(Fall/Winter 2025) Grow & Behold: A Publication of Falling Creek Camp

behold Grow

A Publication of Falling Creek Camp

how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

—Psalm 133:1

10 A Deep Dive on Character. Bob Ditter, child therapist, author, and camp professional, explains how Falling Creek Camp helps boys develop character.

22 Guided by Honesty. What honesty looks like at camp, and why it matters.

24 Quiet Strength. Humility is the kind of strength that can be hard to see, but is harder to forget.

28 Stepping in, Sticking with it. How boys learn perseverance and gain grit while at camp.

32 Growing Away From Home. One of the most meaningful things a boy can gain from camp isn’t something he can hold in his hand.

36 The Secret Sauce. Service that feeds more than just hunger.

On the Cover: Sailing is a daily activity that takes place on our nearby docks at scenic Lake Summit. Back Cover: Singing “Fire on the Mountain,” one of the favorite camp songs that can often be heard during Morning Assembly on the front porch.

Behold: Falling Creek Camp Staff in the founding 1969 summer

Over the years, the Falling Creek Camp staff has grown, however the tradition of excellence in camping has continued while keeping standards high.

Yates Pharr, Director

WHEN CHARACTER LEADS,

others follow.

We know that camp strengthens character –but not just for the campers.

The articles in this year’s Grow & Behold issue feature stories of determination, integrity, humility, honesty, resilience, and independence. You’ll read examples of character seen in first-year campers who persevere through challenging camp activities, returning campers who continue to live by the FCC Code at home, the kitchen team members who serve camp even when everyone else is asleep, and alumni who model character in the way they give back.

However, an aspect of camp often overlooked by parents is the unique way these character-building benefits extend to the staff experience. Working at camp is sometimes dismissed as just a “fun way to spend your summer.” Though that may be true, the values that counselors gain are hard to replicate with any other job or internship opportunity.

I often think back to my own time working at camp during the summers between college semesters. I had to learn to be flexible, advocate for my campers, and communicate face to face with peers, parents, directors, and boys of all ages. I was given incredible responsibility, entrusted not only with teaching an activity, but caring for the well-being of the most important thing in a parent’s life.

Working as a camp counselor, I practiced time management and organizational skills when planning adventure trips for paddling. I had to observe and follow up with my campers each week, sharing their goals and progress by writing weekly parent letters. It was one of the first times that I realized others were looking up to me to model character in my actions.

No question, camp was a fun way to spend my summer. But more than that, it was also a challenging job that gave me greater personal growth and hands-on experience than any other internships I completed.

In my first job after college, I worked as a commercial real estate property manager and later transitioned to the developer side of the business, something that on the surface doesn’t seem to have anything to do with summer camp. However, I drew on the experiences and character-building skills that I gained from working at camp almost every day. Risk management, project planning, executing a timeline, anticipating potential issues, communicating with a wide range of parties – I soon realized that I had practice in all these areas thanks to my experience

as a camp counselor, and later serving as the lead for the paddling program and also as a Line Head. My time at Falling Creek had such a big impact because of the expectation of excellence placed on us as staff, an expectation I continued to hold for myself in my future endeavors outside camp.

The beauty of camp is that it is a cycle of mutual growth. Not only do campers learn values from their counselors, counselors see positive character values in action from their campers too. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” It is this shared, continuous sharpening that makes the Falling Creek experience not just a “summer of fun,” but a foundational stepping stone to a life of character, long after the summer has ended.

E

Fall 2025

Editor: Yates Pharr

Design: Steve Parker Design

Editorial Contributors: Annie Pharr Ramsbotham

Michael Nuckles Nathan Newquist

Photographic Contributors: Carolina Meneses (Head), Camille McDougald, Hannah Frazier, Jen Cressman, Vince Green, Yates Pharr, and all of our Adventure Staff

Cover Photo: Carolina Meneses

Back Cover Photo: Camille McDougald

Pharr family, from left: Marisa, Yates, Jazzy, Danielle, Annie, Zeb, Mare, Lucy, Daniel

We get a lot of mail around here and like to share some in each issue of Grow & Behold. Feel free to send your correspondence to the address on the back of the magazine, or to mail@fallingcreek.com.

Clayton Kunz (camper ’14-’19, ’21-’22, staff ’25) and David Echeverria (staff ’14, ’16, ’18, ’21-present) recreated the photo below over the summer!

The inset photo is from 2014, during Clayton’s first summer at camp during the Junior Camp session. David and Sidney Parham (camper ’06-’12, staff ’14-’16) were his counselors that summer.

Fast forward to 2025, and Clayton returned to teach disc golf and flag football as a counselor. David is now a member of the maintenance team year-round, and head of blacksmithing during the summer. From first-year camper to counselors together, we love seeing the camp experience come full circle!

Josh Batie (camper ’89-’92) is pictured in the center of the 1989 photo. This past summer, Josh’s nephew Oliver C. came to camp for his first year! Oliver’s mom sent us the second photo of him “leaving a place he now calls a home away from home.”

She said, “It was Oli’s first time sleeping away from home at a camp, and the experience, both for parents and campers, was absolutely wonderful. From the excellent communication and organization, to the stellar staff from all corners of the earth, the unspoiled natural environment ideal for freedom and exploration, and the ethos and brotherhood difficult to harness and teach in today’s world, Falling Creek hit all the marks with flying colors. I grew up attending Greystone and being able to share this familial tradition now with my son feels completely full circle—we couldn’t be happier.”

—Meghann

C., Palmetto Bay, FL

We are thrilled to see the camp experience continuing across generations. Thank you for sharing!

Jesse C. (’22-’26 camper) had to complete a billboard project at school for 6th grade, using pictures, a quote, and a character trait. He chose to use the FCC Ironman triathlon as his theme. A great example of Warrior Spirit and “determination,” just like his project highlights!

— Allyson C., Latta,

SC

Receiving this hand-written letter from Woody D. (’24-’26 camper) made our day here at the camp office!

Woody says Yates should return to Lexington, KY, and we’re excited to say that he’ll be back for a movie show and camp reunion on October 15th! We hope to see many other camp families and alumni while we’re there.

Thank you Woody, and see you soon!

Above: Jesse competing in and finishing the FCC Ironman this past summer.

mailcall

Another #campcommunity update from some staff who are traveling together post-summer! Tyler (mountain bike counselor from Australia), Webby (fly fishing counselor from South Africa), and Aryan (backpacking counselor from Scotland) have been on a whirlwind tour out west since camp ended.

Aryan said, “We borrowed Erik’s convertible (a fellow backpacking staff member) and have taken it from Texas to California and up to Salt Lake City. We have done 5 national parks on the way and went to LA for a college

football game too. We have seen White Sands, Grand Canyon, Zion, Sequoia, and Yosemite. We’ve done a bunch of hiking and camping in the last 3 weeks. Tyler and I summited Half Dome in Yosemite a few days ago.” Next in their plans? Visiting the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone!

Hi Yates,

I am not sure if you will remember me, but my brother (Will) and I attended the camp along with you back in the 1980’s.

I started in Cabin #8 with Mark Massey as our counselor and ended my FCC tenure as a CIT with Pat O’Brien. The older I get, the more I value and appreciate how my camp experience has not only shaped my life, but also how I have drawn upon my lessons and experiences to help shape my two sons’ lives as well.

With these fond memories of my past resurfacing and the frequent emails I have been receiving from you this summer, I am very motivated to explore how I might give the gift of a Falling Creek Camp experience for my sons. I just love that you have brought back so many of the traditions that made FCC special from our childhood to today’s world.

Kind Regards,

—Jeff Winkler,

Jacksonville, FL

Dear Falling Creek, Emily and I didn’t know what to expect when we visited camp in May, for it had been so long. That was a brief reunion for us but a reminder of how much the experience meant to not only our sons Johnny, Keith, and Will, but Em and myself as well.

Johnny would drive down to the Ocoee years later and run the river time and again. He went to the School of Visual Arts in NYC and opened a studio in Nashville that he largely hand built. He also did stone masonry

and woodworking, a skill he must have initiated by being inspired at camp. Keith is the naturalist that I told you about and he still paddles, raising his daughter with a strong outdoor ethos. Will was your Ironman his last summer at camp and became one of the top snowboarders in the country before a significant knee injury eclipsed his professional career, sending him back to college. He taught art while working at Falling Creek, and later with a masters degree he taught at Portland State before becoming a full time artist.

Since Emily and I retired we spend our summers and winters in Crested Butte Colorado where we are near two of our sons. Sadly, we lost Johnny in the spring of 2019. Keith and his wife, Kelle, live in Pagosa Springs Colorado where he is the community naturalist for the Rocky Mountain division of the Audubon Society. Will lives in Santa Fe where he makes his living as a plein air painter with gallery shows there and in New York and Los Angeles. All of this to remind you yet again that your work and example with young “to become men” is so terribly important and I can see your passion even on our brief foray through the grounds. Pictures have been sent to the boys already and we will hold these memories dear.

—Thank you, John Bruno, Nashville, TN

No matter how much we want our kids to move safely and carefully through the world, they are going to stumble. And while we do our best to teach them what good and safe choices look like, it’s important to embrace opportunities to acknowledge how they respond and self-correct when they choose a way that perhaps we wouldn’t have chosen for them. Because, of course, we can’t choose for them. I love this about the camp environment and am so grateful for the work you do to provide this space and grace.

—Dr. Elizabeth Bucher, New Orleans, LA

I am grateful for the ways you reflect to everyone that God is with us, that we need not be afraid, and that we can remain in that confidence.

Thank you for the hard, important work you do. Thank you for the ways you honor God in that work. Thank you for being a beacon of God’s light and hope in the midst of any storm.

With love, admiration and gratitude.

—Courtney Willis, Greensboro, NC

Yates, Michael and I saw you briefly as we brought him for June Camp this morning. Just after we walked past you and down the steps, this is what unfolded. (see photo) Camp friends Jack R & Liam N were waiting for Matthew’s arrival. They leapt up and came running, yelling… told Matthew they’d been waiting there for him for 30 minutes!

For us as a family that is committed to “the real camp experience” vs a “weeklong sleepover with your friends from home” this was just fantastic to see! What a great demonstration of character by these two young men! Grateful for a place where boys can be shaped into men of Christ-like character!

—Elizabeth & Michael Richter

Yates,

What a Father/Son weekend! Thank you so much to you and your staff at FCC for putting it on. It’s clear that one could not design a better camp for boys than you already have. You, Matt, and all the others truly gave my oldest son (Jack – 6) and me a weekend we will never forget. Jack has already said he cannot wait to come back and that we should go “every time we have access.” One of the things that stood out to me the most is that, in a world that sometimes seems like it wants to beat the adventure spirit out of our boys, you folks foster and encourage it. I cannot be more grateful for the experience we just had. Again, thank you so much for impacting our lives in such a meaningful way even in a very short time – we’ll see you again next year!

Best,

—Parker Moore, Charlotte, NC

Is THIS the same boy?? Gideon K, Waynesville, NC, with his mom, Maryanna, in 2016 and in 2025

by Bob Ditter

River* was an enthusiastic, 9-year old, first-year camper at Falling Creek. He was as excited and nervous as most every other first time camper, except that he had a secret:

HE COULD NOT SWIM.

Bob Ditter is a child and adolescent therapist from Boston, MA. He visited Falling Creek from 1986 until 1992 to help with staff training. He is well known in Camp circles and just co-authored a book with Dr. Jim Cain titled, ‘Building Character at Camp.

* Camper’s name was changed to ptotect his privacy

THIS WAS A SOURCE OF GREAT EMBARRASSMENT TO HIM,

not to mention that it held him back when everyone else seemed to swim with abandon. Once Johnny “Beans” Ervin, River’s counselor at the time, realized River’s predicament, he and co-counselor, Chris Lyle, quietly went about spending every free moment they could helping River master swimming. After being a camper himself for 7 summers (20132019), Johnny returned as a counselor and Line Head from 2023-2025, and knew what it was like to be a new camper. “It was my first year on staff, and River was very reserved and homesick,” Johnny remembers. “That dark green lake can definitely be a scary place to learn how to swim!” River pushed himself through fear, tears, and failure.

“I remember it was the third week of Main Camp,” Johnny continued. “I had just returned from a day off to find a smiling River waiting for me on the dock in his bathing suit, towel in hand. ‘I want to show you something,’ he said to me. He dove in and swam multiple laps! He was justifiably proud and smiled a lot more after that and became much more social. His success improved the entire dynamic in our cabin.”

This short anecdote about River exemplifies an aspect of Falling Creek that is constantly operating in the background: What neither River nor Johnny may have recognized at the time was that it wasn’t just River’s swimming skills they were developing; it was also his character—his courage, perseverance, determination and, as we will see, even his gratitude.

Defining Character

My definition of character is values in action. To be authentic, character traits must represent behaviors that are deeply ingrained within us. Otherwise, we could go through the motions of being kind, for example,

without actually coming from a place of kindness in ourselves. To do so would be acting, which might be somewhat convincing in the short term, but would not stand over time. Character traits are enduring. They are also universally recognizable. Kindness, for example, is something that we all can “stack hands on.” We know it when we see it.

The Four Character Superpowers

When I talk with kids about their character, I call it their “hidden superpowers.” My personal top four character traits are resilience, kindness, gratitude, and integrity.

RESILIENCE

Some people call it “grit” while others call it “perseverance.” To be resilient means we have the capacity for two important things:

1. To keep going (persevere) in the face of adversity. That requires a lot! Like the following: tolerating frustration; binding our anxiety; overcoming our fears; developing “positive self-talk,” or what we say to ourselves to keep going; becoming more comfortable with our own vulnerability; tempering our pride in order to accept help from others.

2. To recover from a setback. That means picking ourselves back up when we fail and learning from the experience as best we can.

