August 2, 2026

Late-breaking News: Camp Greystone, a world-renowned girls camp in North Carolina, was without power for almost 11 hours yesterday. This is how a newscaster would begin today’s broadcast, attempting to provide a moment of drama and drum up interest in his show. The facts are correct, but the drama was limited to hundreds of girls giggling as they sang their dining room songs without music in a dark dining room. The details are as follows:

Power service in most of camp was interrupted at 11:15 AM. This was due to a car accident in Zirconia that caused power lines to fall.
The power company assumed it was a quick fix. Initial estimates were for a 3:15 PM restoration of service.
The backup systems worked perfectly. The office functioned as normal within a minute; we had generators running at the kitchen and Health Hut within 30 minutes.
We used the bell to replace the bugles. It was seamless for all.
At 3:15 the restoration estimate was changed to 5:30; at 5:30 it was changed to midnight. We prepared dinner in the dark and ate another meal without lights or music (singing a cappella).
EP proceeded as normal, as did taps. Power restored at 10:00 PM.

All in all, it was a memorable moment in the summer (and provided another opportunity to fine-tune our procedures.) We are already making a list for the maintenance crew and adding some pages to our emergency notebook. Such moments are hugely helpful in running an old camp like Greystone. We are constantly finding ways to improve, and utility services are a big area to consider in detail. We are very pleased with our people and our plans, but see areas to improve. Next time will be even better!

Today is Sunday, so we started our day with Stumblers. Almost everyone showed up for our 50-year-old running club, despite the drizzle (looks like a rainy day). This is a club my father founded, copying the Todds Road Stumblers in Lexington, Kentucky (his friend Alex Campbell invited my father for a Sunday run with his “club” and my dad loved it!). We run or walk one lap around our beautiful 1.5-mile river trail and are given a T-shirt to remember the moment. The experience is spectacular. The first runners always see the most wildlife (grazing deer, roosting birds, nesting ducks, and perhaps the elusive otters or beavers returning to their den after a long night). From the trail, we are treated to breathtaking views of camp, river, wetlands, and mountains, but few seem to notice as they talk nonstop about the week past and the week to come. The drizzle, 70-degree temperature, and relaxed start to the day made for a wonderful experience.

After completing the run, everyone was given this year’s Stumblers T-shirt. They will cherish this shirt because it was paid for with hard work. Many of the girls have not ever run this far; they are rightfully proud of the accomplishment and ready for breakfast.

Sundays feature a different (slower) schedule that is appropriate for long showers, cleaning cabins, church, and free activities. We serve a buffet breakfast, then give plenty of time for long hot showers and deep cabin clean-up (and “White Glove Inspection” by Group Leaders) before Sunday School and Church. Our minister is a camp dad, Reid Jones (former RUF minister now a pastor at Clemson Presbyterian Church), who was our Main Camp minister for several years. “Brother Reid,” as we used to call him, is sure to be a hit! He preached one of my favorite sermons of all time a couple of years ago when he was our minister for Main Camp. His illustration of an encounter while fly fishing is jaw-dropping (it is about twenty-four minutes into the sermon if you want to hear a memorable illustration of faith). After Rest Hour, we will enjoy our regular afternoon schedule of activities and a picnic dinner.

Tonight’s EP is a game show featuring Head Staff vs. Campers… it will be fun. The campers love seeing their favorite counselors on stage and it is always satisfying to see directors and counselors compete (counselors usually win). It is a relaxed ending to a comfortable day… just about perfect, as the girls were getting a little tired (camp days are long and active).

The last days of camp are packed with exciting programs, each building on the one before. Everyone is already talking about tomorrow’s Carnival and Tuesday’s Birthday Ball and Talent Show. Every day is better than the one before, and the girls are already anticipating a happy reunion with you on Friday.

This session, this summer has once again been greatly blessed, and we are grateful to look back with no regrets. We prayed that the Lord would once again protect us in the thousands of ways necessary in this fallen world. That He would bless us with a sweet spirit that was winsome in every way. And we prayed that the girls would not only be safe, have fun, make friends, and learn skills… but that they would get to know Jesus better because of their experience at Greystone. All these things have been granted, and we look forward to finishing this race well. Thank you for your encouragement and support.