June 2 2025

Whew… that was fun! I just got back to the office after cheering non-stop for three hours. Cheerleading was never my “thing,” and I never assumed that it would be something I would want to do, but let me tell you… It Is Awesome! There is something amazing about greeting happy campers and enthusiastic parents. Every time a car honked, it made me more excited. Every time a camper waved at me with a big smile, it made me feel like a rock star… and that feeling was shared by the cheerleaders by my side. We had a BLAST!!! Thank you for your hard work preparing your camper for this day. I can tell that they are already having fun (lots of laughter as cabin groups are walking around camp on tours). We are so glad they are here! Great parents make great campers… well done!

We are grateful that you have chosen Greystone for your child’s camp experience. Picking a camp is an expression of trust that should not be taken lightly. Our mission is “To delight and inspire, for the glory of God.” Every summer, we commit 100% to this goal, for this is what will make this summer meaningful. It is an honor to be a part of your family, and we look forward to the upcoming summer!

I write daily blogs to provide an inside glimpse of camp in a timely fashion. I aim to post the blog between 11 and 12, so you can include these up-to-date details in your emails to your girls. By including these details (such as what we eat, some EP highlights, and the weather), your communications (emails and handwritten letters) will be more effective. Turn the focus of your letters toward camp (we don’t want the girls to think they’re missing something fun at home).

“Camp photos’ are about to be a big part of your daily routine… an excellent way for you to get a glimpse of life at camp. You can quickly find photos of your camper by using one of the services mentioned on our website. We post photos twice daily: before lunch (around 1:00 PM) and after EP (around 9:30 PM). If you don’t see your daughter in the pictures, tell her you want her to jump in front of the camp photographers. Some girls don’t like having their photos taken at home, but they often like getting shots with their friends at camp.

We just sent you an important email that provides a link to view details about the other girls in your daughter’s cabin and a short video of her counselor. Keep an eye out for it, we know you will want to check it out. These cabin friendships are special, and you will definitely want to remember their names, but they are just one of the many facets of camp life that spark lifelong friendships.

Activities are perfect venues for making new friends and reconnecting with familiar faces. The Dining Room is always a favorite spot, as we share three meals a day (not only eating, but talking, singing, laughing, and playing games). Morning Assembly, walking to class, the Shoppe line at night, the Watermelon table, and the Evening Program are also places where friends are made. It is impressive to see how quickly the girls find “their people” and heartwarming to see how long these friendships last.

As I write this, the girls are enjoying a picnic lunch with their cabin (smoked turkey, pasta salad, ham, home-baked bread, fruit salad, cheese, brownies). The sky is partly cloudy, there is no chance of rain, and temperatures are a perfect 78 degrees. The first week of camp is going to have a series of days exactly like this one: that is to say, PERFECT! This fact is particularly appreciated by the counselors after the cool, wet, windy week that just ended. Running camp is always a delight, but especially fun when the weather is like this.

Later this afternoon, we will have a brief assembly to review a few camp rules and introduce the camp leaders to the girls. Interesting fact: There are no new campers at June Camp. Every girl knows Greystone and is excited to be back. It is a remarkable fact (and the first time it has ever happened at June Camp). We are grateful for their love of camp and their commitment to “The Great Day Attitude” that marks this place as special. Here, kindness is our currency, and smiles define our “resting face”. A large group like this (the biggest June Camp ever) is going to be amazing because of the girls’ attitude. They are going to love seeing each other together as a group for the first time in this assembly. It will be so much fun! After the assembly, the girls will take cabin photos, complete their swim test at the pool, sign up for classes, and enjoy activities such as the Slip ‘n Slide. They will focus on spending time with their cabin as they do all these things (learning each other’s names and sharing their first conversations takes a lot of time). The counselors will make the get-to-know-you process easy for all.

Tonight, we will enjoy our first meal in the Dining Hall (opening day spaghetti), our first EP (Counselor Program Skits), our first Crackers, our first cabin devotions, our first tuck-ins, our first Taps, our first night of sleep in a cabin. We will all be very tired, and sleep comes quickly as we close our eyes to the calming song of crickets and frogs in the distance. Tomorrow morning, we will wake up with a smile, jump out of bed, clap our hands, and say “It’s going to be a GREAT DAY!”.

Thank you for your prayers and your support.

We Love Your Girls and are so happy to be enjoying another summer together!