There’s something truly special about opening day at Camp Pinnacle, and yesterday was filled with excitement, smiles, and the start of so many new adventures for Session 1 of 2026. More than 250 campers arrived through our gates, bringing our camp community to life for the two weeks ahead. After heartfelt goodbyes to families and friends, campers crossed the bridge to enthusiastic announcements, cheers from counselors, and warm welcomes from their new cabin mates. It was wonderful to watch campers quickly settle in, reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and jump right into the fun!
Our staff has been eagerly counting down the days until campers arrived, and are so grateful to begin this journey together. After getting settled, cabin groups gathered in the dining hall to enjoy lunch together, sharing chicken tenders, fries, carrot sticks, salad and watermelon slices – while continuing to get to know one another. A huge thank you goes to our incredible kitchen team, whose hard work keeps campers energized and ready for each day’s adventures.
Next, everyone came together for neighbourhood meetings, where head counselors talked to each cohort about Camp Pinnacle’s philosophy and our three most important words: safety, safety, safety! Campers learned about our core values—the 5Rs: Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Reaching Out, and Reasonable Risk—which help guide every aspect of the camp experience. These values encourage campers to grow in confidence, build meaningful relationships, and discover new strengths they can carry with them long after camp ends.They also learned about their points of contacts for additional support as a cohort and the specific call and response chants to alert each age group throughout camp!
Heading over to the Shadium, campers rotated through a variety of activities designed to help them feel comfortable, connected, and ready for the weeks ahead. They participated in team-building games, completed swim tests, learned how to safely use climbing equipment during SkyPark Olympics, decorated name tags, and became familiar with their cabins and camp routines.
Meanwhile, our first-year Wolfe Pack campers headed to Dupont State Forest for a hike focused on personal goal-setting and reflection as they begin their leadership journey at Pinnacle. Returning Wolfe Pack members stepped into leadership roles right away by welcoming campers, helping with luggage, participating in team initiatives, and gathering around a Goals Campfire to share their hopes for the session. We can’t wait to see tremendous growth in these young leaders and are excited to watch them continue to shine.
After an energetic dinner of creamy broccoli pasta and freshly baked garlic knots campers enjoyed their first evening program: Pinnacle In Wonderland! Even a cloudy sky couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm as cabin groups traveled around camp completing challenges, cheering one another on, and earning points for their teams.
The day concluded with each cabin’s first Evening Circle, one of our most cherished camp traditions. During this special time, campers reflected on their day, shared moments of gratitude, celebrated successes, and looked ahead to tomorrow. These circles help create a sense of belonging, encourage meaningful conversations, and foster the supportive cabin communities that make camp such a memorable experience.
As campers settled into their cabins last night, many were already feeling more at home. We are so excited for all that lies ahead and are grateful for the opportunity to share these experiences with your children. Thank you for trusting us with them—we can’t wait to see the friendships, growth, confidence, and joy that this session will bring.
