May 30, 2026

This is a short Blog just to keep a line of communication open with anyone still interested in camp life. The audience is small (Junior campers and parents have moved on to the next thing; our June community has not yet stepped into the “camp world”). I assume there are just fanatics reading today, and that gives me freedom to just write! I thought it would be fun to give a glimpse into what is happening without campers and counselors in camp.

Today is a new experience for me and our entire camp. In every year prior to this one, Junior Camp was run by a completely separate staff. It was directed by my sister (who founded Jr. Camp and established its unique program) and a Head Staff team of wonderful camp moms and outside professionals. The staff was a combination of alumnae, former counselors who were only free for a short time, and staff who wanted to just “try it out” before committing to a full summer. The full summer staff held orientation for the full week of Junior Camp and continued that training on the Saturday after camp closed.

I loved Junior Camp, but it was very stressful for me and our entire team (being in two worlds as we did both camper and orientation duties). In the past, when Junior Camp closed our work continued over the weekend and many counselors felt stretched thin (some programs require two weeks of training). It was a long time before the first day off finally arrived!

This year, Orientation was completed a week ago, most counselors were assigned cabins with campers and some were not. Staff who did not live with campers had days with specialized training in the day and helped in cabins at night. We kept camp small (20% fewer campers than in years past) and had a huge staff (over 200 staff for 300 campers). With this system, all our staff had lots of time with the campers, had lots of time for training, and lots of camper interactions throughout the day. They are now confident in their counselor skills and can’t wait for a longer session.

The effects of the training and work is very high-functioning and discerning staff, an impressive program, a facility that is better sorted out. We are better prepared for Monday, and we are itching to welcome our largest camper group ever to Greystone.

Yes, this is a large camp and June is the largest of all of our sessions this year… but one of our core principles is to feel like a small camp. We do this every year, and it works amazingly well. Last year, our largest group in camp history was during our longest (and oldest) session: Main Camp. Teenagers who take up more room when they sit, pack more stuff in their trunks, and demand a more sophisticated program. We teach at a high level, counsel at a high level, enjoy many DMCs, teach many devotions, shed happy and sad tears, and pour ourselves out as Jesus would want. You would think a large number works against that program… but the Holy Spirit is sufficient. It was our best session ever!

So we have high hopes for June Camp. God has called each of these girls to Greystone for a reason. Each one has a part to play; each one is indispensable to the outcome. The tapestry demands every thread, and each camper and counselor will be represented in that beautiful work of art. It will be glorious and surprising in ways both expected and unlikely. God does not do things we expect… but he always does good. We are in the center of that plan, and all we do is intended to bring Him glory.

Thank you for checking in. Join us in praying for our camp… the campers, the counselors, the parents, the friends, the safety, the weather… EVERYTHING that goes into providing a perfect community that reflects the love of Jesus in a winsome way. Your prayers are our most potent provision. Thank you for being one of our prayer warriors and for checking in today!