July 9 2025

You are well aware of the remarkable influence of celebrity. It is a great power, and with great power comes great responsibility (as Peter Parker’s grandmother so wisely put it). Unfortuneately, most celebrities misuse their power with self-indulgence and harmful habits. Their fans follow in their footsteps, to no good end.

Drew and Ellie are different. Their faith was strong in college and early career (worked Young Life camps many summers, active members of their churches, strong personal relationship with Jesus); when fame arrived (Live Forever) they handled it well. Their lives are a light in the darkness. If you ever get a chance to go to a concert, do so. Worth it… 10 out of 10 Greystone Girls agree. They are strongly influenced by this family, a fact that we celebrate at Greystone.

Their concert began with “Live Forever,” and each subsequent song brought strong emotion. Dancing, praying, laughing, playing… an unbroken string of musical pearls to be remembered as “that night when Drew and Ellie did EP for Do Nothing Day”. Precious and treasured for many years. I loved it.

Today is Corn Roast! Another big EP that is much anticipated by the campers: Some of our most loved Alumnae will return to camp for a quick taste of camp on their “skip year,” so we consider their sudden appearance to be part of the fun! These girls (who are entering college this fall after graduating from their camper years last summer) will arrive today and move into our Apple Hill Guest House (a nice 4-bedroom house and boathouse next to the camp) and the Bear Mountain Lodge (on top of a mountain 2 miles from camp). We brought in a bunch of mattresses and prepared as best we could. Sixty girls driving/flying in from all over the country for one night and one morning at camp… crazy, right? We host this group every year at this point in the summer, and always look forward to the reunion. The campers are incredibly excited to see their friends again and look forward to the time when they will also have this status. We will conclude the night with a surprise fireworks show that is sure to be one of the biggest surprises of the summer. We hired a pyrotechnics company, and they have planned a show that will “astound” (their words). Twelve minutes of colorful, explosive, streaking, sparkling bliss synchronized to a custom mix of Greystone favorite tunes. It might become a new tradition!

Breakfast pancakes and sausage
Breakfast Club Physical Growth
Joke The Hills are alive
Weather A sweltering, sunny 86, UV 10, chance of rain
Lunch Parmesan Chicken Salad
Dinner Corn Roast! Similar to carnival, but with a “country fair” feel