(Fall/Winter 2024) Grow & Behold: A Publication of Falling Creek Camp

behold Grow

A Publication of Falling Creek Camp

how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

—Psalm 133:1

09 All About A Boy. Educators and camp directors share their perspectives on what boys need to reach their full potential.

17 Peace of Mind. Alumnus Ryan Tucker’s environmental educator journey from camp to corps.

20 Free of Phones: Full of Play. How does camp support a playbased childhood?

23 A Friend in High Places. Alumnus Walter Cottingham’s three children remember his legacy and impact on both camp and the wider community.

26 The Stranger in this Photo is Me. Camper Ian Smith reflects on his first paddling trip, and how he’s grown as both a person and a paddler in the summers since.

36 Fan the Flame. Camp traditions that make up the Falling Creek experience.

While the mountain bike program has come a long way since the BMX days of the early 80’s, many of the views from the trail still look the same. There’s nothing like the refreshing splash through mountain creeks by bike!

to be fully

Yates Pharr, Director

present

There are plenty of positives to technology, and even ways that online connection enhances our relationship.

Without it, Marisa and I couldn’t call our middle daughter, Mare, at college, help our youngest daughters, Jazzy and Danielle, with online classes, or even video chat with our oldest daughters Lucy and Annie in Pennsylvania and Japan. But we also know there’s a limit to the benefits that technology can offer.

In this year’s Grow & Behold magazine, we have articles mentioning the increasing anxiety that screentime is causing young people, and the way meaningful connections are hindered by screens. This is especially true for our teenage campers and staff.

That’s another reason why we look forward to the time every year when we’re no longer expected to be logged in and accessible 24/7. Where we leave our phones at

our desks, and talk to people in person at camp. My cell phone is less than a pound of weight, but when it’s not in my pocket I feel noticeably lighter.

Of course, as a camp director I can’t get rid of my phone entirely in the summer, but the boys at camp can. Many of them, staff included, say that the technology “detox” is a relief. They can focus on what actually matters for up to four weeks at a time.

Boys deserve to have a play-based childhood, without the pressures of social media, or always being accessible online. We feel fortunate to be able to provide that at camp, refocusing on authentic connection and getting back to the way time is meant to be spent as a young person: with friends, having fun, and enjoying God’s creation.

Do you remember the last time you took an extended break from screens and cellphones to play? It may seem like an odd question, but at camp, that’s normal. We have our technology-free policies during the summer to preserve the concept of “boyhood

unplugged”, but it also helps preserve the sanity and peace for all of us at camp.

We’re already looking forward to the upcoming summer again, where we’ll spend time together on the mountain again – unplugged and fully present.

Fall 2024

Editor: Yates Pharr

Design: Steve Parker Design

Editorial Contributors: Annie Ramsbotham, Donna Wheeler

Photographic Contributors: Carolina Meneses (Head), William Ashcroft, Tamara Ayala, Christian Carne, Yates Pharr, Benno Shultz, and all of our Adventure Staff

Cover Photo: Carolina Meneses

Back Cover Photo: Jaiden Fairhead

Pharr family, clockwise from top, left: Annie and Zeb live in Kanazawa, Japan where Zeb teaches English in high school and Annie continues to work on her art (@_bluebike) while remaining the media manager for Falling Creek. Lucy and Daniel live in Bethlehem, PA where Daniel is nearing completion of his PhD in engineering at Lehigh University and Lucy works as a paralegal, while continuing to enjoy performing in musical theater. Yates, Danielle (11th grade), Jazzy (9th grade) & Marisa out in Arizona during spring break. Mare is carrying on the family tradition of being a student at Appalachian State University.

6

We get a lot of mail around here and like to share some in each issue of Grow & Behold. Feel free to send your correspondence to the address on the back of the magazine, or to mail@fallingcreek.com.

My time at Falling Creek was instrumental in building the foundation that enabled me to rise above the challenges that life throws at you and to propel me forward. The memories and experience gained at camp over fifty years ago are still influencing my life today.

Just to give you some examples of how Falling Creek influenced me:

My initiation to rock climbing and horseback riding and water skiing at camp continue to be lifelong passions.

I have hiked/climbed 20,000+ ft mountains in Peru, Bolivia, and minor peaks in the Himalaya as well as mountain ascents, in CA, CO, Canada and Europe.

Ten years ago I picked the guitar and now I regularly perform many of the same songs we sang at morning assembly. Country Roads, which came out in 1971 was one staple that every time I sing takes me back to Tuxedo, NC.

Of course the most vivid memories of camp were the friendships that I have formed as we navigated through the challenges of the youth. The down sleeping bag that I lent to George Simmons that was completely insufficient for the Smoky Mountains summer showers. The trail rides with Mike Edson and Chuck Collins along the ridges which surround camp. I had never been on a horse prior to camp but under Collins’ guidance, I was jumping and participating in shows. The greatest highlight was on the final campfire of that summer at camp, when Jim Boy Miller and David Hauk tapped me on the shoulder to join the Honor Council. That moment is one of the top memories in my life.

Falling Creek holds a special place in my heart and I look forward to being able to help out, however, I can.

Sincerely,

Spencer Brod - Boca Raton, FL (camper ’74-’75,’77)

No single experience has ever contributed towards growing me into the man I am more than my years at Falling Creek. What a wonderful experience to look back on. My stories come up in casual conversation constantly. I learned discipline, brotherly love, problem solving, and numerous other life long lessons. The bonds I formed, the lessons I learned, and the memories I share from those years of the Main Camp will be something I cherish my entire life. Thank you guys so much for everything.

Sam Chambers, Montgomery, AL (camper ’14-’16, ’18)

Yates and Marisa,

I am writing to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible experience Henry has had at Falling Creek this summer. As a parent, seeing the enthusiasm and joy on his face in photos speaks volumes about the positive impact on his time at Falling Creek.

From mountain biking challenging trails to participating in his first FCC Ironman triathlon, he has been able to push himself physically and mentally to become a stronger boy - mind, body and spirit. Falling Creek’s commitment to fostering both skill development and personal growth is truly commendable and I look forward to hearing about Henry’s camp adventures in a few short days.

Beyond the physical activities, Henry’s counselor has shared stories about friendships he formed with fellow campers even though he spends most of his time away from camp on trips. He has always been an easy friend and the camaraderie and sense of community that Falling Creek nurtures are invaluable. We are thrilled that he had the opportunity to forge such meaningful connections under the evergreens of Falling Creek.

We want to extend our deepest thanks to both of you and your dedicated team of counselors and staff for creating such a positive and safe environment for all the campers.

Garrett and Erin Graham - Tuxedo, NC

Thank you so much for all that you do to make young Kenny’s summer special. He absolutely loves Falling Creek! He just said he wished he was at evening activity. You do an amazing job with all facets of camp life from activity selections, staff hiring, camp wide games, offsite trips, and most importantly providing an accepting environment where boys can grow and be themselves! We are firm believers in the virtues of camp life and possibly Falling Creek’s biggest fans.

Kenny Smith - Charlotte, NC

Today I found photos of myself and my twin brother on the historical section of the camp website from over ten years ago. I sang to myself the songs recorded in your books and although I haven’t heard them in more than a decade the tune and rhythm came back to me as naturally as if I was still at the Campfire. I read the message of the camp, of the meaning imbued in the songs we sang, and I wish, as we often do, that I could have more fully appreciated the lessons, the friends, and the memories during my time at Falling Creek. Unlike my mind which over time seems to forget even those things that we cherish, I saw today that the spirit never does.

I am sure there are many, many others who have had the experience I had today and share the same gratitude.

All the best,

Dominic Benitez - Miami, FL (camper ’09-’10, ’12)

In my 10th and final year of youth competitive rock climbing, I qualified for USA Climbing’s Youth Nationals in Salt Lake City, UT. I climbed in the ‘sport’ discipline where climbers ascend a 60-70 foot wall and clip their rope into the wall as they ascend. Physically, two consecutive days of climbing some of the hardest climbs I have ever attempted was exhausting, and I did not perform as well as I had hoped (tie for 50/54). But mentally, the competition was unlike any other. For many years, the prospect of even qualifying for nationals seemed unlikely, so climbing alongside my closest friends in the competition fulfilled so many of my climbing goals. I did not get caught up in the pressure to perform, but instead enjoyed the competition the way FCC taught me to enjoy climbing. When we’re halfway up a climb at Linville Gorge enjoying the spectacular views, no one is worried about who the best climber is, or who can get to the top the fastest. We instead remember the people we are with, the laughs we have, and the terrifying moments where we go for a seemingly impossible move and stick it—or fall just a few feet and try again. That’s certainly what I did.

Jackson Skelly - Chicago, IL (camper ’15-’22, STEEL ’23, DASH ’24)

E

morningwatch

By Matt SloanChaplain & Program Director

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WINTIMIDATING, FASCINATING STRENGTH

The crisp fall air has settled in at Falling Creek. The temperature in the trees in September seems 15 degrees colder than in the open field, and our Program Staff knows to layer up as we finish breaking down activities that have somehow survived the daily grind of hundreds of campers from the summer of 2024. There is much to do, but what hinders our efficiency the most tends to be the reminiscing of stories which involuntarily rise up within us as we visit each area of camp.

For me this was especially true near the swim docks. In years past, the location of the life jackets was in a “15 degrees colder” zone beneath the shade of an old hemlock tree. Yet not this fall, not after that July storm that rose up quickly and powerfully.

Dinner was being served in the Dining Hall, when “BOOM”!! A huge lightning strike echoed through the valley, shaking the building as well as our nerves. The crowd gasped, then grew eerily silent as we lost power for a moment. The generator kicked on and we caught our collective breaths, realizing we were going to be alright.

Daybreak revealed the source of the deafening noise the night before. Unfortunately, the old hemlock tree by the docks had borne the brunt of the storm. What was once an invincible tower in the woods had been struck by lightning, split from top to bottom with shards and strips of bark dangling from high up the trunk. It was a show of force that was both intimidating and fascinating!

Our “weekly theme” at camp that same week was… wait for it… “Strength”. That’s no coincidence. A display of strength like this stops you in your tracks, and leaves you literally shaking in your closed toed shoes. This display of power was neither in a movie nor makebelieve, and we each had to face the truth that there is something MUCH stronger than us out there.

There are many scary events in our lives, whether it be

natural events like lightning bolts or hurricanes, scenes on the news or scenes from our homes, or the internal fears and feelings we have within us. Have you ever wondered where God is in the middle of it all, and if He even cares?

In C.S. Lewis’ book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the great lion Aslan is the king of a place known as Narnia. The children in the story know Aslan is in charge and have heard stories about him, but they have never met him. In fact, they were intimidated by stories of his might and power. This was discussed in a conversation between young Susan and one called “Mr. Beaver”, which reads:

“Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”...”Safe?” said Mr Beaver ...”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Jesus often greeted his close friends with, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” As his disciples followed Jesus they saw him heal people who were sick, raise people from the dead, and even walk on water. They were both intimidated and fascinated by Him! As they followed Jesus, they began to trust that His greatest strength was not simply what he had the ability to do, but that His heart was good.

At Falling Creek, campers identify the strengths and weaknesses we all have through the activities and relationships that they experience. Just like that stormy night, campers may encounter moments that may scare them as they experience new things. In the midst of both fear and confusion, celebration and joy, nothing can separate us from the love of God found in Jesus. Our strength to face our fear is found in knowing that God is strong, and that His heart is good.

Almost five years out from COVID, it’s a good time to think carefully about how boys have been impacted by this era of isolation and independent learning.

ALL ABOUT

A BOY.

by Donna Wheeler

WW

What do boys need to reach their full potential?

How do all-boys environments – camps and schools – help boys grow into their full potential? What is the secret sauce that boys need to flourish?

Long gone are the stereotypes that once defined a male. “If I’m a 12-year-old in 1950, it’s John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart,” said former Christ School Headmaster, Paul Krieger. “It’s World War II and those traditional male qualities like risk behavior, aggression, protection of tribe, being competitive and assertive, those were the goals back then. But today, those ideals are often labeled as toxic masculinity, a term that, unfortunately, often makes boys embarrassed of their masculinity.”

The very essence of boys hasn’t changed all that much, but the environment that surrounds them has. Living in a digital world full of distractions that often lead a boy toward isolating himself in a video game or a TikTok feed doesn’t lend itself to becoming his best self. But what does? According to parents, counselors, and educators interviewed for this article, it appears that environments, away from parents and phones, where boys are free to explore and test themselves, might just be the answer.

“boys will be the boys we raise.”

—Paul

Krieger former Christ School Headmaster

The common denominator of camps like Falling Creek and schools like Christ School and Woodberry Forest is a setting where boys can explore, try new things, and along the way, gain unabashed independence and confidence. According to Krieger, the old adage “boys will be boys” is often an excuse for bad behavior; rather, he suggests, “boys will be the boys we raise.” A subtle but significant variation, the key being that we, the parents, educators, and counselors, play a role in a boy reaching his potential by offering a combination of support and benign neglect.

As David Von Drehle wrote in his 2007 TIME magazine article, “The Myth About Boys,” “the keys to building a successful boy have remained remarkably consistent, whether a tribal chieftain is preparing a young warrior or a knight is training a squire or a craftsman is guiding an apprentice…boys need mentors and structure but some freedom to experiment.”

And so there appears to be somewhat of a paradox that for boys to truly thrive they need structure, rules, and principles, along with a healthy dash of freedom. The beauty of a camp or a boarding school is that it’s possible to create an atmosphere where boys are free to explore. “It’s my sense that by the time they reach high school, boys are ready for a journey – a challenge – away from the day-today oversight of mom and dad,” said Woodberry Forest Headmaster, Byron Hulsey. “In our world at Woodberry, we believe they develop more independence than they otherwise would. They know what it means to handle their business and then take care of themselves and take care of others.”

At the heart of these communities are the relationships that boys make with counselors, mentors, and peers. “The power of relationships can never be underscored enough,” said Krieger. “Everything starts with that, no matter what you are doing in life.” If cell phones are the toxin isolating

rISK

“Boys need to make assessments and take risksappropriate counselorunderguidance.”

—Paul Krieger

boys, then relationships are the antidote. “I feel strongly that camps and schools provide for boys and young men a physical community of relational connectivity with peers and adults,” said Hulsey, “peers who challenge them and support them, and adults who care for them, challenge, and hold them to high standards.”

For Hulsey, technology, and cell phones in particular, has the capacity to sabotage these critical points of connection. “We want to emphasize physical connectivity and human connectedness through presence in the moment, and not some disembodied, virtual or electronic connection.”

Reward Through Risk

It’s no secret that boys are prone to taking risks, a trait often attributed to the lagging development of their frontal cortex. But some of that hard-wired risk taking, when unleashed in supervised, safe environments, can fortify them for the challenges of manhood. “Boys need to make assessments and take appropriate risks under counselor guidance,” said Krieger. “Boys need to bruise their knees. I want to see them reach for that monkey bar that’s too high and see some toughness when he cleans his cabin at camp or his dorm at school.”

Paraphrasing some of the points made in Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation, Husley said, “Many parents have robbed their children of their full childhood by providing for them too much structure and too much, if you will, safety. I think that there is something spontaneous about overnight camp and a

residential school where there’s some freedom to play.”

Krieger agrees. “Places like Christ School and Falling Creek are a boy’s path to experience a unique setting where they are free to explore, discover, and improve their whole being by living under a roof with a community of rules, rigor, and relationships.” And it doesn’t hurt that these communities often exist in beautiful, natural settings, where boys can hike, fish, and play. “Nothing makes me happier than to walk around the campus at Woodberry and see boys playing a game of touch football or Ultimate Frisbee on their own, without a referee blowing a whistle or a coach barking orders or instructions,” said Hulsey. “I think that it’s so healthy and important for boys to learn to manage themselves without someone always managing them.”