KINDNESS

Kindness requires that you give of yourself—your time, your attention, your energy. Kindness helps us be mindful of others and contribute to the welfare of our community. It has a powerful positive effect both on the person receiving and the person who is giving.

values in action

GRATITUDE

Gratitude focuses on the positive. To be grateful means to recognize the gifts we have been given, whether by our parents, our friends, our community, or God. It requires us to overcome our pride and be humble, accepting that we are not perfect, but strengthened when we acknowledge all that supports us and contributes to our happiness and well-being.

INTEGRITY

I call integrity a master strength because it means being our best self as much as humanly possible. To have integrity means that we have the capacity for four important things:

1. To take responsibility for the impact of our words and actions.

2. To keep our word: to “walk the walk” not just “talk the talk”

3. To keep the confidence, or trust, of others.

4. To do and say what is right rather than what might feel good in the moment. I often say to counselors that they are entering a sacred space with their campers. They are being entrusted with the care and well-being of imperfect, impulsive, messy, noisy, nosey, dependent, evolving, young boys over whom they have extraordinary influence. To have integrity means taking this trust seriously. After all, camp is a place of becoming.

Helping Boys Develop at Falling Creek Camp

We do not “teach” character in the usual sense. You cannot watch a YouTube video or follow a TikTok “influencer,” listen to an audio book or go to a lecture on character and suddenly you have acquired “character.” Character has to be fostered. It comes from trial-and-error experience – what people sometimes call the “school of life.”

We strengthen resilience, for example, the same way we strengthen or reinforce any asset – by allowing kids to wrestle with challenges and setbacks; by supporting them, but not rescuing them; by allowing them to experience the consequences of their mistakes, their poor judgment and even the unfairness of others. The only way children develop resilience authentically is when we allow them to grapple with challenges we support and guide them through, but don’t save them from. By allowing campers to wrestle with those challenges–whether physical, social, or emotional–we give them a gift: to grow and become stronger from the experience. In other words, falling off your bike isn’t necessarily an indication of failure. Sometimes the only way to discover what “balance” is, is to momentarily lose

it. Character development is no different. (Note to parents: Loving your child means allowing them to have this struggle. You might want to think of sending your son to Falling Creek as sending him to the “University of Positive Moral Character.”)

Chris and Johnny did not “save” River from his embarrassment over the fact that he could not swim. They encouraged him to meet the challenge, but he was the one who had to engage with the fear, frustration, and failure. As Johnny explained, “It was River who took it upon himself to ultimately overcome his challenge, not us.”

The Falling Creek Code

One element a camp must have in order to foster positive moral character is to be intentional about it. Sharing a language or “code” the entire community buys into is one way of doing this. This is what is embodied in what Yates Pharr explained to me as the Falling Creek Code:

“The ‘Code’ came from a group of us around 2008 or 2009. We wanted to establish a way to create expectations about what it means to be a member of our community, but in a memorable and child-friendly way. After all,” Yates explained, “my basis for knowing how to fit in and get along with others came from my own personal experience at camp. We also wanted something that would guide our counselors: how do all of us learn how to push through the hard stuff, stick with it, learn to work as a team and collaborate and cooperate?”

Matt Sloan, Program Director and Chaplain, adds, “We wanted a way to connect Christian values to the daily experiences the boys were having at camp. There are opportunities to practice ‘undeniably good things’ in your cabins and/or activities that require taking a risk. Taking that risk is when you find out what you are made of. It’s what makes other people want to emulate you.”

Michael Nuckles, Camper Development Director, adds, “We wanted the ‘Code’ to be more than just a cliché. We wanted to capture how we care about

each other, listen to one another, and come to know we can count on one another. I also didn’t want it to be something that took the fun out of things. We soon discovered that the ‘stakeholders’ at Falling Creek were truly serious about having something that helped squirrely 7 year-old boys become young men who were better prepared for the challenges of the world.”

Whit Flickinger was a camper from 2012-2019 before returning to serve on staff in 2023, 2024, and as Line Head for the Robinia cabins in 2025. He told me that buy-in has been extremely successful and starts right at the top. “Yates and Marisa embody the Code themselves,” Whit explains. “The way they interact with people and make themselves available sets the tone. They are role models for everyone else.”

I was impressed that Whit could rattle off the four elements of the “Code” easily:

• Warrior Spirit (“resilience”)

• Positive Attitude (roughly “gratitude” and “kindness”)

• Moral Compass (“integrity”)

• Servant’s Heart (“kindness”)

Whit went on to explain, “Living by the ‘Code’ begins during orientation. We immediately start practicing as a staff what we will practice later with the campers. One of the ways this happens is with what we call ‘Evening Embers.’ That’s where we, first as staff during orientation, then later with the campers, talk about our day: what was hard or challenging, what was fun, what we learned about ourselves or what someone did for us. We learn first hand that listening to someone is a way of loving them.”

Having role models is indeed one of the most powerful ways we as people develop values and character: we learn by watching others, especially others that we admire. Campers learn positive character from seeing it in their counselors, who in turn learn what it means to be a positive role model. And counselors learn those values from seeing their leaders live by them.

Whit shared how there were three other ways the “Code” was brought to life at camp: Morning Watch, where themes related to the Code are shared; Campfires, where skits, personal stories, or speeches are related to an element of the Code; and church services on Sundays. He also emphasized that there was a lot of fun and joy in doing all of this, just as there was joy and pride for a boy when he accomplished something at camp for the first time. “I like to think of camp as helping boys be better people through fun!” Whit exclaims.

“For me, knowing that campers internalize the things the Code stands for at such a young age is pretty incredible. And I’m not sure who benefits more–the campers or the staff.”

This reminds me of something that Johnny, River’s counselor, shared with me about when River came back to camp the following summer. “The big thing was seeing his parents, who brought him to camp,” Johnny told me. “His mother came up to me and started crying, saying, ‘You are a big reason River was so keen about coming back this year. You are so important to him!’

That’s when I realized that, in just a month, you could do something that has a big impact on a kid.” I would hazard a guess that Johnny felt as proud in that moment as River did the year before, standing in the glow of his generosity created. As I have been heard to say, “love is when you no longer know who is benefitting most.” At Falling Creek Camp it is clear to me that the staff grow from this work as young men as much as the boys do. And that River not only developed grit, he developed gratitude through the role models of his counselors.

In his conversation with me, Whit quoted something a professor of his had said that made an impression on him. “If teachers were not just great keepers of knowledge but great understanders of people, schools would look a lot different.” Maybe they would look a lot more like Falling Creek: A place of becoming, where boys are helped to be better people through fun!

morningwatch

By Matt SloanChaplain & Program Director

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WCasting a Wide Net

The greentail shrimp were in season. I did not know the difference between a greentail and any other kind of shrimp, yet I was with a group of friends who knew what they were doing.

They taught me how to throw the cast net where it would spread widely and evenly across the water in a perfect circle. The steps were meticulous: hold the net in my right hand about a foot down from the horn; take another handful of net just below my waist and fold it into the same right hand, followed by a smaller handful; lay one piece over my right thumb; grab another piece of line in my left hand; swing back and forth, letting go of all but the last piece of line in my left hand, finally letting go at the end. Simple… right? We took turns trying our best and laughing together, and the more we practiced the better we got. Now to try this from the deck of a boat!

The boat reached the NC coastal shrimping grounds, and we spotted the shrimp skipping across the topwater. My first throws landed in more of a burrito shape than a circle. Nothing. Yet with a few words of encouragement, we slowly began to pull in some greentails! It was a team effort as one friend drove the boat, another tossed the net, and the other separated the shrimp in the net. That night we steamed pounds of shrimp and gathered around the table, sharing stories from the day of successes and failures on the water. We had experienced a great new adventure, together.

Falling Creek is a breeding ground for these sorts of experiences for boys (Don’t worry, there are no shrimp in the upper lake, to our knowledge)! We believe that real life can only be discovered by taking the risk to explore new experiences, and to do that alongside friends and mentors. Our counselors provide teaching and encouraging words as campers put bravery into action! Whether it is learning to use a hammer at the woodshop,

flying down the roller coaster with a buddy into the lake, or going rock climbing at Gilbert’s Rock, every day is an opportunity for boys to discover that there is way more to life, to themselves, and to each other, than they could have ever imagined!

The truth is, we love adventure and discovery because God made us with the desire to explore the mysteries of not only His creation, but who He is personally. Jesus was constantly inviting his close friends (disciples) to follow him into adventures where they had no idea how things would turn out! Their vision for their own lives seemed to grow as their trust in Jesus’ goodness grew. In John 21, Jesus is on the shore while His close friends are in a boat on the water, fishing throughout the night with no luck. Verses 4-6 say:

Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish (153 in total).

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards

Jesus’ followers did not recognize Him on the shore that morning because they could see Him from the boat, but because their hearts remembered that only He knew where real, full life could be found. The hope and prayer of Falling Creek is that we all might cast the nets of our hearts in the direction of God, who has made us to live the great adventure of life and discovery with Him.

intheir ownwords...

Why did you choose FCC?

I love the core principles of FCC and how my boys have grown each year after camp with problem solving skills, independence, and have made new friends they would have otherwise not met.

- Tori and Bryan Johnston, Montgomery, AL

So little of their regular school and home life gives them the ability to schedule their own interests and make truly personalized decisions. We have seen them continue to grow in their ability to navigate camp on their own and that transfer into life away from camp.

- Madeline & German Aguirre, Denver, CO

We wanted a camp that was all boys that offered a variety of activities to choose from in a supportive, nurturing environment where our boys could grow and gain confidence. The leadership and year-round staff truly leave no stone left unturned. The thorough communications throughout the year are clear and easy to understand.

- Allison & Josh Crumpler, Raleigh, NC

We felt that FCC had an innate warmth to it, valued the emphasis on leadership and character development, and aligned with the nondenominational religious focus. I always felt connected and supported anytime we communicated with camp about ANYTHING.

- Allyne and Zach Ettner, Atlanta, GA

What was the greatest value your son gained at camp?

“For our oldest son, having a break from technology, the opportunity to build strong friendships, and the freedom to really play again without the weight of social pressures. For our youngest, developing independence and learning to be flexible with confidence.”

- Casey and Brendan Moore, Birmingham, AL

The ability to act independently, be a leader, and take pride in himself is unmatched at FCC. We have especially found FCC to be impactful during these middle school years, as the boys are able to choose their own adventure and really explore who they are as a person.

- Anne & Jon Puckett, Daniel Island, SC

Broadly, the willingness to do new things at camp. Whether it’s meeting new people or trying a new activity, FCC has forced our son to put himself “out there” in a way that is really character building.

- Mike and Ashleigh Donovan, Rye, NY

He seemed to stand a little taller when we picked him up. He was confident in the skills he exhibited and in attending Camp without any friends from home. - Tiffany & Craig Armstrong, Dallas, TX

MUSIC

TO OUR EARS

Congratulations to Slater Nalley (camper ’15’19 from Atlanta, GA) for reaching the top four in the American Idol 2025 season. Slater expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with top talent and mentors while on the show, highlighting the genuine support he received from musicians and singers like Jelly Roll.

l to r: Lionel Ritchie, Cody Johnson, Slater Nalley, Luke Bryan.

Photo by Disney/ Christopher Willard

WE’RE PROUD TO HAVE WITNESSED SLATER’S DEDICATION FROM A YOUNG AGE AS HE HONED HIS SKILLS IN WRITING, SINGING, AND PLAYING MUSIC.

Slater recently shared his appreciation for counselor Kenny Letts (camper ’08-’14, staff ‘18) who introduced him to playing the ukulele at camp. He recalled his fingers hurting and Kenny’s encouragement to persevere. He also remembered Operations Director Nathan Newquist working with him and inviting him to perform at Church and Morning Assembly.

Many find it challenging to speak, let alone sing, in front of crowds, but Slater diligently prepared to share his talents with the Falling Creek community as a camper. He showed that same dedication and passion while sharing his talents with the world during his American Idol journey.

Slater has since moved to Nashville and signed with Warner Brothers. He released “Foolish Pride,” the song he performed on American Idol, in October, and plans to release a series of new songs in January 2026. Please join us in supporting @slaternalleymusic and continuing to enjoy his music.

Clockwise from top left: Slater, to Nathan’s left, playing the ukelele at Church during the 2019 summer. Singing “Born to be Wild” during “Disney Week” on “American Idol.” Singing in the annual talent show during June Camp, 2018. Covering Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” for his top 5 performance on American Idol. Playing at Morning Assembly during June Camp in 2019.

“American Idol” Photos by Disney/ Christopher Willard

Guided by HONESTY

by Leslie Sloan

Trust starts small—in the cabins, on the porches, and with each other. At camp, honesty shows up in a thousand small ways. It’s in the trust we place in each other, the way we take responsibility during a game, and how we treat each other’s belongings.

During the second half of 2-Week Camp, we focused on three parts of honesty, reflected in the “Moral Compass” portion of the Falling Creek Code:

• Act with integrity

• Take responsibility for your actions

• Tell the truth

Honesty in Action

Some campers connected honesty directly to their camp activities:

Disc Golf – “Everyone in your group has to trust you where you go and when you pick up your disc.”

Ultimate Frisbee – “You can only take so many steps before you lose the disc. If you argue the whole time about steps, people don’t want to play or have you on their team.”

Pickleball – “You have to call your own lines. If you aren’t honest, you lose trust. It slows the game down and causes tons of arguments. I learned that lesson this week!”

Heather Moffatt, head of Archery, sees honesty woven into the heart of her activity as well.

“Archery is a great metaphor for honesty. You’re either on the mark or off. The arrow doesn’t lie. You don’t want to spend your life like a bent arrow.”

—Heather Moffatt, Archery Counselor, Mars Hill, NC

The Outdoor Adventure Perspective

Will Wilson, our Outdoor Adventure Director, sees honesty as essential for every trip into the woods, onto the water, or up a mountain. In adventure programs, campers and counselors follow what’s called expedition behavior—the idea that everyone on the trip must be able to trust their life to the people around them.

