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June 5, 2013May 25, 2020 • News • Jeff Carter

Small Scale Richness

Looking around camp these past couple of days, and if you’ve been following along in the photo gallery, it’s amazing to see so many engaged, smiling girls doing so many different things. It’s almost impossible to describe them all! Of course there are the different organized, scheduled activities like rock climbing, tennis, gymnastics, or making tie-dye t-shirts, but there are also so many simpler, more spontaneous moments when the girls find themselves delighted and charmed. They might be wading in the creek, turning over a rock to “see what’s under there,” chatting with a new friend sitting in a pair of red rocking chairs, or simply walking with a caring counselor to lunch. Part of the magic of camp derives from these moments when we share experiences and grow closer, when we encounter something wonderful or create something beautiful together. It’s this kind of “small scale richness” that really strengthens our community, and make camp so special.

So here’s an idea, and a great example of this richness… Let’s take a group of 1st and 2nd grade girls and let them make samosas for the whole camp! That’s exactly what Rick, our head chef, did this afternoon. He and our baker Katie prepared the dough from scratch and cooked up the filling (potatoes, turmeric, cumin, coriander, salt, and yogurt) beforehand, so the girls could help assemble the individual turnovers. With bright white aprons donned, the group formed a team where some rolled and flattened small balls of dough, others scooped a blob of filling for each, and others folded and pressed each samosa closed. The goal was to make about 400, and with all those (little!) hands helping, the project went pretty quickly. Joyful enthusiasm went into every samosa, and as Rick has said many times before, we’ll be able to taste it.

Today we opened up our zip line for the first time this summer. We announced the option at breakfast and in no time we had two groups pumped up for their chance to fly down the 450 foot ride through woods behind the dining hall. The course begins with a cable and plank bridge suspended between two massive rocks high above a stream. The girls walk the bridge, being careful not to look down, to reach the zip line launch. From there, they clip their pulley into the cable, lift their feet and they’re off screaming down to the far hill. It’s a thrilling ride.

Late in the day, we gathered all of the senior campers and drove into the Pisgah National Forest for a picnic. Rick set us up with hot dogs, buns and all the fixins, including some of his homemade coleslaw, fruit and cookies. We enjoyed eating and then played a group game called “I’m a Rockbrook Girl.” This is a chance to run around and learn each other’s names, and of course laugh the whole time. Our next stop was Sliding Rock, that classic natural water slide formed by Looking Glass creek as it cascades 60 feet down a smooth rock. I’m sure you could guess this mountain water is “refreshing” (i.e. freezing cold) but if not, these pictures prove it. (Click the photo to see a larger version.) Not every camper was inspired, or brave, enough to take the plunge, but for those that did, it was a grand, albeit chilly, time. On the other hand, everyone participated in our last stop— Dolly’s Dairy Bar. We all enjoyed a cup or cone of our favorite sweet treat, for example the flavor called “Rockbrook Chocolate Illusion” or one of the other varieties named after the summer camps in the area. Sure, it was too cold to get wet at Sliding Rock, but for these girls, it’s never too cold for Dolly’s ice cream.

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June 4, 2013May 12, 2020 • Archery • Jeff Carter

That Satisfying “Thunk”

Today we took our first outdoor adventure trip with the campers, and it was a great one. Two buses and a van of senior- and middler-aged campers took the day to go whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River over in Swain County. We departed right after breakfast, and with a brief snack/bathroom stop we arrived at the river for an early picnic lunch at Ferebee park. The sun was warm and bright as the whole crew munched on the sandwiches, chips and fruit Rick packed for us. A short drive up river to the put-in, we met the Rockbrook guides who had our rafts and all the equipment we would need (lifejackets, paddle, helmets, etc.) ready to go.

As you may know, Rockbrook is the only girls camp that has a permit to run its own rafting trips down the Nantahala. This allows us to have our own gear, hire our own expert guides, schedule the trips to our liking, and send down the river as many campers as we need without having to charge extra fees. Rockbrook was awarded this permit back in the 1980s, and since the Forest Service is not issuing any new permits, we are lucky to have it. Rafting has easily become the most popular adventure trip at Rockbrook, with just about every Middler and Senior taking the opportunity. Our permit doesn’t allow us to raft our Juniors because of age and weight restrictions. Today’s trip was perfect… Beautiful sunny warm weather, very few other rafts on the water, exhilarating moments in the rapids, and fun splashing around during the calmer parts of the river. Singing, sometimes screaming, chatting and laughing all the way down, these girls were having a ball.

