Happy Sunday from Camp Pinnacle!
After an exciting Fourth of July celebration yesterday, today was exactly what everyone needed—a chance to slow down just a little before jumping into the final week of Session Two. Sundays at camp have a different rhythm than our regular weekdays. With a later wake-up time of 8:30 a.m., campers and counselors alike enjoyed a little extra rest after a fun-filled holiday. It was wonderful to see everyone recharged and ready for another memorable day together.
We kicked off the morning with breakfast at 9:15 a.m., featuring sausage, eggs, cheesy hash browns, fresh fruit, and cereal. As always, a huge thank you goes to our incredible kitchen team, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep everyone well-fed and energized for each day’s adventures. Breakfast and dinner at Camp Pinnacle are served family-style, and these shared meals are about so much more than the food. Around the table, campers practice serving one another, using good manners, helping clean up, and enjoying conversations with their cabin mates. These simple moments build responsibility, respect, and friendships that often become some of the strongest connections made during the summer.
Since we didn’t have Lakeside this morning, campers returned to their cabins after breakfast for cabin clean-up before beginning the last full week of Session Two. While making beds, organizing belongings, and sweeping floors may not sound like the most exciting part of camp, these daily routines help campers develop independence, responsibility, and pride in taking care of their own space. It’s one of the many life skills we hope they’ll carry home with them long after camp ends.
Our Sunday morning activities offered a slower pace, giving campers the opportunity to choose something that helped them recharge in their own way. Whether your camper wanted to relax or stay active, there was something for everyone. Some campers curled up in Crazy Creeks in the gym while watching cartoons with friends, enjoying a cozy and carefree start to the day. Others headed to Lakeside for a peaceful yoga session, spent time exploring the trails on mountain bikes, joined our nature staff for walks through the forest, paddled around the lake in tiny boats, made friendship bracelets, or simply enjoyed some quiet time reading a good book. These relaxed Sunday mornings are a favorite because they allow campers to unwind while still spending meaningful time with friends and trying something they enjoy.
Lunch was served buffet-style with sloppy joes, fries, fresh salad, and juicy watermelon. Unlike our family-style breakfasts and dinners, lunch gives campers and counselors the opportunity to sit wherever they’d like. It’s a wonderful chance to reconnect with friends they’ve made across camp, meet someone new, or invite another camper to join their table. These moments perfectly reflect one of Camp Pinnacle’s Five R’s: Reaching Out. Sometimes the smallest act—saving someone a seat, introducing yourself, or inviting someone to lunch—can make a camper feel welcomed and included. It’s inspiring to watch these everyday acts of kindness happen naturally throughout camp.
After lunch, there was a special treat for cabins who had showcased top tier cabin cleaning skills for week 1, and received 5 check pluses on their cabin inspections every morning – ice cream sandwiches! The perfect way to cool off in the sun and enjoy a sweet treat with friends, our head counselors felt honoured to share their admiration for each cohort’s dedication to keeping on top of their chores – well done everyone!
This afternoon, our Wolfepack Year 1s and 2s had the opportunity to go tubing down the French Broad River, a lovely way to soak in the sun away from the busy camp environment, and reflect on the first week they experienced so far.
Back at camp for our other cabins, the day brought another round of Camper Choice Day (C-Day) activities, giving campers the freedom to explore interests that may not fit into their regular schedules. One of the things that makes C-Day so special is that campers get to shape their own afternoon, choosing activities they’re excited about or trying something completely new.
Today’s options included learning the basics of becoming a Junior Lifeguard, Bedazzling 101 (where even sunscreen bottles received a little extra sparkle!), the always hilarious Moo-Off competition, Walker 101 for improving disc golf skills, searching for leprechauns with our nature staff, and many more unique camp favorites. Everywhere you looked, campers were smiling, laughing, creating, and making memories with both old and new friends. Watching campers confidently step outside their comfort zones and discover new interests is one of the best parts of camp.
Dinner brought everyone back together for another family-style meal featuring fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn. After another busy day, it was the perfect opportunity for cabins to slow down, share stories from the afternoon, and enjoy time together before the evening program.
The highlight of the evening was one of Camp Pinnacle’s most beloved traditions—Airband! This is always a camper favorite and one of the most entertaining nights of the session. Each cabin group works together to create a dance routine, performance, or creative skit set to a popular song. Airband is about so much more than dancing—it’s about teamwork, creativity, confidence, and cheering each other on. The energy inside the gym was incredible as every cabin took the stage with enthusiasm, humor, and plenty of personality. From silly choreography to impressive performances, every group gave it their all and had the crowd laughing and cheering throughout the night.
While every performance deserved applause, there could only be one overall winner. Congratulations to Graveyard Fields, who wowed the audience with an unforgettable performance of Thriller! Their creativity, teamwork, and enthusiasm earned them the top spot, but the smiles, laughter, and encouragement shared by the entire camp reminded us that everyone was part of something special tonight.
As we head into the final week of Session Two, the excitement around camp continues to grow. New friendships are stronger than ever, campers are becoming more confident each day, and there’s still so much adventure ahead. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings, and we’re grateful that you allow us to be part of your camper’s summer memories.
Have a wonderful evening, and we’ll see you tomorrow with another update from Camp Pinnacle!
