The Summer We’ll Never Forget
There are some summers you know you’ll remember forever.
The summer you laughed until your stomach hurt. The summer you made a friend who felt like you had known her forever. The summer you tried something that scared you, cheered louder than you thought possible, and went home wishing you could rewind time. This was that summer.
At Camp Skyline, every summer is filled with adventure, friendship, faith, and a little bit of healthy competition, but there was something especially unforgettable about this one.
Friendships That Become Family
Ask any Skyline Cutie what makes Skyline special, and chances are the answer will involve a friend. Maybe it was the girl you met on the first day who became your best friend by the end of the session. Maybe it was your cabinmate who stayed up talking with you. Or maybe it was someone you met across camp during an activity who somehow became part of your summer story.
Camp friendships are different. They grow quickly because you experience so much together, laughing at meals, cheering each other on, singing club songs, getting ready for the Laney Dance, and making memories that only your camp friends will truly understand. Those friendships are one of the greatest gifts of summer.
A Summer Full of Meaning
Our Redeemed summer theme challenged us to think about what it means to be redeemed by Christ. Through Sunday worship, bible studies, morning watches, and campfires, counselors broke down our theme into days titled: Peace, Grace, Rejoicing, Hope, Holy Spirit, His Life, Sacrifice, Love, Salvation, Reconciliation, and Rejoicing
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
And those truths followed us from Scripture to the dining hall, from the cabin to the activity, and hopefully home to share what girls learned at camp with those around them.
A Little Outside Our Comfort Zone
Some of the best camp memories happen when we say, “I don’t know if I can do that…” and then decide to try anyway.
Maybe it was climbing higher than you thought you could on the ropes course. Maybe it was getting on a horse for the first time. Maybe it was trying a new activity, performing in front of your friends, getting muddy, or simply being brave enough to introduce yourself to someone new.
Camp has a funny way of reminding us that we are capable of more than we think. Every challenge, big or small, became an opportunity to grow. And there was always someone nearby cheering you on.
Let the Club Competition Begin!
Of course, no Skyline summer would be complete without a little club competition! From the moment club leaders were announced, the competition was on. Girls cheered for their club, worked together, competed in activities, and celebrated every point earned.
Whether you were throwing socks, racing across the field, showing off your archery/riflery skills, or cheering from the sidelines, club competition brought out some serious Skyline spirit.
And then came the big moments: Horseshoe and the Spirit Cup. The Horseshoe brought some excitement, from the clues to the search during free time, to running to the BELL when someone found it! I always love when girls ask if I know where it is, as every admin but Frances is also secretly looking for it too.
The Spirit Cup reminded us that competition isn’t just about winning; it’s about enthusiasm, teamwork, sportsmanship, kind club leaders, and the whole club bringing your very best camp spirit. There were cheers. There were celebrations. There were probably a few very tired campers afterward. And there were memories we won’t forget.
More Than a Summer
When we look back on this summer, we’ll remember the big moments: the games, the dances, the competitions, the activities, and the adventures. But we’ll also remember the little things.
The conversations on the cabin porch. The laughter at the table. The songs at worship. The inside jokes. The hugs. The cheering. The friendships that seemed to appear overnight.
We’ll remember the moments when we stepped outside our comfort zones and discovered something new about ourselves.