This does not mean that boys do not meet high expectations in these environments. There are chores to be done and standards of behavior that enhance boys’ feelings of agency and strength. “I think responsibility teaches kids strength,” said Krieger. “I think we are in a society that is very reluctant to put boys in charge; and yet, a 12-year-old boy can be very industrious.”

The all-boys environment also seems to play a key role in igniting self-discovery and belonging. “Without the distraction of girls, I believe it’s much easier for a boy to present his natural, authentic self and much easier for his fellow boys to accept him and embrace him when they’re not angling for attention from girls or young women,” said Hulsey. “I’m biased, but I have a strong affinity for residential communities like Woodberry and Falling Creek. I think the relational connectivity is even deeper

reward

and more nuanced and richer when boys can be at camp or our world at Woodberry for a good stretch of time.”

At the heart of these residential communities are groups of various sizes where boys find camaraderie and friendship through shared experience. Small groups such as cabins, advisories, clubs, and teams echo the cadres of the military, a proven model that encourages a sense of belonging. “Everybody wants to be acknowledged as part of a group,” said Krieger. “And when they know and trust each other, boys are willing to try new things.”

“I think that boys respond positively when they are known, challenged, and loved,” said Hulsey. “When they are known, they know that they matter; when they are challenged, they know they are respected and that they can often reach higher than they might reach on their own; and when they are loved, they know that they are cared for beyond their achievements or accomplishments.”

What Boys Think

According to Dr. Lisa Garner, Director of Counseling and Wellness Programming at Christ School, “So many of the boys I work with don’t just question ‘who am I?’ but also ‘how do I matter?’ They want to know how they can take what’s important at their core and get it out into the world in a way that not only satisfies them, but also makes a difference. They feel a lot of outside pressures and demands.” Garner believes that structure and community help them with those issues. “I see the structure of a school like ours or a summer camp as a gift that provides an opportunity for a boy to try out a lot of different things in a safe all-boys environment.” A happy byproduct is a sense of belonging. “It’s the being part of something and working toward a common goal that boys find deeply satisfying.”

The world of residential camp lends itself to developing deeply rooted friendships, cured through time and shared experience. Never was that more apparent than when Helen Collins, whose two sons, Falling Creek campers Ike and Judd (16-year-old Judd is also a student at Woodberry), hosted four camp friends before they headed to Falling Creek for their four-week summer session. “I’ve never seen 16-year-old boys more genuine than the way I observed them in those four days,” said Collins. “They are so uninhibited because they know each other from camp. There are no girls, no academics or competition; it’s just who they are. I could go on and on about how freeing and impactful that is for Judd.”

Collins has observed that those friendships forged at camp have helped Judd grow. “Because of the comfort he feels with those peers and with camp, it has brought a huge amount of confidence that I don’t see in any other aspects of his life,” said Collins. “I see him in pictures serving food in the Dining Hall on

Saturday and Sunday nights and singing during morning assembly, things that I feel he would never try outside of that confidence-building place.”

The Camp and Boarding School Connection

Lillian Magruder, who has been a nurse at Falling Creek, and whose son, Richard, attends Christ School and Falling Creek, believes that the values stressed at both camp and school have coalesced into making Richard a stronger young man. “Falling Creek is a spot that is near and dear to the men in my family (Lillian’s husband, Andy, and older son, Marshall, also attended Falling Creek) and therefore, near and dear to my heart as well,” said Magruder. “I immediately sensed an overlap in the Christ School Pillars (Academic Rigor, Leadership, Spirituality, and Dignity of Manual Labor) and the Falling Creek Code (Warrior Spirit, Servant’s Heart, Moral Compass, and Positive Attitude), and I feel like the leaders in both of those institutions abide by their core values, which I think makes a tremendous difference”.

Collins believes that camp prepared Judd for living at a boarding school. “I think that attending Falling Creek for the eight years prior to starting his freshman year at Woodberry made a huge impact on the ease of his transition from home to school,” said Collins. In both settings, she learned to take a back seat and let Judd figure things out on his own. “An interesting thing about camp and boarding school is that you’re not hand’s off, but you’re not hand’s on either,” said Collins. “And you can trust that your son will thrive by relying on the skills that he learned at camp as an eight-year-old. It’s about personal hygiene, it’s keeping your stuff together, it’s having the confidence to go do this or that and not worrying about what I think. He gets to make his own choices, and it has freed him to become an independent thinker.”

Healthy Separation

There was a time when sending a son to boarding school or camp carried a stigma of bad parenting, and there are plenty of parents who find it difficult to cut the umbilical cord and lose that day-to-day surveillance, but both Collins and Magruder feel that letting go and entrusting a school or camp with their son is one of the best parenting decisions they have made. “So many people are so concerned with daily safety and wrapping their children in a bubble,” said Magruder. “It’s not doing them any favors in the long haul when we try to protect them from all those experiences. I think that our son being at a place like Falling Creek in the summer and Christ School during the year is allowing for these independent experiences that need

“i

think boyspositivelyrespond when they are known, challenged and loved.”

—Byron Hulsey, Woodberry Forest Headmaster

E to happen for better maturation and development. He is becoming a better man because we are able to let him go and do, and the structures at Falling Creek and Christ School are in place to give them guidance, yet also independence.”

Collins has a similar sense of the value of these experiences. “I feel like nothing grows their freedom, confidence, and ability to be themselves more than the independence that camp provides,” said Collins. “And the freedom of choice at camp is so great. Mom isn’t telling you what to do, so if you want to go sailing, you can sign up for it. I’ve observed that even to a little person like my 9-year-old Ike, having that independence and freedom of choice has given him confidence that I don’t think is fostered in many places the way it is at a long session at camp.”

Collins said that a fellow camper’s mom reached out to share the positive impact Judd had made on her son. And although she’s not sure what Judd did to make such a difference for this camper, she knows that it’s the Falling Creek culture that allowed it to happen. “I can only believe that the way camp directors, Yates and Marisa, are running the camp and the values that they are stressing hold the campers to this high standard. You couple that with a whole lot of fun, and that’s why Judd is ten years in.”

So fun, in fact, that Judd and his friends seem happy and somewhat relieved to turn off their phones when they return to camp. Collins was amazed when, as she drove Judd and his friends to camp, they turned on Bob’s Creek Road and one of the boys said “all right boys, we’re on the mountain, so phones off.” “They were all so ready to take that off their plate,” said Collins. “And how amazing is that when 16 and 17-yearold boys are turning off their phones to go live together in a tiny cabin in the woods for a month!”

A Bright Future

Places like Christ School, Woodberry Forest and Falling Creek are special and proof positive that, in the right environment and with the right influences, boys can thrive. “I’m an educator, so I’m definitely wired to be optimistic,” said Hulsey, “but I feel like Woodberry has never mattered more, and boys have never needed it more. So that gives me a lot of energy and a lot of juice for the path ahead. I feel the same way about a place like Falling Creek. I’m very bullish and positive about boys who have these intentionally structured opportunities that are rooted in research and in lived experience as it relates to boys and young men as a whole. And I have faith in our ability to adapt and evolve to understand what boys and young men need for their future.”

A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE

intheir ownwords...

What has your son gained from camp?

I’d name independence and confidence in making his own choices. For example, there was a multi-day trip our son wanted to go on this year, but he realized he couldn’t do that and also complete the requirements to achieve Ranger in basketball. He chose to stay in camp and do the latter. When I saw the picture of him holding up his Ranger badge with pride, I could see that he knew he had made the right decision. And he made it himself! This gives me hope for future, much more difficult decisions he will have to make in his life. He is learning to make choices and to own them.

— Julia and Jack, Atlanta, GA

Falling Creek offers a wide range of activities that we couldn’t simultaneously provide for our boys at home. In addition, the opportunities to live, work, and play with people different from themselves is invaluable. We know our boys are gaining independence, confidence, and skills.

German and Madeline, Denver, CO

He continues to get so much out of camp: confidence, leadership skills, new experiences, meeting new people, and time to reflect away from the distractions of everyday life (especially screens).

—Stacy and Glen, Charlotte, NC

At camp, our son is growing as a young man in ways that are hard to articulate. Being able to pursue new passions is part of it, but I think that being on his own in a place where the bar is set very high in terms of culture, conduct, and character is the biggest part.

Ashleigh and Mike, Bronxville, NY

Our son grew up in 6 days, we noticed it when he got home. There are so many values that Falling Creek teaches, but in this first Junior Camp week, it was all about self-reliance, owning responsibility for himself, and friendships. He can’t stop talking about the counselors and other boys!

Meredith and Cameron, Raleigh, NC

Why did you choose Falling Creek Camp?

We wanted an adventurous all-boys Christian camp where our son would be exposed to boys from all over, try new things, be challenged, and learn to both fail and persevere.

—Sarah and Russell, Little Rock, AR

It’s truly a special place where boys can be boys. We wanted a camp that would provide a loving and supportive environment for our boys to grow, build confidence, try new things, learn to work out the hard things with support, and a place with Christian values.

Allison and Josh, Raleigh, NC

We chose Falling Creek because of its Christian foundations, unique programming, and the four areas of focus through the FCC Code.

Michael and Elizabeth, Charlotte, NC

carryyourcandle

In 2023, Ryan Tucker was a camp counselor at Falling Creek, teaching both the nature and farm programs. Now, after graduating from Roanoke College with a B.S. in Environmental Studies, he’s been working in a twoyear Peace Corps position in Senegal as a Forestry and Environment Specialist.

How did Ryan’s experience at Falling Creek lead to his current position in the Peace Corps? How did working at camp help him realize his passion for teaching about environmental issues?

As a young boy, Ryan’s interest in agriculture and nature began when he was a camper himself. Ryan attended an all-boys camp on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, Camp Belknap, for

five years from 2012-2016. He learned about working at Falling Creek through one of his professor’s friends at Roanoke College in Virginia, who was an FCC alumnus from the mid 90s.

Because of his own camp experience as a child, Ryan said, “I understood what it was like to live in a cabin, try new and exciting activities, meet new people, and step out of your comfort zone. When talking with my professor about the opportunity to work at Falling Creek, it immediately brought me back to my days as a camper, and how my counselors played a big role in my life. I knew I wanted to give that back to campers.”

Ryan became a counselor for the 2023 summer, and taught in both the nature and farm programs. He said

From Camp to Corps: Alumnus Ryan’s Environmental Educator Journey of mind

that his favorite part was “working collaboratively with staff on lesson plans and just the overall camaraderie of the staff and campers.” Ryan said, “we were able to work on awesome interactive activities related to local biodiversity, on topics like food chains, forestry, soils, and macroinvertebrates as an indication of stream health. It got the kids involved and wanting to learn more about these topics, and peaked their curiosity about the world around them. The farm and nature staff would also try to tie in concepts that campers would learn in school, whether it was about ecosystems, different species, or the water cycle. They could apply what they learned in an outdoor classroom-like setting, and being surrounded by so much biodiversity and nature was the perfect place to learn.”

“As for the farm, I would say that being able to show campers how to determine and test pH soil levels and how that affects what you can plant and soil health was one of my favorite parts. As well as teaching campers about composting, its importance, and the different types of ways to do it. We taught campers how to harvest and transplant vegetables, and different methods you can use to seed.”

“Another highlight I would say about teaching at the farm, was being able to cook what we grow. There were some days after we harvested vegetables that we gave

campers the opportunity to cook and eat them. It was really cool to experience this because it gave campers more opportunities to try new vegetables that they had never tried or eaten before.”

Ryan tried to tie in some of his close personal experiences when teaching at camp, including his passion for global and environmental issues, and what he learned in school from his professors. “I have a strong passion and experience in geography and got to tie in some cool activities about the biodiversity in the western North Carolina region that really got the campers involved in these activities. Also, when the nature and farm staff were working on creating lessons for activity periods, we were all encouraged to use some material or activities that we had learned in the past regarding the environment, and think of ways to make it fun and exciting for the campers.”

After his 2023 summer spent at Falling Creek, Ryan joined the Peace Corps, a US government program where volunteers live and work with an overseas community for about two years. The mission of the Peace Corps is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

1. To help the countries interested in meeting their need for trained people.

2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served.

3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Ryan first became interested in the Peace Corps during a school semester in Washington, DC through a program called the Lutheran College Washington Semester. This is an association of Lutheran affiliated colleges that give students the chance to work and take classes in the nation’s capital.

Ryan said, “I was an Invasive Plant Species Intern for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, an environmental NGO (non-governmental organization) dedicated to fighting global warming in DC, Maryland and Virginia. There, both my program coordinator and director were both former Peace Corps volunteers who talked about their experience with environment & development work. That made me gain an interest in applying. I also had a great uncle who was a salinization and health volunteer in Belize from 1961-1963, during the early days of the Peace Corps. Additionally, my foreign policy class in DC had a guest speaker who was a USDA soil science technician, who had also been a volunteer and encouraged me to apply.”

Ryan already knew he was interested in the environment, but after working at Falling Creek, he realized his passion for teaching about environmental and agricultural topics. Through the Peace Corps, he could continue to share his passion as an environment specialist.

As a Forestry and Environmental Specialist in Senegal, most of Ryan’s work consists of assisting in agroforestry implementation, environmental education, and natural resources management in the Diourbel region of Senegal. Ryan said, “this work includes planting fruit and multipurpose trees, teaching lessons about the environment to school students, women’s organizations, NGOs, and other local groups, as well as conducting community conservation assessments. I also get to work with small scale farmers and gardeners to disseminate new agricultural technology practices.”

In his new role with the Peace Corps, Ryan has been able to use the skills that he learned and practiced while on staff at Falling Creek. “Some of the skills that I learned from Falling Creek include problem solving skills, critical thinking, and working with people from different backgrounds and ages. Also being able to accept failure and keep on trying,” said Ryan. This has been especially true for him in Senegal since he has been challenging himself by speaking in a language other than his native language every day.

“In my work and daily life in Senegal, I speak wolof, which is an ethnic language of Senegal that is spoken by 80 percent of the population, and some French with Senegal being a francophone country. Another skill I

learned is being patient when working on various projects and working with counterparts/work partners. Also at Falling Creek, there are a lot of staff from different countries and being able to learn about their cultures and where they are from really helped me understand, accept, and recognize being exposed to various ethnic backgrounds, and gain an international perspective.”

After the Peace Corps, what’s next for Ryan? “I hope

“Some of the skills that I learned from Falling Creek include problem solving skills, critical thinking, and working with people from different backgrounds and ages. Also being able to accept failure and keep on trying.” —Ryan Tucker

to move back to the States and work for a research institute or an environmental federal agency for a couple of months within the STEM field. After that, I’d like to get my Masters Degree in the UK, Netherlands, or Canada within the area of geo-information science & earth observation or geographical information systems. Hopefully I can work for a NGO, institute, or software development firm that works on the environment, agriculture, and international development sector projects. Eventually I’ll work towards getting a PhD in Geography or Environmental Science and becoming a part time professor. I’ll hopefully work at a research institute either at the federal level or in the private sector, but I don’t know quite yet!”

Wherever Ryan’s plans take him next, we know he’ll do great things. Thanks Ryan for your time and dedication as a counselor at Falling Creek, and best of luck as you continue to follow your passion!

EAre you a Falling Creek alumnus yourself? We’d love to hear from you! Share your updates, camp memories, news, or just say hello at alumni@ fallingcreek.com

--free of phones-FULL OF PLAY

How Camp Supports a Play-Based Childhood

by Annie Ramsbotham

When you think about your childhood, what are some of your favorite memories? Playing with friends? Spending time outdoors? Camping? There’s a good chance that some of your best memories also had an element of risk or adventure to them.

