July 15 2025

A surprising thing happened on Sunday night at our weekly staff meeting. This is a late-night (10:15 pm) event that the staff anticipates with delight, an hour spent with “adults” in a meeting that features snacks and drinks, encouragement by leadership, upcoming calendar details, shoutouts by fellow staff members, and recognition for outstanding performance, kindness, and courage in the week that just passed. It is a great place to “check the pulse” of the camp and see what God is doing in our community. I began the meeting with a brief overview of our community, frankly acknowledging the perceptions people have of us and letting them know that these perceptions are often incomplete. These perceptions are, I know, held by some of our staff as well, and at this point in the summer, it is good to set the record straight. While it is true that camp is expensive, it is also true that not all in our community are affluent. Many families struggle to provide their children with a camp experience. Grandparents, friends, neighbors, and even employers help cover the tuition costs for many girls. We are generous with scholarship assistance as well, The Great Day Fund was established for exactly this purpose. We wish we didn’t have to charge anything, but you know that’s not possible. We are a small business that only generates income 11 weeks a year. In 1920, it was only possible to establish a girls’ camp privately (there were no girls’ camps at the time and no organization had any interest in starting one). Dr. Sevier did it on his own, with his own money… and never made a dime. His other business, a girls’ boarding school, Fassifern School for Girls, subsidized camp expenses, allowing this place to take shape and grow.

Camp has always existed for the glory of God. We delight and inspire our community, and He has blessed us over the years with His presence. Every year we give the staff the opportunity to donate a portion of their salary to the Great Day Fund, and last Sunday night we passed out the donation forms for withholding from their final Main Camp paycheck and today I learned that over 80% of them chose to give. It brought me to tears. Their hearts have been touched in the same way, recognizing that camp is good and worth supporting in every way. If this subject is interesting to you, check out last years’ blog on the subject. We are finding that many gifts to the fund come from groups and organizations that are new to Greystone. I can only imagine that is due to parents and alumnae. Thank you.

A quick recap on last night’s EP… It was a humdinger! The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat have never been more acutely felt as the girls locked into first participating, then watching the competition play out. Every cabin hoped to win the prize… a ridiculously generous cornucopia of privileges and prizes chosen to inspire desire in each camper (first in line to shoppe & buffets, reserved “box seating” with fans for all performances, a weighted stuffed animal, a custom sweatshirt, “a Miss Chris” T-shirt, and picking your Dining Hall seats for the last week). The excitement was high from the first minute to the last… ninety nine-minute spectacle worthy of a “favorite camp moment” for many girls. So much fun!

Today, we continue to savor the little routines that fill our days: Breakfast Club, Morning Assembly, Classes, mealtime, singing, rest hour, clubs, and shoppe (I’m not sure why we spell it that way). EP is the much-anticipated Counselor Talent Show. Staff reserved their space in the program a week ago and are giddy to perform (no matter if they are gifted performers or not). Funny skits mixed with genuine talent make for a great show. I’m looking forward to it.

Thank you for checking in.

Breakfast Truckdrivers Special
Joke “Coffin”
Weather 85 degrees, sunny, UV 10, chance of rain
Lunch Carne Asada Tacos
Dinner Drumsticks and smashed potatoes
Moonphase 60% moon, still visible high in the sky in the morning
EP Counselor Talent Show