Meanwhile back at camp, the looms in Curosty, our fiber arts cabin, were clicking with girls weaving headbands and placemats. Curosty is one of the early buildings erected at Rockbrook that, along with the Goodwill cabin, was moved here so it predates the camp. It once was used as the camp office but now it is filled with colorful yarns, tabletop and floor looms, and girls learning an ancient craft. The whole space, filled with calm yet highly creative energy, evokes a wonderful, timeless feeling.

Down the hill toward the gym, the archery range was busy with girls firing arrows at their targets. Learning the proper way to handle the archery equipment and the important safety rules of the range are the first steps, and then with a little coaching about technique, it doesn’t take long for campers to be able to pull back an arrow and hit the target. It’s such a satisfying sound, that “thunk” the arrow makes when it hits. It’s an even more satisfying sound to hear the girls’ cheers when someone hits a bullseye, and thereby joins the “bullseye club.”

I wanted to call your attention to an short article by Michael Thompson recently published in the New York Times. Thompson is the author of Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow, a book where he examines the character development benefits that come from a sleepaway camp experience. He believes that letting children go, taking breaks from the shelter and protection we parents instinctively provide, is an important milestone in a child’s development. In his NYT article, entitled “Why Camp Counselors Can Out-Parent Parents,” he makes the same point by observing that camp counselors are, different from parents, “super cool,” admirable role models that kids want to learn from. The counselors at Rockbrook are well-trained, have excellent inter-personal skills, are full of enthusiasm for life, and are simply down-to-earth, genuine good people. They are just the kind of “parents” we’d all be proud to call our own.

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June 3, 2013May 25, 2020 • News • Jeff Carter

Jumping with Excitement

The first full day of camp opened quietly this morning with a thick fog lingering from yesterday’s rain. Some girls, not yet accustomed to the schedule at camp, were up before the rising bell ringing at 8, while others seemed pretty sleepy when they arrived for breakfast at 8:30. Everyone though, enjoyed a hearty breakfast of oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, cereal and juice to start the day.

After breakfast, the girls assembled in their lodges (Each age group or “line” has it’s own stone lodge.) for a quick meeting with announcements and a song or two. These “morning assembly” times are another way that the girls in an age group get to know each other, see their counselors lead and interact with the group, and simply have fun doing something together. Activity time was next. Hooray! It was finally time to run off to a part of the camp and begin climbing, swimming, paddling, drawing, shooting, riding, and creating in so many ways. Without a minute to waste, there were girls with their hands in clay, holding rifles and bows, gripping paddles and paint brushes, climbing up onto horses and all the way to the top of our 50ft Alpine tower. Happily, the weather cooperated beautifully and with sun shining, we could leave our rain coats in the cabins and instead carry a towel down to the lake for a swim.

If you haven’t heard about Rockbrook’s “Muffin Break,” you certainly will from your daughter in a letter or after camp because it is a moment each day that everyone looks forward to. It happens between the first and second activity periods, and is exactly that, a break in the camp action to enjoy a freshly baked muffin served to everyone on the dining hall porch. It’s particularly exciting because the flavor changes regularly, so the girls are always excited to learn if today’s muffin is one of their favorite varieties. Today we enjoyed pumpkin chocolate chip, a classic and very popular kind.

This afternoon the “CA” campers, who are girls who have finished the 9th grade, took a hike in the Dupont State Forest. Their goal for the hike, besides enjoying the fantastic mountaintop views and blooming mountain laurel bushes along the trail, was to discuss their ideas for the end-of-session banquet. They needed to pick a theme for this special dinner/party they plan and produce for the whole camp, and since that theme is kept secret until the night of the banquet, discussing and debating the options away from camp is a good idea. They brainstormed more than a dozen initial ideas, and by the end of the hike they had selected an exciting and creative theme, one that included thoughts about the food to be served, decorations, costumes, dances, skits, props and music. They all seemed very excited about the idea… jumping with excitement …and I’m sure it will be a great event.

I hope you are enjoying the daily photos we have begun posting. If you haven’t already, you simply login to your parent account, and click the photos link. You’ll be able to browse through each day’s galleries, mark your favorites, and at the end of the session purchase prints or high-resolution downloads, if you like. Karin, Becca and Rachel, our camp photographers, are busy taking and posting these photos for you. We hope you enjoy them.

