July 31, 2026

August Camp is jam-packed; every day matters, and every EP is carefully crafted to provide memorable moments. It is just barely long enough to provide all the things girls dream about experiencing in a perfect camp experience. We have continuously expanded and improved every aspect of camp to make the dream come true for every session. The location is iconic: scenic mountains, peaceful lake, fantastic waterpark, rustic (but not too rustic) cabins, good food, excellent infrastructure (electric, gas, water, and tech are essential), and all equipment and program facilities in tip-top shape. Our community is kind and committed to living out the secret of Greystone (unselfishness) in every interaction. Staff are cohesive in theired shared mission to glorify God. And our program is finely tuned to check all the boxes (fun, safe, steeped in tradition and marked by innovation).

Last night, we introduced Greystone team competition to the girls, and they loved it! There is something about good-natured competition that bonds, and camp is the perfect place to see the effect. We maintain a tight rein on the spirit of competition (which, if we aren’t careful, can turn in negative directions). Our games and cheers are tempered with good sportsmanship while still marked by raucous spirit and passionate intensity. This all comes together this morning with Challenge Day (our big competition day between the teams). When the end-of-camp scores are announced at lunch, our little valley will ring with the roar of the girls as they celebrate the accomplishment.

Last night we ended the Team Fires with s’mores by the lake. The perfect ending to a perfect day. Nothing more iconic than that! The weather was once again perfect (not a cloud in the sky, cool 70-degree temperatures) as cabin groups gathered to roast perfect marshmallows and devour messy s’mores. Everyone had a blast and returned to their cabins with big smiles on their face and high hopes in their hearts for another great day just around the corner.

The cooler weather trend continues with sunny skies, no chance of rain, and a high temperature of just 82 degrees. Most of the girls accept the perfection without a thought. Such is childhood… but as adults, we know to be thankful when circumstances are so good.

A day at camp is good in ways that are deceptively simple. When I watched our promotional video on the subject, my first impression was that camp is a hard thing to explain to adults if they have never gone to camp themselves. An old camper watches the video and memories of summers past fill her mind. Moments that were authentic, sweet, boring, exciting, funny, sad, interesting, satisfying, inspiring, and delightful. How do you convey this complex stew of an experience apart from being here? We like to call it “the bubble,” and I think that word fits my feelings of this place.

The bubble is separated from the world. We don’t care much about what is happening outside this place or what people’s opinions of those events are. With no screens to distract us, we focus (on our friends, on what we are doing). In the “real world”, we are constantly distracted. We multitask in an effort to not miss a thing, but this productivity comes at the expense of our friends and family. It also distracts from the beauty of the world. Sunlight filtering through pine trees, the glistening sunlight reflected on the lake, or fog hanging on the side of a mountain. We just don’t have time to take in the slow-moving beauty of the world around us. At camp, what matters is the person who is walking down the lower road at the same time or casting a line in the same fishing class. Little blessings are noticed in such a setting, and the cumulative effect is comforting.

The impact of the bubble is great on campers of all ages. Younger campers have fun doing activities and having an epic sleepover. The older girls add to the simplicity of the setting the complexity of their relationships (deep, meaningful conversations) and the depth of their unselfishness (a beautiful thing to experience).

But it is not all sunshine and rainbows… camp, like life, is sometimes hard. Most of us experience moments of sadness that come and go with reducing frequency as we adjust to camp and see the good. Moments that dragged on when we focused on ourselves turn to fading mist in the bright sunshine of unselfishness. Once exercised, this attitude gets stronger. It gradually becomes a superpower that is accessible in any setting. A 21st-century skill that will serve them well.

The bottom line is that this is a wonderful place… warts and all. The good and the bad work together harmoniously in an almost magical way. This is, of course, God who blesses our mission: to delight and inspire for His glory.

Thank you for making it possible.

Breakfast: bagels, cream cheese, sausage
Breakfast Club: Physical Growth (focus on the heart, not how we look or what we wear)
Joke: “Ike Pike & Mustard meet a Genie”
Weather: 82 degrees, sunny
Lunch: Hamburgers
Dinner: Pizza
EP: Counselor Talent Show