July 27, 2026

It is possible (likely?) that some of you do not understand summer camp. This is easy to predict because most of you were never campers, and some of you haven’t sent your daughter to camp in previous years (not even little day camps). How would you know what camp is really like? Your only contact is through anecdotal stories from other children or their parents… or worse, movies like The Parent Trap or Heavyweights! 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.

It is likely that most of you made the decision to send your daughter to Greystone after conducting some research. A fanatic Greystone mom in your friend group led to a quick Google search… the pictures were nice, you liked the content, you dug and asked other friends, and finally decided that this is the one. If this is your first year sending your daughter to camp, you are probably nervous. The “what ifs” fill your mind, and your imagination runs wild.

The blog is our attempt to allay those fears by giving you a little glimpse into the details of camp life. Here we provide little insights into what the campers are experiencing and why they will love 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 closing day just like you teared up today. It is part of the camp experience that we have provided for 107 years. Camp is truly remarkable, and we are grateful that you allow our family business to thrive after five generations.

We know that your interest in camp varies… so we make the blog approachable for all. Some “fanatics” will be interested in every little detail. Others 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 sometimes get carried away when writing about camp. Having spent my whole life here (I saw 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).

Blogs are usually uploaded before lunch so that you can include the details in your emails to your girls. Knowing details like menus, EPs, the weather, etc., will make your emails better. Better emails make happier campers! We suggest you use the Blog to craft emails that are rich in camp content (focused on 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 few hundred pictures every day. We will post them the next day, around 1:00 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.

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, and friends are a big part of what we enjoy about 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 80 degrees, with scattered clouds, a light breeze, and there is a possibility of afternoon showers. The campers will soon go to their cabins for rest hour (today is more of a “get to know you” 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 have 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. 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!