Rockmont 2016

 

Eli has been working at Rockmont again this year. He was assigned to "CCC" which is the camping and climbing crew. They handle logistics for boys doing camping experiences on- and off-campus and all manner of climbing. Eli's interest in climbing has steadily evolved. I'm not sure what really sold him on the sport. But we have been to a climbing wall in Asheville before which he really enjoyed. He seems to have taken to this job this summer quite well. He had to miss a couple of weeks due to eye surgery, but he was back at camp the instant the doc released him and the camp could get him back into the schedule. This is his last week of the season, though occasional gigs will continue through the fall. I was looking for pictures of Briggs in the camp photos, and happened upon this one of Eli helping a random camper.

Rockmont, 2014

Both Eli and Briggs have been recipients of incredible generosity bestowed by Camp Rockmont, and the director there, Dan Davis. They have been given 90% scholarships since the second summer we were in Black Mountain, to attend two weeks of camp. Eli attended six years as a camper and this year is working in the kitchen. Briggs attended overnight camp last year for a week, after attending the day camp for a week in 2012. Libby reports that when she was dropping Briggs off this year, Calvin said he wanted to attend overnight camp next year. However, he would only attend if he had his purple bunny (a favorite stuffed animal) go with him! So, maybe day camp for him next summer.

One of the nice things about this camp is that they send a "report" of sorts on how each boy is doing. These reports strive to remain upbeat and put the best possible spin on everything the boys undertake and experience. Briggs' report for this session arrived today. His cabin leader, a college student from SC, ended the report stating Briggs "epitomizes the rejection of passivity." While I might have phrased it differently, I get the sentiment. Briggs does nothing in small ways. His cabin-mates have obviously been getting the full brunt of that exuberance while at camp.

Eli has been working in the kitchen, running the dischwasher after meals. He got his first check this week and remarked, "Wow, that's a lot of money!" Perspective is everything I suppose. He very often works split shifts, so he has a couple of hours of down time. Having attended camp before, he knows the ropes, and managed to score some canoe time last week.

Eli at Rockmont, week two

Nothing much to report, but I figured I should give an update.

Eli got hit with a frisbee while playing disc golf on Sunday afternoon. Libby talked to the doc. A cut about 1/2 inch long under the eye. They glued the cut shut. I asked Alice P. and Caroline P. to get a photo if they saw him on Monday, but they didn't. This is picture of part of the crowd at the beginning of "field day" they had on Sunday afternoon.

We think Eli went camping on Monday night, so no photos from Monday. And if they had the big three-day hike and camp-out like last year, he's likely on that too, and we won't see anything of him until after they get back. The camp keeps us informed in a general way via newsletters online. But they are trying to cover the activities of 300 boys, so you don't get much specificity!

So, we'll try to figure out what he's up to, and post something when we have anything new.

Eli at Rockmont Day 6

Here are some photos from the past couple of days. Eli has been playing dodgeball and whiffleball, and getting in lots of canoe time. Tonight is the big dance with the girls from Camp Meri-Mac and Hollymont. Eli swears he danced with a girl last year, and that he planned to again this year. We never had independent confirmation on that last year; we'll see what transpires tonight!

Camp pictures day 3

Eli is helping his folks a whole lot better this year by managing to get in a few pictures. Here are three (3 in one day!!) from Wednesday. We read that his cabin group was camping under the stars on Monday night.

One photo

This is a shot of the boys in Eli's cabin and their counselor, Thabo. Nothing (out of 305 pictures today) of Eli in a candid. We'll try to be patient.

Eli at Rockmont

We delivered Eli to Camp Rockmont this morning. He'll be there for 2 weeks. There are 380 boys participating this session! One of the kids in Eli's cabin is a buddy from last year, plus Connor, whom we know from church, is also there this session. The C session (in which Eli is registered) is the full two weeks; there is also the C1 session which runs just the next 6 days. So things will thin out a little next week. We loaded things into the cabin about 1130AM (we are so thankful that church right now is on a single service schedule, with that service at 930AM!). We met his cabin counselor, Thabo (from South Africa) and then had lunch on the lake front. Eli and I also had a chance to paddle around the lake in a canoe before he was due for the opening session.

Eli would enjoy mail, though he notoriously did not send a single card OUT last year. (Email me for the address.) Last year Eli appeared in a scant 6 photos (out of nearly 1500 taken by various photographers), so his instructions this year are, "if you see a camera, get in front of it!)

Eli at Rockmont

Eli will be at Camp Rockmont for two weeks. We're excited for him. He's been before for a couple of hours as part of church events. But he'll get the full treatment for the next several days. The camp takes photos throughout the camp session. We found three that included Eli from yesterday. You can see them here. We'll keep an eye out and add to the album when more appear. For now, you can take a look at the camp here. Alice P. teaches rocketry at camp, which happened to be one of Eli's skill choices. She saw him yesterday and reported that he "didn't need a hug," a good thing. He did say that we forgot to pack a fan for him (it wasn't on the list!!). They spend so little time in the cabin, he'll barely notice.

Busy Day

Busy weekend's more like it. The church choir had a retreat this weekend. Friday night was a covered dish supper in Montreat. Saturday was singing 9 AM until 3 PM. The guest clinician was Ginger Wyrick from Queen's College, Charlotte (with whom Libby attended elementary school in Eden). Eli had a birthday party for his friend John Paul. Today was church with excellent music at both services. Then this afternoon we were at Camp Rockmont for a youth outing. The lake facilities were open and it was warm (it wasn't the last time we were here in May). Briggs managed to escape naps both Saturday and Sunday; that coupled with a busy couple of hours at the lake led to this at 7 PM!