We know that outdoor play is important for a healthy life, especially for children. It may not be as obvious, but risk and adventure are also important parts of a healthy childhood. In fact, appropriate risk is necessary for growth and fulfillment.

Recent parenting trends have begun to prioritize over-protection, mistaking it for the same thing as safety. Combining this with an increase in technology from a young age, means play-based childhood is on a decline.

The keynote speaker at this year’s CODACON (Camp Owners and Directors Association) Conference, Jonathan Haidt, is a social psychologist and author. His recent book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, addresses the mental health crisis in young people and the decline of play-based childhood.

Haidt says that the issues our youth are facing are caused largely by our replacement of play-based childhood with phone-based childhood. The availability of appropriate risk and adventure offered to youth has declined and children spend more time indoors and on screens. Haidt’s research finds

Scan to watch video

Spending time in nature is important , but don’t just take our word for it, find out what the boys themselves think about spending their summer days outdoors & unplugged.

that children are dealing with things like attention fragmentation, sleep deprivation, social deprivation, and behavioral addiction to dopamine hits, all because of the prevalence of smartphones in their lives.

You may be reading this and nodding along in agreement while thinking, “this sounds nice, but just taking away my child’s phone won’t solve the problem.” We know that just removing or limiting technology won’t resolve all the issues. As Haidt says, we have to actively work toward returning to a playbased childhood. But how?

Haidt suggests summer camp as one answer. He has said, “Camp is an excellent opportunity to reset dopamine receptors, to distance kids from screens, and to create lifelong memories from real-life, naturerich experiences.”

What makes the summer camp experience ideal? Not only is it a technology-free environment, but it is also a place surrounded by nature, where adventure is encouraged, appropriate risk is allowed, and play happens every day.

Camp supports a play-based childhood by allowing freedom of choice and providing an environment for boys to socialize and have fun in an unstructured setting. Boys are free to be creative, imaginative, and enjoy face-to-face communication – without the overstimulation of phone notifications, flashing screens, or pinging ads that bombard us in daily life.

Haidt calls phones “experience blockers,” and

there’s a reason why we’ve kept camp technology free. It would be difficult to be the only kid at school without a phone, who is trying to cut down on screen time and feeling like he’s missing out on peer connection when everyone else is communicating online. At camp though, everyone’s on a level playing field. Not only are we all having fun outdoors together, but everyone has agreed to leave their screens behind. This is true for campers as well as for staff members, who often find that camp is like a “reset button” after a hectic school year. Online networks can offer a fun escape, but they’re no replacement for the feeling of true connection that boys can get in a real-world community like camp.

In addition to technology-free play, there are daily opportunities for adventure and appropriate risk at camp, both through trips off property and in activities. Boys are able to challenge themselves, expand their comfort zones, and gain independence away from parents. Furthermore, they can take appropriate risks like running a big rapid in a canoe, riding a horse for the first time, playing guitar in front of a crowd, or navigating hiking trails with a map. Not only do these experiences improve the overall health of boys, but they also help parents feel less anxious as they let go and realize what their children are capable of!

We’re looking forward to another summer spent restoring opportunities for a fulfilling and healthy childhood – one that’s free of phones but full of play!

A FRIEND in high places

Long before he impacted the lives of countless campers at Falling Creek, Walter Cottingham had left his mark on Camp Pinnacle in Hendersonville, NC, which he directed up until 1973, when he moved the family cabin, board by board, from Pinnacle to a property he owned on Bob’s Creek Road. Before long, he had established himself at neighboring Falling Creek and became known for his constant whistling – only stopping when he came upon a messy cabin during inspection – and his superpower ability to learn everyone’s name and cure homesick campers.

by Donna Wheeler

Three of his children, Walt, John, and Nancy, who also worked at Falling Creek, witnessed firsthand their dad’s amazing influence on campers and his unique ability to honor tradition while building and sustaining a thriving camp community.

After spending the academic year as Director of Intramural Sports at Furman University, Walter would spend his summer hiking over to Falling Creek, often using the trail he blazed over Long Mountain, where he would greet each carload as they arrived for their session, wowing campers with his amazing ability to remember, not only their names, but the names of their parents and siblings.

A Towering Presence

Walter’s role as the unofficial superintendent of the high wire, gave him a special vantage point to pinpoint those campers who were struggling, and he would go out of his way to help them.

Sometimes it was as simple as redirecting their sadness toward an activity. “Somehow children always just adored him,” said Nancy. “By listening to them and asking them what they would like to learn to do, he could redirect a child who was going through homesickness and help them have a wonderful camp experience,” said Nancy.

“He would walk them to their activities and talk to them, and within a couple of days, he had them baptized in the camp, so to speak, so that they were happy being there and would go on to have a good experience,” said Walt. “I can see him now – he was pretty tall – and he walked around with these little kids under his arm, and it was a sweet thing,” said Walt. “He had the sensitivity to be the person who could do that.”

“I have this memory of him running the high wire,” said John, “but mostly I remember his personality and being a positive force in the camp. That’s what he was wherever he went, and he loved camping. He really poured himself into it and gave so much of himself.”

“Helping campers was a really important role for him,” said Nancy. “He didn’t have as much of that interaction at Pinnacle, since he was running things, but at Falling Creek he kind of created his own job. He was always there and did whatever was needed, and somehow the children always adored him.”

Early Falling Creek Summers

During the summer of 1973, Falling Creek became a home away from home for the Cottingham’s, as their house was being reconstructed and power and plumbing reconnected.

Nancy recalls teaching arts and crafts along with her mother during that first summer, and how appreciative they both were to shower in the women’s cabin and have meals in the Dining Hall. Nancy, who led the Arts and Crafts Program from 1976-1978, has fond memories of helping her dad teach square dancing. “He loved to lead the camp in some kind of group activity in the gym or on the ball field,” said Nancy, “and square dancing was one of those.”

John and Walt also had roles at Falling Creek. John worked one summer as a counselor and Walt worked seven summers running the Woodcraft Program. As one of the tougher activities, it took a little coercing to get campers to join the effort. “I had to convince them that this construction work was a fun thing to do,” said Walt, “and it really was. We built outpost cabins, the library, and

other buildings, and did an awful lot of it with hand tools,” Walt said. “Sometimes it involved dragging boards for about a mile through the woods.” Walt also played his guitar for morning assembly and his rendition of “Mountain Mean” remains legendary.

“We were good counselors and did a lot of good things for those children, but we were the ones that really benefitted,” said Walt. “John and I came away with a whole bunch of people who became lifetime friends.”

“There’s a group of counselors – mostly from Falling Creek – whom Walt and I have gone camping with over the last 45 years,” John said. “It’s just great friendships that we formed at camp and have carried on over the years, and it’s a tight-knit group to this day.”

Lifetime Hobbies and Friendships

Camp influenced more than just their social life. Nancy credits Falling Creek for her love of singing and performing, something that she continues in retirement. “I was part of the morning assembly; although I didn’t play an instrument, I really loved to sing, and it’s funny how the things you try at a young age at camp turn out to be really important to you,” said Nancy. “Now that I’m retired, I perform and sing in musical theater, which all goes back to the first performing I ever did on that big porch at Falling Creek.”

Walt, who retired after 42 years of teaching, finds that woodworking, his camp expertise, sustains him in retirement. He is known for his award-winning hand-built birdhouses that are equal parts function and artistic sculpture.

Likewise, John has found a calling in retirement that grew out of his camping experience. “After about a year and a half of being fully retired from corporate law, I started to get a little bit itchy,” said John. “I ended up starting a nonprofit called The Pisgah Conservancy, supporting the Pisgah National Forest.”

Keeping Walter’s Legacy Alive

Of the three, Walt still lives close to Falling Creek. “My property is bounded by Falling Creek because of the expansion of the camp in the last 15 years, and I hike on camp property every day,” said Walt. In addition to helping clean and maintain old logging roads for trails, Walt took it upon himself to clean up an area in the woods that campers named after his father.

“Some campers decided to build this ring up in the woods in honor of my father,” said Walt. It wasn’t lost on Walt what his father must have meant to those campers to feel inspired to honor him with a memorial space in the

Walter with his daughter Nancy at a camp square dance in the mid 1970’s

Walter’s son Walt guiding campers to drive nails as a part of building the Doctor’s A-Frame in 1976.

woods. “It was kind of nice that those boys did that for my dad,” said Walt, “because he worked at camp longer than any of us, and inspired generations of boys to stay connected to Falling Creek.”

Never Forgotten

“And a little interesting tidbit about our dad, which harkens to all his camp experiences,” said Nancy, “but his two main jobs in life were college and camp. And throughout his life, he would meet people wherever he went, and he always knew their names. We were on a family trip to the Grand Canyon, and he ran into somebody he knew at Valdosta State College, where he had worked at the time and where he met our mother.” Nancy added, “and they recognized him because he was very distinctive looking.”

“And even when he got really elderly and had lost his memory to some degree, he still could do that,” said Nancy. “I think that was really impressive to all of us – the fact that he could be on some trip somewhere and run into somebody from Camp Pinnacle or Falling Creek and that all those relationships stayed with him all those years.”

“I do a number of craft shows in different places,” said Walt, “and it’s just become kind of a running joke in my immediate family of how long it takes before somebody asks me about my father. I was in Atlanta, and somebody came up to my booth and asked me if I was Walter Cottingham’s son,” said Walt. “I’m a junior, so that’s pretty obvious, but it’s still happening, and he’s been gone for 16 years now. People still come up to me every year and in multiple locations.”

“People will say, ‘you know, I remember this, and your dad did this amazing thing for me,’ and so on. So, we all have a lot of fond memories of those encounters,” said Walt. “And it’s obvious that the people that knew him at camp always loved and really respected the person he was.”

A Man of Principle

“He was a man of very high moral character,” said Nancy, “but it didn’t come across as preachy. He lived what he believed, and in that he was a wonderful example to the children. But even more than that, he made a big impression on the counselors. “He impacted me at that time, even though I’d grown up with it,” said Nancy. “At camp you’ve got college-age kids who are taking care of the children and who are at impressionable stages of their lives, where having a leader like that really matters.”

“And he was a leader, even though he wasn’t a head of things anymore,” said Nancy. “He was always somebody people looked up to, and when we run into those people, they talk about what an impact he had on them.”

It’s fair to say that Walter Cottingham’s emergence as a camp legend began with his own camping experience in his early days at Camp Greenville in the 1930s. In a photo of his first cabin, one camper’s ear-to-ear grin stands out among a group of serious-faced young boys; that grin, broadcasting a pure, genuine love of camp, belonged to a young Walter Cottingham, and that grin would go on to amuse and comfort generations of campers at Camps Pinnacle and Falling Creek who were lucky enough to work and play by his side, and who continue to carry his legacy forward.

E

Walter’s son John is the Founder and Executive Director of The Pisgah Conservancy (TPC) which was founded in 2015 to support the Pisgah Ranger District because it contributes profoundly to the health and quality of life for all who visit WNC or call this region homeand because it needs our help. www.pisgahconservancy.org

Walter calling a square dance with one of the neighboring girls camps during the mid 1970’s

the stranger

by

Ian Smith, Charlotte, NC (camper ’14-’23, STEEL ’24) written for AP Language class essay

In this photo that inspired his essay (above), Ian is pictured as a young camper on his first river trip.

in this photo IS ME!

LOOKING AT THIS PHOTO NOW, I REALIZE HOW LUCKY I WAS that the trials and tribulations of school were far from my mind, and that my future remained joyously undecided. After all, I was at camp, my happy place.

Fear and excitement showed themselves on my face in the picture, evident in the semi-smile and the focused look in my eyes. No ordinary whitewater kayak adventure, this trip would be my first time on an actual river, the French Broad - section 9 or FB9. All that went through my helmet-clad noggin during the van ride as I ate the trail mix that was given to us to keep us from pestering the counselors was who would get any extras; usually any extras were swiftly eaten by the adults or, if we were lucky, a game of trivia would decide the fate of the final Scooby snack. Questions such as how far away we were from the river would

be greeted with a sarcastic “about seven,” regardless of the distance. DJ No Request would play music without any suggestions. It was pure fun without boundaries.

Once we got to the river, my only emotion was fear. Not from the roar of the churning water like a massive beast or fallen trees that create strainers that catch your boat as a spider would catch a fly in its web. No, the fear came from within. Every time I approached the entrance to a rapid, my heart rate quickened, and a twinge of excitement ran from the bottoms of my feet to the top of my head.

Today, going to the river is not unlike my trips then, but time and experience have put many things into focus while leaving others to blur like a pair of faulty glasses. The days of carefree river running are now long gone.

Since that picturesque day, I have grown a foot or so, my teeth have straightened, and my face slimmed by the passage of time. The loaned white helmet and red PFD are retired in favor of my own set that isn’t filled with trash from other’s snacks, only my own wrappers. Gone are the small things that used to annoy me on the van. Now those trips contain naps and annotated summer reading; needless to say, thoughts of school and college are unavoidable. Extra snacks don’t hold the same value, and trivia is unnecessary as we share snacks. DJ No Request has departed, leaving room for song suggestions. Questions now yield answers not related to the number seven. In hindsight, these rituals made this time so memorable. Even the fear takes on a different light. The adrenaline

wave that washed over me is reduced to just a twinge. Familiarity and confidence dull the sharp thrill. I miss that time when everything was new and scary. Every slight improvement and obstacle overcome was a milestone, and with so many firsts, it felt like the sky was the limit. The limit came sooner than I would have liked. I’ve done all the rivers camp offers, and now firsts are nearly impossible. Even the counselors who used to be so much older than me then are separated by a handful of years. However, this year will be different. I am no longer a camper; I am a CIT. No longer will it be about exploring my passion, but instead about igniting the love of kayaking for others as my counselors did for me. My only hope for the future is that a kayaker finds an old picture of himself from camp with a white helmet and red PFD. When he thinks about what ignited his passion, I want my name to be memorable for the songs I denied, and the snacks given for the correct trivia answer.

Clockwise from top: Ian (far left) during an all camp game in Main Camp, 2023 Ian (bottom right) pictured in his kayak on a paddling trip in 2023 Ian and his friend at Junior Camp in 2014, during his first summer as a camper.

Be fun to be around | Live with enthusiasm | Focus on the positive | Be grateful for God’s blessings

THINK dream job.

“I feel as if I was able to grow out of my comfort zone. It has been a transformational experience for me to be a counselor at this camp and I have formed so many relationships. It has been awesome.”

- Drew Walther, Cary, NC (Staff ’24) Every year we select the

- Asher Sloan, Asheville, NC (Staff ’24)

“I was making decisions and leading a group of people who all had different levels of experience at our activity and I got to help them grow and they helped me grow my leadership skills. “

- Heather Moffat, Mars Hill, NC (Staff ’23-’24)

“I feel like I became more outgoing and more comfortable leading people throughout the summer. Including both campers and other counselors. “

Areyouaformercamperlookingforameaningful summerjob,orawaytogainexperiencethat willsetyouapartinyourfuturecareer?Take partinthegreatestcamptradition:returning toFCCasastaffmemberto“passiton!”Visit teamfallingcreek.com/apply/former-campers tohearmoreaboutwhatreturningislikeinthe wordsofotherformercampers.

