Another wonderful day here at Camp Pinnacle!
The day began at the usual 7:30, with campers waking up to tidy their cabins, splitting the chores among themselves: making beds, sweeping floors, and emptying the trash. By 8:15, everyone had gathered for a family-style breakfast, digging into sausages, home fries, and ham and cheese croissants. Before anyone picked up a fork, Associate Director Amanda shared today’s inspirational quote, this one from American author Zig Ziglar: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” We hope it’s a line our campers carry with them, both as a nudge to try that activity that feels a little intimidating at first, and as a reminder for whatever challenges come their way after they leave camp.
Lakeside followed right after breakfast, with campers heading down to meet four of our support staff for songs, hype, and roll call. “Rick the Stick” and “Fig the Twig” crowned their winners once again, with Eagle Rock, some of our youngest campers this session, stealing the show with a well-rehearsed remix of “We Will Rock You” reborn as “Eagle Rock You!” Charlie delivered another Nature Nugget, this time on kangaroos, a lesson that, coincidentally, sent one counselor hopping straight into the lake.
A few of our older cabins returned from their backpacking trips, full of stories for campers and counselors alike, comparing notes on everything they’d learned and raving about just how good backpacking pesto tastes after a day on the trail. Meanwhile, more cabins set out on day hikes, making the most of the sunshine while it lasted. Back at the dining hall, lunch brought chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and juicy watermelon slices, the perfect way to cool down after the energy of Hypetivity and the first two periods. Downtime followed, giving everyone a chance to recharge before the afternoon heat really set in.
Third, fourth, and fifth periods rolled by smoothly, campers settled into their favorite activities, and a lucky few walked away with hats. At Camp Pinnacle, hats recognize campers who’ve shown real growth in the 5 R’s: Respect, Resilience, Reaching Out, Reasonable Risk, and Responsibility, some of the most valuable lessons we hope our campers take with them long after camp ends. Counselors have been watching closely all session, and today’s honorees stood out for their attitudes toward their peers and their positivity in every activity.
Fruit break hit at 5:35, a quick refresh before campers chose their favorite activity for Gym and Swim, spending the hour chasing patches they hope to earn before session’s end. Patches are a camp classic, handed out at lunch to campers who’ve completed special challenges, like leveling up their skills in archery. After Gym and Swim, everyone headed back to the dining hall for dinner, where tonight’s standout was a hearty meatloaf served with mashed potatoes, greens, and mini dinner rolls. Dessert sealed the deal: chocolate Oreo pudding, devoured by all, as expected.
Tonight’s evening program brought the Staff vs. Wolfe Pack basketball game, with both teams spending the day gearing up to take the win. Campers dressed for the occasion, waved handmade signs for their team, and snacked on popcorn as the game tipped off. The score stayed tight through the first half before Wolfe Pack pulled away, claiming a decisive victory and showing the staff just how much skill they’d been hiding.
After celebrating with the winners, campers wound down and headed back to their cabins to tuck in for the night.
