July 28, 2026
There are many traditions at camp; some important, some just good. We love them all! Many of the traditions never change because they teach “important things” and connect generations, others might change in particulars (music to dances, joke in breakfast club) but not in effect. If a campers mother or aunt came to camp there will always be a special bond from those shared traditions. They sing the same songs (complete with hand motions), remember the same jokes, share similar memories made in similar buildings at similar times at camp.
Traditions that have been shared already include: Plato’s Brownies (lunch yesterday), songs in the Dining Hall, Program Presentation EP, Cabin Devotions and tuck-ins, Pancakes (always a favorite breakfast), Breakfast Club joke, “Life is Precious” song in the Pavilion, and reading the verses that hang above the Pit. It is always a good idea to lean into these points of connection when writing your girls. They will love the fact that you notice such details, and they will appreciate them more because of your interest. Many of these traditions will continue every day (we do EPs every year, some of which are always a part of the camp experience). Tonight’s EP, for instance, is cabin lip sync… every camper who has come to camp has performed in cabin lip sync. They all love choosing the song, practicing the moves, getting dressed up, and being silly onstage; if you were a camper, you might try and remember one of the lip syncs you did. Whatever point of connection you see in the blog, celebrate that fact with your camper and she will appreciate it. Such moments become subjects of endless little conversations after the summer, so make note of them now!
Our first day of classes is underway, and we have already accomplished many big things. We have already signed up for our classes, taken our swim test, experienced the bugles and bells of camp (each has a meaning), had our first flag ceremonies (lowering and raising), found our seat in the dining hall (we will sit at these tables for the next two weeks), enjoyed eating together, singing together, Evening Program on the Pagent Court, catching fireflies afterward, crackers (Nilla Wafers are given out before call to quarters, got ready for bed, and were tucked in by our counselors. This morning we awoke to a bugle (always a shock), got dressed, made our bed, packed our book bags with all the things we will need for the day, discovered the fruit bar (almost everyone ended up wanting fresh fruit and berries), and are now going to classes for the first time. It is a lot… and the girls are thriving! Soaking up every minute of this experience, literally! You would be proud to see them running around so confidently.
A quick word about the food at camp. Everyone knows that great food is a foundation for a great attitude. It is hard to feel good about a day when eating dull, bland, unappetizing food. Unfortunately, many places consider food an afterthought (contracting with the least expensive service they can find). We consider the kitchen to be the heart of our camp, and as such, it should be a place where love is felt in the food. We make everything from scratch and use only the finest ingredients. It takes more time and costs more money, but the effort pays dividends. You experienced our famous scones yesterday; well, that is just the tip of the iceberg! Hundreds of loaves of bread are baked every morning, gallons of honey are consumed every day, fresh cookies, pies… add in the salad crew (who work hours upon hours washing and preparing the produce) and the frontline cook and baking crew (who make every hot dish from scratch, carefully seasoning as they follow old family recipes adapted for camp use). The effect is magical.
Our family-style meals make every camper feel comfortable and well cared for. Our breakfast has become famous for its endless fruit bar (yogurt, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and granola). I always go last and was surprised to find that everything (including the raspberries) was still full in every line (we have six lines) even though many in the salad crew are brand new to the job (a new crew of teenagers comes every session… it is a challenging but fun job… changing crew throughout the summer helps keep them excited about the work). We are always thankful to Gervais, Leland, and their team for serving us so well!
Reading about the great food might make you think that camp is nothing but sunshine and happiness… well, this is only partially true. A surprising component of some girls camp experience is overcoming homesickness. Some of you might be VERY worried about this subject because you don’t want a “bad feeling” to impact your daughter negatively; we agree that homesickness is not a good feeling and in extreme cases, can be emotionally damaging. We take it seriously. But we also know that homesickness is normal. Occasional tears might come as we adjust to this new setting. Our goal is to ensure every girl loves her time at Greystone, especially if she gets a little homesick early on. Such girls leave camp with newfound confidence and the resilience to overcome their feelings.
A resilient girl will get past moments of sadness or discomfort with ease- for she has learned what to do when she feels that way. She learns this valuable lesson quietly as she enjoys her classes and meets new friends; she finds herself living in the moment, not missing the past. She learns the lesson from a mentor (camper or counselor) who shares an authentic conversation at a teachable moment, working wonders. Such experiences cause incredible growth and build confidence. It is a 21st-century skill that is vital for children to master.
If a camper is not adjusting well to camp, we will call you and seek your insights. Your insights always help, and together we will fix it quickly. We do not call you every time a camper has a sad moment because that is not a problem. We expect sad moments, but also expect the girls to get over such moments and quickly enjoy camp again. If you aren’t getting a call, it means things are OK!
The counselor skits last night were a huge hit. It never ceases to amaze me how much delight arises from the simple fun of camp. A typical Netflix show is highly produced and features talented actors with mind-blowing special effects. It costs millions of dollars to make a 30-minute episode, and many/most shows can’t hold our attention for 5 minutes. Yesterday, we sat entranced as the counselors did their little acts. The entire camp learned two new dances (group dancing at Greystone is amazing, yesterday we learned dances from Greystone Groove and Zumba).
The Details:
- Breakfast: Pancakes and sausage links
- Breakfast Club: Making friends (how to do it at camp)
- Joke: Cat Scan and Lab Report
- Weather: Sunny, 85 degrees, widely scattered showers this afternoon.
- Lunch: BLT’s (with homemade bread still warm from the oven)
- Dinner: Tacos (soft shell, ground beef, and chicken, all the fixings)
- EP: Tentalows - BU2 Lip Sync… a great cabin bonding performed on the Pageant Court stage.
- To send an email to your camper, log in to your Greystone account and click the Email button. We print emails at 11 a.m. each day. You can also use the Campanion app.
