June 28 2025

It is possible (likely?) that most of your friends do not understand summer camp. It isn’t a “popular” thing to do, and many people don’t have personal experience with them. Their only contact is through movies like The Parent Trap or Heavyweights, which feature fictional settings and characters. The fact that you are reading this Blog today is remarkable. You have jumped into the unknown with both feet, allowing your little girl this experience, which takes a lot of courage (especially this year).

Perhaps you were persuaded by a spouse, close friend, or relative. Perhaps you made this decision on your own after conducting some research. No matter how you got here, if this is your first year, you might be nervous. The “what ifs” fill your mind, and your imagination runs wild. This forum is our attempt to allay those fears by giving you a little glimpse into the details of camp life. Little insights into what the campers are experiencing and why they will come home loving camp so much. It is a first step to earning your trust. In two weeks, you will be a convert. You might even tear up on that day just like you teared up today. It is part of the camp experience that we have provided for 106 years. It is truly remarkable, and we are grateful that you allow us to continue doing this crazy work (you might be asking; is it really work?).

We know that your interest in camp varies… so we make the Blog approachable for all. Some will be interested in every little detail. Some are not particularly interested in camp but feel compelled to at least take a look. No matter your reason for reading, I think anyone with a camper will find the blog worth checking out every day. It doesn’t take much time (you can simply check the bullet point details at the bottom of each post, which takes 10 seconds, or read every word and spend 5 minutes). I enjoy writing (shoutout to fellow English majors!) and often get carried away when writing about camp. Having spent my whole life here, I have seen my grandparents doing what I am doing now, and I have heard about how my great-grandfather did things a hundred years ago… I have a lot to say (but I try to contain myself by only writing in the moment… it keeps me from too many words). Don’t use today’s entry as the standard… it is more wordy than most.

Blogs are usually uploaded before lunch so that you can include the details in your emails to the girls. Knowing details like menus, EPs, the weather, etc., will make your emails better! Better emails make happier campers! Use the Blog to craft emails that are rich in camp content (what is going on here) not on the fun things you are doing at home (campers are prone to FOMO, particularly in the first few days). There is SO MUCH GOOD in this place… so much fun, so many friends, so many beautiful moments. Focus on that and the girls will too!

We know that you love to see your girls, so we take a lot of pictures. We will post them twice daily, at lunch (about 1:00 PM) and after EP (about 9:30 PM). If you haven’t done so, you should download the Campanion app and try out the free facial recognition service. Parents have been generally pleased with this free service, while others continue to use Waldo.

Opening Day is something that we do well. There are many components to the experience, but what stands out to me are the smiles. Our staff is instructed to smile so much it hurts on Opening Day. Their example rubs off on the campers, who also smile as they chatter away (it is always funny to see a cabin taking a tour with every camper talking at the same time). Smiles lead to friends, as noted in the weekend blog post and friends are what we specialize in making at camp.

As I write this, the girls are eating a picnic lunch (smoked turkey, pasta salad, ham, home-baked bread, fruit salad, cheese, brownies). The temperature is a comfortable 81 degrees, scattered clouds, and there is an ever-present possibility of afternoon showers. The campers will soon go to their cabins for rest-hour (but today is more of a “get to know you” and “settle in” hour).

Then we have a short assembly in the FORT to explain the camp rules and introduce the people who help with ANY needs that the girls might have (we take care of things immediately, just ask!). Abundant provision with a smile! After the assembly, the girls will take cabin photos, do a swim test at the pool, schedule their classes, and enjoy activities around camp with their cabin. Lots of fun and games to make the get-to-know-you process easy for all.

Tonight we will enjoy our first meal in the Dining Hall (spaghetti), our first EP (Counselor Program Skits), our first crackers, our first cabin devotions and tuck-ins, our first Taps, and our first night of sleep in a cabin. I am sure we will wake up tomorrow with high hopes for our first full day of camp.

Thank you for choosing Greystone. We are honored to be a part of your family!