The Roost

Hellooooo parents for the last time 2012!! Can you believe it? This is the last newsletter for the whole summer this year (pardon me if I crack a little smile)!! It hard to believe the summer is coming to an end and its almost time for all the campers to head out. Its been a great session to wrap up the whole year with and we hope you guys have had as much fun as we have up here (but we highly doubt it!!). All the campers enjoyed getting in their last rides down the zip lines or saying good bye to their favorite horse or of course that last blob down on the river (who could resist that?) Yea, everyone was going all around camp with as much energy as they had on the first day (how they do that I have no idea??).

Also today the boys from Lookout Mountain Camp came back over (hey, can you blame them for wanting to do that?) but this time they weren’t here for a dance, they were here to compete against our ladies in the archery and rifelry tournament. I’m happy to report to ya (now pay attention here, its got a little political spin to it) the boys form LMC actually came in next to last on both events, while our lovely ladies came in a close second place. At least they got the silver medal. For those of ya’ll that are trying to figure out the last statement, it’ll come to ya in a little while, but heres a hint…(there were only two teams!!) Good thing they’ve already had the dance or I know some boys that would NOT be getting any dance after today!

We also had our prelim horse competition where todays winners will compete in the Grand Championship tomorrow and we’ll be out there catchin’ all the action for ya just as fast as it happens. If ya really got to know who won the Grand Championship, keep checkin’ our facebook page. I’m sure Lindsay will have the picture up on instagram before I can even get back into the office!

For thos of ya’ll that have already been checkin the instant pics on facebook, you already know that the RANGERS found the golden horseshoe today!! I actually wasn’t in camp when they found it, but I’m pretty sure I could hear them cheerin’ from off the mountain! Way to go Rangers! That’s some mega points for you in the point cup race.

Now if you think were slowin down as we wind things up , well….just wait till you hear about all the other activities we got comin’ tomorrow. Beside our Grand Championship, we’ll also be treated to a super performance on “Annie” from out musical theatre class. I was working on a projector in one of our rooms today while the camper that’s Annie was practicing there and I gotta tell ya folks… it blew me away to hear her sing! She’s got a set of pipes on her and I can’t wait to see the whole gang perform tomorrow on the stage. Its gonna be awsmoe!!

Now after the horse show and the musical presentation, we’ll have our camper awards ceremony and then get ready for our end of session banquet. Or as I like to call it, “Tearfest 2012”. I’m tellin’ ya we could get the whole thing sponsored by Kleenex if they only knew how many boxes we had to go through at the end of the session. This is where the campers will get their outstanding patches for the activities and the awards for how many years they’ve been here (yea, we include the counselors and some of them are up to 13 or more years…we can’t get rid of ‘em…nor do we want too!!) And of course, what everybody’s been waitin’ on the presentation of the Horse Cup to the club that won the Grand Championship, the points cup to the club that’s gotten the most points throughout the session (the horseshoe will really help out on that one) and everybodys favorite, the Eloise H. Temple Spirit cup to the club that has shown the most spirit and sportsmanship throughout the session.

After all the cups have been given out everyone realizes that camp is almost over and they have to say goodbye to all their old and new friends they’ve made here this session, its time to open the flood gates and the tears really flow. I know I like to make fun of the situation, but it really is a special moment to see how much these girls mean to each other and how close they’ve become over the last two weeks. We’ll be there to capture all the pics and we’ll have them, and all the pictures form the while session, for you on a DVD when you come to pick up your camper on Friday. Now we’ll have those banquet pics on there too, but I gotta tell ya folks, a picture doesn’t do it justice as to the emotion that comes out when these campers have to say good bye to each other. It really is something to see in person.

Before I say good night one last time, I just want to give you first time camper parents a little warnin. When you come to pick up your camper, they’ll be awfully glad to see ya, but don’t get your feelin’s hurt if they aren’t that excited to leave all their friends. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!!

Another serious note, all you parents that are gonna make your way up here this weekend need to do so with caution. We have the unfortunate luck of bein’ right in the middle of that 5,000 mile long yard sale and there’s gonna be more cars on the roads than you can believe. You gotta pay attention, ‘cause there’ll be a lot of folks that like to window shop right out if the window in their car (no joke). It could take you almost 20 minutes just to make it through town (even our mailman complains they drive slow…and THAT’S bad!!)

Well folks, its been a great summer and we had a super session to wrap thing sup here on the mountain, but all good things must come to an end. This is the last newsletter I have to write…um…I mean I get to write and we sure are gonna miss ya and keeping you informed about your campers. Thanks again for letting us have your most valuable possession to play with over the last two weeks and we truly hope you guys have enjoyed it as much as we have ‘cause its been great to have your campers here to play and grow together and I know you can’t wait to see how much they’ve changed after being here at Skyline.

You guys have a great night, enjoy the pics tonight and tomorrow and we’ll see ya in a day or two. Thanks for tuning in and playing along on line. I’m about to head off and get some much needed shut eye (you guys should do the same, I’ll be able to tell which ones of ya’ll were up as much as I was when we meet Friday!!)

Thanks again, take care and God bless.

For one last time….. I’m outta here!!
LJ