“That trust only works if people are honest—about their gear, their abilities, and their behavior.

If someone is struggling, or if they can’t do something, or if they forgot a piece of gear back in camp, it weakens everybody. Honesty is a big expectation for these trips. All parts of our FCC Code are reflected in every part of camp—from allcamp-games to our trips. Society gets better when a Falling Creek boy goes home because he may think, ‘What would my counselor say if he saw me doing this?’”

—Will Wilson, Outdoor Adventure Director

Why It Matters at Camp

Honesty makes camp possible. It lets games run smoothly. It builds trust in cabins. It keeps friendships strong. And the more we practice it here, the easier it becomes to carry it home.

Camper Definitions

“I think of my dad. He is an honest guy.”

—Ford M., Charleston, SC

“Whenever you think about lying, you should be honest. It’s never as bad as you think it is going to be.”

—Locke L., Atlanta, GA

“When you’re honest, people want to be around you.”

—Thomas T., Chattanooga, TN

QUIET STRENGTH

by Leslie Sloan

It’s not something you can announce about yourself. It’s something others notice— often after you’ve failed a few times or stepped back so someone else could shine...

That’s Humility.

STRENGTH

At camp, we tend to spot it in the little moments: when a camper lets a friend take the spotlight, when a counselor quietly takes the blame, when a Green team captain offers a hand to a Gold teammate who just lost the match. But humility doesn’t usually show up right away. It’s a trait that builds over time— often on the far side of struggle.

When Humility Finds You

Some of the most powerful moments of humility at camp happen during challenges—when someone needs help and receives it, quietly, without judgment.

We’ve seen campers pause to carry a friend’s gear or step out of a spotlight they could have claimed. Moments like these stick with you, not because they were grand or loud, but because they were given freely. No speech. No spotlight. Just action.

The Quiet Way to Lead

In Cabin 12, Harry had built a quiet reputation, not by being loud, but by always being helpful. “He makes beds, takes on extra chores, and really helps during cleanup,” said his cabinmate Saxon. “He doesn’t get a lot of credit, but he keeps things running.”

Some leadership shows up early—literally. John T. talked about his cabinmate Davis, who made a habit of saying “good morning” to everyone the moment they woke up. “It kick-starts my day,” he said. “It’s such a small thing, but it makes a difference.”

Humility isn’t always soft-spoken. Sometimes, it sounds a lot like encouragement.

Learning to Let Go

Before heading out to the buoy course, George C. and Gaines S. from Nashville, TN reflected on what it means to be a humble leader. They came up with three things:

• Don’t think too much about yourself.

• Give others credit for success.

• Listen to others.

They were about to test that in real time. “I’m going to be in the stern working on direction,” George explained. “Gaines will be in the bow working on speed. Neither of us can be in charge. We have to work together. Humility is just like that.”

When asked who modeled humility best, they both pointed to Rex, the basketball counselor. “He lets others pick the games,” they said. “He’s able to let go of control each day.”

Sometimes humility shows up in leadership. Other times, it comes through failure—and the choice to try again.

What the River Taught Me

Harry B., a Betula camper in Cabin 30, came to camp with paddling experience from another program. But Falling Creek’s rivers had a way of showing him where he really stood.

“On my first trip, we paddled French Broad Section 9. I pulled my skirt nine times. I was really disappointed in myself,” Harry said.

Paddling instructor Evan Stone added, “He was humbled by the river. He didn’t belong there yet. The river is an equalizer. It’s indifferent to your ego.”

Harry didn’t make excuses. He admitted he wasn’t ready and started again from the beginning.

“I had to go backward to get better. It wasn’t safe to pretend I was ready,” Harry said.

With encouragement from a counselor he trusted, he focused on the work instead of the title. “John told me, ‘If you do these things, you’ll be more confident.’ And I believed him.”

He practiced outside of camp, focused on the details, and came back the next summer determined.

“There’s a difference between being able to paddle and being a good paddler,” Evan said. “Before, Harry was just surviving the river. Now, he’s one of the best in camp.”

“You can’t rush hard work,” Harry said. “And you can’t control the river, you have to work with it. Your confidence—and who you want to be—comes from taking the longer path.”

Harry didn’t get there by showing up ready. He got there by stepping back, listening, and earning it. That’s humility.

Redefining Success

Mitchell, a camper from Greenville, SC, shared how his view of achievement has shifted. “I used to think the only way to be great was to become a Ranger or Warrior in an activity. But now I’m learning that even if you’re halfway through a progression, that’s still a success. I look up to the guys who don’t make a big deal about it.”

There’s a quiet maturity in that statement. A recognition that greatness doesn’t need to be loud,and that progress itself is something worth honoring.

The Final Lesson

In the final days of each session, we see humility take the stage—though it doesn’t announce itself.

• It’s seen in the way boys carry themselves after Ironman.

• In the way the Journeymen honor each other at their Journey.

• In the way they pass the flame—quietly, reverently— during the final Campfire.

It’s a posture of service that says: “This place is bigger than me.”

Humility, at Falling Creek, is the kind of strength you don’t see until after the moment has passed. But when you do, you don’t forget it.

E

How Boys Learn Perseverance At Camp

STEPPING

Camp was just getting started.

by Leslie Sloan

Trunks were stashed under bunks, with hiking boots and favorite books tucked nearby. Shelves were full of bug spray, stuffed animals, and handwritten notes from home. Across the lake and up the gravel paths, boys were starting to settle in: learning the way to Morning Watch, remembering which way to turn for soccer vs. swimming, and starting to greet each other by name instead of just “hey, you.”

Each week at Falling Creek, we focus on a core value— something that quietly shapes how we live and grow together here on the mountain.

During the first week of Main Camp, the week’s focus was Perseverance.

As Paul writes in Hebrews 12:1, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Camp gives boys a glimpse of what that race looks like. It’s not always easy, but worth every step. Here, they build the habits of heart and character that remind them: perseverance isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up again and again.

Perseverance isn’t flashy.

It doesn’t always mean making it to the top or being the fastest or strongest. More often, it looks like a quiet, steady effort—like a boy re-tying the same knot after it slips loose. A camper dusting off his hands and trying again after falling halfway up the climbing wall. Someone sweeping the cabin floor—not perfectly, but better than yesterday.

These are the moments where grit grows. “Adventure skills are not designed to set kids up to fail—they’re designed to stretch them,” said Yates Pharr, Camp Director. “The learning here is led by cool and fun 20-year-olds who help campers go beyond what they think they can do.”

At the climbing wall, counselors Etta, Isaac, and Howard just finished teaching knot-tying. “When you use these knots, his life is in your hands,” the climbing lead told the boys. Someone called out, “That’s a lot of pressure!” And it is.

STICKING WITH IT. IN,

WWillie N., a first-time camper from Vienna, VA, chose Rock Climbing Prep so he could go on trips with his brother.

“I saw Rock Climbing in the camp videos,” he said. “That’s what I wanted to do. The knots and the rest of the prep were hard at first, but I’m getting better.”

In her TED Talk on Grit, researcher Angela Lee Duckworth describes grit as “living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” She notes that we still don’t fully know how to cultivate gritty kids—except this: give them a space where it’s okay to fail, where trying again is normal, and where a growth mindset gets built one step at a time. Falling Creek is that space.

Here, boys get to try. Whether it’s lighting a fire, climbing a wall, or speaking up in a group, each step matters. It’s okay to stumble. It’s even expected. What matters is that they show up again tomorrow and give it another shot.

“The beginning is the most important part of anything you try,” said Kara Edwards, sailing counselor. “All the vocabulary and directions can feel like a lot, but it’ll click if they keep showing up.”

At paddling, STEEL camper Max A. was in the water teaching campers how to roll their kayaks—a required skill for whitewater trips. Campers flipped upside down, banged on the hull, and worked their hips to roll back over. Max gave clear instructions, encouragement, and five solid tries before giving each camper a breather.

“I panicked—sorry Max!” said one camper. Max responded, “While you’re underwater, find calm. Focus on what you need to do to roll over.” He even placed a sponge on the camper’s shoulder. “Don’t drop it,” he said. “Keep your head steady. Let your hips and hands do the work.” The next time through, the camper succeeded. That camper was his younger brother, James.

“I’ve never rolled a kayak before,” James said. “Kayaking is really Max’s thing. But now I want to be down here with him and just get better. If I hadn’t rolled it today, I would’ve kept trying.” That’s perseverance. Not perfection, just progress and the will to keep going.

Dylan from Boca Raton, FL, knows the feeling.

“I came to the lake every day last year but didn’t really care about passing the swim test,” said Dylan. “This year I want to do paddling, so I just got in there and crushed it on the first day. I have other stuff I want to go do now.”

Across camp, perseverance looks different for every boy. But it’s already showing up—in small choices, quiet effort, and the courage to keep moving forward.

Watching your son step into something new without you by his side might stir memories of your own: the

first job, a hard class, the early risks that shaped who you are. Camp works in much the same way. Here, the stakes are low, but the growth is real. Perseverance doesn’t always look heroic. Sometimes it’s just waking up, lacing your sneakers (or slipping on Crocs), and giving it another go. That’s what we practice here at camp every single day. And maybe that week’s theme of “perseverance” was a reminder for all of us.

The moments that built your resilience probably didn’t come easy. They likely came from trying, failing, and trying again.

So when you write to your son at camp during the summer, tell him one of those stories. Share the unpolished version. Let him know you’ve been there, too. Because perseverance doesn’t mean never falling. It means getting back up.

community

GAINING INDEPENDENCE AT SUMMER CAMP:

One of the most meaningful things a boy can gain from camp isn’t something he can hold in his hand. It’s not an award, not a project, not even a new skill. It’s independence— something earned quietly over time, in small moments and big steps, as he begins to navigate life beyond the support structures he’s always known. At Falling Creek, independence doesn’t mean boys are left to figure everything out alone. It means they’re given the opportunity to try, to stretch, to stumble and recover, and to learn how to thrive in a space that’s fully their own.

home growing away from

by Michael Nuckles, Director of Camper Development

Wa place that’s his— and his alone

Home is full of familiar comforts: family routines, neighborhood friends, known expectations. But at camp, those supports give way to something just as powerful: ownership. From the moment a camper unpacks his trunk and sets up his bunk, he begins building a space that’s his.

At Falling Creek, that space expands daily. It includes each camper’s cabinmates who become brothers, the trails and courts and cabins where he learns and plays, the mentors he looks up to, and the skills he earns through practice and persistence. And perhaps most importantly, it includes the confidence that comes from knowing he’s capable of building a life, even temporarily, away from the comforts of home.

“Leaving family and friends at home can be sad, but being with the brothers I met at camp make it my favorite month of the year.”

– camper Ford M., Palm Beach, FL

Hard at First, But Worth It

For many boys, their first time away from home isn’t easy. Missing family and familiar rhythms is normal and expected. But being given the time and space to work through those feelings, supported by a caring staff and surrounded by peers doing the same, allows boys to develop real resilience.

“It was hard at first, but I’ve developed the ability to be away from my parents. I missed home a lot my first summer, and it took a lot of effort, but I’ve learned how to do well on my own. Now Falling Creek is my home away from home.”

– camper James D., Atlanta, GA

Independence Isn’t Isolation

Being independent doesn’t mean being alone. At camp, it means developing the internal compass to make decisions, form friendships, solve problems and bounce back from setbacks.

At camp, individual tasks and shared cabin responsibilities create dozens of opportunities each day for boys to take initiative and grow. Over time, these small acts shape something much bigger: ownership of their experience and pride in the young men they’re becoming.

“Being at camp has taught me that independence isn’t just doing things by myself, it’s learning how to make good decisions when nobody’s there telling you what to do.”

– camper Hank T., Altadena, CA

Brothers, Not Background Noise

The friendships formed in this space aren’t just convenient—they’re foundational. Without the usual filters of school pressures and digital distractions, boys meet each other as they are. Camp friendships are built on connection and depth. Each year, in big moments like Campfire and quiet ones during Evening Embers, campers profess feeling more fully known and accepted at camp than anywhere else. And that kind of connection gives boys the freedom to be independent without feeling alone.

“When I was a camper, it was incredibly beneficial to learn how to socialize outside the confines and structures of home. Because of that, my friendships felt fully and uniquely mine.”

– Tsuga Assistant Line Head and former camper Rex Bowen, Houston, TX

A Broader Perspective

For many, camp is their first experience connecting with peers from different parts of the country or world. These relationships stretch a boy’s understanding of others and help build empathy, another foundational aspect of independence.

“Leaving my friends and family at home is hard, but at home everyone is from the same place and does the same kind of things. At camp, you meet people from different states and countries and you learn more about how people do things in other places.”

– camper Owen L., Bethesda, MD

The Kind of Growth That Comes Home With Him

The lessons of independence learned at camp don’t stay behind in the mountains. They return with him in the way he takes responsibility, expresses himself, steps up when needed and navigates challenges with resilience. When a boy finds his strength outside the safety net of home, he returns with a new understanding of what he’s capable of, and a foundation that supports him long after the summer ends.

2,400

cups of Dee’s brussel sprouts enjoyed

6,726

total number of meals prepared on adventure trips

4 number of countries represented in the 2025 culinary staff team (US, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil.)

SAUCE The Secret

by Leslie Sloan

servedbythebell

Kitchen Values Start Behind the Line

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” — Philippians 2:4

We talk a lot about values at camp—courage, humility, joy, service. And while it’s easy to spot those qualities on the rock climbing wall or during a hike, sometimes you find them where you least expect it… like in a cloud of steam behind the serving line.

That’s right—we’re heading into the kitchen.

The First to Arrive, the Last to Leave

By the time most boys are just getting out of their bunks, the kitchen team is already hard at work. Their day starts before the bell and stretches long after the Dining Hall has been swept clean. They move quickly and quietly, chopping, whisking, baking, and prepping.