Thank you for sharing your girls with us. Camp is off to a great start!

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June 2, 2013March 24, 2023 • News • Jeff Carter

Launching into Summer

After many months of planning, new building projects around camp, gathering supplies and equipment, hiring staff members, and for the last week, training outdoor adventure guides, equestrian specialists and cabin counselors, we have arrived at the opening day for Rockbrook’s 2013 summer season. It’s a very exciting day for all of us at camp. Like for your girls, it truly is the moment we’ve been waiting for. It’s the day when we can finally reunite with many old camp friends and meet great girls new to Rockbrook as well.

Overnight we had some heavy rain, and the rest of the day was forecast to be quite wet. So a little shuffling of our opening day schedule and procedures, a few tents and tarps, and plenty of raincoats and boots were required. It sprinkled a bit throughout the morning, and it did rain briefly now and then, but overall we had a great opening day. The campers met their counselors, moved into their cabins, and had a chance to decorate their name tags. These name tags, by the way, are made from a slice of a mountain laurel branch, and are just like those made for generations at Rockbrook. The girls use markers to decorate them and often add beads to the strings for another way to make them unique. In each cabin, the counselors had prepared a poster welcoming the girls and a “job wheel” outlining the daily chores and how they will be shared. It’s fun to settle into the cabin… Making beds, unpacking, arranging pillows and greeting everyone as they arrive.

The weather cleared up nicely in the afternoon allowing us to send cabin groups on tours around the camp. These tours both orient the campers and get them thinking about the different activities they will be able to choose from. While some cabins were touring, others were playing group get-to-know-you games in the lodges, and others were down at the lake demonstrating their swimming ability to the lifeguards. Yes, it was plenty warm enough and, while cloudy, not raining during all of this activity.

Before dinner, we all assembled in the gym to learn more about the different activities at camp by watching the counselors perform skits. There were songs, dances with props like tennis racquets, climbing harnesses, and kick boards, and incredibly enthusiastic introductions. Watching these skits, you could tell the counselors were having fun and were going to be great teachers as well as role models for the campers this session. If you haven’t read through some of the staff profiles we’ve posted, I recommend it. You can see, even without meeting them, just how impressive these young women are!

Tomorrow the campers launch into their first activity schedule. It’s going to be big fun!

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May 27, 2013May 4, 2020 • Summer Camp • rbc

It’s Like a Rocket

Less than a week! Rockbrook will open in just 5 short days, and boy are we excited! (Have you seen the countdown timer on the sidebar lately?). Throughout the spring as we’ve planned and prepared for our 2013 summer season, as we’ve finished building projects, organized activities and special events, we’ve gotten more and more eager to get started. This past Sunday was the start of our week-long staff training session. There are about 60 of these college-aged women who are now at camp because this summer they will be cabin counselors, outdoor adventure guides, equestrian instructors, craft specialists, and sports coaches. Add to that several nurses, the entire kitchen crew, and maintenance staff, and you can imagine the buzz of activity suddenly energizing the camp.

In addition to the directors and the staff members, we’re hearing from campers too, many of the girls who are bursting with glee to finally get to camp. Here is a collage, made by Eva, that conveys this feeling of excitement. It’s impossible to not feel excited when Rockbrook is so much fun “it’s like a rocket,” and is “addicting” like the “sweet and spicy” taste of “cinnamon.” Whether in 1962 or 2001, or this year, Rockbrook is a place to make new friends and do new things.

Can you feel it? Are you ready for camp?

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May 3, 2013December 1, 2023 • Counselors • Sofie Ehlinger

Thanks!

Stephen Wallace’s article Always Thank the Bus Driver featured in the American Camping Magazine’s May/June 2011 issue inspired our plans for this weekend. Wallace claims that camp teaches us to “thank the bus driver”. It’s all about appreciation and gratitude. Why wait for camp to cultivate a greater sense of gratitude?

This weekend, let’s appreciate this wonderful life that we are living by giving thanks! Here’s a few suggestions how:

1. No Mirrors

Challenge yourself to go through the weekend without looking in a mirror. You’ll have more time to thank your body for all it does and less time to analyze everything you’d like to “change” or “improve” about it. Your body allows you to jump, sing, clap, dance, and play! Let’s appreciate it!

