The Roost

Not sure where this went as it was up there for day, but we don’t want you to miss the chance to meet…

School/Major/Vocational Goal: Troy University, US History Education, Teach/Run a museum

Years at Skyline: 5th year at Skyline

Hobbies include: camping, hiking, playing with my dog, being ridiculous, shenanigans, and CAMP

Funniest Memory of Camp: Last summer, we had a camper in Summerplace who, every night, put on these crazy socks with her sandals and went into a state of sillyness never seen before. She would stop talking and slink around the cabin wispering “socks and sandals” to everyone. It was so hilarious.
At first, all us counselors didn’t really know what to do/say. I mean, it was kind of an odd thing. After a couple of nights we just decided to embrace it and made “Socks and Sandals” an official nighttime thing in Summerplace. #campissofun

How has Skyline shaped who you are today? I can honestly say that I would not be the person that I am today without Skyline (cliche, I know). Except seriously… Camp has given me so much to be proud of, the best friends I could ever have hoped for, and helped me to become a confident, patient, and humbled woman. Camp gives me an opportunity to see God in places I never would’ve looked for Him on my own.

What do you hope to see campers walk away with after their time spent here this summer? see campers walk away believing in themselves to hold the power to change the world for the better… That’s what makes each summer beautiful.

Brennen Riddle: Head of Hut Row

School, Major, and Vocational Goal: Ole Miss/Rec. Administration

Years at Skyline: This will be my 15th summer!

Hobbies: I love all sports, biking, painting, and just being outside! I also love to read!

Tell us about your favorite and/or funniest camp memory: I Hmm.. I’d have to say last summer when a group of young girls waited outside of Hot Box to peg Melon and I with a bunch of water balloons! Gotta love our Hut Row girls- they know how to have a good time!

How has Skyline shaped who you are today? Skyline has definitely taught me that it’s super okay to just be myself! It does a great job of teaching girls that who you are is so important to God because that’s how He made us! Camp has also taught me more about leadership than a class or teacher ever has!

How has Skyline impacted your spiritual walk with God? Wow! What a great question! Well, every summer I’m at camp I grow closer to God, but I think what really sticks out to me is how camp teaches us that our walk with Him should never plateau. It’s always growing and getting stronger. It’s wonderful to see girls (including me) learn about God as a camper and then see them grow even deeper in their faith as a counselor. Camp shows us that being a Christian is about development and continuing a striving relationship with the Lord.

What do you hope to see campers walk away with after their time spent here this summer? I would love to see campers walk away with the confidence to just be who they are and learn that they are so, SO special to God and the Skyline family! I’m getting so excited just typing this out because i can’t wait to see all the girls!

Here’s a true Throwback Thursday taken from when we had a boys’ camp at Camp Skyline! Are any of you Skyline BOY out there in webland?

Katie Lee Flowers (aka K Flo)-Head of Riverside

School/Major/Vocation goal: I am about to graduate with my B.A. in History from the University of Florida and I hope to work in camp recreation or education.
Years at Skyline: This will be my 9th summer at Skyline.

Hobbies: I recently adopted a dog, named Rue. She’s the most precious lab-whippet mix in the world and is going to be spending the summer with her best doggie friend, Cooper, in Orlando. I also love gardening, traveling, and photography!

Favorite and/or funniest camp memory: I have so many crazy/ fun memories from camp but I think my very favorite was last summer when one of the campers in riflery painted a bullet box for me and gave it to me at banquet. It was so thoughtful and touching.

How had Skyline shaped who you are today? How has Skyline impacted your spiritual walk with God? Everyone who knows me knows I love Camp Skyline! It has made the most positive impact on my life and given me role models of all ages to look up to. Each summer I have learned more about myself and grown in my walk with Christ.

What do you hope to see campers walk away with after their time spent here this summer? I hope to see each camper realize just how amazing she truly is!

Here at Camp Skyline Ranch, we love every session that comes through the summer. 1st through 4th, they’re all pretty awesome!! During the 4th session, however, we get to see the only time that the cabins can actually film, star in, and win awards for their cabins very own music videos. The Skyline VMA’s are an awesome way to see all of our Skyline Superstars. On the night that we roll out the red carpet and watch all of our amazing cabin videos, we also get to watch “commercials” that have been filmed throughout the session. I would like to share the horseback riding commercial with you today because it makes me smile every time I watch it!! We love horses here at Skyline, and we especially love our staff that keep it all running smoothly out at the barn!! Here’s to you barn staff….about time to kick off another successful summer full of horses, and much more!!

Mary Gray (use both first and last name like…MaryGray): Head of Riverside

School, Major, and Vocational Goal: I’m graduating from Sewanee in just a few weeks. I can’t believe it! I majored in Religion/Philosophy with a minor in art history (super practical, right? Ha!) Not sure what I’ll do long-term, but I’m au-pairing in Italy next year while I figure it out!

Years at Skyline: 6 camper, 5 counselor!

Hobbies: Singing in the car, watching/quoting movies obsessively, traveling, hanging out with friends/family, learning Italian, drinking Diet Coke, getting crafty, plotting schemes to become Blue Ivy Carter’s babysitter, hiking/adventuring around Sewanee, lots of different campus activities!