The Heartbeat of Camp Starts at 4 a.m.

While most of the camp is still snoozing, the kitchen is already wide awake. “Dee Keene, the Head Chef, gets here at 4 a.m.,” said Alli Kilby, Food Services Director.

“It’s hard work, but the team finds the good in every day. They’ve been pushing themselves, and it’s been amazing to see them grow and take on new challenges.”

By breakfast, there’s hot food on the tables, the salad bar is ready to roll, and even campers with special dietary needs are taken care of - without skipping a beat.

“You know they get to work early because how else could there be so much food every day?” said Mac C., a camper from Concord, NC. “There’s always seconds and thirds for 450 people!”

Not Just Cooking—Competing

This summer, the kitchen staff has added a little extra spice to their day: they’re joining in on the Green vs. Gold games! That’s right—chefs in aprons turned athletes.

Raphael and Dee were really funny in the dining hall race today, Mac added. “The kitchen staff isn’t just working—they’re having fun, too.”

232

average number of large pizzas made for pizza night

5,160 pounds of fresh apples plus 1,040 pounds of fresh bananas provided during the summer

E322

Bottles of Hot Sauce

1,300

average number of plates washed each day

4,167

S’mores consumed on adventure trips

And that’s of what makes this crew so special. They’re not just here to serve meals—they’re here to be part of the community. Whether it’s plating pasta or running a balloon race through the dining hall, they’re showing that joy and hard work can go hand-in-hand.

Service That Feeds More Than Hunger

It’s easy to take for granted that food just *shows up*, but every meal is the result of thoughtful preparation, teamwork, and a lot of behind-the-scenes hustle.

“I can’t see what goes on in the kitchen, but it’s obvious they work very hard,” said Cormac Carlin, a counselor from Derry, Ireland. “The food is excellent, always hot, and there’s plenty of it.”

We really haven’t had the same meal twice, added Gregor Innes, a counselor from Aberdeen, Scotland. “They’ve represented different cultures—we’ve had butter chicken, stir-fry… I mean, no haggis yet, but the summer’s not over.”

These aren’t just meals—they’re moments. Campers try new things, talk about their day, ask for seconds (and thirds), and thank the folks who made it all happen. The kitchen/dining is an “activity” in camp everyone does 3 time a day. Every plate is an act of service, every smile in the food line a little lesson in gratitude.

Living the Code—One Meal at a Time

“It’s more than just cooking food,” Alli said. “It’s about caring for people. Our staff brings such a positive attitude, even on the tough days.”

The Secret Sauce? It’s not the garlic, though that helps. It’s the way this team pours love into everything they do—quietly, consistently, joyfully.

So if your camper tells you how much they loved lunch, or how the kitchen staff made them laugh during Green vs. Gold, know that there’s a whole team of people behind the scenes living out the Code… with a spatula in one hand and a smile on their face.

They may not wear capes, but they do wear aprons. And we think that’s even better.

THINK. DREAM. JOB.

Areyouaformercamperlookingforameaningful summerjob,orawaytogainexperiencethat willsetyouapartinyourfuturecareer?Take partinthegreatestcamptradition:returning toFCCasastaffmemberto“passiton!”visit teamfallingcreek.com/apply/former-campers tohearmoreaboutwhatreturningislikeinthe wordsofotherformercampers.

#ItsYourTime

“I feel that my role this summer really allowed me to take on a lot of responsibility and learn how to be an effective leader and communicator, which I think will help me in all parts of my life. I really enjoyed being able to give back to Falling Creek for another year, and it brings me a lot of joy that the magic from when I was a camper is still alive for the next generation!”

- Michael Mullen, Charlotte, NC

Every year we select the best role models and instructors to join our team. If you know any outstanding young people, encourage them to visit teamfallingcreek. com to learn more and apply for the summer of their lives.

“Professionally, getting promoted to Trip Leader this summer gave me the confidence to look into pursuing a career in an outdoor field that would allow me to combine my passion for working with special needs kids and being able to work outdoors. Personally, it allowed me to refine my leadership skills. This mountain gave me a sense of belonging and a community that I spent a long time looking for in high school and the past 3 years of college.”

- Etta Pierce, Delaware, OH

“Spiritually, I really got closer to God by just unplugging from everything in my life and focusing on myself for the 3 months we spent in camp. It really changes your perspective of so many things that you may have trouble understanding when you’re always busy and distracted with other things.”

- Johann Graf von Westarp, San Andrés Cholua, Mexico

“I grew in all of these ways simply by the people I met. They taught me so much, whether professionally or personally. They made camp feel like home. I met friends for life and brought back my inner child.”

- Sage Williams, Drummond, WI

“I did not feel ready to go into life after school, but after this summer I feel so much more confident and sure of myself. I had a blast this summer and really just tried to enjoy it to the fullest.”

- Henry Koch, Washington, DC

“This was the best summer of my life. 10/10, I would recommend it to friends. I learned so much about leadership and how to be a good parent. I really enjoyed it and want to come back.”

- Erik Soelberg, Lewisville, TX

WAYS TO GIVE

ONE-TIME DONATION

Guardian Society

Imagine the boys who would benefit from the Falling Creek Camp experience, but simply can’t afford it. Your gift to support the Falling Creek Campership through the American Camp Association will make it possible. Thank you for your one-time commitment to passing on the FCC experience.

Guardian Society Levels (one-time donations)

Up to $999+ Friends of FCC

$1,000+ Green & Gold

$1,969+ Founder

$3,000+ FCC Code

$5,000+ Keeper of the Flame

$10,000+ Guardian of the Flame

MOUNTAINS HOW

The Spirit of Falling Creek Society

Pledge to donate annually and join the Spirit of Falling Creek Society. Choose from three taxdeductible pledge level amounts, each with a corresponding Behold bumper sticker to indicate your annual commitment.

(White Level)

$19.69 given annually

(Green Level)

$196.90 given annually

(Gold Level)

$1,969 given annually

Annual pledge donors receive these exclusive Behold bumper stickers, with each color indicating your annual commitment to the gift of camp.

Spirit of Falling Creek Society

Spirit of Falling Creek Society

Spirit of Falling Creek Society

Payment Information (choose one) Please note “Falling Creek Campership” on the memo line.

Donate securely online at www.acacamps.org/campership Mail a check to Falling Creek Camp (PO Box 98, Tuxedo NC 28784), made payable to American Camp Association.

Falling Creek partners with the American Camp Association to administer our scholarship fund. Your generous contribution directly supports Falling Creek scholarship recipients with tuition assistance. The American Camp Association© is a 501(c)(3) charity organization that works to preserve, promote, and enhance the camp experience for children, youth, and adults (tax ID# 35-0962419).

campscholarship

Our Appreciation to these Donors: September 2023 - August 2024 GREEN BEHOLD PLEDGE

Spirit of Falling Creek Society

FALLING CREEK CAMPERSHIP

Falling Creek has established a campership through the American Camp Association that is designed to enable boys from across the country to attend Falling Creek who couldn’t otherwise afford it. There are two ways to give: a one-time donation, or an annual Behold Pledge when you join one of three levels in the Spirit of Falling Creek Society.

Friends of Falling Creek Guardian Society Level

$196.90 GIVEN ANNUALLY

Bryan Fox

James Cardinale

Jack Cardinale

Michael Nuckles

BEHOLD PLEDGE MEMBERS $1,969 GIVEN ANNUALLY

Marisa and Yates Pharr UP TO $999

Chris Todd

Mike and Lenna Williams

Roy & Cheryl Keck, in honor of Levi Lazzaroni

Roy & Cheryl Keck, in honor of Sam Lazzaroni

Fite Paine, in honor of Yates Pharr and Paige Hafner

Mr. and Mrs. Dusty Davis

Kylan Smith

Amy and Jason Walton

George and Julia Price

Julian Beaujeu Dufour

Bruce Grawert, in honor of camp staff Simon Wilson and Doug Smathers

Ashley McMillan, on behalf of Space Camp - Perry Silver

Drumming For Good, in memory of Tom and Anne Ross

Suzanne Coddington

BEHOLDSomething to

$1,000+ DONOR LEVEL AMOUNT

Our Appreciation to these Donors: September 2023 - August 2024

Green and Gold Guardian Society Level

James J. Cotter Foundation Foundation for the Carolinas Adair Bard

Gerald M and Carole A Miller Family Foundation

Walter J. Brown, III David & Cindy Brown

Henderson County Community Foundation/ Camplify Donors: Scholarships to specifically support local boys

Nathalie L. Klaus Charitable Lead TrustJoel and Ashley Turne

“No single experience has ever contributed towards growing me into the man I am more than my years at Falling Creek. What a wonderful experience to look back on. My stories come up in casual conversation constantly. I learned discipline, brotherly love, problem solving, and numerous other life-long lessons. The bonds I formed, the lessons I learned, and the memories I shared from those years of Main Camp will be something I cherish my entire life. Thank you guys so much for everything.”

– Sam Chambers, Montgomery, AL (camper ’14-’16, ’18)

To give to the Falling Creek Campership, please use this link: www.acacamps.org/campership

fantheflame

Our Purpose

We exist to shepherd the journey of personal growth through love and adventure.

We believe... in boyhood. We are unselfish. We are all-in. We revere our community.

W

CAMP Traditions

Campfire:

On Sunday evenings, the entire camp community shares the tradition of our campfire program. We still hear the bullfrogs at night and leave our mark by singing songs, telling stories, and enjoying skits with our lifelong friends.

Church: After the big cabin inspection on Sunday morning, boys put on their white shirts for our Church service. Staff and campers organize and conduct the service. Falling Creek is a Christian camp, but we are nondenominational and our Church service is centered around common values that are important for everyone, no matter your specific faith background.

Morning Watch: After the wakeup bell and cabin clean up, campers and counselors silently gather in the chapel overlooking the lake. After a few minutes of quiet, hearing only the sounds of nature, a staff member delivers the message for the day. The topic of Morning Watch is typically a personal story, a reflection on a Christian Bible verse, or a quote related to one of the four pillars of the Falling Creek Code.

Honor Council: During Main Camp, the camp community elects campers and staff to the Honor Council. These are only a few boys and staff who they feel strongly exemplify the Falling Creek Spirit and Code, and are tapped and recognized during Campfire.

Evening Embers: Every evening after the lights bell, counselors facilitate “Evening Embers” for 15-20 minutes, during which a candle is lit and cabin mates talk about their busy day. They talk about how their day was, what they will do tomorrow, and what they may want to do before the session is over. As the session progresses, they will talk about the FCC Code, Christian values, and how the camp as a community models these expectations.

fantheflame

The Bell: The Falling Creek Camp bell serves as our camp clock, waking us up, shepherding us to activities, calling us to meals, and sending us to rest at the end of another full day. The sound of the bell is one that alumni remember fondly.

Morning Assembly: After a hearty breakfast, get ready for the world famous Morning Assembly where anything can happen and it usually does. Whether it’s one of our crazy staff skits or joining in an all-camp sing along, nothing beats this upbeat way to start a great camp day.

The entire camp community surprised Nathan this day in Main Camp 2025 by all wearing t-shirts that say “I wish I were NATHAN” to celebrate and honor his 25 years of service at FCC.

Community With a Purpose:

Falling Creek is an experience a boy carries with him for a lifetime. It’s an opportunity to make choices, and a chance to make friends. Backpacking trips into the mountains, sleeping under the stars, kayaking on the Green River, sailing, tennis, and basketball - all help build friendships and character that last a lifetime.

Father/Son Weekend: This is the time where boys (and dads) can be boys at Falling Creek, we partner with families to help boys develop into strong, healthy men. A critical part of this journey is the relationship a son has with his father. A Father/Son Weekend is the perfect time for dads and sons (kindergarten through high school) to spend quality time together.

Making Friendship a Fine Art:

A sense of brotherhood and traditional Christian values permeates the Falling Creek community in each of its programs. Our alumni often speak about the special bond they have with their camp friends.

CAMP Traditions

“Camp offers a chance for the boys and staff to grow their self-esteem, independence, leadership skills, peer relationships, sense of adventure, environmental awareness, values, and spirituality.”

—Yates Pharr, Director

COMPETITIVE SALARY & BENEFITS

Internship credit - Spiritual growth - Join a community where you make lifelong friendships & build world class career development networking - Counselors can earn $4k-$8k+ for the entire summer season (see pay sheet on website) - Housing and delicious meals provided (save most of your pay!) - Explore camps 900+ acres with private trails - Attractive pro deals for outdoor gear - Nationally recognized certifications and training - Become a lasting positive influence in the lives of young people

REAL LIFE SKILLS

Leadership

Live with courage | Always do your best | Strengthen your body, mind, and spirit | Persevere

Behold: 915 Acres of Playground

Falling Creek’s original 125 acres have expanded to over 900 acres of remarkable beauty. Here, boys from the US and beyond come to meet again each summer, and to bond in unity and brotherly love.

guts&glory

Awards-All

Sessions

Archery

June - Archer’s HeartBlake Dabney

June - Robin Hood Award -

J.W. Godwin

Main - Archer’s Heart -

Callahan Hutchins

Main - Spirit of the RangeHayes Polak

Arts and Crafts

June - Future Artist AwardWhit Kelly

June - You Are My Sunshine AwardSalomon Aguirre

Main - Van Gogh AwardLiam O’Keeffe

Main - You Are My Sunshine AwardJohn Golden

Backpacking

June - Brother Bear - Fox Weber

June - Helping HandsPherron Randall

Main - Beginner to BeastJP Gilroy and Mac Schneider

Main - Big Pack - Xander MacPhail

Basketball

June - Luc Mbah a Moute AwardMickey deYoung

June - TJ McConnell AwardElliott Wendell

Main - The Pat Bev AwardHudson Hopkins

Main - The Udonis Haslem AwardGrant Loeffler

Blacksmithing

June - Spirit of the ForgeJody Flournoy and Robb Rilee

Main - Forge or DieChristian DiMarco

Main - Spirit of the ForgeGeorge Corbyn

Main - Swish King - Ricky Reynolds

Chess

June - New Kid on the BoardSalomon Aguirre

June - The Stockfish SlayersAlex Looney and Teddy Soylemez

Main - The Chuzzle ChlayersFreeman Self and Hutch Walker

Climbing Wall

June - Master of PlasticBen Douglas

June - Stone MonkeyMadden Sherrill

Main - Spyder - Ford Mashek

Main - Stone MonkeyWill Marsiglia

Cross Country

June - Most Improved - Ethan Holy

June - Most Miles - Blake Dabney

Main - Going the Extra MileLee Swetenburg

Main - MVP - Porter Hujik

Disc Golf

June - Arm Cannon - Jack Reynolds

Main - Disc Finder AwardHamilton Brantley

Main - Scrambler AwardDixon Barre and George Thomas

F.A.R.M.

