Derby Day

Big day ahead of us (remember to visit http://campgreystone.com/live to watch The Sound of Music at 7:15 tonight)… but first a word about yesterday afternoon.

Sunday afternoon was a very big one at Greystone. While we had the water activities and games going on around camp, the big action was around the center of camp: Riflery tournament and Art Show. Riflery is a big deal at camp for the campers are very good at it. Elly Anderson narrowly won the tournament and was presented to the whole camp this morning at breakfast to thunderous applause.

Almost every camper and counselor in camp visited the art show which lasted all Sunday afternoon (we served punch and mints… a refreshing enticement which probably boosted attendance). This year we held the show at the Arts Center, allowing much more room and the added benefit of the studio setting. It was an inspiration to see the best works on display. If another camp has a better crafts and arts program, I would be very impressed and want to visit that camp for ideas… I think that we are securely at top of the heap with regard to fine arts. You will be thrilled to see what your girls made at camp!

The cross country jumping competition is taking place this morning, having been postponed due to thunder storms on Saturday afternoon. The riders will have a full day on the horses: riding cross country this morning and finishing the competition in front of the entire camp with stadium jumping this evening. The horses look beautiful, the riders are decked out in their show outfits, and even the audience is dressed up in their finest camp clothes. Many have brought big “Derby Hats” for the occasion, it is a lovely party and a lovely show.

Gervais puts out a knockout buffet under a massive tent that covers the entire softball field. We will be serving three kinds of salad, three kinds of pasta, three kinds of meat, fish, omlettes, punch in fancy glasses, and three kinds of desserts. Were you to have such a spread for a wedding reception, it would cost well over $50 a plate… and everyone would be talking about it afterwards. The Derby Day party is the kitchen’s big show of the summer and they have been preparing for it all week long. Not only great food, but food presented on nice chafing dishes set on nice tables with beautiful fresh flowers and even ice sculptures as accessories. The Kitchen will celebrate when it is over, confident that they have done what few professional restaurants are able to do: serve top tier menu in a top tier way for a VERY large party (750 in attendance). I am very proud of them and the whole camp celebrates their service.

The end of Main Camp is like this. Over the top… not because we have to but because we WANT to. We push the limits because we love doing it. I seldom say no to a passionate department head because I know that camp is a place where individual passion translates into a community of astounding quality—- a place that reflects the astounding Glory of God. God is all about the details and is hugely creative. As long as it is safe and enhances the community, I say “go for it”! Most of these big things are hugely difficult for the people that make them happen, for the details and creativity involved in making them happen is hard for most to understand. We delight in the effort and celebrate the results. What a great place!

Thanks for reading and for your remarkable support. It is hot and humid today, not that it matters. We love it no matter what the weather.