Tell us about your favorite and/or funniest camp memory: TOO many, but I think what takes the cake from 2011 was when my car (the poor old “PT Loser”), broke down during a night off. At the time my cell phone was MIA, so I pulled over to a Fort Payne gas station and called the local Wal-Mart to page “any Skyline counselors in the building.” I literally sat on a milk crate outside the gas station waiting for a ray of hope as a very nice cashier tried to rehabilitate my tire and gave me free snacks and Diet Coke. Shout-out to Julia Moore, Merritt Jones, and Sarah Peacock who ended up coming to get me. We laughed so hard all the way back up the mountain, and we had a great story for everybody the next day! AND shout-out to Larry and Sally for being amazing all summer and helping me get it fixed!! Thank goodness for camp people, right??

How had Skyline shaped who you are today and how has Skyline impacted your spiritual walk with God?
I saw this bad ‘80s movie recently that was about a camp. It was super cheesey, but one line in it really stuck with me: “Nobody changes at summer camp. Instead they find out who they are and become it more.” That’s Skyline in a nutshell—it takes what’s already great in you and brings it out even more! It’s made me more independent, optimistic, adventurous, and appreciative of community—I’ve met some of my favorite people there. Camp also teaches you that there’s ALWAYS something to laugh about! I’ve seen in the staff a real-life model of 1 Corinthians 12: “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” Camp is so inspiring because you get to see that in action!

Mary Ellen (Melon) McElroy: Head of Hut Row

School, Major, and Vocational Goal: The University of Alabama, Nursing, Labor Delivery/ Pediatric Nurse!

Years at Skyline: 13

Hobbies: Cooking, Running, Playing Tennis, Eating ice cream, Shopping, Playing with puppies & babies!

Tell us about your favorite and/or funniest camp memory: I really can’t pick just one! Eating entire packets of crystal light lemonade, beating the admin table at food art for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, giving/getting swirlies…there really are too many!

How has Skyline shaped who you are today? The life experiences and lessons that I have had here have truly impacted the way I carry myself and the way that I form relationships with others. The leadership & teamwork skills that I have acquired over the 13 years that I’ve attended Skyline have given me the ability to face any situation with confidence.

What do you hope to see campers walk away with after their time spent here this summer? I hope that campers walk away with confidence, leadership skills, new friendships, and a deeper understanding of God’s love for them.

Wondering in where in Mentone you and your camper can enjoy a meal before or after you bring them to Skyline? Check out this counselor-written guide to fine dining in (or really close to) the Mentone area! Thank you to all our counselors who contributed!

Wildflower Cafe
Price Range: $7 and up (lunch). They’re also open for dinner on select nights, with a totally different menu, about $20 and up.
Description: Mentone charm, home-cooked food, local craft store, and reunite with everyone you just said goodbye to on closing day—what more do you need? Expect a solid thirty-minute to an hour wait if you go with a large group. The wait is so worth it though, and the sweet potato biscuits are to die for.
Recommended dishes: Sweet potato biscuits, salsa grilled cheese, TOMATO PIE, paninis
Other comments: **THE MEDITERRANEAN STEAK PANINI (or you can get it with chicken) is awesome at lunch. The SMOTHERED CHICKEN is AMAZING at dinner.

Moonlight Bistro
Price Range: $9 and up, lunch and dinner
Description: They have the same Mentone charm, and home-cooked thing going for them as across the street at Wildflower Café.
Recommended dishes: Portabello burger (that’s one of the only vegetarian friendly items on the menu, the rest of their food is supposed to be really good too).

Sunshine Cafe
Price Range: $7 and up, lunch only
Description: The Sunshine Cafe is owned and operated by the same people who run The Moonlight Bistro. The Sunshine Cafe is actually down the mountain towards I-59 (in Hammondville). Their menu can be pretty unique, but from what I recall, they have many sandwiches with a flair along with the classics.
Recommendations: the times I have been there, I feel as though everyone was satisfied with whatever they ordered. I particularly fancied the fried oreos served a la mode. DELICIOUS.

Big Jim’s Barbecue
Price Range: About $8 and up, lunch only
Located at the bottom of the mountain right by the Sunshine Cafe. This place has really good basic barbecue plates and THE BEST house salad dressing ever. One time I (Mary Gray) got them to bottle some up for me and I used it all during one session on my dining hall salads.
Also fun: You get to sign your name/write on the walls.

Here at Camp Skyline, A Christian summer camp for girls, the first order of business is fun!!!! During each of our 4 sessions, campers participate in a wide variety of activities on a daily basis. Seeing as how it’s kind of a dreary day outside today, I thought I would share with you a clip of some fun-in-the-sun pool time. Join a few of our 3rd session girls as they goof around in the water and splash up some fun!!

The Rhododendrons are blooming around camp along with the azaleas, and mountain laurel. Needless to say, spring has sprung at Skyline! We have a camp song about our native Rhododendrons that is a favorite for all. Unfortunately they do not bloom during the summer. Here is a photo of what they look like at the peak of beauty! What a wonderful place God has created for us!

Hooray! It’s Throwback Thursday!

Have any of you read the book “Flat Stanley”? One of our campers, Mallory from Mississippi, was assigned a school project based on this famous story. In the book, Flat Stanley gets mailed off to have adventures. As part of the assignment, Mallory had to mail her “Flat Sally” somewhere and where did she choose to send her? Camp Skyline of course! Flat Sally got to play on the rope swing, do circus, and even got to hang out with Pickle! Do you have a school project we can help with? We had so much fun helping Mallory out with Flat Sally! Thank you to Mallory for thinking of us and we will see her this summer for her own Skyline adventures! Where will you be this summer?