June - Best Farmers of the Chicken Jockey - Whitt Donnelly and Townes Johnson

Main - Growing and GlowingAiden Beach and Jack Tracey

Fishing

June - Deadliest CatchRichard Lazzara

June - Jeremy Wade AwardJames Davis

Main - Jeremy Wade AwardWinn Chamberlain

Main - Lazy FishermanWill Sanderson

Main - Tackle KingAlexander Miller

Flag Football:

June - Russell Wilson AwardHamill Crittendon

June - Megatron AwardMickey deYoung

Main - Cheetah AwardCharlie Schreeder

Main - Manning AwardWright Ritchey

Fly Fishing

June - Boisterous BrownPreston Talley

June - Rainbow RizzerHenry Wimberley

Main - Boisterous Brown TroutWright Ritchey

Main - Guinea Trout KingHudson Young

Main - Rainbow WranglerLowe Miller

Guitar

June - Super ShredderParker Simpson

June - The Weezer AwardOliver Runge

Main - Next Hendrix - Tommy Nix

Main - The Pick of DestinyCallahan Hutchins

Horseback

June - The Spirit AwardHudson Griffin

June - The Jockey’s JourneyMiles Valentino

Main - The Jockey’s JourneyLee Swetenburg

Main - The Razz AwardHenry Jessen

Main - The Spirit AwardGeorge Clements and Marshall Liggitt

Infirmary

Main - Bad to the BoneFletcher Elwell

Mountain Biking

June - Quad FarmerGriffin Sigmon

June - S.W.A.G.S. - Ben Hawkins

Main - Little Rippa - Arthur West

Main - Spam - Paul McSwain

Nature

June - Maple AwardDillon Malnate

June - Oak AwardMarshall Kincheloe

Main - Maple Award - Caleb Bowen

Main - Oak Award - Leuven Foutch

Outdoor Skills

June - Trail CaptainDalton Malnate

Main - Kindling Spirit - Alden Area

Paddling

June - Steeziest DucklingMiles Harden

June - Most Respectful PaddlerMaxwell Brown

Main - True GentlemanSam Lazzaroni

Photography

Main - Electric Smile - Aiden Scott

Main - Camera MagnetHayes Polak

Main - Camera Man in Training -

Simon Hunt and Mac Kintner

Main - Smile AmbassadorKeigo Kanazawa

Pickleball

June - Best Picklrs - Logan

Montgomery and James Starr

Main - Golden PickleNolan Holland

Main - Most Improved PicklerHank Tracey

Pottery

June - Spin DoctorLauchlin Powers

June - Wheely DedicatedOscar Burkhalter

Main - Hairy Potter AwardLeuven Foutch

Main - Spin Doctor - Gibs Fishback

Main - Wheely DedicatedHarrison Blais

guts&glory

W

Riflery

June - Junior Range Assistants

- Parker Eaves, Alex Looney, Pherron Randall, and Benny Sutherland

June - Most ImprovedJames Adams

June - SharpshootersCharlie Crumpler and Bear Brannon;

Main - Most Improved - Ike Collins

Main - SharpshooterRichard Magruder

Rock Climbing

June - Sloth of StokeWells Wallace

Main - Rock Jock - Gabe McKinney

Sailing

June - Sassy Skipper - William Sloan

Main - Captain-in-TrainingWill Marsiglia

Main - Sassy SkipperPatton Vargas

Soccer

June - The Anchor AwardGraham Spencer

June - The Golden GloveMax Gibson

June - The Heart AwardThomas Gibson

June - Rising StarDavid Schonberg

Main - Best TeamworkConnor Burchette

Main - The Golden BallPorter Hujik

Main - The Golden GloveWill Baumann

Main - Rising Star - Daniel Delrieu

Strength Training:

June - FCC’s Best LifterChase Killebrew

Main - Rising Up & Coming StrongmanGrayson Vanlandingham

Main - Strongest (Mr. Pound for Pound) Camper - Parker Spence

Swimming

June - Swim Star - Tripp McAdams

Main - Radio Man -

Matthew Karellas

Main - Swim Star - Jack Cardinale

Tennis

June - The One Rung To Rule Them All AwardLogan Montgomery

June - The Order 67 AwardTeddy Soylemez

Main - The Boss BabySamuel Teague

Main - The PunisherWills Yelverton

Theater

June - The Acting Bug AwardFox Weber

June - Yates Award - John Satler

Main - The Acting Bug AwardJulian Edmunds

Main - Yates Award - Hayes Polak

Ultimate Frisbee

June - The Nuts and Bolts AwardCharlie Screws

June - Twin FlamesMorris O’Brien and Mosty O’Brien

Main - Run Weally BigLucas Miranda

Main - Snake in the BoxLowe Miller

Woodworking

June - The Golden YatesJordan Aguirre

June - Thor’s Hammer - Julian Carr

Main - The Golden DovetailSimon Hunt

Main - The Golden YatesOllie Erwin

Cleanest Cabin Awards-

June Camp

SORREL Cabin 7

Counselors: Asher Sloan, Landry Dansou

Henry Albergotti, Gooding Cameron, John Crawford Cruse, Ethan Holy, Kilton Kingsman, Peter Klitsch, Robert Matic, Bo Tyler

TSUGA Cabin 13

Counselors: Moses Milenge, Jackson Behmer

James Devaney, Benson Edwards, John Isaac Epley, Scott Glass, Caleb Lazzara, Jackson Poole, Barnes Schmitt, Case Schoellkopf

ROBINIA

Cabin 26

Counselors: Ben Farmer, Dan Poole

Oscar Burkhalter, Mac Gardner, Maxwell Ghoorah, Gates Marwell, Jack Reynolds, Mac Rosengren, Bridger Schaumburg, Demir Sergici

BETULA Cabin 33

Counselor: Henry Koch

Hammond Cummings, JW Godwin, Lucas LeClair, Bauer Lewis, Hudson McBride, Benny Sutherland, Tripp Tobin, Carter Williams

SAMARA Cabin Hideaway

Sam Kelly, Triana Lorenzo, Lilly Janisch, Jen Cressman

Main Camp

SORREL

Cabin 4

Counselors: Michael Mullen, Jordi Sentoll

Alden Area, Henry Corbyn, Nathaniel Dovich, Holton Garner, John Golden, Will McEnery, Tuck McLanahan, Jeffrey Swope

TSUGA

Cabin 13

Counselors: Moses Milenge, Luke Stevenson

Stuart Carey, Scott Chafik, Luke Farmer, Brek Johnson, Reid Reddick, Robert Swope, Hudson Swyka, Arthur West

ROBINIA

Cabin 26

Counselors: Ben Farmer, Dan Poole

Shepherd Crotty, Simon Delrieu, John Graham, Simon Hunt, Philip Jones, Brooks McLanahan, Ricky Reynolds, Grayson Vanlandingham

BETULA

Cabin 31

Counselor: Jeremiah Hall-Jones

Langdon Dyksterhouse, George Edwards, Fletcher Elwell, Gibs Fishback, Teddy Fishback, William Nikodem, Owen West, Jackson Wolfe

SAMARA

Cabin Tuckasegee

Heather Moffatt, Madi Voyles, Bella Kraines, Maria Cruz

Amengual, Evi-Jane Garnett, Grace Thomsen, Fanni Barna

2-Week Camp

SORREL

Cabin 4

Counselors: Michael Mullen, Jamie Sheehy

Andy Jessen, Burke Van Dyke, Crawford Dillard, Finn Koudelka, Reid Hennessey, Smith Bailey, William Bell, Wood Gall

TSUGA

Cabin 15

Counselors: Rex Bowen, Elijah Pogue

Benjamin Davis, Charlie Morgan, Ford Molster, Leon Milam, Mack Bostic, Samuel Westover, Sloan Blanton, Ted Satler

ROBINIA

Cabin 28

Counselors: Winston Smith, Wabbly Castillo Yannelli

Buster Chapman, Finn Kornstein, Henry McLaughen, Hudson Mozingo, James Griffin, Mac Tindel, Remington Capt, Russell Boehm

BETULA

Cabin 36

Counselors: AJ Johnson, Miguel Angel Canas Santos

Brody Galbreath, Carter Lyles, Hale Bowman, Henry Hall, Luke Turrentine, Ward Headley, William Lampley, Xander Lockhart

SAMARA

Cabin Hideaway

Sam Kelly, Triana Lorenzo, Lilly Janisch, Jen Cressman

Junior Camp

SORREL

Cabin 2

Counselors: Michael Mullen, Will Cameron

Davis Peerson, Jack Bischoff, Kavi Morris, Luke Daniel, Robert Buckfelder, Sam Tracey, Taddeo Sirtori

Cabin 5

Counselors: Mateo Simbana, Sage Williams

Bobby Thomson, Gere Smith, Johnny Bahl, Landon Mullett, Oliver McKnight, Teddy Flynn, Teddy Hutcherson

TSUGA

Cabin 10

Counselors: Moise Milenge, Marcos Celma

Brendan Reilly, Charles Allen, Frank Brooks, George Smith, Hutton Mard, Jack Karas, Remy Karas, Wyatt MacKeen

Cabin 12

Counselors: Gabe Cullens, Charlie Friedrich

Alistair Morrison, Brooks McAleer, Colin Matthews, James Rhea, Owen Rudolph, Thomas Alexander, Will Gentry, Wilson Wycoff

ROBINIA

Cabin 20

Counselors: Gregor Innes, Isaac Brown

Carter Kent, Cooper Ravencraft, Gibson Hunt, Henry Fitch, Henry Phipps, Henry Shultz, John Datta, Wilson Kirby

Cabin 26

Counselors: Ben Farmer, Thomas Anders

Clark Murphy, Daxton Tupis, Graham Story, Jack Carlson, Jack Thomas, Jamie Stevens, Sam Harris, Worth Story

BETULA

Cabin 36

Counselors: AJ Johnson, Jeremiah Hall-Jones

Avery Ines, Colt Sherman, Harrison Rankin, Henry Sherman, James Bisciotti, James McCrystle, Theo Tracey, Zane Hoover