#ItsYourTime

“I have not only gained hard skills for my future but soft ones as well. I wouldn’t have been able to grow personally and professionally without the friends I made this summer. ”

- Care Smyth Cave Spring, GA (Staff ’23-’24)

“Being able to reconnect with a place that I loved being in during my childhood helped me grow spiritually and emotionally while I was also able to forge so many new relationships and experiences. ”

- Everett Norton, Charlotte, NC (Staff ’24, FCC Camper ‘14-’18)

Lord and being surrounded by like minded Christians helped me to succeed in that. ”

- Etta Pierce Delaware, OH (Staff ’23-’24)

WAYS TO GIVE

HOW

ONE-TIME DONATION

Guardian Society

Imagine the boys who would benefit from the Falling Creek Camp experience, but simply can’t afford it. Your gift to support the Falling Creek Campership through the American Camp Association will make it possible. Thank you for your one-time commitment to passing on the FCC experience.

Guardian Society Levels (one-time donations)

Up to $999+ Friends of FCC

$1,000+ Green & Gold

$1,969+ Founder

$3,000+ FCC Code

$5,000+ Keeper of the Flame

$10,000+ Guardian of the Flame

The Spirit of Falling Creek Society

Pledge to donate annually and join the Spirit of Falling Creek Society. Choose from three taxdeductible pledge level amounts, each with a corresponding Behold bumper sticker to indicate your annual commitment.

(White Level)

$19.69 given annually

(Green Level)

$196.90 given annually

(Gold Level)

$1,969 given annually

Annual pledge donors receive these exclusive Behold bumper stickers, with each color indicating your annual commitment to the gift of camp.

Spirit of Falling Creek Society

Spirit of Falling Creek Society

Spirit of Falling Creek Society

Payment Information (choose one) Please note “Falling Creek Campership” on the memo line.

Donate securely online at www.acacamps.org/campership Mail a check to Falling Creek Camp (PO Box 98, Tuxedo NC 28784), made payable to American Camp Association.

Falling Creek partners with the American Camp Association to administer our scholarship fund. Your generous contribution directly supports Falling Creek scholarship recipients with tuition assistance. The American Camp Association© is a 501(c)(3) charity organization that works to preserve, promote, and enhance the camp experience for children, youth, and adults (tax ID# 35-0962419).

campscholarship

FALLING CREEK CAMPERSHIP

Falling Creek has established a campership through the American Camp Association that is designed to enable boys from across the country to attend Falling Creek who couldn’t otherwise afford it. There are two ways to give: a one-time donation, or an annual Behold Pledge when you join one of three levels in the Spirit of Falling Creek Society. DONOR

Our Appreciation to these Donors: September 2023 - August 2024

Spirit of Falling Creek Society

WHITE BEHOLD PLEDGE MEMBERS

$19.69 GIVEN ANNUALLY

GREEN BEHOLD PLEDGE MEMBERS

$196.90 GIVEN ANNUALLY

Jack Cardinale

James Cardinale

Julia and Jack Mitchener

Friends of Falling Creek

Guardian Society Level

GOLD BEHOLD PLEDGE MEMBERS

$1,969 GIVEN ANNUALLY

UP TO $999

Mimi Scaljon

Mike and Kenna Williams

George Price

Jacqueline Kemp

Tim Skelly

Peter Field

Sherry & Jim Kasper

Barrett Nichols

Curry Steven

Julian Beaujeu-Dufour

Trent Jones

Elizabeth Albright

Patrick Mulloy

BEHOLDSomething to

FCC is an opportunity for boys to be active; to learn through effort, failure, and success; to achieve through progression and reward/ acknowledgement; hands-on learning; male role models; no cell phones; and the value of kinship. Even cleaning the cabin (or organizing a backpack) is valuable! Keep up the good work – our society needs to support boys now more than ever.

Mac Robertson James J. Cotter Foundation

Nathalie

– Haynes Chidsey, Charlotte, NC (Camper ’77-’84, Staff ‘87,’90)

fantheflame

Our

Purpose

We exist to shepherd the journey of personal growth through love and adventure.

We believe... in boyhood. We are unselfish. We are all-in. We revere our community.

W

CAMP Traditions

Campfire:

On Sunday evenings, the entire camp community shares the tradition of our campfire program. We still hear the bullfrogs at night and leave our mark by singing songs, telling stories, and enjoying skits with our lifelong friends.

Church: After the big cabin inspection on Sunday morning, boys put on their white collared shirts for our Church service. Staff and campers organize and conduct the service. Falling Creek is a Christian camp, but we are nondenominational and our church service is centered around common values that are important for everyone, no matter your specific faith background.

Morning Watch: After the wakeup bell and cabin clean up, campers and counselors silently gather in the chapel overlooking the lake. After a few minutes of quiet, hearing only the sounds of nature, a staff member delivers the message for the day. The topic of Morning Watch is typically a personal story, a reflection on a Christian Bible verse, or a quote related to one of the four pillars of the Falling Creek Code.

Evening

Embers: Every evening after the lights out bell, counselors facilitate “Evening Embers” for 15-20 minutes, during which a candle is lit and cabin mates talk about their busy day. They talk about how their day was, what they will do tomorrow, and what they may want to do before the session is over. As the session progresses, they will talk about the FCC Code, Christian values, and how the camp as a community models these expectations.

fantheflame

Morning Assembly: After a hearty breakfast, get ready for the world famous Morning Assembly where anything can happen and it usually does. Whether it’s one of our crazy staff skits or joining in an all-camp sing along, nothing beats this upbeat way to start a great camp day.

The Bell: The Falling Creek Camp bell serves as our camp clock, waking us up, shepherding us to activities, calling us to meals, and sending us to rest at the end of another full day. The sound of the bell is one that alumni remember fondly.

“Camp offers a chance for the boys to grow their self-esteem, independence, leadership skills, peer relationships, sense of adventure, environmental awareness, values, and spirituality.”

—Yates Pharr, Director

CAMP Traditions

Father/Son Weekend: This is the time where boys (and dads) can be boys at Falling Creek, we partner with families to help boys develop into strong, healthy men. A critical part of this journey is the relationship a son has with his father. A Father/Son Weekend is the perfect time for dads and sons (kindergarten through high school) to spend quality time together.

Making friendship a fine art: A sense of brotherhood and traditional Christian values permeates the Falling Creek community in each of its programs. Our alumni often speak about the special bond they have with their camp friends.

Community with a purpose:

Falling Creek is an experience a boy carries with him for a lifetime. It’s an opportunity to make choices, and a chance to make friends. Backpacking trips into the mountains, sleeping under the stars, kayaking on the Green River, sailing, tennis, and basketball; all help build friendships and character that last a lifetime.

COMPETITIVE SALARY & BENEFITS

Counselors can earn $4k-$7k for the entire summer season (see pay sheet on website) • Internship credit • Housing and delicious meals provided (save most of your pay!) • Explore camp’s 900 + acres with private trails • Attractive pro deals for outdoor gear • Nationally recognized certifications and training • Spiritual growth • Career development networking

Become a lasting positive influence in the lives of young people

REAL LIFE SKILLS

Leadership • Critical Thinking

Problem Solving • Creativity

Collaboration • Teamwork

Good Decision Making • Social Skills

Behold: 915 Acres of Playground

Falling Creek’s original 125 acres have expanded to over 900 acres of remarkable beauty. Here, boys from the US and beyond come to meet again each summer, and to bond in unity and brotherly love.

guts&glory

Awards-All

Sessions

Archery

June - Archer’s Heart -

Buck Cole and Edward Earle

June - MIA (Most Improved Archer) Award -

Finn Puckett and Jack Puckett

Main - Archer’s Heart AwardCameron Schurter

Main - MIA (Most Improved Archer) Award - Finn Arwood

Arts and Crafts

June - Future Picasso - Whitt Kelly

June - Golden CrayonMarshall Powers

Main - Future Van Gogh AwardGeorge Clary

Main - Anuar Barranon AwardFinn Arwood

Backpacking

June - Leave No TraceGarrett Lee

June - Smashing It -

Cameron Robinson

June - World Class - Wyatt Murphy

Main - Positivity Crusher- Owen West

Main - Resilience AwardNolan Holland

Basketball

June - Al-Farouq Aminu AwardHenry Hardin

June - LeSunshine - Hutch Israel

Main - LeSunshineWinn Chamberlain

Main - Al-Farouq Aminu AwardSaxon Ranton

Blacksmithing

June - Swish King - Ayden Glushkoff

June - Spirit of the ForgeAlexander Miller

Main - Swish King - Wade Monroe

Main - Forge or DieChristian DiMarco

Chess

June - True Genius - Alex Looney

Main - MVP award - Jacob Zhang

Main - MIP Award - Brooks Canaway

Climbing Wall

June - Barnabus - Tripp McAdams

June - The Beta SprayerFrank Anderson

Main - Barnabus Darjungus Straight Chiller Yeti Award - Ford Mashek

Main - Other Flavors Award - Mack Eubanks

Disc Golf

June - Disc Golf Dawg - Henry Hardin

June - Positive AttitudeJohn-Isaac Epley

Main - Under Par Attitude AwardGideon Koehring

Main - Golden Disc AwardGrant Loeffler

F.A.R.M.

June - Spring ChickenTripp McAdams

June - Weed Wacker 3000Nicholas Ashcroft

Main - Sucker Slayer AwardAiden Beach

Main - Beetle ButcherCaleb Bowen

Fishing (Spin)

June - Most DedicatedBen Hawkins

June - Fish of the SessionJake Schnakenberg

June - Fishing ChampionFord Wallerstein

Main - Top Fisherman AwardWill Marsiglia

Main - Fish of the SessionBanks Brown

Main - Most DedicatedWinn Chamberlain

Fitness

June - Megatron - Edward Earle

June - Bumblebee AwardBen Hawkins

Main - Lightning Positive AwardWilliam Skinner

Main - Warrior Mentality AwardParker Spence

Flag Football

June - Brady Award - Rowe Magrath

June - Prime TimeMichael McDonald

Main - Cheetah AwardSamuel Teague

Main - Manning AwardHammon Hawkins

Fly Fishing

June - Brown TroutHenry Wimberley

June - Rainbow TroutHaynes Crumpler

Main - Rainbow Guinea TroutSanders Garner

Main - Brown Guinea TroutJack Tracey

Horseback

June - The Spirit AwardSawyer Fienning

June - The Napoleon BonapartePreston Lancaster

Main - The Spirit AwardOwen Old

Main - The Razz AwardFelix Ostrom

Main - Heart of the Barn AwardGeorge Clements, Marshall Liggitt and Grayton Kennington

Mountain Biking

June - Full Steeze AheadJames Parrish

June - Gnarly GonzaleLucas LeClair

Main - Cranks Works Master -

John-Hayden Scheland

Main - Gnarly GonzaleC.R. Donohue

Main - Shocktaw AwardClay Sproule

Nature

June - The Ric Flair Award - Andy Zimmerman

June - Caudata - Miles Valentino

Main - Oak Leaf Award - Pip Garten

Main - Maple Leaf Award - Henry Albergotti

Outdoor Skills Certified

June - The Bushcraft MasterBrooks Rayburn

June - The Certified True Outdoorsman - Jake Schnakenberg

Main - The Square Knot AwardConnor Paolo

Main - Certified True Outdoorsman - Andrew Todd

Paddling

June - River Left - Brandon Voss

June - River Right - Nicholas Iauco

June - Servant-HeartedJude Moore

Main - Pushin PAlexander Ostrom

Main - The Freak B.O.B.Bobby Briggs

Performing Arts

June - Brought the House Down Award - Noah Sawyers

June - The One To Watch AwardOliver Runge

Main - The Show Stopper AwardGeorge Clary

Main - The One to Watch AwardCharlie Drake

Pickleball

June - Golden Paddle AwardWilliam Camp

June - Golden Pickle AwardHaynes Crumpler

Main - Most Valuable Pickle Award - Connor Burchette

Main - Most Improved Pickle Award - Stephen Parrott

Pottery

June - The CreatorTownes Johnson

June - Clay Eater - John Ferguson

Main - The Clay Eater AwardJack Tracy

Main - The Creator AwardDavid Hinshaw

guts&glory

W

Riflery

June - Most ImprovedNicholas Ashcroft

June - Top ShooterRichard Magruder

Main - The Huntsman AwardFelix Ostrom

Main - The Sharp Shooter AwardAlexander Ostrom

Rock Climbing

June - Gravity Slayer -

Charlie Simpson

June - Defender of the RockLincoln Schneider

Main - Active Pro - James Fuller

Main - The AscensionistDaniel Hill

Sailing

June - Captain in TrainingNolan Fore

June - The Sassy SkipperMadden Sherrill

Main - Sassy SkipperWinn Chamberlain

Main - Captain-in-TrainingSaxon Ranton

Soccer

June - Sean Dyche’s Number OneDylan Whelan

June - Hard Graft - Mitchell Pittinos

June - It’s Coming Home -

James Fitzpatrick

Main - Golden Glove AwardBerker Urenay

Main - Ballon D’or AwardHolden Kleinhelter

Main - Spirit Award - Hank Biosca

Swimming

June - The Great White AwardEdward Earle

June - Gold Frog Award - Allan Shaefer

Main - Great White AwardGrayson Vanlandingham

Main - Water Polo AwardDavid Sartorio

Tennis

June - Most DedicatedWright Schoellkopf

June - Mike Nuckles AwardAlex Looney

Main - TTF King AwardStephen Parrott

Main - Golden Racquet AwardJack Solcher

Ultimate Frisbee

June - Ultimate Mr. SunshinePeter Klitsch

June - Ultimate All-StarJames Worthen

Main - Ultimate Snake in the Grass Award - Lowe Miller

Main - Ultimate Jackalope AwardQuinn Burge

Main - Ultimate Avalanche All-Star Award - Dixon Barre

Woodworking

June - Golden Saw - Smith Atienza

June - Golden HammerHarrison Lucenti

Main - Golden Saw AwardBowen Walker

Main - Golden Hammer AwardAndrew Todd

Main - Thor’s Hammer AwardChristian DiMarco

Videography

June - FCC Oscar - Henry Saltzman

Cleanest Cabin Awards-

June Camp

SORREL

Cabin 4

Drew Foster, Channing Chitwood, Robert Matic, Charlie Crumpler, Beans Ervin, Kilton Kingsman, Hutch Israel, Julien Buchsbaum, William Mebane, Walt Merriam

TSUGA

Cabin 16

Henry Koch, Brooks Brown, James Moore, Benjamin Hoffman, Moise Milenge, Michael LoGuidice, Oliver Runge, Matthew Richter, Callum Carlson, John Kingsman

ROBINIA

Cabin 26

Ray Reyome, Taylor Odom, Pellerin Deluke, Chase Stephens, Ben Farmer, Liam Neithardt, Mitchell Pittinos, John Ferguson, Edward Rawl, Beau Neithardt

BETULA

Cabin 40

Ollie Lewis, Nicholas Ashcroft, Austin Boyd, Caleb Kluckhohn, Grant Kumar, Carson Pleiman, Wells Bahl, Nolan Fore, Garrett Lee, Xander MacPhail

SAMARA

Cabin Ocoee

Care Smyth, Kennedy Bass, Sunny Durocher, Anna Kate Yoxsimer

Main Camp

SORREL

Cabin 4

Johnny “Beans” Ervin, George Young, George Clary, Willett Stukes, Drew Foster, Oliver Patterson, Saxon Ranton, Gaines

Sturdivant, William Gray, Madden Mahalak

Cabin 5

Tommy Clemson, Webb Snyder, Hamilton Brantley, Daniel Delrieu, Benno Schulz, Hill Barganier, Winston Rybakoff, Charles Williams, Hank Biosca, Declan

Paolo

TSUGA

Cabin 15

Everett Norton, Wells Funderburk, Max Gillespie, Pip Garten, Isaac Brown, Reid Przybyla, Jack Phillips, Reid May, Liam Patterson

