Nov 21, 2023 by Catherine

Tags

Fall Faves and Recap from Our Year-Round Team

It feels like it’s been forever since we waved goodbye to you on Closing Day. The days are shorter and the leaves have fallen, but did you know that our year-round camp community stays busy all year long?

The fall offers lots of time to read surveys, debrief how it all went, and start brainstorming ideas to make next year the best one yet, but it also gives us space to reconnect with each other and our families after a busy summer season. Today we’re giving you a peek at what we’ve been enjoying, planning for, and working on this fall! Scroll through to connect with us, and add your own fall recap in the comments.

Junior2023 1367.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Alli:

  • The biggest thing on my fall bucket list was: Go to a pumpkin patch and get apple donuts from an apple orchard.
  • The most surprising thing about camp in the fall is: You never know how long the leaves will stay on the trees. One day you come in, and there are so many colors everywhere, and two days later, the trees at the entrance to camp are bare.
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: Spaghetti Pie and this Pot Roast!
  • My favorite place at camp during the fall: The River Trail. Elizabeth has put the cows out there!
  • The best thing I’ve done with my camp co-workers this fall: We have lunch pretty regularly together. Nancy (the mail queen) and I sneak away for coffee dates.
  • My favorite holiday tradition: My workout group has Santa come visit all of our kids at the Greystone Barn, and it is the best night because he reads them a story, we take family photos, have s’mores, and the kids get quality time with Santa.
  • The number one item on my Christmas wish list is: Artkive Box (and photo book) so I can stop storing all of my kids’ artwork.
June2023 1949.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Anne Hayden:

  • The best thing about the fall at camp is: The leaves!!! They are STUNNING.
  • The biggest thing on my fall bucket list was: Apple picking at Jeter Mountain Farm.
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: Grilled cheese with fig spread and apple
  • My favorite place at camp during the fall: The trees by the pavilion bathroom and Fort!
  • The best thing I’ve done with my camp co-workers this fall: Fun walks to dinner at food trucks around town.
  • This is when I decorate for Christmas: AFTER thanksgiving
  • The moment I’m most looking forward to during the holidays: Ski season and time with family!
  • Camp project I’m working on now that folks will love: Social Media, Summer Staff, and surprises for the summer!
August2023 1841.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Cat:

  • The best thing about the fall at camp is: crisp weather, pretty leaves, and plenty of time to start dreaming and planning for summer 2024! The views on the drive up to camp every day from Travelers Rest is particularly dreamy right now.
  • Favorite fall treat: I get the itch to bake in the fall! My next goal is to find the perfect sweet potato cake recipe.
  • My favorite part of this fall was: Getting to tour some incredible camps in Wisconsin. We ate cheese curds and came back with lots of new ideas to implement at Greystone!
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: Pinch of Yum is a staple for us, and we’ve recently loved her Lemongrass Meatball Bowls and Chicken Teriyaki Burgers.
  • The moment I’m most looking forward to during the holidays: I love a Christmas candlelight service (very Vespers!) and time reading around the fire.
  • Camp project I’m working on now that folks will love: Having lots of fun conversations with our new counselors for summer 2024. You are going to LOVE them!
Main2023 592.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Ellen- Anne:

  • Favorite fall treat: The Flat Rock Bakery has hot sandwiches in the fall and IYKYK. Best treat ever!
  • The biggest thing on my fall bucket list was: Afternoon walks before dinner in our neighborhood - the best way to see the leaves!
  • The most surprising thing about camp in the fall is: The lake has no water right now - just a big ole mud pit!
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: Loving this Orzo Chicken Bake from Defined Dish. Easy, Cozy, and Fallish.
  • This is when I decorate for Christmas: The house lights go on the weekend of Thanksgiving (just call me Griswald), and we decorate the inside and get a tree after Else’s birthday (Dec. 7th).
  • My favorite holiday tradition: Every year we go to the Arboretum to see the Winter Lights. Santa is there (in Carhartts…very Asheville), and we get hot coco and walk around with the kids, my parents, and my sister, Nancy!
  • The number one item on my Christmas wish list is: One day alone to read my book! And some new Pajamas!
  • Camp project I’m working on now that folks will love: Lots of fun program things! Campers, get excited :)
August2023 545.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Elizabeth:

  • The best thing about the fall at camp is: The leaves! They’re hard to clean up but so beautiful!
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: Korean BBQ! Not very fall but so fun!
  • My favorite place at camp during the fall: By the gym all out or by the funnel cake shed! The leaves there are just the best.
  • The best thing I’ve done with my camp co-workers this fall: “Bring Your Own Meat” night is by far the best part of fall at camp. So much fun having everyone here and sharing a meal together!
  • The moment I’m most looking forward to during the holidays: I’m not usually one to decorate for Christmas but this year I’m so excited for it! Hoping to channel my inner old English Christmas vibes down in the barn.
Main2023 182.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Jimboy:

