An Easygoing Opening

They say good things are worth the wait, but sometimes that waiting is tough. Like when you’ve had to wait all summer for your camp session to start, or when it’s been almost a whole year since you’ve seen your camp friends, it’s almost torture. We saw many examples of this pent-up anticipation as the girls attending our third session arrived. They fidgeted in the back seat of the car as it inched along the check-in line, each stop seemingly taking far too much time. Some were bobbing up and down out of their car’s skylight along the way. These girls were ready to get started, and finally camp had begun.

The counselors, too, were jumping with excitement eager to welcome their campers to Rockbrook. All morning, under beautiful sunny skies, girls arrived to join their cabin groups and begin setting up their bunks, making beds and organizing trunks. Each group took turns visiting the “spa” to have their hair checked, while others enjoyed walking tours of the main sections of camp. “That’s the path to the Alpine climbing tower, and that’s the way to the woodshop.” The youngest girls, the “Juniors,” visited the camp store to collect the gear they had ordered. You’ll soon see bright new Rockbrook sweatshirts, pajama pants, and water bottles all around camp.

Right away, we could see it happening: an easygoing feeling to those first conversations, to the name games, to the singing of camp songs at the assembly on the hill. After lunch, which featured heaping platters of Rick’s homemade mac-n-cheese, that same feeling added to the refreshment of taking our first dip in the Rockbrook lake. One by one, the girls jumped off the dock, swam and treaded water to demonstrate their swimming ability for the team of lifeguards. With the encouragement from the directors, lifeguards and counselors there helping, these “swim demos” also felt great in the warm afternoon weather.

As we settled down after dinner and enjoyed a sunset over the distant mountains— the hill at camp has a great view for summer sunsets —the girls again seemed at ease. The excitement of every camp activity will start in the morning. For now, everyone could rest in their cabin among new and old friends, breathe in the cool mountain night air, and feel the comfort of finally being here at Rockbrook.