SAMARA

Hideaway

Sam Kelly, Triana Lorenzo, Lilly Janisch, Jennifer Cressman

guts&glory

ProgressionsAll Sessions

Archery RANGERS

Blake Dabney

Finley Glushkoff

Grant Kosel

Connor Lai

Carter Lentz

Drew Walsh

Guy Wengler

WARRIORS

Hank Hobbs

Carter Lentz

Phillip Sudduth

Benny Sutherland

Guy Wengler

Backpacking RANGERS

JP Gilroy

Xander MacPhail

Mac Schneider

WARRIORS

JP Gilroy

Xander MacPhail

Mac Schneider

Basketball RANGERS

Spencer Blackwood

Michael Correia

Langdon Dyksterhouse

Philip Jones

Michael LoGuidice

Sam McAulay

Thomas McAulay

Hudson McBride

Gabe Netter

Saxon Ranton

Madden Sherrill

Gaines Sturdivant

Robert Swope

Edwin Tyler

Carter Williams

WARRIORS

Sanders Mitchener

Blacksmithing RANGERS

Harrison Blais

Russell Carpenter

Townes Clements

Benjamin Finney

Ricky Reynolds

Charles Simmons

Cole Swyka

Charlie Wukasch

Climbing Wall RANGERS

Harrison Blais

James Fuller

Will Marsiglia

Ford Mashek

Brooks McLanahan

Davis Springmeyer

WARRIORS

Harrison Blais

James Fuller

Will Marsiglia

Ford Mashek

Brooks McLanahan

Davis Springmeyer

Cross Country RANGERS

Porter Hujik

Disc Golf RANGERS

John Isaac Epley

Jack Reynolds

Matthew Richter

Wade Monroe

WARRIORS

John Isaac Epley

Wade Monroe

F.A.R.M. RANGERS

Jack Tracey

WARRIORS

Nicholas Ashcroft

Jack Tracey

Fishing RANGERS

Charlie Flouhouse

Matthew Nelson

WARRIORS

Charlie Flouhouse

Winn Chamberlain

Grayson Vanlandingham

Flag Football: RANGERS

Tripp Biosca

Mitchell Blanks

Richard Magruder

Robert May

Lowe Miller

WARRIORS

Lowe Miller

Bowman Ritchey

Wright Ritchey

Fly Fishing RANGERS

George Barret

Sanders Garner

Madden Mahalak

Zeno Mesinoglu

Guitar RANGERS

Walker Borders

Callahan Hutchins

Thad Jones

Tommy Nix

Mountain Biking RANGERS

Finley Glushkoff

Holden Harrell

Banks Johnston

Lucas LeClair

Thomas LoGuidice

Paul McSwain

WARRIORS

Holden Harrell

Paul McSwain

Miles Stengle

Nature RANGERS

Russell Carpenter

Leuven Foutch

Brek Johnson

Taylor Odom

Outdoor Skills WARRIORS

Simon Hunt

Paddling RANGERS

Harry Ballance

Hammond Cummings

William Davis

Miles Harden

Nick Lauco

Ryder Lazzara

Sam Lazzaroni

Bauer Lewis

Nathan Levinson

Matthew McReaken

Liam O’Brien

John Hayden Scheland

Berkley Willis

WARRIORS

William Davis

Pickleball RANGERS

William Camp

Julian Carr

Nolan Holland

Gideon Koehring

Walker Mackelcan

Logan Montgomery

Davis Springmeyer

James Starr

Ford Wallerstein

WARRIORS

William Camp

Gideon Koehring

Logan Montgomery

Pottery RANGERS

Harrison Blais

Oscar Burkhalter

Jack Cardinale

Leuven Foutch

Whit Kelly

Alex Looney

Marshall Powers

WARRIORS

Jack Cardinale

Marshall Liggitt

Tripp McAdams

Riflery RANGERS

Aiden Beach

Christian DiMarco

Parker Eaves

Mac Kintner

Alex Looney

Max Montelaro

William White

WARRIORS

Parker Eaves

Richard Magruder

Rock Climbing RANGERS

Mack Eubanks

Will Marsiglia

Brooks McLanahan

Parker Spence Weyman Weiner

Sailing RANGERS

Saxon Ranton

Soccer RANGERS

Oliver Collard

William Crawford

Gibs Fishback

Roman Gall

OP Gardner

Max Gibson

Porter Hujik

Holden Killebrew

WARRIORS

Tripp Biosca

Max Gibson

Porter Hujik

Strength Training RANGERS

Chase Killebrew

Grayson Vanlandingham

WARRIORS

Chase Killebrew

Grayson Vanlandingham

guts&glory

Swimming RANGERS

Jack Cardinale

Thad Jones

WARRIORS

Jack Cardinale

Tennis RANGERS

Logan Montgomery

WARRIORS

Wills Yelverton

Theater

RANGERS

John Bostic

George Clary

Callahan Hutchins

Hayes Polak

Vedaan Shah

Phillip Sudduth

WARRIORS

Callahan Hutchins

Hayes Polak

Phillip Sudduth

Ultimate Frisbee RANGERS

Dixon Barre

George Thomas

WARRIORS

Dixon Barre

Woodworking RANGERS

Jordan Aguirre

Julian Carr

Michael Donovan

Ollie Erwin

Robert Janson

George Larrabee

Andrew Todd

George Young

WARRIORS

Jordan Aguirre

Julian Carr

Ollie Erwin

Simon Hunt

George Young

Staff Honors

Green & Gold Award

Whit Flickinger (camper ’12-’19, staff ’23-’25) and Johnny “Beans” Ervin (camper ’13-’19, staff ’23-’25)

Staff Years

5TH YEAR STAFF:

Cole Bearrow

Johnny Chamoun

Tom Feingold

Evan Hunt

Adonis Merritt (F/S)

Zach Scheidly (F/S)

Bre Snider

Erik Soelberg

Freddy Somers

Smat Sutton (F/S)

Whit Uden

10TH YEAR STAFF:

Tania Battista (F/S)

Tommy Bond (F/S)

Rex Bowen

Will Cameron

Gabe Cullens

Henry Donahue

Beans Ervin

Andrew Josupait (F/S)

Ben Kampine

Lex McDonald (F/S)

15TH YEAR STAFF:

Steve Feingold

Mike Nuckles

20TH YEAR STAFF: Frank Tindall

25TH YEAR STAFF: Nathan Newquist

(F/S = Father/Son Weekend Staff)

Activity Leaders

ARCHERY: Heather Moffatt

ARTS & CRAFTS: Lilly Janisch and Jordan Lenarz (June Camp)

BASKETBALL: Rex Bowen

BLACKSMITHING: David Echeverria

CHESS: William Ashcroft

CLIMBING WALL: Jacob Breed, Cooper Cowden

CROSS COUNTRY: Declan Oberlies

DISC GOLF: Jaxon Wooten

F.A.R.M. - Ben Farmer, János Csurár

FISHING: Avery LeMay

FLY FISHING: Henry Koch

FOOTBALL: AJ Johnson

HORSEBACK RIDING: Sam Kelly

MUSIC: Michael Mullen

NATURE: Ben Farmer

OUTDOOR SKILLS: Grace Thomsen

PICKLEBALL: Asher Sloan, Elijah Pogue

POTTERY: Evi-Jane Garnett

RIFLERY: Anthony Johnson

SAILING: Johann Graf von Westarp Arellano

SOCCER: Moses Milenge

STRENGTH TRAINING: Erik Figueroa, Will Cameron (June Camp)

SWIMMING: Andrea “Andy” Perez

TENNIS: Charlie Friedrich

THEATER: Colin Oram

ULTIMATE FRISBEE: Michael Mullen

WOODWORKING: Miguel Cañas, DQ Lonzer

Adventure Activity Leaders

BACKPACKING: James Drury, Madi Voyles

PADDLING: Kennedy Bass, Lee Flickling, Evan Stone

MOUNTAIN BIKING:

Gunner Glick, Zac “Zeus” Merange

ROCK CLIMBING: Etta Peirce, Garry Storm, Scuba Keiser (June Camp)

Assistant Outdoor Adventure Director: Nathan “Stick” Stichter

Assistant Program Directors: Sunny Durocher

Ford Layman

Program Coordinators

Will Cameron Asher Sloan

Culinary Leadership

Food Service Director - Alli Kilby

Head Chef - Dee Keene

Chef - Raphael Hauptli

Kitchen Managers - Isaac Hernandez, Yera Ochoa

Pack Out Lead - CJ Sumner

IT Leadership

Gregor Innes

Media Team Leadership

Blog: Leslie Sloan

Photography: Carolina Meneses

Videography: Grace Thomsen

2025 Returning Keeper of the Flame

Will Cameron (’21)

2025 Returning Journeyman

Johnny “Beans” Ervin (’19)

Taps Players

Jaden Latiola CJ Sumner

keepersoftheflameandjourneymen

William Davis (Keeper of the Flame), Grant Loeffler (Journeyman), Will Marsiglia (Journeyman), Gideon Koehring (Journeyman), Andrew Kosel (Journeyman),Jack Cardinale (Journeyman), Berkley Willis (Journeyman), Thad Jones (Journeyman), Jack Solcher (Journeyman), Beans Ervin (Journeyman), Will Cameron (Keeper of the Flame), Will Marsiglia (Journeyman).

THE HIGHEST RANK ATTAINABLE AT FALLING CREEK IS KEEPER OF THE FLAME.

A camper achieving Warrior in 3 activities and consistently demonstrating the FCC Code, becomes a candidate to earn Keeper of the Flame. At that point, he becomes a Journeyman and must successfully complete his journey to earn the rank of Keeper of the Flame. When a camper is designated as a Journeyman, he is assigned a staff member as his mentor to help him prepare. The Journey consists of building and tending a campfire, venturing out on an overnight solo experience, composing an essay about his time at Falling Creek and how he can share his light with others, sawing logs, chopping, and then carrying the split wood to be used at different Sunday night campfires, and completing an orienteering challenge.

This past summer, William Davis and Will Cameron returned as a Keepers of the Flame. We would like to congratulate Jack Solcher, Andrew Kosal, Berkeley Willis, Grant Loeffler, Will Marsiglia, and Gideon Koehring who embarked on their Journeys during the last week of camp. After a challenging 24 hours, no one advanced to become a Keeper of the Flame. Wills Yelverton and Jack Cardinale also became Journeymen just before the end of camp. We are incredibly proud of these boys for making it to the level of Journeyman, something that very few campers achieve. We hope they’ll return next summer to attempt their Journeys again if they wish. Congratulations to our 2025 Journeymen!

Their relationship with each is an example of love for us all. They share this love with our camp community, never once wavering from their positive attitudes and willingness to help - to lend a hand, give a listening ear, encouraging words, advice spoken from experience, or baring their green and gold painted chests. They choose again and again to serve others in love and joy, reflecting God’s character. Their humor is a gift, helping others to have fun and strengthening connections within the community.

Their belief on the impact that Falling Creek can have on others is also on full display. The culture of shepherding counselors and campers through love and adventure continues to be set by these two. The experience of the camper is paramount to them, and they understand our job as staff is to serve these young boys first. There is nothing they won’t do for the sake of the experience of the camper, and the same is true for their support and celebration of the staff.

Their answer is most always a “yes,” and their standard of quality, reliability, intentionality, and relationships is something to be admired and followed and we all benefited from it this summer.

What a powerhouse duo. That’s three summers of immeasurable fun, friendship, understanding, empathy, leadership, and off-the-wall announcements. They’re dependable, charismatic, joyous and helpful.

Thank you. We love you, Whit and Beans.

THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE THE DUOgreenandgoldaward [Whit &

The Green & Gold Award is given annually to the staff member who best exemplifies The Falling Creek Code – Positive Attitude, Warrior Spirit, Servant’s Heart, Moral Compass - and who is known for carrying the Falling Creek spirit of unselfishness in his/her heart.

Dedication and commitment to serving the mission and purpose of FCC is of high importance.

Anyone on staff in the 2025 summer was eligible, except previous recipients, including Simon Wilson, Nathan Newquist, Paige Hafner, Will Walters, Jules Jeffries, and Catie Cornett.

Whit & Beans

campsongs

Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Verse 1: There is a place in North Carolina where my friends and I like to go. And my spirit never leaves there, so in the winter I’m never alone.

Chorus: Will the circle be unbroken, by-and-by Lord by-and-by. There’s a better home awaiting, in the sky Lord in the sky.

Verse 2: Well I don’t like to play this guitar much, in front of people I don’t know. But by the fireside, here by my brothers, I feel like I could go on and on.

Verse 3: So tell your neighbor that you need him, let your good friends cloud your head. And lend an ear out in the darkness, for there’s bound to be storms ahead.

Verse 4: So when you leave tonight by the firelight, please leave your spirit here. And we’ll let the trees, and all the memories, guard them all ‘til we’re back next year.

announcementsfortheday

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Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/falling-creek-camp

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@fallingcreekcamp

Mike Stephenson (staff ’13-’14, ’16-’17) Hoschton, GA

We have been in Delaware the last 4 years with my wife’s Chick-fil-A. She was just selected as the operator at a new location in Salisbury, NC! I’m very excited. We’ll move down there in early 2026. I’ll continue working as a school psychologist in one of the schools in the area.

Mike Edson (camper ’06-’10) Greenwich, CT

Hope all is well FCC community. I just finished up a contract job in New Zealand and on vacation in Melbourne, Australia before moving back to the states. Met up with James Lindberg (Staff ’10), Melbourne, Australia, my former counselor in 2010. We had a great time catching up and talking about our current lives after not seeing each other for 15 years. Hope y’all have a blessed day and I wanted to share my favorite message from the opening of every Campfire - “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1

Members of the Falling Creek Camp community who live by the FCC Code: https://fallingcreek.com/ blog/tagged/fcc--code

Carson Skidmore (camper ’09-’12, staff ’18-’19,’21-’22)

Carson Skidmore and Madalyn Equi (staff ’21) were married at Falling Creek on Saturday, September 27, 2025. They said their vows at the Valley View by the upper riding ring. A large group of Falling Creek alumni were present to celebrate the couple, including several alumni in Carson’s family.

ELeft to right: Croft Hamilton (’19, ’21-’22, ‘24), KC Collins (’19-’23), Lauren Croll (’19, ’21-’22), Marisa and Yates Pharr, Erika Ludwick, Will Niemeyer (’09-’10,’12’16’21-’22), Will Weaver (‘08-’14,’19,’21-’23), Dan Waterland (‘09-’12, ’21-’22), and Izzy Mohammadi-Hall.

Carson with his uncles and cousin, Left to right: Karl Schmitter (camper ’10), Doug Skidmore (camper ’74), Carson, Chip Skidmore (camper ’77-’79), Brad Skidmore (camper ’72-’74), Matt Skidmore (camper ’11)

WThe Mackintosh Family’s Gift

Nathan Hall and Simon Wilson went to visit Paula Mackintosh, whose husband Richard led the woodworking program at camp in 2009 and 2010. Richard passed away peacefully on August 27th, and the Mackintosh family generously donated many of his tools to camp. Richard was not only a skilled woodworker, he was a talented teacher who found joy in sharing his passion for the craft with youth. He was a member of the Greenville Woodworking Guild, and in addition to teaching boys at Falling Creek, he also taught many young people at the Roper Mountain Science Center. Simon was also able to reconnect with Richard’s son Ian, who was a camper at Falling Creek from ‘94-’97. Simon happened to be his cabin counselor!

Richard Mackintosh (staff ’09-’10)

We are very grateful for the positive impact Richard made on the Falling Creek community, and his spirit will live on at camp whenever a boy uses one of these tools.

Carey (’96-’04 camper, ’06-’07, ’09-’10 staff, ’12-’13

For 10 years, we would regularly get together for a New Year’s reunion. It’s been a decade since, but I hosted a camp reunion again for this past 2025 New Year’s in Asheville, NC.

Simon Wilson and Paula Mackintosh

Crom

program director)

Richard teaching in the woodshop in 2009

L to r: Alli (Baker) King, Sean Budgin, Render Braswell, Chris Stec, Lanier Budgin, Max King, Crom Carey, Clay Willett, Todd Sandberg, Jay Deguire, Robert Kirby, Bo Rainbow, Kim Bain, Bill Wilson, Jonathan Bain, Laura (Garrett) Bain, Donnie Bain, Chad Auten, Thomas Willett, Eric Blore, Tracy (Howard) Roughton and family. Not pictured, but at the party: Chuck McGrady (literally wearing elastic pants and staff shirt) and John Bates and family.

Talbot (Staff ’75-’79) & Jan (Staff ’78-’79, ’94-’03) Carter, Greenville, SC

Good evening Yates. Attached is a photo that shows three generations of Carter “Boys” at the 2025 FCC May Father Son Weekend, all who have and continue to cherish FCC.