ROBINIA

Cabin 21

Michael Mullen, Charles Anderson, Matthew Desai, Duncan Ebel, Gunner Glick, Hammon Hawkins, Lowe Miller, Will Rechkemmer, Lach Ramm

BETULA

Cabin 36

Michael Geldenhuys, John Simmons, Efraim Torres, Beckham Prahler, Jackson Schlierf, Tripp Bowen, Jim Lanier, Grant Loeffler, Patrick Funderburk, Patton Vargas

SAMARA

Cabin Hideaway

Heather Moffatt, Maria Cruz

Amengual, Sam Kelly

2-Week Camp

SORREL

Cabin 8

Ethan Jones, Baker Tindel, Bryce Rumley, Tommy Craft, Harris Davis, Patrick Arthur, Miles Hartman, Thomas Smith, Hampton Olsen, William Walsh

TSUGA

Cabin 15

Everett Norton, Mullins von Werssowetz, Buster Chapman, Charles Perry, Cameron Sumners, Banks Harris, Finn Hoffmann, Pickett Gore, Watts Israel, James Lewis

ROBINIA

Cabin 28

Ian Frederiksen, Harry Gustafson, Hamill Crittendon, Tripp McFadden, Ben Farmer, Parker Speizman, Thomas Miranowski, Brek Johnson, Walt Yarbrough, John Gilmer

BETULA

Cabin 34

Jordan Metcalfe, Liam Rogers, Yates Schipper, George Paradis, James Drury, Mac Clark, Haynes

Robinson, Chuck Everett, Cole Buchanan, Jack Kleckley

SAMARA

Cabin Hideaway

Heather Moffatt, Maria Cruz

Amengual, Sam Kelly

Junior Camp

SORREL

Cabin 5

Juan Quijano, Dominic Filingeri, Nicolas Leidy, Clement Diot, Patrick Raynor, Pierce Pinckney, Quinn Williams, Waylon Day

TSUGA

Cabin 13

Santiago Garcia de Villa, Parker Miller, Ben Berni, Johann Graf von Westarp Arellano, Price Boardman, Thomas Jones, Joe Merritt, Jack Wooten

ROBINIA

Cabin 27

Ben Farmer, Emerson Kim-Gray, Russell Boehm, Thomas Anders, Tripp Harris, William Runkle, James Griffin, Beau Thompson

BETULA

Cabin 36

AJ Johnson, Gifford Foley, Will Tempelhof, Jackson Schlierf, Caleb Hodges, Jack Charles Miller, Ward Powell, Nathan McDow, Joshua Williams

SAMARA

Cabin Cheoah

Tamara Ayala, Anna Crabtree, Freya Scott, Elea Wienpahl, Jesse Jaymes Capazario

guts&glory

Progressions-

All Sessions

Archery RANGERS

Liam Anuska

Shepherd Crotty

Sanders Garner

Hudson Henry

Hank Hobbs

JD Prahler

Phillip Sudduth

Benny Sutherland

WARRIORS

Sanders Garner

JD Prahler

Arts and Crafts RANGERS

Simms Hardin

WARRIORS

Andrew Kosel

Backpacking WARRIORS

Carter Lentz

Basketball RANGERS

Ridgeway Britt

Winn Chamberlain

Mathew Desai

Grant Loeffler

Sanders Mitchener

Blacksmithing RANGERS

Nolan Caughran

Will Chandler

George Clements

Christian DiMarco

Gideon Koehring

Jack Sweeney

WARRIORS

Gideon Koehring

Wade Monroe

Chess RANGERS

Jordan Aguirre

Liam Anuska

Oscar Burkhalter

Alex Looney

George Stevenson

Andrew Todd

James Worthen

Jacob Zhang

WARRIORS

Alex Looney

Climbing Wall RANGERS

Mack Eubanks

Ford Mashek

WARRIORS

Mack Eubanks

Disc Golf RANGERS

Quinn Burge

Gideon Koehring

Asher Lewis

Grant Loeffler

WARRIORS

Gideon Koehring

Asher Lewis

Grant Loeffler

F.A.R.M. RANGERS

Nicholas Ashcroft

Fishing (Spin) RANGERS

Hamilton Brantley

Winn Chamberlain

Asher Lewis

Will Sanderson

Jake Schnakenberg

Jack Solcher

Will Marsiglia

Grayson Vanlandingham

WARRIORS

Asher Lewis

Will Marsiglia

Will Sanderson

Jack Solcher

Flag Football: RANGERS

Barclay Blair

Beckett Blair

Hammon Hawkins

Rowe Magrath

Michael McDonald

Harrison Oshins

Bowman Ritchey

Wright Ritchey

Fly Fishing RANGERS

Will Marsiglia

Hudson Young

WARRIORS

Will Marsiglia

Hudson Young

Horseback RANGERS

Grayton Kennington

WARRIORS

Grayton Kennington

Mountain Biking RANGERS

Blake Dabney

CR Donohue

Pattrick Funderburk

Fite Paine

Philip Savage

Riggs Savage

Clay Sproule

Berkley Willis

WARRIORS

Philip Savage

Riggs Savage

Clay Sproule

Berkley Willis

Nature RANGERS

George Stevenson

Andy Zimmerman

WARRIORS

George Stevenson

Andy Zimmerman

Paddling WARRIORS

Max Albright

Bobby Briggs

Kai Burge

Davis Minnehan

Performing Arts WARRIORS

Andrew Kosel

Pottery RANGERS

Symmes Cocke

Tripp McAdams

Lauchlin Powers

WARRIORS

Nolan Caughran

Andrew Kosel

Riflery RANGERS

James Craft

Owen Lentz

Mathew Nelson

Davis O’Keeffe

JD Prahler

Reid Przybyla

William Przybyla

George Stewart

Charles Williams

Rock Climbing RANGERS

Frank Anderson

Daniel Hill

Jack Prince

Davis Rives

WARRIORS

Jack Prince

Sailing RANGERS

Teddy Barret

Nolan Fore

WARRIORS

Teddy Barret

Thad Jones

Soccer RANGERS

Tripp Biosca

Christian Fernando

Holden Kleinhelter

WARRIORS

Tripp Biosca

Christian Fernando

Holden Kleinhelter

Lucas Miranda

Dylan Whelan

Tennis RANGERS

Wills Yelverton

WARRIORS

Jack Solcher

Ultimate Frisbee RANGERS

Quinn Burge

Woodworking RANGERS

Simon Hunt

Staff Honors

Green & Gold Award

Catie Cornett

Staff Years

5TH YEAR STAFF:

Catie Cornett

Tre Dozier

Scuba Keiser

Andrew Krusen

Hunter Louis

Doug Smathers

CJ Sumner

John Niemeyer

Sam Trenski

Will Weaver

10TH YEAR STAFF:

Trent Jones

Gina Mallay Cherry

Chris Reed

20TH YEAR STAFF:

Marisa Pharr

Activity Leaders

ARCHERY: Heather Moffatt

ARTS & CRAFTS: Evi-Jane Garnett

BASKETBALL: Rex Bowen

BLACKSMITHING:

David Echeverria, Caleb Kluckhohn

CHESS:Jamie Sheehy

CLIMBING WALL: Will Cameron

DISC GOLF: Asher Sloan, Drew Walther

FARM:Henry Koch

FISHING: Austin Boyd, Webby Webster

FITNESS:Will Cameron

FLY FISHING: Sam Evins, Henry Koch

FLAG FOOTBALL: AJ Johnson

HORSEBACK: Sam Kelly

NATURE: Ben Farmer

OUTDOOR SKILLS: Sunny Durocher

PERFORMING ARTS: Alex Watson

PICKLEBALL: Tommy Bond

POTTERY: AJ Lada

RIFLERY: Michael Geldenhuys

SAILING: Santiago Garcia

SOCCER: Moise Milenge, Jordan Metcalfe

SWIMMING: Olly Blunt

TENNIS: Connor Goforth

ULTIMATE FRISBEE: Jackson Schlierf

WATER POLO: Donal Hanna

WOODWORKING: Anna Crabtree

Adventure Activity Leaders

BACKPACKING: Jaiden Fairhead, Gordon Harwell

PADDLING: Andrew McDonald, JR Wallace,

MOUNTAIN BIKING: Alexander Carroll, Gunner Glick, James Storey

ROCK CLIMBING: Croft Hamilton, Scuba Keiser

Assistant Outdoor Adventure Director: Nathan “Stick” Stichter

Culinary Leadership

Maria Benitez (Manager) Karyme Gomez (Trip Food Manager)

Dee Keene (Head Chef) Alli Kilby (Director) Jarrel McRae (Chef)

IT Leadership

Edson Torres

Library Manager

Jackson Schlierf

Media Team Leadership

Blog: Jesse Jaymes Capazario

Photography: Carolina Meneses

Videography: Grace Thomsen

Keepers of the Flame & Journeymen

2024 Journeymen: Thad Jones - Mentor: Johnny “Beans” Ervin

Jack Solcher - Mentor: Michael Geldenhuys

Berkley Willis - Mentor: Jackson Schlierf

Andrew Kosal - Mentor: (will select in 2025)

2024 Returning Keepers: Will Cameron

William Davis

keepersoftheflameandjourneymen

THE HIGHEST RANK ATTAINABLE AT FALLING CREEK IS KEEPER OF THE FLAME.

A camper achieving Warrior in 3 activities and consistently demonstrating the FCC Code, becomes a candidate to earn Keeper of the Flame. At that point, he becomes a Journeyman and must successfully complete his journey to earn the rank of Keeper of the Flame. When a camper is designated as a Journeyman, he selects a staff member as his mentor to help him prepare. The Journey consists of building and tending a campfire, venturing out on an overnight solo experience, composing an essay about his time at Falling Creek and how he can share his light with others, sawing logs, chopping, and then carrying the split wood to be used at different Sunday night campfires, and completing an orienteering challenge.

This past summer, William Davis returned as a Keeper of the Flame. We would like to congratulate Thad Jones, Jack Solcher, and Berkley Willis who embarked on their Journeys during the last week of camp. After a challenging 24 hours, no one advanced to become a Keeper of the Flame. Andrew Kosel also became a Journeyman just before the end of camp. We are incredibly proud of these boys for making it to the level of Journeyman, something that very few campers achieve. We hope they’ll return next summer to attempt their Journeys again if they wish. Congratulations to our 2024 Journeymen!

Jack Solcher (Journeyman), William Davis (Keeper of the Flame), Andrew Kosel (Journeyman), Thad Jones (Journeyman), Berkley Willis (Journeyman), Beans Ervin (Journeyman), Will Cameron (Keeper of the Flame).

This year’s recipient is Catie Cornett.

The Green & Gold Award is given annually to the staff member who best exemplifies the Falling Creek Code – Positive Attitude, Warrior Spirit, Servant’s heart, Moral Compass – and who is known for carrying the Falling Creek spirit of unselfishness in their heart.

Catie has served as a nurse with Falling Creek for the last 5 years. The last several have been in the role of Head Nurse. She helps throughout the year to recruit, interview, orient, and train the nursing staff. She manages the inventory and oversees protocol for the care of the campers and staff. Catie is knowledgeable, calm, thoughtful, solution-oriented, and has a sharp wit!

As well-suited as she is for the role of nurse, she excels at being a fun, supportive teammate and leader. The medical staff enjoy working here not only because she manages the infirmary well, but I firmly believe it is because of the relationship Catie has with those on the team. She loves them with notes, stickers, coffee…she hosts baby showers and birthday parties…. covers night call for tired nurses, tells them to go for a walk while she holds down the clinic…..she writes letters to their children as they are campers at girls’ camps, She is fun to be around. The nursing staff describe Catie as “amazing”, “top notch”, “10 out of 10”, and “Catie ROCKS”.

Catie is a dedicated and invaluable member of the team. She doesn’t get rattled as she takes care of so many campers and staff and her presence is surely missed when she is not around.

[Catie Cornett]

anotherfundayattheoffice Camp Leadership in Action

HERE’S AN

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Walt Cottingham (staff ’75-’82)

Walt Cottingham sent us this group photo of Falling Creek friends during an annual reunion last Fall. How amazing to see the camp connections remaining strong decades later!

Walt says, “all of us met at camp with the exception of Lindsey, Mike, and Thomas. We have gotten together now for 48 years every October to play some music, socialize, and go backpacking. The last few years have been more about

hiking than backpacking, though, to be honest. It has been one of the great joys of my life to have these close friends from so long ago.”

Left to right: George Ramsey, Stuart, Hamilton, Walt, Cottingham, Lindsey Cole (in front of Walt), Steve Rogers, John Cottingham, Dave Dickerson, Mike Teel, Starr, Teel, Thomas Bunch, and Steve Stevens (in the chair)

Conor Hale (‘10-’12)

It truly is a small world. I ran into an old Falling Creek camper; Conor Hale, at the West Virginia Renaissance Festival! We haven’t seen each other since 2010 and somehow still recognized each other immediately. It actually shouldn’t be surprising that we ran into each other at a Ren Fest, since the memory that sticks out the most was when Falling Creek put together a Renaissance Festival day and Conor rallied campers to duel with cardboard and foam weapons. He destroyed them all. It was great seeing you and catching up with Conor!

–Tommy Carroll (staff ’10-’12, ’14-’18)

Kearns Davis, Greensboro, NC (’80-’83)

I live in Greensboro now with my wife Ashley. She’s from Greenville SC, so I took her to see Falling Creek one winter years ago as we were driving between Greenville and Asheville. We have three kids—Anna is in graduate school, Zack is in college, and Elizabeth will be a senior in high school.

I took our oldest two backpacking last July off the Blue Ridge Parkway. My favorite activity at Falling Creek was rock climbing, especially at Devil’s Courthouse and Looking Glass, so we went to see both. We hiked to the top of Devil’s Courthouse before shouldering our backpacks

and heading off along one of the same trails where we would camp when we climbed it.

On the morning after our backpacking ended, we drove from Devil’s Courthouse to Looking Glass. We parked and hiked in on the same trail by which we approached it as campers. We paused at the waterfall under which we used to cool off after climbing, and again to explore Steve Longnecker’s favorite campsite. We then made our way to the bottom of the rock, where a group was actively climbing it. I have happy memories of Falling Creek, and I’m glad to be reconnected.

In July 2023

Above: After climbing Devil’s Courthouse in 1981 or 1982. I’m in the middle with my white hat on backwards. Not pictured is my good friend Robert Marshall, who later was my college classmate and who apparently took it on his camera.

Conor Hale in 2010 (bottom left)

Tommy Carroll in 2010 at FCC Medieval Day battling Yates

Anna, Zack, and Kearns in the same spot

FCC Reunited at NICA Races

There was a mini camp reunion at the first race of the year for the “North Carolina Interscholastic Cycling League”! NICA is a youth mountain bike league for middle and high school students, which

several of our campers are part of. Berkley rides for the Guilford County Gears in Greensboro, James and Max ride for the Durham County Stampede in Durham, and Danielle and Jazzy ride for the Henderson County Hellbenders

in Hendersonville. Yates serves as a coach for the team with Brion Dixon (staff ‘01), who serves as the Hellbenders’ head coach.

Great to see so many familiar faces from across the state!

Nathan Newquist, Flat Rock, NC

This was a fun encounter! My kids and I were sitting in the buffet room on the cruise we took during spring break and someone walked up to me and said, “Nathan? Is that you?” I looked up and it was Miryan Mantilla who worked in the FCC kitchen 2015 - 2018. She is a dining staff member on the ship. We chatted throughout the week. She’s in her fourth year at Royal Caribbean and has already been on multiple ships and all over the world - Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe. She loves it.