2. Stop, Drop, and Roll

This famous fire safety tip works well to cultivate our sense of gratitude. When you have a quiet moment this weekend, Stop what you’re doing for a moment. Drop all the thoughts and to-do lists running through your mind. Roll through all the people you know. Who has gone out of their way to help you recently? I bet the list is longer than you might have guessed. Thank goodness for all the people who care for us! And for staff, there camp counselor resources are a great reminder.

3. Both Sides Now

The famous Joni Mitchell song Both Sides Now is a beautiful example of perspective. The song begins with Mitchell singing about clouds. In her younger years, Mitchell’s imagination saw angel’s hair and ice cream cones in the shapes formed by the sky. In adulthood, Mitchell was annoyed by clouds. They snowed and rained and got in the way of her plans. It’s so easy to let life lose it’s luster. With a subtle shift in perspective, life doesn’t have to seem quite so tough.

4. Share Yourself with the World

The word “donate” is not necessarily synonymous with the word “money”. Giving of ourselves can enhance our appreciation of not only what we have but who we are. What do you share to the world? Are you a great listener? A fabulous joke teller? A beautiful singer? An excellent gardener? Your talents are your gifts- give them away this weekend. And as a superstar camp counselor!

5. Look Up, Down, Sideways, and Byways

There’s a whole world out there to explore! Look beyond yourself and leave no stone un-turned.

6. Overestimate

“Overestimate” people’s abilities and capacity for compassion and they will rise to the occasion. At camp we say, it’s way more fun to think the best of people!

Let this Saturday be better than your Friday and worse than you Sunday. With a little effort and practice, camp life and regular life can just keep getting better and better.

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April 12, 2013July 21, 2020 • Counselors • Sofie Ehlinger

Lesson Learned

We do a lot for our campers. We support, foster, develop, create, smile, love, sing, dance, model, and encourage everyday each summer. Our camp job is unique and fabulous. For all the elbow grease you put into your job as a counselor, your campers will do just as much (and sometimes more!) for you.

A (Very!) Short List of Lessons Learned From Campers:

1. It’s okay if someone rains on your parade.

Both in the literal and figural sense, our campers help us learn how to make the most of life. It’s raining? What a great time to put on your bright yellow boots and splash in the puddles! Your friend woke up in a grumpy mood? All the more reason to tell her a silly joke!

2. Life is way more fun if you don’t take yourself so seriously.

Your campers are the perfect example that a healthy dose of laughter and a nap can change the world.

3. Why wait?

Life is short so go for it! If you blink your eyes, the moment may be gone (or it may be closing day).

4. Turn it off!

You don’t need a cellphone, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to be happy. A real thumbs up is much more satisfying than a virtual one.

5. Turn it on!

Pablo Picasso said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Who better to share your talents with than a group of six-year-olds?

6. Failure is the fun part.

In school, in general, there’s little room to fail. At camp, you have 250 acres to “fail”! You won’t be good at everything you do, and thank goodness. Wouldn’t that be boring?!?

7. Start small.

We are constantly getting overwhelmed. This project is too big, I can’t start it. The race is too long, I

can’t run it. I don’t have a lot money, I can’t donate any. Campers tend to take things bite by bite which makes the world much easier to swallow.

8. Everyone is special.

Campers recognize this. We tend to forget.

9. It’s best to start each day excited for what’s to come.

How refreshing! Our campers typically align with Winnie the Pooh’s feelings, “‘What day is it?’ asked Pooh. ‘It’s today,’ squealed Piglet. ‘My favorite day,’ said Pooh.”

10. There’s always a reason to celebrate.

I think the Kid President said it best, “Give the world a reason to dance.” Rockbrook girls know how to celebrate life!

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April 10, 2013May 25, 2020 • Summer Camp • rbc

An Experience to Last a Lifetime

Camp is fun. There are shaving cream fights, muffin breaks, kayaking trips, Dolly’s visits, hiking overnights, funny skits, and so much more. However, camp is about way more than the present experience. The entire Rockbrook experience is meant to last us a lifetime. It is about building character traits that will help us later in life — confidence, independence, individuality, and so on. It is about being with nature. Camp is about making friends who won’t leave our side. The spontaneity, the adventure, the laughter and the FUN found at camp will stay with us long after we leave the Heart of the Wooded Mountain.