Evan Long (camper ’07-’10) Falling Creek alumnus Evan Long recently direct commissioned into the U.S. Air Force Reserve as an acquisitions officer. The acquisitions community is responsible for buying everything the Air Force uses, translating the nation’s economic potential into tangible warfighting capability. Evan is one of only five civilians in a new pilot program designed to tap technical and business talent for Reserve service in acquisitions and similar fields. As a direct commissioned reservist, the newly minted Captain Long will keep his civilian job and serve part-time unless activated in an emergency. This is the conclusion of a long road for Evan, which began when he was first rejected from military service ten years ago. Although his path to service has evolved as he grew in his civilian career while waiting out repeated medical deferrals and the occasional bureaucratic mishap, the commitment to service that was reinforced by his role models at Falling

Creek carried him through. One of the most essential lessons we can teach our campers is the importance of smiling and trying again when things don’t go their way; Evan’s first experience on a mountain bike didn’t work out like he had planned either, but he got back on. (see inset photo below)

In civilian life, Evan currently works at Anduril Industries, the leading startup in the growing “defense tech” industry, where he builds autonomous submarines and other unmanned maritime systems for the U.S. Navy

and allied nations. He recently graduated from MIT with a master’s in mechanical engineering and an MBA, and his grad school experience allowed him an opportunity to volunteer in a drone factory in wartime Ukraine. That experience profoundly shaped his worldview, hardening his belief that the best way to prevent war is to ensure that the democracies can defend themselves from the dictators. As both an officer and a civilian, Evan now seeks to invest his career in preserving peace.

yates@fallingcreek.com

L to r: Talbot, Jonathan (camper ’90, ’92-’97, staff ’01-’02, ’04), Knox (Jonathan’s son), Bo (Chris’ son), Chris (camper ’93-’00), and Nathan (Jonathan’s son). Not Pictured: Talbot & Jan’s third son, Phillip (camper ’98-’03), and their grandson Luke, who attended the 2025 Kickoff Father/Son Weekend.

Evan Long recently commissioned into the U.S. Air Force Reserve as an acquisitions officer.

WJoel Priest (staff ’82-’85, ’09-’10)

I just had to write and share my gratitude for you and Falling Creek.

I’m reminded again of the fact that most everything I hold dear about my life was created or incubated at Falling Creek Camp. Items at the top of the list include

lifelong friends, love of work and play in the outdoors, love of music and sharing it with others, and a passion for teaching. And let’s not forget finding my soulmate / love of my life at camp. I owe Falling Creek a huge THANK YOU again and again.

Joel’s family of four down by their creek. Their son Jasper (camper ’09-’10) will be a senior studying graphic design and their son Mateo will be a sophomore studying computer science and business. My wife Marianna is busy caring for her parents and setting up an AirBnb for us to run. Life is good”

Update on Joel

FCC sent me into the mountains, and it is the mountains I’m heading back to in a big way. Tomorrow I fly out to Alaska to begin a 25-day expedition to climb Denali with NOLS. It’s been a dream of mine for 40 years, a serious intention for about 8 years, and an active focus for the last 11 months. I retired from Darrow School last June and have been training ever since. I think I’m the fittest I’ve been since my early 30’s, which feels pretty dang good. Of course, I’m hoping and planning on making the 20,310’ summit, but anything above Rocky Mountain/ Sierras elevation (~14,500’) would feel like victory. I’ll send some pictures when I get back.

In June 2025, Joel succeeded in his 40-year dream of climbing Denali, the tallest mountain in North America: “After a year of intense training and three weeks of camping and climbing up the glaciers that surround the mountain, I reached a high point of 16,200’ feet above sea level on the West Buttress Ridge of Denali. While I did not reach the summit (at 20,320), due to a combination of logistical, weather and altitude complications, I reached a point higher than I’ve ever been before in decades of mountaineering. This was incredibly satisfying for me. I went with 8 teammates and 4 instructors from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), with whom I used to lead wilderness courses back in the 1990’s after I left Falling Creek. Climbing Denali also marks the 43rd High Point I’ve reached in my pursuit of America’s 50 State High Points (Side Note: Way back in July of 1982, I climbed my first High Point during my first summer at FCC: North Carolina’s Mt. Mitchell with fellow mountaineer Jeff Marble and 10 campers). Seven more High Points to go! I’m especially grateful for the support and encouragement of my family, who welcomed me home in July to the green hills of western Massachusetts.Happy Trails, Joel Priest (staff ’82-’85, ’09-’10)

Joel climbing in the Gunks (with fellow alumnus Dustin Portzline, staff ’09-’10)

Joel reached a high point of 16,200’ on the West Buttress Ridge of Denali

Cabin 3: Back: Stepan Parizek, Hobbs Wahl, Wicker McAdams, McCoy Glass, George Bomar, Jay Williams. Front: Charlie Vollmer, Max Swingle, Hyde Thompson, James Gerry

Cabin 6: Back: Jamie Sheehy, Luke Labanowski, Alex deYoung, Benjamin Mitchell, Bo Newman, Koah Brooks. Front: Fionn Conroy, Sully Sweetman, James Parrish, Penn Bethune

Cabin 1: Back: Declan Oberlies, Raymond Mitchell, Chip Sheain, Eli Ettner, Lawson Brandriff, Luke Stevenson. Front: Henry Weber, Copeland Anderson, Charlie Shaefer

Cabin 2: Back: Diego Garcia, James Perine, Ben Hawkins, Nicholas Lucas, Kieran Kalavar, Sage Williams. Front: Anderson Stukes, Peter Gehan, Gabe Mayer, Edward Wacker

Cabin 5: Back: Rodrigo de Unanue, Channing Chitwood, Elliott Aswell, Jack Popp, Walker Wrenn, Zion Woodruff. Front: Luke Matthews, Charlie Crumpler, Walt Merriam, Harris Lemoine

Cabin 8: Back: Henry Smith, Will Burns, Oliver Gehan, William Walsh, Alec Haynie, Jaden Latiola. Front: Teddy Soylemez, Christian Jordan, Salomon Aguirre, Walker Teague

Cabin 7: Back: Asher Sloan, Henry Albergotti, Bo Tyler, John Crawford Cruse, Robert Matic, Landry Dansou. Front: Peter Klitsch, Gooding Cameron, Kilton Kingsman, Ethan Holy

Cabin 4: Back: Jordi Sentoll, Decatur McGuire, Quincy Cooper, Bo Farmer, Lee Cayne, Michael Mullen. Front: Mosty O’Brien, Marris O’Brien, Benjamin Flynn, Wright Davis

Cabin 9: Back: Janos Csurar, Clark Perry, Townes Johnson, Allan Shaefer, Alexander Goldman, Will Cameron. Front: Reed Campbell, George Bomar, Bridger Gerry, Charlie Chitwood

Cabin 12: Back: Charlie Friedrich, Randell Thomas, Langston Bulloch, Griffin Sigmon, Gabe Cullens. Front: Grayson Habegger, Ben Savage, Pickett Gore, Billy Spencer, Jack Hurley

Cabin 15: Back: Rex Bowen, Joshua Latham, Oakes Cross, Rivers Stevens, Simms Hardin, Elijah Pogue. Front: George Newman, Davis Teague, Peter Warnock, Lawrence Burtschy

Cabin 10: Back: Luke Dodson, Wit Riche, Paul Farabaugh, Adrian Rionda, Leo Carney, Marcos Celma. Front: McCoy McKernan, Hudson Griffin, Elijah Bock, Max Plunkett

Cabin 13: Back: Moise Milenge, Jackson Poole, John Isaac Epley, James Devaney, Benson Edwards, Jackson Behmer. Front: Caleb Lazzara, Scott Glass, Case Schoellkopf, Barnes Schmitt

Cabin 20: Back: Talbot Harris, Daniel Matic, Charlie Phillips, Bentley Knox, Benjamin Hoffman, Gregor Innes. Front: Crawford Robb, Charlie Davis, Bryce Jensen, Lachlan Whelan, Charlie Williamson

Cabin 11: Back: William Ashcroft, Thomas Gibson, Max Gibson, Mac Ragland, Perry Eastman, Christian Karatzas. Front: Huck Peterson, Johnny Sherrill, Tack Boehm, Willy Vollmer, Fox Weber

Cabin 14: Back: Will Gilliard, Dalton Malnate, Harrison Lee, Jack Brothers, Jake Schwartz, Clayton Kunz. Front: Graham Spencer, Bennett Sands, Caleb Ernst, Richard Lazzara

Cabin 21: Back: Christian Ishimwe, Callum Carlson, Ellis Bacon, George Lane, Marshall Kincheloe, Cooper Cowden. Front: Leo Gueikian, Alexander Bain, Drew Walsh, William Ripple

Cabin 19: Back: Isaac Brown, Hank Bentley, Michael LoGuidice, Oliver Runge, James Moore, Reuben Seroa. Front: Ladd Zvara, Teddy Michael, Brooks Brown, Guy Lindenbaum

Cabin 16: Back: Harry Spring, Edwin Tyler, Lawrence Labanowski, Lee Gremillion, Caleb Black. Front: Joe Prine, Hamill Crittendon, Paxton Mard, Walker Story

Cabin 17: Back: DQ Lonzer, Henry Levinson, Davis Petrey, Wyatt Murphy, Tripp Merriam III, Whit Uden. Front: Noah Shattuck, Jody Flournoy, Ben Douglas, Henry Hobbs

Cabin 22: Back: Wabbly Castillo, William Sedmak, Nate Giffin, Edward Spizer, Lauchlin Powers, Erik Soelberg. Front: Lawson Simon, JJ Trimble, James Davis, Nalin Joseph

Cabin 25: Back: Joe Jardina, Teddy Swingle, Owen Fletcher, Parker Simpson, Mack Schoellkopf, Jordain Ferguson. Front: Harrison Lucenti, Meyer Thompson, Wells Thomas, Whit Smith

Cabin 28: Back: Mateo Simbana, Charlie Reynolds, David DeMeyers, James LeBourgeois, Jacob Wilner, Winston Smith. Front: Reid Johnston, Teddy Bender, Robb Rilee, Marshall Williams

Cabin 31: Back: Davis Smith, Hayden Ernst, Bo Kelly, Preston Talley, Drew Sedgwick, Jeremiah Hall-Jones. Front: Finley Glushkoff, Hudson Selbee, Will Hoots, Max Bradley

Cabin 23: Back: Bryant Lehr, James Fitzpatrick, William Sloan, Keitt Gray, David Schonberg, Jacob Breed. Front: Liam Nanus, Madden Sherrill, Matthew Richter, Henry Wimberley

Cabin 26: Back: Ben Farmer, Mac Rosengren, Jack Reynolds, Gates Marwell, Bridger Schaumburg, Dan Poole. Front: Oscar Burkhalter, Mac Gardner, Demir Sergici, Maxwell Ghoorah

Cabin 29: Back: Carson Christopher, Wells Wallace, Preston Lancaster, Borden Douglas, George Paradis, Johann Graf von Westarp Arellano. Front: Parker Deaton, Daniel Layfield, Matthew Nelson, Liam Rogers

Cabin 32: Back: Ham Mandell, Holden Killebrew, Nathaniel Sherman, Julian Carr, John Satler, Colin Oram. Front: Peyton Tinghitella, Jack Puckett, Ronan Carver Patel, Haynes Crumpler

Cabin 24: Back: Eli Sherrill, Yates Schipper, Gabe Netter, Cameron Robinson, Mickey deYoung, Bryson Clouse. Front: Jacob Downs, Win Hobbs, John Pontius, Whitt Donnelly

Cabin 27: Back: Ben Kampine, Rip Clasen, Simms Farnsworth, James Camp, James Adams, Jaxon Wooten. Front: Liam Marwell, Graham Zacharkiw, Haynes Robinson, Beckett Sapp

Cabin 30: Back: Aryan Kumar, Harrison Bulloch, Dillon Malnate, Rhodes McBride, Erik Figueroa. Front: Keval Patel, Evan Petrey, Jack Schweppe, Whit Kelly, Elliott Wendell

Cabin 33: Back: Tripp Tobin, Hudson McBride, Benny Sutherland, Bauer Lewis, Henry Koch. Front: Lucas LeClair, Hammond Cummings, JW Godwin, Carter Williams

Cabin 34: Back: Brayden Hunt, Charlie Ray, Drayton Blount, Charlie Screws, Luke Schwartz, Miguel Cañas. Front: Nick Iauco, Chase Stephens, Nicolas Rionda, Matthew Fandetti

Cabin 37: Back: RJ Bascom, Chase Killebrew, Nathan Levinson, Henry Spizer, Taylor Stukes, Clayton Allen. Front: Jack Prince, Charlie Coughlin, Ford Wallerstein, Jack Herzog

Cabin 1: Back: Asher Sloan, Hunter Beebe, Jack Swetenburg, William Sherman, Declan Oberlies. Front: Patrick Raynor, Nico Berger, Keigo Kanazawa, Charlie Old, Johnny Burchette

Cabin 35: Back: Cormac Carlin, Jordan Aguirre, Ryder Lazzara, Tripp McAdams, Newton Sams, Howard Bellingrath. Front: Jackson Olivo, Thomas LoGuidice, Buck Cole, Miles Harden

Cabin 39: Back: Tyler Plowman, Pherron Randall, Hank Barrett, Alex Looney, Bear Brannon, Anthony Johnson. Front: Nolan Caughran, Carter Talley, Parker Eaves, Liam Keys

Cabin 2: Back: Diego Garcia, Cole Crawford, William Chapman, Row Hutchins, Sage Williams. Front: John McMillan, Archer Reeves, Kish Motwani, Otis Walker, Dillon McCullough

Cabin 36: Back: Tom Short, Miles Valentino, Marshall Powers, James Starr, Logan Montgomery, AJ Johnson. Front: Harry Manno, Cash Saunders, Jack Goodwin, Hunter McKernan