Miryan says she remains connected with friends she made at camp and stays up to date. She asked about my older boys, and the Pharr girls, and I showed her photos. It is amazing that in that short time working at camp, she created a positive connection with the camp community that has persisted. She said to say hello to everyone and that she enjoyed working at camp!

Above, left to right: James Albright (‘16-’24 camper), Max Albright (‘14-’24 camper), Danielle & Jazzy Pharr (Marisa & Yates’ youngest daughters), Elizabeth Albright, Andy Albright, Berkley Willis (‘16-’24 camper), Stephen Willis, and Yates Pharr. This was taken at Elizabethtown, NC during the first race weekend for @northcarolinamtb.

Tim Elrod , Maiden, NC (Staff ’76, ’78-’84, ‘90-’92)

Tim Elrod (age 68) is beginning his 14th year of retirement from Newton-Conover City Schools. He taught Elementary Physical Education at Shuford Elementary School in Conover NC for 31 years and coached the Track & Field teams at Newton-Conover High School for 27 years.

For the past 17 years, Tim has stayed busy operating Big Kahuna Timing - a small regional timing group that provides timing services for Cross Country and Track & Field Events. They work primarily in Western North Carolina and their clients include Appalachian State University and Lenoir Rhyne University.

Tim is married to Melanie Rabb Elrod - who is also a retired educator and they reside in Maiden NC. Their son Kurt Reid is employed by the Catawba County Library System - working mainly at the Newton Branch.

Tim considers the time he spent working at Falling Creek to be one of the most important chapters of his life. He continues to be grateful for the opportunities working at Falling Creek provided a young professional and cherishes the memories of his time spent there.

Starr Teel (staff ’72-’74, ’77, ’79)

Starr was featured in the July issue of Our State magazine. (@ourstatemag)

Starr started Campfire Grill in the nearby town of Flat Rock, a restaurant that honors the rich history of summer camps in this area, with its walls covered in old camp photographs. In the article, Starr describes how “camps have even greater value now.”

You can read the full article below, written by Drew Perry.

We very much appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to show us around the camp. Much has changed, but much remains the same from when I headed up the nature program back in 1977. It certainly was a fun “stroll down memory lane for me.” It was obvious that Falling Creek remains the special place that I remember from nearly a half century ago. I have attached the two old photos of the boys in my cabin that summer.

Starr Teel as a counselor at the Falling Creek Horse Show in the mid 1970’s.

Debbie and Shep Cooper (staff ’77) Hello Yates!

Clockwise from top, left: From left to right are Nico Kannapell (staff ’19), Yates, Jon Kannapell (camper ’14, Summit Expedition ’15’17, STEEL ’18), and Emily (Jon’s fiancé). 1985 Falling Creek CIT group (now called STEEL), with Allen in the back left and Yates is the 3rd from the left. Allen’s consecration service. (Allen is wearing the red mitre - bishop’s hat).

Perry Silver (camper ’87-’94, staff ’97-’98)

Perry visited FCC with his son. He reconnected with Simon Wilson (Facilities Manager at FCC) as they served on staff together. His son found his dad’s Cabin Ishi sign (currently cabin 16). Perry is originally from Rye, NY, but he and his family now reside in Charlotte, NC.

Taylor Norman (staff ’14)

Taylor competed in the 2024 world rafting championships

WAbove: Perry’s 1990 6-Week cabin with counselors Neal clark and Jim “Goody” Goodrum - Perry is second from right in the back row. Perry’s son found his dad’s cabin sign outside Cabin Ishi (Cabin 16)

Allen Kannapell (camper ’83-’85, CIT ’86, staff ’89-’92)

On March 16th, Yates had the honor of attending FCC Alumnus Allen Kannapell’s consecration service as Suffragan Bishop for the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes in Livonia, Michigan.

Allen and Yates were campers, CITs, and counselors together at FCC. Allen was a camper and CIT from ’83-’86, and returned on staff from ’89-’92.

The Most Reverend Allen Kannapell, may the Lord, who has chosen you as His servant, fill you with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as you faithfully guide His Church with wisdom, patience, and love.

Cabin 3: Back: Tommy Clemson, Benjamin Mitchell, Bo Farmer, Bo Tyler, Zion Woodruff. Front: Fionn Conroy, Gooding Cameron, Peter Klitsch, Ben Flynn, James Parrish

Cabin 6: Back: Trace Benedict, Harrison Hayes, West Swid, Charlie Chitwood, Harry Davis. Front: Charleston Hayes, Lincoln Schneider, Alexander Goldman, Henry Derksen, Keaton Bradley

Cabin 1: Back: Will Cameron, Peter Gehan, Wicker McAdams, Major Barchus, Henry Barrett. Front: Gabe Mayer, Charlie Vollmer, Ben Hawkins, Nico Berger, Gus Davis

Cabin 2: Back: Jay Williams, William Sherman, Nicholas Lucas, Elliott Aswell, Tommy Clemson. Front: Max Swingle, George Bacon, Alex deYoung, Hunter Beebe, Jack Swetenburg

Cabin 5: Back: Juan Quijano, Alec Haynie, Hoot Fleming, Townes Johnson, Benno Schulz. Front: Max Plunkett, Will Burns, Allan Shaefer, Richard Tapp, Oliver Gehan

Cabin 8: Back: Ethan Jones, Langston Bulloch, Jack Hurley, Benson Edwards, Sam Culp. Front: Billy Spencer, Charlie Schreeder, Thomas McAulay, Smith Atienza, John Isaac Epley

Cabin 7: Back: Mauricio Cruz Flores, Perry Eastman, James Lobosco, Roman Lobosco, Jamie Sheehy. Front: Reed Campbell, Fox Weber, Salomon Aguirre, Clark Perry, Caleb Lazzara

Cabin 4: Back: Drew Foster, Channing Chitwood, Robert Matic, Charlie Crumpler, Beans Ervin. Front: Kilton Kingsman, Hutch Israel, Julien Buchsbaum, William Mebane, Walt Merriam

Cabin 9: Back: Asher Sloan, Johnny Sherrill, Willy Vollmer, James Devaney, Clement Diot. Front: Lincoln Tinghitella, Charles Wood, Graham Spencer, Nick Surowitz, Adrian Rionda

Cabin 12: Back: Grant Greeley, Guy Lindenbaum, Hank Bentley, Edward Spizer, Thomas Anders. Front: Drew Walsh, Lawson Simon, George Lane, Georgie Johnson, Cillian Green

Cabin 15: Back: Everett Norton, Preston Saylors, Carr Stowe, Henry Levinson, Isaac Brown. Front: Hank Hobbs, Mac Robertson, Jody Flournoy, Davis Teague, Simms Hardin

Cabin 10: Back: Daniel Poole, Henry Walker, Henry Flynn, Kip Scheuer, Jake Mortimore. Front: Harry Sartorio, Max Gibson, Thomas Gibson, McCoy McKernan, Luke Berry

Cabin 13: Back: Santiago Garcia de Villa, Ben Douglas, Scott Chafik, Luke Farmer, Griffin Eubanks. Front: Wyatt Murphy, Daniel Matic, John Talford, Tripp Merriam III, James Magrath

Cabin 20: Back: Rex Bowen, James Fitzpatrick, George Stevenson, Rhodes McBride, Will Karem. Front: David Schonberg, Percy Mason, Henry Saltzman, Mac Rosengren, Oscar Burkhalter

Cabin 11: Back: William Ashcroft, Ellis Bacon, Thomas Followill, Barnes Schmitt, Christian Carne. Front: John Bostic, Peter Warnock, Case Schoellkopf, Richard Lazzara, Ewing McKnight, Jackson Poole

Cabin 14: Back: Kevin Mendoza, Cameron Robinson, Gabe Netter, Charlie Williamson, John Greeley. Front: Charlie Mullaney, Liam Nanus, Charlie Davis, Liam Gilmore, Win Hobbs

Cabin 21: Back: Michael Mullen, Parker Simpson, Harrison Lucenti, Mack Schoellkopf, Gunner Glick. Front: Lee Swetenburg, Meyer Thompson, Preston Lancaster, Teddy Swingle, Daniel Layfield

Cabin 19: Back: D.Q. Lonzer, Alexander Miller, Jack Reynolds, Daniel Drummond, Sam Evins. Front: Max Montelaro, Jacob Downs, JR Fox, Winston Sherman

Cabin 16: Back: Henry Koch, Brooks Brown, James Moore, Benjamin Hoffman, Moise Milenge. Front: Michael LoGuidice, Oliver Runge, Matthew Richter, Callum Carlson, John Kingsman

Cabin 17: Back: Olly Blunt, James Davis, Nate Giffin, Jackson Israel, Gregor Innes. Front: Finn Puckett, JJ Trimble, Whitt Donnelly, Lauchlin Powers, Nalin Joseph

Cabin 22: Back: Alex Watson, Harrison Frist, James LeBourgeois, David DeMeyers, Rhodes Feild. Front: Fite Paine, Hudson Selbee, Drew Sedgwick, Whit Kelly, Jack Schweppe

Cabin 25: Back: Johann Graf von Westarp, William Sloan, Kit Gray, Carter Harrell, Whit Flickinger. Front: James Camp, Graham Zacharkiw, Demir Sergici, Henry Wimberley, Madden Sherril

Cabin 28: Back: Bryson Clouse, Finley Glushoff, Peyton Tinghitella, Stanton Stonerock, Lawton Jordan. Front: Holden Killebrew, Haynes Crumpler, Benny Sutherland, Ronan Carver Patel, Rollins Leopold

Cabin 31: Back: Drew Walther, Charlie Ray, Dylan Whelan, Jonathan Bermudez. Front: Charlie Screws, Lucas LeClair, Marshall Powers, Drayton Blount, Miles Bradley

Cabin 23: Back: Webby Webster, Parker Deaton, Ashton Wood, Keval Patel, Rob McCoy. Front: Borden Douglas, Will Hoots, Gavin Ross, Harrison Bulloch, Hugo Ross

Cabin 26: Back: Ray Reyome, Taylor Odom, Pellerin Deluke, Chase Stephens, Ben Farmer. Front: Liam Neithardt, Mitchell Pittinos, John Ferguson, Edward Rawl, Beau Neithardt

Cabin 29: Back: Zac Brewer, Jordan Aguirre, Ricky Reynolds, Andy Zimmerman, Jack Payne. Front: Ryder Lazzara, Trip Tobin, Miles Harden, Nathaniel Sherman, Trip Whatley

Cabin 32: Back: Marcus Logan, Jake Schnakenberg, Hudson McBride, Miles Valentino, William Newton. Front: Jackson Olivo, Thomas LoGuidice, Brandon Voss, Nicholas Iauco, Hank Mairs

Cabin 24: Back: Javier Lopez Garcia, Mickey deYoung, Felix Touzet, Henry Hardin, Evan Stone. Front: Sutton Atienza, AJ Demski, Bo Kelly, Sam McAulay, Levi Lazzaroni

Cabin 27: Back: Jack Holt, Newton Sams, Miles Dean, Sawyer Fienning, Aidan Geraghty. Front: Jack Puckett, Hudson Sheehan, Reid Weathersbee, Grant Plexico, Carter Plexico

Cabin 30: Back: Nate McCormick, Maclean Simmons, Liam O’Brien, Tripp McAdams, Birk Orendi. Front: Bauer Lewis, Chase Lubert, Hammond Cummings, JW Godwin, Buck Cole

Cabin 33: Back: Ian Frederiksen, Townes Clements, Parker Cronenberg, Anderson Dunning, Donal Hanna. Front: Brooks Rayburn, Nathan Levinson, Asher Donnelly, Liam Anuska, Gus Rogers

Cabin 34: Back: Edson Torres, Frank Anderson, Harry Blanchflower, James Starr, Griffin Bell. Front: Ford Wallerstein, Jack Herzog, Parker Eaves, Logan Montgomery, Charlie Coughlin

Cabin 37: Back: Jordan Metcalfe, Cullen Gullott, Ayden Glushkoff, Edward Earle, Kris Constant. Front: Blake Dabney, Akhil Patel, Wright Schoellkopf, Will Chandler, Patch Carson

Cabin 1: Back: Will Cameron, Kane Murphy, Beckett Hopkins, Palmer Teague, Kevin Mendoza. Front: Henry Corbyn, Connor Burchette, William Chapman, Teddy Sumption, Nathaniel Dovich

Cabin 35: Back: Jurnney Swinson, Alex Looney, Hank Barrett, Bear Brannon, Lee Fickling. Front: Griffin Mather, Nicolas Rionda, Hunter McKernan, James Worthen, Liam Keys

Cabin 39: Back: Connor Goforth, Will Boda, Mason Lazzara, Jack Sweeney, Gary Storm. Front: Noah Sawyers, Holden Harrell, Sam Lazzaroni, McHugh Schneider, Oakley Stichter

Cabin 2: Back: Tommy Bond, Will McEnery, Henry Albergotti, Dillon McCullough, Jay Williams. Front: Tuck McLanahan, John Golden, William Skinner, Walker Teague, Archer Reeves

Cabin 36: Back: Jackson Schlierf, Jude Moore, Charlie Simpson, Sanders Mitchener, Michael Geldenhuys. Front: Arthur Runge, William Teague, Chase Killebrew, Shep Morris, Maxwell Brown

Cabin 3: Back: Zion Woodruff, Brock Lindberg, Jack McEnery, Ike Collins, Juan Quijano. Front: Samuel Teague, Finn Arwood, Charlie Drake, Brooks Davidson, Parker Oshins

Cabin 4: Back: Johnny “Beans” Ervin, George Young, George Clary, Willett Stukes, Drew Foster. Front: Oliver Patterson, Saxon Ranton, Gaines Sturdivant, William Gray, Madden Mahalak

Cabin 40: Back: Ollie Lewis, Nicholas Ashcroft, Austin Boyd, Caleb Kluckhohn. Front: Grant Kumar, Carson Pleiman, Wells Bahl, Nolan Fore, Garrett Lee, Xander MacPhail

Cabin 38: Back: AJ Johnson, William Merson, Will Sharbino, Henry Ray, James Drury. Front: Richard Magruder, William Camp, Mack Mairs, Davis Perry, Mitchell Blanks

Cabin 7: Back: Mauricio Cruz Flores, Ward Hunter, Harrison Blais, Hayes Polak, Jamie Sheehy. Front: Reid Reddick, Vedaan Shah, Jack Crawford, Nolan Holland

Cabin 10: Back: Dan Poole, Barrett Henry, Hudson Henry, Arman Urenay, Christian Carne. Front: Raoul Chong, Jay LeVasseur, Matthew Nelson, Blake Cejudo

Cabin 13: Back: Griffin Eubanks, Jimmy Hessberg, Bowen Walker, Peter Wareing, Santiago Garcia de Villa. Front: Teddy Barret, Felix Ostrom, Will Baumann, Jasper Fifield, Mickey Gill

Cabin 5: Back: Tommy Clemson, Webb Snyder, Hamilton Brantley, Daniel Delrieu, Benno Schulz. Front: Hill Barganier, Winston Rybakoff, Charles Williams, Hank Biosca, Declan Paolo

Cabin 8: Back: Ethan Jones, Hudson Hopkins, Ford Mashek, Weyman Weiner, Sam Culp. Front: Ollie Erwin, Stuart Carey, Hudson Swyka, Arthur West

Cabin 11: Back: Thomas Followill, Michael Donovan, Carter Henderson, Mac Kintner, William Ashcroft. Front: Sam Marsiglia, Henry Graham, Charles Williams, Mills Marcoux

