July 13, 2026
We love to dance at Greystone. This is something that never ceases to delight my heart. Some of my favorite camp memories were made by everyone dancing in surprising moments. One of those memories dates back to the summer of 2021, when we were operating under COVID-19 protocols. We operated under strict social distancing rules, so we built the FORT as a temporary dining hall. All tables and chairs were set up in that vast space, leaving wide aisles between each pair of “banquet style” double cabins. I worried that the mealtime feeling (a Greystone tradition) would be lost that summer, but the resulting dance parties before and after eating turned out to be one of the best memories of that wonderful year.
We played music as the girls took their places in cabin groups, standing behind their chairs as they waited for the prayer. The music inspired dancing- an obvious way of passing the time in hindsight, but delightful in the moment. To see the campers and counselors joyfully dancing after that year spent away from their friends was healing to all. When we played a Zumba song and the ENTIRE FORT danced as one, it brought joy to all and became a feature of almost every meal. Each movement was executed with perfection; group dancing became a defining memory of that summer. We still talk about it.
Last night’s concert by The Business was much anticipated by the girls, because of the dancing that this group inspires every time they play. We invite this local band to Greystone every summer for our final concert of Main Camp. Cat and Peter chose them for their wedding reception for the same reason the girls love them today… they are a band that leans into good dancing. We think they are one of the best dance bands around, and they love playing for the girls. A vast crowd of campers and counselors wearing white and totally engaged in making every moment count. The resulting 90-minute dance party gave them (and us) a memory that will last a lifetime.
God likes a good dance party, as evidenced in 2 Samuel in the life of King David. David was “a man after God’s own heart” and loved music (composing and playing his harp) and dancing. It was embarrassing to his spouse (2 Samuel 6), a fact that rings true to many of us who let our dancing rip without inhibition from time to time. No self-consciousness, just pure joy expressed in movement to the music. Even I, who was not blessed with a sense of rhythm or capacity to move gracefully, am reluctantly pulled into such moments and always have a blast. A party that is marked by dancing is always a good party. When David welcomed the Ark of the Covenant’s return to Jerusalem, he led the procession dancing “girded with a linen ephod” (not the kind of thing a dignified king would ever do). God loved it a couple thousand years ago, and He loves it still. I bet we will sing and dance in heaven one day; if we do, it will be awesome!
We awoke to the sound of a light rain and the feeling of a cooler day. High temperatures in the low-70’s and light rain all morning are welcome. We slow our movements in sync with the rainy-day schedule. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, Putt Cove, and Landsports are more fun in this setting (the fish are biting, the lake and pool delight, and physical exertion is not hard); conversations are easy as we play games in classes that take a break from their normal routine (tennis and archery come to mind), and creativity flourishes in the fine arts. It is a great day!
Thank you for checking in; I hope you have as much fun as we do today.
- Breakfast Omlettes, Croissents
- Joke The Christian Bear
- Weather Rain (scattered light rain in AM, storms in the afternoon), 70
- Lunch Chicken Sandwiches and fries
- Dinner Noodle Pie
- EP Rotating Group Night (the last of the session)