a few trips down the natural water slide. It’s tons of fun! You walk to the top of the slide, sit down in the very chilly rushing stream water, and you’re off… heading right down to the deep pool at the bottom the the slide. Swim to the side and then head back to the top! Over and over again, it’s great.

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