Camp Highlands News

Scavenging, Kerchiefs…the end is near!

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:08:26 +0000

As I type, your sons are working on a giant scavenger hunt. It’s really an opportunity to pick up the 300 errant tennis balls and stray equipment that’s made it’s way around camp, but the boys take the challenge seriously since it is an Army/Navy challenge and there is….soda at stake!

Tonight is the Kerchief ceremony, a time when your son’s achievements will be recognized in front of the rest of the Highlands men. It’s a serious ceremony, a time for reflection on the summer, and your son’s place among 107 years of Highlands men.

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown
Last night’s production was great! The actors did a great job, directed by RJ Bruce. Andy Bachmann recorded the whole show, and the actors all have a copy of it to take home. Several guys even got dressed up for the night of theater. Sharon Bachmann treated everyone with Dreamcicles at intermission. It was a great night! Take a look….

A note on Bunk Notes
Friday will be the last day we distribute Bunk Notes. If there is something important you need to tell your son, please contact us in the office. There is a lag time with the Bunk Notes, and especially if you have changes to travel we need to know that. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!

End of Camp
Remember, the final festivities are on Friday the 6th, starting with the Water Carnival at 3 pm, followed by a picnic supper at 6 pm and finally the banquet which wraps up between 8:30 and 9. It’s a great way to get a taste of what your son has seen and done for the last four weeks.

The busses home leave Camp at 9 am on Saturday the 7th. Please contact us with any questions.

Stunt night tonight

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:29:50 +0000

We are deviating from our normal Stunt night tonight to bring the North Woods an abbreviated version of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.” Several kids have been working with RJ Bruce over the last few weeks on the production. Should be good!

Skies at Highlands
As many of you know, we were lucky to see the Northern Lights here at Camp last night. The northeastern sky was filled with a blue glow. Pretty cool stuff! Check out this incredible sunset from last night as well…

The busses home leave Camp at 9 am on Saturday the 7th. Please contact us with any questions.

Last normal activity day

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:17:59 +0000

Today the guys are all out at assigned activities, but this afternoon, activities are open so that the boys can work on their last ACs (achievement credits). Tomorrow is the last day for them to work on these in order to be recognized for them in Kerchiefs.

It’s a nice day. Very warm, but with some expected showers later this afternoon. But take a look at a picture from the porch this morning…

Quiet Sunday

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:22:31 +0000

Gosh, our LAST Sunday for the 2010 camping season… That means for most of us, it’s the last time we eat Turkey dinner until Thanksgiving! This week is really a series of “lasts.” Starting with a the last regular day of activities on Monday, Divison Day on Tuesday, Stunt Show on Wednesday, Kerchief Ceremony on Thursday and then the Final banquet on Friday. It’s a busy week, and it flies by when you are here at Camp. I know you parents are missing your boys, hopefully the days won’t drag too badly!

The busses home leave Camp at 9 am on Saturday the 7th. Please contact us with any questions.

Another stunning day at Camp Highlands!

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:28:51 +0000

Wow, eight more days of camp. It’s hard to believe it’s gone so quickly! The amazing weather makes the time fly, though. Right now I’m listening to the howling laughter of cabins 8 and 13 out kayaking in the boating bay. From what I can make out, they are having more fun IN the water then they are actually IN their kayaks. The lake is really beautiful today, a perfect day for a ski run. Cabins 18, 1, 3, 5, 16, 2, 6 and 7 are going to get to ski today at some point.

Lunch this afternoon is pork roast, potato wedges and green bean casserole. And tonight….TACOS. Did you know that taco night at camp is really a big costume party? It’s an excuse for everyone to dress up!

Beautiful Division Day

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:35:19 +0000

Well after our exciting thunderstorms (thankfully uneventful here at Camp) Tuesday evening, we are enjoyed a gorgeous day on Wednesday — Division Day. I don’t think we could have cooked up better weather for our boys. I’ll try and get pictures posted today. The electricity was out here at camp from 8:00 pm on Tuesday night until about 3 pm yesterday afternoon, so sorry for the delay in an update!

