Council Fire Renovations

Every Greystone camper cherishes her memories of camp long after she goes home. The sounds of Reveille in the morning and Taps at night. The feel of wet grass soaking through sneakers during Flag raising in the morning. The smell of homemade bread baking, awesome activities, delightful feasts enjoyed during raucous meals, exuberant dance parties, good friends, and amazing counselors.

We know how important each and every one of these memories are and how vital the supporting facility is to making such moments matter. Thus, we work very hard to maintain our facilities to a high standard and carefully consider any change to our much-loved spaces. The Council Fire is an area that required many years of planning for its recently completed renovation (announced in the summer of 2019). We hope you will enjoy learning what we did and why this rarely used area of camp matters so much.

We have always been hesitant to renovate the Council Fire area of camp, for it has remained untouched for a very long time. My grandmother hesitantly added ten feet to the stone bench in the 50s and my parents added camper benches as our numbers grew. It always seemed perfect, but behind the charming ambiance was a big problem: the benches were falling apart, the fire pit was crumbling, and several trees were dead and needed to be removed. When we do that much work in any area of camp, we do it right… especially if it is in the most sacred spot we have!

It is sacred because it brings back memories. Memories of the 100-year-old torch being lit and the silent walk up the hill while a bugle plays a tune only heard at Council Fire… a tune that plays over and over as we file in with our cabinmates. Memories of the fire as it’s lit, the songs sung, the “important things” taught by the director.

This simple experience is one that is very important, for it provides a moment of reflection and introspection. It provides a moment of affirmation and appreciation. Campers and counselors alike cherish the time, and they cherish the place.

Council Fire is located in the heart of camp, just 50 feet from the Health Hut, just 100 feet from the cabin area, but it feels like another world. The tall trees that surround the benches set the stage, particularly as we notice the breeze rustle the pine needles in the silence that is so rare in camp. The moss-covered stone bench (made from quartz rocks uncovered as Dr. Sevier built camp so many years ago) appears timeless. Likewise, the stone fire pit dominates the space when the fire is lit. From the moment the torch is lit, this time is marked as significant. So when renovations were needed, we took particular care.

We added two beautiful columns to mark the transition into such a special place in a grand way. The new benches are built from massive timbers that were sanded, stained, and varnished, then laid out with a new center aisle.

We added a 10-foot section onto the quartz bench, matching the extension that was added by Mrs. Hanna in the 50s and making the bench symmetrical. We rebuilt the firepit to match the rest of the rockwork. All of this work ties together seamlessly. The impact is enhanced with 50 new trees that will grow to embrace the space that is open below the towering pines.

The columns are dedicated to the Alumnae and friends of Greystone who made significant donations to The Great Day Fund (our scholarship fund) in 2019 (our 100th anniversary year). This scholarship fund is a lasting legacy that will provide countless campers the opportunity to experience the delight and inspiration that arises from a camp that is dedicated to the glory of God.

A counselor from the 20s composed a song that we sing to this day at the conclusion of the Council Fire program… its words describe this simple experience in a beautiful way. If you don’t know the tune, ask a Greystone girl! She will hum it out, even if she has not been back to camp in fifty years. We can’t wait to meet again in this beautiful space this summer.

“Round the blazing Council Fire light, we have met in comradship tonight. While above the whispering trees, guard our golden memories. So before we close our eyes to sleep, let us pledge each other that we’ll keep camping friendships strong and true, ’till we meet again.”