  • The best thing about the fall at camp is: Wood Fires every night as the sun sets and the leaves change colors then fall (the views around camp are really different… fun!).
  • Favorite fall treat: Donuts (I know that donuts aren’t season specific, but I love the donuts at McFarlands Bakery in Hendersonville and only get them in the fall!)
  • The biggest thing on my fall bucket list was: Running… I do Stumblers every morning on the track, started September 1.
  • The most surprising/weirdest thing about camp in the fall is: Sound… leaves change the way sound travels. It is surprising if you take time to notice it!
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: Grilling/smoking anything on my Big Green Egg… love it!
  • My favorite holiday tradition: Hallmark Christmas movies playing in background while we bake cookies and play games in the kitchen.
  • The moment I’m most looking forward to during the holidays: First Snow!!!
  • Camp project I’m working on now that folks will love: Tentalow Bathroom Renovations… we are developing a new bathroom design, are testing our ideas on a couple tentalows this year and will renovate ALL bathrooms in the future.
Junior2023 72.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Katie:

  • My favorite part of this fall was: First birthday parties for two of my grandsons, Charlie & Owen!
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: Roasted Cabbage with Walnuts - the most surprisingly delicious dish I have tried in years!! I can’t wait to make it again!!
  • My favorite place at camp during the fall: The back porch of my home which overlooks Putt Cove - I love seeing the colors of the leaves near and far.
  • My favorite holiday tradition: Cookie Decorating - I make a wonderful crisp sugar cookie (one of Libby’s favorites) roll them, cut them into shapes and bake them. I make lots of colors of icing and buy candies to decorate. Then I put out an invitation to all the children, grandchildren, nieces & nephews who are in the area to come help decorate the cookies. Some of them are quite talented artists so we end up with beautiful and tasty cookies for the Christmas season!
  • The moment I’m most looking forward to during the holidays: Time with our family - we are planning a Miller Christmas feast this year (Margaret, Jimboy and I have been talking about it for weeks) and we can’t wait to celebrate Christmas together!
  • Camp project I’m working on now that folks will love: Planning all of the great new items for The Greystone Store for summer of 2024! We have some really amazing clothes coming in and most exciting, a custom Greystone ENewton bracelet!!
June2023 2342.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Laura:

  • Favorite fall treat: We have fig trees and I love to make a dessert with figs, greek yogurt and garnish with a drizzle of honey and mint leaves.
  • The biggest thing on my fall bucket list was: Welcoming Leland’s baby girl, Emma Claire!
  • The most surprising thing about camp in the fall is: How quiet it is.
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: Black Bean soup- easy and delish!
  • The best thing I’ve done with my camp co-workers this fall: When Anne Hayden got the food truck to come for our staff lunch!
  • My favorite holiday tradition: Dinner and Church with family on Christmas Eve and Brunch on Christmas Day
Junior2023 45.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Meredith:

  • Favorite fall treat: I made this Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake for my sister-in-law’s birthday, and it as a hit!
  • My favorite part of this fall was: welcoming our new nephew and future men staffer, Hawkins. Feeling like the countdown is really on for me, too!
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: This Thai Chicken Soup … I’m a sucker for anything Thai-flavored right now!
  • My favorite holiday tradition: Tacky Christmas Sweater Parties and Oyster Roasts
  • The moment I’m most looking forward to during the holidays: Last year, we had a family game night after the Christmas Eve service, and it was epic. I’m scheming for some Christmas-themed games again for this year!
  • The number one item on my Christmas wish list is: for Chris to give our house a new fresh coat of paint - ha!
  • Camp project I’m working on now that folks will love: Hiring and recruiting all of our amazing Junior Staff folks who you will LOVE meeting next year!
Img 2160.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Nancy:

  • Favorite fall treat: I love peppermint hot chocolate.
  • My favorite part of the fall was: Bring Your Own Meat nights and going on a family beach trip for the first time
  • My favorite place at camp during the fall: Swings by pavilion and the benches on the River Trail
  • The moment I’m looking forward to during the holidays: Just relaxing and being with friends and family.
  • The number one item on my Christmas wish list: A good easy crockpot cookbook
Main2023 1177.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Peter:

  • Favorite fall treat: Not fall necessarily, but have been enjoying a stroopwafel with my coffee in the morning!
  • The best thing about camp in the fall is: The leaves and change of season.
  • Favorite camp moment this fall was: The Alumnae Reunion! It was great to see old friends and hear stories from camp alums.
Main2023 686.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Sarah:

  • Favorite fall treat: s’mores at night with my family
  • The most surprising thing about camp in the fall is: It can actually feel kind of creepy. If you’re walking around and you hear the leaves rustling, you think there may be an animal somewhere. You can feel very alone in the cabin area!
  • My favorite part of this fall was: Great weather! Had so many meals outside because it just didn’t get too cold.
  • The best recipe I’ve made since camp is: Love making Greek chicken bowls with this grilled chicken.
  • The best thing I’ve done with my camp co-workers this fall: Book club! Really enjoyed the book and it’s been great discussion.
  • My favorite holiday tradition: Our Feliz Navidad party
  • The moment I’m most looking forward to during the holidays: Our whole family read a new book on Christmas Eve that is newly opened that night
  • Project I’m working on now that folks will love: Hiring some new folks for concerts next year - so excited!