Cabin 14: Back: John Greeley, Griffin Kirwan, Ben Powderly, Hawkins Huffstutter, Jake Mortimore. Front: Evan Chiang, Simon Delrieu, Brooks McLanahan, Walker Carroll, Grayson Vanlandingham

Cabin 6: Back: Jaxson Wilkerson, George Young, Matthew Karellas, Piers Ramm, Harry Davis. Front: James Dunavant, Brooks Canaway, William Ripple, George Corbyn

Cabin 9: Back: Asher Sloan, George Larrabee, William White, Grant Kosel, Clement Diot. Front: Hank Tracey, Wes Berry, Davy Wallace, Davis Springmeyer, James Cardinale

Cabin 12: Back: Grant Greeley, Harrison Oshins, Andrew Todd, Sanders Garner, Bryson Clouse. Front: Guy Wengler, Reece Davidson, Owen Old, Wright Ritchey, Levi Werner

Cabin 15: Back: Everett Norton, Wells Funderburk, Max Gillespie, Pip Garten, Isaac Brown. Front: Reid Przybyla, Jack Phillips, Reid May, Liam Patterson

Cabin 16: Back: Henry Koch, David Sartorio, Luke Schwartz, Connor Paolo, Griffin Bell. Front: William Przybyla, Carter Lentz, Phillip Sudduth, Matthew Fandetti

Cabin 20: Back: Lawton Jordan, Roman Young, Taylor Stukes, Shepherd Crotty, Moise Milenge. Front: Christian DiMarco, Robby Thornburg, Connor Lai, David Hinshaw, Brooks McReaken

Cabin 17: Back: Gregor Innes, James Craft, Simon Hunt, Kenny Smith, Oliver Blunt. Front: Philip Jones, Teddy Murphy, Tommy Nix, Walker Carby, Andrew Rembert

Cabin 21: Back: Michael Mullen, Charles Anderson, Matthew Desai, Duncan Ebel, Gunner Glick. Front: Hammon Hawkins, Lowe Miller, Will Rechkemmer, Lach Ramm

Cabin 25: Back: Whit Flickinger, Ford Barnard, Spencer Blackwood, Russell Carpenter, Drew Walther. Front: Brock Surles, Quattro Glover, Henry Webster, Erskine Bowles, Mack Eubanks

Cabin 19: Back: D.Q. Lonzer, Win Williston, Cole Swyka, Charles Simmons, Sam “Oswald” Evins. Front: George Chamoun, Hawkins Atchinson, Charlie Wukasch, Jack Ryan

Cabin 22: Back: Rhodes Feild, Granger Albergotti, Aiden Beach, Duffy Cotter, Thomas Anders. Front: William Crawford, Alexander Ostrom, Hunter Hawkins, James Bennett, George Stewart

Cabin 24: Back: Javi Lopez Garcia, Christian Fernando, JD Prahler, Val Marcoux, Evan Stone. Front: Octavian Klisiewicz, Jackson Wolfe, Gabe McKinney, Jack Prince, Jack Cardinale

Cabin 23: Back: Rob McCoy, Beckett Blair, Barclay Blair, Asher Lewis, Webby Webster. Front: Cameron Cho, Reed Ryan, Jack Schwartz, Banks Brown, Julian Lewis

Cabin 26: Back: Ben Farmer, Jason Zhao, George Edwards, Tom Ziwen. Front: Owen West, Daniel Hill, Davis O’Keeffe, George Barret, Charlie Flouhouse

Cabin 27: Back: William Newton, William Ragland, Elliott Reynolds, Leuven Foutch, Johann Graf von Westarp Arellano. Front: Wallace Nevin, Langdon Dyksterhouse, Caleb Bowen, William Nikodem, Fletcher Elwell

Cabin 28: Back: Will Karem, CR Donohue, Robert May, Gibs Fishback, Mason Thomas. Front: Miles Stengle, Walker Edison, Nolan Caughran, Philip Hess, Teddy Fishback

Cabin 29: Back: Zac Brewer, Oden Springmeyer, Peyt Black, Hank Young, Jack Payne. Front: Wes Andrews, Tradd Fain, George Thomas, Thomas Lawrence, Berker Urenay

Cabin 30: Back: Nate McCormick, Dixon Barre, Wills Yelverton, Connor McElroy, Birk Orendi. Front: Stephen Parrott, William Rives, Lucas Miranda, Patrick McDevitt, Nicholas Ostrom

Cabin 33: Back: Ian Frederiksen, Phillip Savage, Marshall Liggitt, James Axon, Donal Hanna. Front: Davis Minnehan, Rich Hickson, Riley Pittenger, Ridgeway Britt, Patrick Patterson

Cabin 32: Back: AJ Johnson, James Albright, Will Sanderson, James Fuller, Jonathan Bermudez. Front: Bowman Ritchey, Liam Lenhart, Winn Chamberlain, Holden Kleinhelter, Symmes Cocke

Cabin 34: Back: Edson Torres, Tripp Biosca, Parker Spence, Andrew Kosel, James Drury. Front: Thomas Barret, Will Morrell, Alonso de Idiaquez, Jack Tracey, Richard Sarber

Cabin 35: Back: Lee Fickling, Weston Cejudo, Jack Lawton, Wade Monroe, Kris Constant. Front: Ryan Talbot, Evan Powderly, Cameron Schurter, Berkley Willis, Benjamin Finney

Cabin 31: Back: Marcus Logan, Riggs Savage, Luke Jennings, Harry Balance, Aidan Geraghty. Front: Jacob Zhang, Davis Rives, Keller Pittinos, Callahan Holsten, Matthew McReaken

Cabin 36: Back: Michael Geldenhuys, John Simmons, Efraim Torres, Beckham Prahler, Jackson Schlierf. Front: Tripp Bowen, Jim Lanier, Grant Loeffler, Patrick Funderburk, Patton Vargas

Cabin 37: Back: Harry Blanchflower, Colin Morrell, Tate Barganier, Ethan McIntyre, Austin Boyd. Front: Copeland Stukes, Clay Sproule, George Clements, William Ramirez, William Davis

Cabin 38 (FLINT): Back: Jordan Metcalfe, Max Albright, Thad Jones, Gideon Koehring, Ransom Albertson, Caleb Kluckhohn, Oliver Lewis. Front: Grayton Kennington, Hudson Young, Judd Collins, Jack Solcher, Graeme McNeish, John Hayden Scheland

Cabin 39: Back: Connor Goforth, William Swann, Kai Burge, Quinn Burge, Gary Storm. Front: Oliver Clary, Nicholas Robinson, Bobby Briggs, Jack Rollins, Will Marsiglia, Jackson Masters

Cabin 40 (STEEL): Back: Alex Watson, Oliver Losinski, Johnny Chamoun, Tristan Von Uklanski, Rex Bowen. Front: Yates Bass, Harrison Keys, Anuar Barranon, Ian Smith

Cabin 2: Back: Tommy Bond, Max Boeggeman, Taylor Janson, Johnny Capt, Jay Williams. Front: James Gerry, Watson McGovern, Oliver Sargent, Decatur McGuire, Row Hutchins

Cabin 5: Back: Benno Schulz, Rowland Evans, Owen Seigler, Max Chandlee, Tommy Clemson. Front: Morris O’Brien, William Merritt, Charlie Gibson, Charlie Swift, Mosty O’Brien

Cabin 3: Back: Zion Woodruff, Hamilton Holliday, Lucas Postal, Teddy Hagen, Juan Quijano. Front: Knox Peterson, Samuel Westover, Paul Turrentine, Patrick Mase, William O’Black

Cabin 9: Back: Asher Sloan, Thatcher Alford, August Ollek, Ford Molster, Sam Culp. Front: Chandler Murphy, Liam Nachawati, Pearce Hennessey, Henry Jackson, Hillyer Loehr

Cabin 1: Back: Kevin Mendoza, Andy Jessen, Harris Griffin, Burke Van Dyke, Will Cameron. Front: William Bell, William Chapman, Whitfield Barge, Charlie Old, Reid Hennessey

Cabin 4: Back: Drew Foster, Benjamin Davis, Miles Johnson, Bo Newman, Johnny “Beans” Ervin. Front: Charlie Morgan, McCoy Glass, Holton Garner, Vance Massengale, Field Spickard

Cabin 10: Back: Thomas Followill, Charles Goowin, Finn Louis, Dylan Goodwin, Dan Poole. Front: JD Stephenson, Walker Lewis, Everett Dickerson, William Rowe, Grady McKenzie

Cabin 8: Back: Ethan Jones, Baker Tindel, Bryce Rumley, Tommy Craft, Harry Davis. Front: Patrick Arthur, Miles Hartman, Thomas Smith, Hampton Olsen, William Walsh

Cabin 6: Back: Grant Greeley, Row Bender, Julian Snider, Charlie Jones, Clement Diot. Front: Herschell Montgomery, Bobby Bragg, Jack Popp, Sully Sweetman, Teddy Wootten

Cabin 7: Back: Jamie Sheehy, Robert Thompson, Beau Otis, Jeffrey Swope, Mauricio Cruz Flores. Front: Weston Clover, George Edwards, Luke Labanowski, Ayden Solomon, Jack Bradley

Cabin 11: Back: William Ashcroft, Blake Berlinsky, Henry Womble, Henry McLaughen, Griffin Eubanks. Front: Elijah Bock, Skip Quasha, Landon Kim, Finn Vecellio, Army Robinson

Cabin 14: Back: John Greeley, Charlie Jordan, Remington Capt, Sam Austin, Jake Mortimore. Front: Edward Rupel, Mills Maguire, Noah Earney, Hudson Griffin, William Bartels

Cabin 17: Back: Gregor Innes, Phelps Reid, John Langerman, Stanton Reid, Olly Blunt. Front: Randell Thomas, Grayson Habegger, Cliffe Laborde, Charlie Navarro, Gibbs Carson

Cabin 21: Back: Thomas Trautschold, Will Maroney, Ford Skeen, Michael Mullen. Front: Nolan Howell, Charlie Graves, Michael Fulenwider, Riggins Thompson, Bridger Gerry

Cabin 12: Back: Isaac Brown, Quinn Brackett, Wesley McKnight, John Cotton, Christian Carne. Front: Andrew Hickey, Worth Glover, Anderson Burke, Fen Stull, John Goodwyn

Cabin 15: Back: Everett Norton, Mullins von Werssowetz, Buster Chapman, Charles Perry, Cameron Sumners. Front: Banks Harris, Finn Hoffmann, Pickett Gore, Watts Israel, James Lewis

Cabin 19: Back: Sam Evins, Meyer Baumann, Callahan Hutchins, Alexander Jaeger, D.Q. Lonzer. Front: Beckett Daniel, Bruce Reid, George Bomar, Isaac Farish, Foster Jones

Cabin 13: Back: Santiago Garcia de Villa, Capson Tobias, Luke Strange, Louie Costa, Bryson Clouse. Front: William Scaljon, Hank Wiland, John Kinney, Sam Detar, Brown Thomas

Cabin 16: Back: Henry Koch, William Lewis, Henry Lilley, Bradley Holmes, Griffin Bell. Front: William Jackson, Thomas Jackson, Jack Maxwell, James Allen, Will Sharp

Cabin 20: Back: Javi Lopez Garcia, Watts Stewart, Bond Meadows, Griffin Sigmon, Moses Milenge. Front: James Hubbard, Webb Brewer, Charlie Cathcart, William Hubbard, Scott Glass

Cabin 23: Back: James Webster, Will Carlson, Walker Morehouse, Henry Milward. Front: Harrison Milward, Lawrence Burtschy, Thatcher Tupis, Caldwell McGovern, Jack Hand

Cabin 22: Back: Rhodes Feild, Townsend Wyker, Christopher Vecellio, Jack Baarcke, Thomas Anders. Front: Asher Leidy, Jasper Mackay, Mac Tindel, Hunter Barge, Charles Griffin

Cabin 24: Back: Evan Stone, Bennett Lynch, Hudson Ogren, Luke Turrentine, Mason Thomas. Front: Henry Hall, Joe Prine, Peter Christopoulos, Freeman Self, Paxton Mard

Cabin 27: Back: William Newton, Robert Swope, Charlie Phillips, Davis Petrey, Johann Graf von Westarp Arellano. Front: Noah Shattuck, Jackson Burns, Montgomery Ellis, Caelan Solomon, Jack Schottmiller

Cabin 30: Back: Harry Blanchflower, Hunter Grambling, Jesse Carmichael, Walker O’Black, Nate McCormick. Front: John Pontius, Freddy Smith, Cjay Curtis, Mitchell Sprague, Sam Montgomery

Cabin 25: Back: Drew Walther, Jack Brothers, Jack Jenkins, Waters Dennington, Whit Flickinger. Front: Dunbar Brittain, Hale Bowman, Rivers Stevens, Fisher Moore, James McWilliams

Cabin 28: Back: Ben Farmer, Harry Gustafson, Hamill Crittendon, Tripp McFadden, Ian Frederiksen. Front: Parker Speizman, Thomas Miranowski, Brek Johnson, Walt Yarbrough, John Gilmer

Cabin 34: Back: Jordan Metcalfe, Liam Rogers, Yates Schipper, George Paradis, James Drury. Front: Mac Clark, Haynes Robinson, Chuck Everett, Cole Buchanan, Jack Kleckley

Cabin 26: Back: Jack Jones, Kelly Kaloupek, Tommy Rowe, Rex Bowen. Front: Ben Wilkinson, Bryce Jensen, Lachlan Whelan, William Lampley, James Treace

Cabin 29: Back: Birk Orendi, Oakes Cross, Jack Kelly, Jack Houlihan. Front: Teddy Pulitzer, Wright Yelverton, George Newman, Ladd Zvara, Bruce Swenson

Cabin 35: Back: Lee Fickling, Christopher Rowe, Hank Pittman, Jack Austin, Kris Constant. Front: Fitz Baumann, George Craddock, Henry Bartels, Houston Barnett, Wells Cocke

Cabin 33: Back: Edson Torres, Henry Lowry, Nolan Guthrie, Tack Sickles, Donal Hanna. Front: John Seigler, Robb Rilee, Banks Johnson, Robert Janson

Cabin 31: Back: Aidan Geraghty, Sawyer Harmeling, Lawrence Labanowski, Walker Rumley, Michael Geldenhuys. Front: Knox King, Porter Pfister, Ollie Snyder, Hunter Louis, Harry Wilson

Cabin 32: Back: AJ Johnson, Clark Coburn, Ben Spearman, Cooper Harknett. Front: Fort Robinson, Les O’Brien, Rhett Heyward, Walker Mackelcan, Josh Alpert

Cabin 36: Back: Marcus Logan, Harrison Steineker, Michael Correia, James Kelley, Jackson Schlierf. Front: Louis Brown, Teddy McDade, Evan Petrey, Zac Hatzis, William Montgomery

juniorcamp

Cabin 2: Back: Asher Sloan, Thomas Ripley, Austin MacKay, Everett Norton. Front: Liam McHale, Harry Tomlinson, Charlie Vassey, Gaurav Sharma, Whit Costa

Cabin 5: Back: Juan Quijano, Dominic Filingeri, Nicolas Leidy, Clement Diot. Front: Patrick Raynor, Pierce Pinckney, Quinn Williams, Waylon Day

Cabin 37: Back: Austin Boyd, Mills Womble, Brooks Berlinsky, Bobby Detar, Jonathan Bermudez. Front: Edward Spearman, Rodes Baumann, Wade Mitchell, Liam Marwell, Coleman Woodley

Cabin 3: Back: Zion Woodruff, Hugh Finch, Colin Matthews, Moise Milenge. Front: Charles Bean, Crawford Dillard, Henry Plexico, Anderson Stukes