The Cubs had a great time at Crystal lake yesterday, playing at the beach and cooking out. The Colts had a crawfish boil, the Juniors went to the Wildlife Exploration center and then….Paint balling (a huge favorite), and the Seniors canoed and kayaked down to Sayner, played softball and watched the Plum Skeeters ski show. I’d say it was a good day!

End of Camp
Can you believe that there are only 9 more days of Camp?! If you haven’t let us know about your son’s travel home plans, please give the office a ring or drop us an email and let us know. Thanks! Remember, the final festivities are on Friday the 6th, starting with the Water Carnival at 3 pm, followed by a picnic supper at 6 pm and finally the banquet which wraps up between 8:30 and 9. It’s a great way to get a taste of what your son has seen and done for the last four weeks.

The busses home leave Camp at 9 am on Saturday the 7th. Please contact us with any questions.

Camp Highlands turns 107

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:54:00 +0000

Yesterday was the Camp Birthday and the day went off without a hitch. I woke up at 7 am to the sound of a steady rain, but by 7:45 when the Army General and the Navy Admiral made their entrances, the rain had stopped, and the day just got more beautiful with each passing hour. At 9:30 or so, the Steeplechase (giant, 2-hour, all-camp relay race) started with Navy declaring a victory around 11:30. Check out the gallery for lots of pictures from the event. After lunch and rest hour, the Seniors down in Senior Row held a carnival, followed by a ski show. After the picnic dinner at 6, we had Games on the Hill, with Army declaring victory! Whew! I’m tired just thinking about it!

Can you believe that Highlands is 107?! That makes us the oldest, continuously run, private boys camp in the country. We take our traditions seriously here and it’s something that Andy Bachmann will talk about in Sunday Assembly today. I hear him rifling through the old lantern slides right now in preparation for his presentation. Check out the Highlands Archives if you are interested in knowing more about the rich history of Camp.

And for lunch….? Turkey dinner! I can smell the rolls baking.

Mail call

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:27:21 +0000

The term is halfway over and these campers are doing great! No doubt they are sustained by all the mail and Bunk Notes you parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends are sending. So far this summer we’ve received 853 Bunk Notes! Amazing! I, personally, am thankful for the service, since it has saved me from printing off 853 individual emails. The boys have gotten lots of great packages filled with such popular items as: socks, yo-yos, comic books, magazines and hats. I did hear a report of some false-bottomed boxes (grandparents were to blame there!) and some other sneaky smuggling devices! We’ve seen it all here at Camp, so not much gets by us – no food is allowed! You’ll be happy to know, the guys usually get to keep a portion of the contraband (candy usually) to bring up to the dining hall to share with their cabin.

Division Day fun

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:51:47 +0000

Wednesdays are Division Day, aka cook’s night off. This is when each division hangs out together and the counselors cook out for them. The Cubs had their overnight at a nearby lake, and there are some great pictures of the fun they had in the Gallery. On the first night of Camp, the Seniors shared with each other what their “dream burger” was. Last night for dinner the Senior counselors made sure that every “dream burger” topping was available for the burgers they cooked for their guys. The Colts went into town to The Waters to ride the water slides and the Juniors lounged around Camp skiing and swimming and enjoying the PERFECT day we had yesterday.

Today’s activities
Today is a bit overcast and threatening rain, but it’s still warm out and the guys are off doing regular activities. It’s a great day for soccer (Cabins 25, 11, 16, 18 and 19), baseball (Cabins 21, 24, 17, 1, 2, 4, 26) and riflery (Cabins 1, 2, 4, 3, 7, 11, 10).

Alumni come to visit

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:28:03 +0000

We were really excited to welcome Mike, Muffy and new addition Baby Boyd Pinney to Sing this week. Also in attendance were the Millers, Martin, Katie and Lilly. Are you in the area? Stop by and say hi! We’d love to see you!

Have you though about attending Friends and Family Camp? It’s a great way for alumni to come back and relive their days at Highlands. We welcome everyone! People find Camp Highlands is the perfect spot for a family reunion, or even just a long weekend get away. Contact Sharon Bachmann at 715-542-2950 for details.