Camp affords opportunity to make friends from all over
From India to Utah and Mexico to New York, my camp friends live all over the globe.
I have been going to Camp Greystone in the mountains of North Carolina for six years, starting in 2014. The summer of 2020 will be my seventh year. Greystone is a Christian camp for girls that was founded in 1920 and is still going strong.
The camp celebrated its 100th summer last year, and is starting a new century. Camp is available for girls rising first through twelfth grade.
In 2014 and 2015, I went to camp for one week. I went for two weeks in 2016, then for three weeks in 2017 and 2018. Last year was my first summer going for five weeks. I will hopefully be going for five weeks for three more summers. The option of being a counselor is offered after my freshman year of college. So, hopefully, my years at Greystone are far from being over.
It is a family tradition to go to camp. My aunt went to Camp Greystone and Camp Seafarer. My mom went to Camp Seafarer and Camp Ton-A-Wandah. My brother went to Camp Seagull and Camp High Harbor. My grandmother also went to camp.
But, I am the only family member to stick with it for so long.
Of course, I meet lots of girls that turn into some of my closest friends at camp. Every year, I am assigned a cabin and get super close with the eight or twelve cabin mates of mine, along with a counselor.
Campers sign up for classes on the first day, being sure to sign up for the same classes as cabin mates and friends. Campers have lots of free time filled with playing games and talking. We also have fun at meal time, singing songs and eating delicious food.
Along with all that, we learn to grow in our faith and constantly pray, sing hymns and fun Christian songs, and listen to devotions. It is by far one of my favorite places on earth.
Before my friends and I say a difficult goodbye on the last day of our camp session, we all exchange phone numbers and social media usernames to make sure we can keep up with each other throughout the school year.
Social media is by far the easiest way to keep up with camp friends. I can easily see what everyone is up to by looking at their Instagram posts or Snapchat stories. I can direct message or text them to keep our conversations going, even if we are thousands of miles apart. We always wish each other a virtual “happy birthday” as well.
“I try to text or Facetime my camp friends whenever possible. I also text on our cabin’s GroupMe,” said Caroline Lyerly, one of my first camp friends who lives in Greenville, North Carolina. She was in my cabin twice, once in 2016 and again in 2019.
Laney Haddock, another 2019 cabin mate of mine, says that she Snapchats, texts, and Facetimes her friends as well. Laney lives in Dallas, Texas.
Not only is Camp Greystone filled with some of the sweetest girls, but also a diverse mix from all over the world. I got very lucky to get super close with two girls who live very different lives than me in Macon. I have learned so much about different cultures around the world from them.
Ellie Porray and Mackenzie Joiner are my friends that live farthest from me. I met Mackenzie in 2014 and Ellie in 2015. Ellie lives in Bangalore, India and Mackenzie lives in Park City, Utah. They have both taught me so much about where they live, especially Ellie bringing stories from India to camp.
Camp Greystone is my “safe place” where I can just get away and enjoy every moment. I have met some of the best girls that will be my best friends for life.
Edie Sharpton is a freshman staff writer in her first year in Gazebo. She has been attending Stratford Academy for 11 years. She has a younger brother,...