Cabin 1: Back: Michael Mullen, Drew Lyles, Daxton Tupis, Will Cameron. Front: Harry Kennedy, Sam Headley, Davis Stine, Mattox Dunbar, John Battle

Cabin 4: Back: Drew Foster, Lyndon Boyd, Rhett Thornberry, Johnny “Beans” Ervin. Front: Eston McClure, Andrew Wright, Jack Grenier, Jake Jones, Gus Edinger

Cabin 7: Back: Jamie Sheehy, Cole Lyons, Gordon Harwell, Henry Kingsley, Nate McCormick. Front: Locke Lancaster, Wyatt Heard, Henry Saleh, Thomas Peloquin, Shep Greene

Cabin 6: Back: Grant Greeley, Peter Benninger, Kieran Kalavar, Jay Williams. Front: Benjamin Hill, Sterling Gordon, Henry Gordon, Towns Sumner, Wells Walker

Cabin 38: Back: Bry Jessen, Henry Jessen, Gates Marwell, Caleb Kluckhohn. Front: Maxwell Ghoorah, Teddy Bender, Reid Johnston, Charlie Reynolds, Patrick Barge

Cabin 39: Back: Connor Goforth, Marsh Douthat, Porter Hujik, Helmi Berdel, Gary Storm. Front: Miller King, James Adams, Hux Tucker, Thomas Rabun, Declan Solomon

Cabin 40: Back: Alex Watson, Jack Griffin, Henry Wetzler, Jackson Ariail, Ollie Lewis. Front: Wells Wallace, Elliott Wendell, Harrison Ariail, Woods Thompson, Lock Edwards

Cabin 8: Back: Ethan Jones, English Senter, Wood Gall, Tommy Clemson. Front: Sam Thompson, Will Moody, Hayes Horton, William Westfall, Jack Tate

Cabin 11: Back: William Ashcroft, Mills Anderson, Drake deKay, Jake Mortimore. Front: Woodford Durtschi, Hudson Atkins, Marshall Walker, Kish Motwani, Joe Rogers

Cabin 14: Back: Webby Webster, Brooks Mitchell, Stokes Iauco, Gunn Murphy, Olly Blunt. Front: Dean Graunke, Cole Hamrick, Ben Murray, Wade Upham

Cabin 9: Back: Griffin Eubanks, Smith Bailey, Max Moister, Bowden Bailey, Sam Culp. Front: Albert Spizer, Archie Sweet, Finn Koudelka, Baker Moore

Cabin 12: Back: Isaac Brown, Mason Thomas. Front: John McMillan, Harris Lemoine, Emerson Lackey, Willie Lacket, Banks Burgess

Cabin 19: Back: Drew Walther, Robert Randall, Leon Milam, Mauricio Cruz Flores. Front: Hurley Edwards, Ty Zimardo, Ted Satler, Henry Randolph, Quint Boone

Cabin 10: Back: Kevin Mendoza, Rory Swenson, Bennet Masters, Dan Poole. Front: Anderson Adams, Gus Comer, Quincy Cooper, Patrick Corso, Miles Nalley

Cabin 13: Back: Santiago Garcia de Villa, Parker Miller, Ben Berni, Johann Graf von Westarp Arellano. Front: Price Boardman, Thomas Jones, Joe Merritt, Jack Wooten

Cabin 20: Back: Evan Stone, Cobb Johnson, Colin McCauley, Bryson Clouse. Front: Harrison Winston, Wilson Flohr, Turner Trice, Lucas Kwon, Max Wazni

Cabin 17: Back: Gregor Innes, Will Ritchie, George West, Jonathan Bermudez. Front: Van Thompson, Steven Afonso, Charlie Harris, Wick Gordon, Henry Sanders

Cabin 15: Back: Cameron Sumners, Theo Foley, Augie Murphy, Christian Carne. Front: Rollin Murray, Mason Purser, Evan Baugh, Hudson Snead, Preston Brown

Cabin 16: Back: Henry Koch, Luca O’Kuinghttons, Luka Haberle, D.Q. Lonzer. Front: Worth Freeman, Max Strenkowski, Campbell Weiner, Eric Walsh, Hal Bass

Cabin 21: Back: Rhodes Feild, Win Spiller, Henry Powell, JR Wallace. Front: Harris Russ, Webb Skeen, Will Pope, James Hill, Max Vandura

Cabin 29: Back: Lee Fickling, Jay Williams, Rivers Powell, William Newton. Front: Dawson Engel, Rhett Walton, Henning Gess, Archie McClure, Jory Wilson

Cabin 32: Back: Birk Orendi, Henry Battle, John Benton, Benno Schulz. Front: Porter Moister, Teddy Kapnick, Wes Matthews, William Vogler, Carter Ward

Cabin 35: Back: Ollie Lewis, Tyson Vandersteeg, Pete Davidson, Caleb Kluckhohn. Front: Lee Gremillion, Roman Gall, Henry Vandersteeg, Michael Brandenburg

Cabin 26: Back: Whit Flickinger, Adrian Vermillion, Whit Mcgee, Rex Bowen. Front: Haddon Barnhill, Teddy Edinger, Charlie Wakefield, Ethan Holy, Connor Heaton

Cabin 30: Back: Harry Blanchflower, Ainsleigh Horn, Tuck Sanders, Aidan Geraghty. Front: Wesley Street, Henry Snipes, Samuel Deitz, Will Masters, George Desloge

Cabin 33: Back: Connor Goforth, Henry Bast, Winston Bishop, James Drury. Front: Garrison Douville, Jack Westfall, Win Butler, Stuart Kornstein, Sawyer Duncan

Cabin 31: Back: Donal Hanna, Jack Weber, Heyward Boykin, Michael Geldenhuys. Front: Hudson Mozingo, Thomas Neighbours, Liam Johnson, Theodore Phillips, Sal Filingeri

Cabin 34: Back: Ian Frederiksen, Gibson Johnson, Ransome Lambert, Gary Storm. Front: John Walsh, Teddy Drucker, Max Murphy, Brody Galbreath, Ward Headley

Cabin 36: Back: AJ Johnson, Gifford Foley, Will Tempelhof, Jackson Schlierf. Front: Caleb Hodges, Jack Charles Miller, Ward Powell, Nathan McDow, Joshua Williams

Cabin 27: Back: Ben Farmer, Emerson Kim-Gray, Russell Boehm, Thomas Anders. Front: Tripp Harris, William Runkle, James Griffin, Beau Thompson

iron man & honor council

Iron Man Participants: Back - Kai Burge, George Clements, Gideon Koehring, Parker Spence, Riggs Savage, Phillip Savage, Tripp Biosca, William Rives, Ransom Albertson. Middle - Davis Rives, Grayson Vanlandingham, Hawkins Atchison, William Ramirez, Jack Solcher, Berkley Willis (1st Place), Granger Albergotti, William Nikodem, Christian DiMarco, Charlie Flouhouse, William Crawford. Front - Jimmy Hessberg, Teddy Barret, Will Baumann, Madden Mahalak, Finn Arwood, Davy Wallace, Davis Springmeyer, Harrison Blais, Philip Jones, Henry Graham, Mac Kintner

Honor Council: Back - Michael Mullen, Will Cameron, Whit Flickinger, Sam Evins, Eleanor Donohue, Andy Killebrew, Adonis Merritt, Rhodes Feild, Zach Scheidly, John Hayden Scheland, Gideon Koehring, Max Albright, Ransom Albertson, James Albright, Parker Spence. Front - George Clements, Henry Smith, Grant Greeley, Patton Vargas, Thad Jones, George Barret, Evan Powderly, Madden Mahalak, Alex Ostrom, Jack Tracey, Judd Collins, Henry Koch, John Greeley. Not Pictured: Rodgers McCullough, Jack Stamoulis, Jez Jezz

directorsandstaff

Facilities Management Team: Back- Thomas Cason, Casey Pullen, Doug Smathers (Director), Simon Wilson. Front- Nathan Hall, Luke Dodson, Leo Hernandez Duran, Alma Sanchez Lima, Marco Cruz Diaz Not Pictured: David Echeverria

Assistant Line Heads: Jackson Schlierf (Betula), Johnny “Beans” Ervin (Sorrel), Tamara Ayala (Samara), Whit Flickinger (Robinia), Olly Blunt (Tsuga)

Line Heads: Adonis Merritt (Betula), Zach Scheidly (Robinia), Eleanor Donohue (Samara), Jack Goodridge (Robinia), Riley McIntosh (Sorrel)

Culinary Team Members: Back- Citlali Espinoza, Karyme Gomez, Yera Ochoa, Liliana Perez, Sofia Hernandez, Valeria Rodriguez, Jarrel McRae. Middle- Dee Keane, Andre Osorio, Erik Munoz, Daniele Hernandez, Josue Fortis, Alli Kilby. (Director), Isaac Hernandez, CJ Sumner.Front- Danna Solano, Maria Benitez, Mardem Conteras, Esmeralda “Esme” Hernandez

Culinary Leadership: Maria Benitez (Manager), Dee Keene (Head Chef), Alli Kilby (Director), Jarrel McRae (Chef) Not Pictured: Karyme Gomez (Trip Food Manager.)

Leadership Team: Back- Frank Tindall (Associate Director), Will Wilson (Outdoor Adventure Director), Doug Smathers (Facilities Director), Andy Killebrew (Asst. Program & Staff Director), John “JGB” Burton (Senior Advisor “Greybeard”), Nathan Newquist (Operations Director). Middle- Matt Sloan (Chaplain & Off-Season Events Director), Jasmine Westbrook (Administrative Asst. & Store Manager), Alli Kilby Director of Food Services), Catie Cornett (Head Nurse), Zach Rivera (Asst. Program & Staff Director), Paige Hafner Communications Director). Front- Yates Pharr (Director), Marisa Pharr (Director), Jeff Killebrew (Staff Recruitment & Development Director), Mike Nuckles (Program Director)

Line Staff

Back

Storey, JR Wallace,Jez Jezz, Andrew

Etta Pierce, Kennedy Bass, Care Smyth, Sunny

Anna

Row 2- Heather Moffatt, Sam Kelly, Evi-Jane Garnett, Grace Thomsen, Andy Perez, Alexander Carroll, Elea Wienpahl, Kara Edwards. Front- Freya Scott, Lilly Janisch, Maria Cruz, Mia Evans, Anna Crabtree, Jesse Jaymes Capazario, AJ Lada, Madi Voyles. Not

Jeremy

Samara

Members:

- Victoria Holland, Gemma Allemann, Croft Hamilton. James

McDonald,Jaiden Fairhead. Row 3- Eleanor Donohue,

Durocher,

Kate Yoxsimer, Scuba Keiser.

Pictured: Carolina Meneses, Gordon Harwell,

Gillespie, Olivia Clark, Tamara Ayala

Media Team: Back - Benno Schulz, Carolina Meneses, Tamara Ayala, William Ashcroft. Front - Grace Thomsen (Videographer), Christian Carne, Jesse Jaymes Capazario (Blog Writer)

DASH: Back - Finn Cocke, Jackson Skelly, Jonathan Dunham, Lex McDonald, Rodgers McCullough, Carter Leidy, Jack Stamoulis. Front- Preece Smith, Henry Bryan, Henry Smith, Gabe Cullens, Harry Spring, Sam Neff. Not Pictured: Sawyer Dickins

Outdoor Adventure Directors: Will Wilson (Incoming Outdoor Adventure Director), Nathan “Stick” Stichter (Assistant Outdoor Adventure Director), Ben Williams (Retiring Outdoor Adventure Director)

Program Coordinators: Johnny “Beans” Ervin, Sunny Durocher, Whit Flickinger

Mary Halsey Maddox

Brewer Eberly

Lauren Robinson

Cindy and David Brown

Elizabeth Bucher

Hunter Louis

Michael Tempelhof

Jay Blankenship

Joe Jackson

Shana Carey

Katie Boeggeman

Steve Feingold

Scott Dunbar

Catie Cornett (Head Nurse)

Gina Mallay Cherry

Heather Earney

Shawn Earney Cassie Gardner

Lori Green

Erin Hiller Vassy

Sarah Howell

Mary Lobianco

Lillian Magruder

Laura Mester Brelan Montgomery

Andrew Mylko

Chris Reed

Andrea Schneider

Chuck Neimeyer

Bre Snider Brooke Stromdahl

Jennifer Scheiderer

Stacy Van Landingham

Natalie Clements

THE DATE

Traditional Sessions

Father/Son Weekends

2024 Fall Camp Movies and Reunion Tour

Calling all new and returning Falling Creek families, campers, counselors, and alumni in your area - it’s time to come together! Join Falling Creek Camp director Yates for for our annual Falling Creek movie and reunion tour - and invite your interested friends.

Yates will share the new camp movie, and each boy will receive a 2025 limited edition trunk sticker.

Come see old friends, meet new ones, and learn while we believe Falling Creek is such an amazing place for boys.

Monday, October 14

October 15

October 16

October 17

November 12

November 13

Thursday, November 14

Monday, November 18

Tuesday, November 19

Wednesday, November 20

Thursday, November 21

Family

a call toquarters

A Joyful Life

TAPS

Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky; All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

All FCC Campfire programs end with the community standing and singing the first verse of Taps together.

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In 2020, when Covid hit our world, it abruptly put a stop to everyone’s summer plans. And yet, that summer was the beginning of Falling Creek Family Camp. I couldn’t believe our luck- that this camp that the males in my family love so much would be open to our entire family! Experiencing camp together ended up being our favorite weekend of the year.

One of the four parts of the Falling Creek Code is “Positive Attitude”. The code reads that having a positive attitude means you would be fun to be around, live with enthusiasm, focus on the positive, and be grateful for God’s blessings. Having a positive attitude does not change our circumstances, but it does help create a joyful life for us and those around us.

In my family, we have a saying when we are about to do something that feels particularly challenging. We say, “Do it with a happy heart.” Saying this doesn’t mean you’re never sad, and it doesn’t mean you instantly love everything you have to do. It does mean you can choose the attitude you have when doing things that feel particularly difficult, unexpected, or even uncomfortable. When faced with such things, we can choose to be disappointed, bored or even annoyed. But we can just as easily choose to find what’s fun, what gives us energy and what makes us smile. Having a positive attitude and happy heart shows others that we believe God is with us and has given us so many blessings. It lets others know that we care more about their needs than our own. And it simply makes us more fun to be around!

I challenge you and your family to join me this year in trying to have a happy heart.

Kids- Do you get frustrated when your parents ask you to do something? Instead of complaining, what if

you simply did it with a happy heart? You just might discover it wasn’t so bad after all.

Parents- When your kids are slower, more tired or demanding, what might change if you have a happy heart? You may see life from their perspective with more compassion and tenderness.

Having a happy heart and positive attitude at camp means making the most of rainy days, celebrating others when they win competitions, happily participating in cabin chores, and being the first to sing silly songs on the porch. Having a happy heart and positive attitude in life means we help each other more readily, work without complaining, and look for the fun to be had around every corner.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

When we think on what is good, we are inherently thankful for what God has given us. We focus on our blessings and not on what we lack. We spend time looking for ways to make others smile, and not on life’s disappointments. Jesus said that he came to give us abundant life! That abundant life does not guarantee we will never hurt or be sad. But it does mean that our lives together are much easier to experience with a positive attitude and a happy heart.

by Rev. Courtney Willis - Mother of Berkley Willis (camper ’16-’25)

The Willis and White families stopping momentarily to enjoy the view at “Top of the World” as they were finishing the 3 hour “Yates’ Off-Trail Bushwhack Challenge” at Family Camp.