At Rockbrook, our mission is:

“To provide a haven for girls,

a place of their own,

where they can explore the beauty of nature,

try new things,

enjoy carefree summer living,

and make some of their very best friends.”

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March 15, 2013May 26, 2020 • Counselors • Sofie Ehlinger

Camper Health and Beauty Tips

Fun Camp Tips for Girls — Dear Rockbrook Girl

If you’ve ever read any of those swanky health and fitness or fashion magazines, you are most certainly familiar with the health and beauty tips that leap out at you from the pages: “torch calories”, “create the perfect pout with your lipstick”, “dress for your body type”.

Although you probably won’t find these on any newsstands or runways in the near future, the health and beauty tips you learn working at summer camp are way more fun than any we’ve ever read in a magazine. (Not to mention that they outlast all the trends!) Here’s how we imagine a Rockbrook girl’s advice column about how to look beautiful and live beautifully might read:

Dear Rockbrook Girl,
I’d like to improve my look, but I don’t know where to start. Any suggestions?
-From: Confused about make-up
Dear Confused about Make-Up,
Great question! Well, lucky for you, I know a quick way to perk up your look. SMILE! Your face will automatically shine and shimmer; your complexion instantly brightened!
-Rockbrook Girl

Dear Rockbrook Girl,
I’m preparing for a very big event. I’ve picked out an outfit and I know what shoes I’m going to wear, but I cannot figure out what to do with my hair! HELP!
-From: All dressed up and no hair to go
Dear All Dressed Up,
Hmmmm. This is a tough one. Now you’re probably referring to a red carpet affair or a party as a “big event”, but I think that we can make a big event out of anything: brushing our teeth, writing a letter, wading in a creek. My general rule thumb about hair is to keep it simple. Dry it naturally, don’t use any product, and if it ever gets in your eyes as you’re exploring, throw those tresses in a ponytail!
-Rockbrook Girl

Dear Rockbrook Girl,
What are the hottest fashion trends for this summer?
-From: Wardrobe Warrior
Dear Wardrobe Warrior,
Keeping up with the trends can be difficult, but have no fear. This summer it looks like fashion is going to be easy and breezy. Any clothes that you can play, jump, and climb in should serve you well. Popular items in 2013 will be water shoes, one-piece bathing suits, worn-in T-shirts, and whities with a red tie.
-A Rockbrook Girl

Dear Rockbrook Girl,
I am looking for a new regimen for my skin? Any tips on how to achieve a clear complexion?
-From: Comfortable in my own skin
Dear Comfortable,
What you need is a mixture of dirt, lake water, sweat, and shaving cream. Ta Da! Happy skin from your head to your toes.
-Rockbrook Girl

For many more health and beauty tips, apply to work at camp TODAY!

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March 14, 2013May 25, 2020 • News • Charlotte Page

Surprise for Mr. Potter

Although Rockbrook has offered pottery since the 1950’s, it really took off in the 1980’s when John and Sybil Dodson aka “Mr. and Mrs. Potter” began their work at Rockbrook. They created a fabulous program and helped build our first pottery studio, located down in the old garage of The Rockbrook House. For over 20 summers the Dodson’s taught legions of Rockbrook girls the art of hand building, wheel throwing and glazing. If you were a camper during that time you probably also remember the petting zoo down at pottery! Mr. Dodson would often bring a goat or a chicken as artistic inspiration. When we hear from former campers and staff they often talk about Mr. and Mrs. Potter as some of their favorite camp leaders.

In addition to working at Rockbrook, Mr. and Mrs. Dodson had their own pottery shop. Mud Dabbers Pottery and Crafts was located in the Old Distillery Building on the Rockbrook property. It did not take long for them to outgrow their original shop with all of their amazing pottery, so they moved Mud Dabbers down the street to the Old Powell Store, where it is currently located. It is quite an amazing shop, filled with the work of over 20 artists. It is still a destination location for many people who journey up the mountain just to visit Mud Dabbers!

So, In honor of Mr. Dodson and all of his amazing work with so many people over the years, his family and friends are organizing a memory book for him for his upcoming birthday. If you have a memory of Mr. Potter that you would like to share for this special tribute, please write Shannon at: srood31@hotmail.com. Deadline for submissions is Memorial Day. We love you Mr. Potter!

Rockbrook Camp Office and Mud Dabbers Pottery, 1997

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