Cabin 3: Back: Stepan Parizek, Beckett Hopkins, Willie Norton, Connor Gilroy, Jay Williams. Front: Julien Buchsbaum, James Hill, Kane Murphy, Connor Burchette, Vance Massengale

Cabin 4: Back: Michael Mullen, Jeffrey Swope, Will McEnery, John Golden, Jordi Sentoll. Front: Alden Area, Holton Garner, Nathaniel Dovich, Henry Corbyn, Tuck McLanahan

Cabin 40: Back: Paco Guerrero, Jackson Whitaker, Charlie Simpson, Sanders Mitchener, Blake Dabney, Webby Webster. Front: Nolan Talley, Brooks Rayburn, Will Chandler, Arthur Runge, Akhil Patel

Cabin 38: Back: Elijah Brown, William Camp, Maxwell Brown, Jude Moore, Smith Spivey, Johnathan Strange. Front: OP Gardner, Asher Donnelly, Dylan Whelan, Shep Morris

Cabin 7: Back: Will Gilliard, Saxon Ranton, Callahan Hutchins, Madden Mahalak, Landry Dansou. Front: Bradley Holmes, Hoot Fleming, Brock Lindberg, Lincoln Schneider, Harry Sartorio

Cabin 10: Back: Luke Dodson, Willett Stukes, Brooks Canaway, Jesse Carmichael, Marcos Celma. Front: Mitchell Sprague, Ward Hunter, John Bostic, Vedaan Shah, Hayes Polak

Cabin 13: Back: Luke Stevenson, Reid Reddick, Luke Farmer, Robert Swope, Moise Milenge. Front: Arthur West, Stuart Carey, Brek Johnson, Scott Chafik, Hudson Swyka

Cabin 5: Back: Zion Woodruff, Owen Frost, George Young, James Lobosco, Roy de Unanue. Front: William Gray, Roman Lobosco, Charleston Hayes, Harrison Hayes, Palmer Teague

Cabin 8: Back: Henry Smith, Gaines Sturdivant, Franklin Floyd, George Clary, Jaden Latiola. Front: Charlie Schreeder, Thomas McAulay, Will Maroney, Parker Oshins

Cabin 11: Back: William Ashcroft, Harrison Blais, Alex Dovich, JP Gilroy, Erik Soelberg. Front: Bennett Lynch, George Corbyn, Ace Pisano, Liam O’Keeffe, Freeman Self

Cabin 14: Back: Mateo Simbana, Daniel Drummond, Max Montelaro, Nick Norton, Hunter Norton, Clayton Kunz. Front: Jack Crawford, Rymer Strauss, Hill Barganier, Hutch Walker

Cabin 6: Back: Jamie Sheehy, Oliver Patterson, Graham Marks, Skip Quasha, Koah Brooks. Front: Finn Arwood, Ike Collins, Emerson May, Samuel Teague, Turner Frost

Cabin 9: Back: Charlie Friedrich, Winston Rybakoff, Webb Snyder, Jack McEnery, Janos Csurar. Front: Hank Biosca, Brooks Davidson, Daniel Delrieu, Charlie Drake, Hamilton Brantley

Cabin 12: Back: Reuben Seroa, Davy Wallace, Aiden Scott, Preston Saylors, Gabe Cullens. Front: George Cornelius, Nolan Holland, Les O’Brien, Davis Springmeyer, John Talford

Cabin 15: Back: Rex Bowen, Ford Mashek, Owen Lentz, Hank Tracey, James Dunavant, Elijah Pogue. Front: Hudson Hopkins, Ollie Erwin, Piers Ramm, Weyman Weiner

Cabin 16: Back: Talbot Harris, Henry Lowry, Lee Swetenburg, William White, Caleb Black. Front: Mac Kintner, Matthew Karellas, Robert Janson, George Larrabee, James Cardinale

Cabin 20: Back: Gregor Innes, Michael Donovan, Jimmy Hessberg, Drew McCoy, Johnathan Strange. Front: Owen Old, Andrew Todd, Grant Kosel, Ashton Wood, Guy Wengler

Cabin 17: Back: DQ Lonzer, Reece Davidson, Henry Graham, Blake Cejudo, Whit Uden. Front: Briggy Emonet, Julian Edmunds, Raoul Chong, Levi Werner

Cabin 21: Back: Christian Ishimwe, Marsh Douthat, Carter Henderson, Jay LeVasseur, Cooper Cowden. Front: Bry Jessen, Mills Marcoux, Henry Jessen, Arman Urenay, Sam Hagen

Cabin 25: Back: Jordain Ferguson, Walker Borders, Sawyer Fienning, Zeno Mesinoglu, Eli Sherrill. Front: Andy Britell, Ben Powderly, Teddy Barret, Will Baumann, Andrew Rembert

Cabin 19: Back: Harry Spring, Wright Ritchey, Sam Marsiglia, Michael Correia, Isaac Brown. Front: Charles Williams, Jack Stewart, Winston Sherman, Alexander Miller, Harrison Oshins

Cabin 22: Back: Porter Hujik, Taylor Odom, Sanders Garner, Jaxsen Wilkerson. Front: JR Fox, Mitchell Pittinos, Fite Paine, Bowen Walker

Cabin 24: Back: Bryson Clouse, Tommy Nix, Kenny Smith, Walker Carby, Brayden Hunt. Front: Jack Ryan, Connor Lai, David Henshaw, Hawkins Atchison, Charlie Wukasch

Cabin 23: Back: Jacob Breed, Sam McAulay, Sutton Atienza, Mac Clark, Bryant Lehr. Front: Wes Berry, Mickey Gill, Levi Lazzaroni, Peter Wareing, Pellerin Deluke

Cabin 26: Back: Ben Farmer, Ricky Reynolds, Simon Hunt, Shepherd Crotty, Dan Poole. Front: Grayson Vanlandingham, Simon Delrieu, Brooks McLanahan, Philip Jones, John Graham

Cabin 27: Back: Ben Kampine, Liam O’Brien, Anderson Dunning, Miles Dean, Jaxon Wooten. Front: Liam Patterson, Griffin Kirwan, Reid May, Brooks McReaken, Grant Plexico

Cabin 28: Back: Winston Smith, Carter Lentz, James Worthen, Max Gillespie, Wabbly Castillo. Front: Phillip Sudduth, Pip Garten, Jack Phillips, David Sartorio, Griffin Mather

Cabin 29: Back: Johann Graf von Westarp, Townes Clements, Aiden Beach, Cameron Cho, Clayton Allen. Front: William Crawford, Lowe Miller, Lach Ramm, James Bennett, Duncan Ebel

Cabin 30: Back: Tom Short, Duffy Cotter, Matthew Desai, Octavian Klisiewicz, Paco Guerrero. Front: Cole Swyka, Robby Thornburg, Charles Simmons, Will Rechkemmer, Christian DiMarco

Cabin 33: Back: Henry Koch, Spencer Blackwood, JD Prahler, Val Marcoux. Front: Charlie Flouhouse, George Barret, Gabe McKinney, Davis O’Keeffe, Jack Cardinale

Cabin 32: Back: Colin Oram, Jack Pritchard, Leuven Foutch, Russell Carpenter, RJ Bascom. Front: Mack Eubanks, Quattro Glover, Caleb Bowen, Logan Santala, Henry Webster

Cabin 34: Back: Davis Smith, Miles Stengle, CR Donohue, Robert May, Miguel Cañas. Front: Philip Hess, George Thomas, Berker Urenay, Thomas Lawrence, Walker Edison

Cabin 35: Back: Howard Bellingrath, Bowman Ritchey, James Fuller, Symmes Cocke, Cormac Carlin. Front: Will Sanderson, Winn Chamberlain, Davis Minnehan, Holden Kleinhelter, James Albright

Cabin 31: Back: Jeremiah Hall-Jones, Langdon Dyksterhouse, George Edwards, Gibs Fishback. Front: Owen West, Jackson Wolfe, Fletcher Elwell, William Nikodem, Teddy Fishback

Cabin 36: Back: AJ Johnson, Patrick Patterson, Dixon Barre, Sam Lazzaroni, Carson Christopher. Front: Lucas Miranda, Will Boda, Holden Harrell, Mac Schneider, Matthew McReaken

Cabin 37: Back: Elijah Brown, Wills Yelverton, Stephen Parrott, Harry Ballance, Aryan Kumar. Front: Luke Jennings, Oakley Stichter, Henry Ray, Xander MacPhail

Cabin 38 (FLINT): Back: Webby Webster, Jack Lawton, Paul McSwain, George Clements, Beckham Prahler, Berkeley Willis, Benjamin Finney, Wade Monroe, Weston Cejudo, Erik Figueroa. Front: Tripp Bowen, Will Marsiglia, Grant Loeffler, Patton Vargas, William Davis, Carson Pleiman

Cabin 39: Back: Tyler Plowman, Tripp Biosca, Marshall Liggitt, Parker Spence, Anthony Johnson. Front: Jack Tracey, Mitchell Blanks, Richard Magruder, Nicholas Ashcroft, Andrew Kosel

Cabin 40 (STEEL): Back: Will Cameron, Max Albright, Gideon Koehring, Thad Jones. Front: John Hayden Scheland, Hudson Young, Judd Collins, Jack Solcher

twoweek camp

Cabin 2: Back: Diego Garcia, Leo O’Kuinghttons, Harrison Flohr, James Strange, Sage Williams. Front: Andrew Thompson, Jack Wootten, Patrick Murphy, Henry Griffin, Jones Wiland

Cabin 5: Back: Will Gilliard, Charlie Vassy, Dominic Filingeri, William Chapman, Zion Woodruff. Front: Eston McClure, Drew Lyles, Walter Snipes, Gus Edinger, Major Barchus

Cabin 3: Back: Stepan Parizek, Sam Headley, Ben Rudisill, Wells Walker, Jay Williams. Front: Henry Benton, Liam McHale, Thomas Hubbard, John Warner Battle

Cabin 9: Back: Charlie Friedrich, Baker Moore, Magnus Brittain, Pierce Pinckney, Janos Csurar. Front: Hayes Horton, Joe Merritt, Ford Garvey, Oliver Pryor, William Westfall

Cabin 1: Back: Asher Sloan, Albert Bass, Mason Boeggeman, Miles Haberle, Declan Oberlies. Front: Sampson Robinson, Anthony Filingeri, Ziggy Mahalak, Briggs Bostic, Charlie Trautschold

Cabin 4: Back: Jamie Sheehy, William Bell, Andy Jessen, Finn Koudelka, Michael Mullen. Front: Burke Van Dyke, Wood Gall, Smith Bailey, Reid Hennessey, Crawford Dillard

Cabin 10: Back: Mateo Simbana, Marshall Walker, Peter Benninger, Gus Comer, Luke Dodson. Front: Oliver Sargent, Quinn Williams, Woody Durtschi, Mills Anderson, Gunn Murphy

Cabin 8: Back: Henry Smith, Thomas Ripley, Archie Sweet, Albert Spizer, Jaden Latiola. Front: Rhett Thornberry, Austin MacKay, Reed Augusty, Sterling Gordon, Lewis White

Cabin 6: Back: Jordi Sentoll, Lyndon Boyd, Miles Nalley, Anderson Adams, Koah Brooks. Front: Rory Swenson, Jake Jones, Harry Tomlinson, Whit Costa, Bennett Masters

Cabin 7: Back: Rodrigo de Unanue, Wyatt Heard, Thomas Peloquin, Ben Berni, Landry Dansou. Front: Mason Morehouse, Locke Lancaster, Henry Kingsley, Henry Saleh, George Bucher

Cabin 11: Back: Reuben Seroa, Sam Thompson, Hugh Finch, Banks Burgess, William Ashcroft. Front: Banks Ollek, Jack Tate, Towns Sumner, Charles Bean, Will Moody

Cabin 14: Back: Clayton Kunz, Taylor Janson, Luka Haberle, Max Boeggeman, Marcos Celma. Front: Rowland Evans, Teddy Wadhwa, William Wadhwa, William Merritt, Charlie Gibson

Cabin 17: Back: Wick Gordon, Cobb Johnson, Baker Tindel, DQ Lonzer. Front: Hamilton Holliday, Teddy Hagen, Teddy Wootten, Miles Hartman, Charlie Harris

Cabin 21: Back: Christian Ishimwe, Henry Powell, Bryce Rumley, Win Spiller, Cooper Cowden. Front: Weston Glover, Turner Trice, Ayden Solomon, William Skinner, Jack Bradley

Cabin 12: Back: Dean Graunke, Watson McGovern, Johnny Capt, Gabe Cullens. Front: Patrick Mase, Miles Johnson, Cole Lyons, Henry Gordon, Rollin Murray

Cabin 15: Back: Rex Bowen, Ford Molster, Ted Satler, Benjamin Davis, Elijah Pogue. Front: Samuel Westover, Charlie Morgan, Mack Bostic, Sloan Blanton, Leon Milam

Cabin 19: Back: Harry Spring, James Dunn, Beau Otis, Henry Harrell, Isaac Brown. Front: Rowan Williams, Van Thompson, Hurley Edwards, Will Ritchie, Ty Zimardo

Cabin 13: Back: Moise Milenge, Brooks Mitchell, Bennett Menzies, Cole Hamrick, Luke Stevenson. Front: Evan Baugh, Knox Peterson, Cooper Shigley, Eric Walsh, Preston Brown

Cabin 16: Back: Talbot Harris, Henry Sanders, Louis Spisso, Hal Bass, Caleb Black. Front: Charlie Tynan, Hudson Snead, Paul Turrentine, Matthew Olsen, Patrick Arthur

Cabin 20: Back: Gregor Innes, Campbell Weiner, Luca O’Kuinghttons, Worth Freeman, Johnathan Strange. Front: Owen Seigler, Charlie Swift, Harrison Winston, Max Chandlee, Wilson Flohr

Cabin 23: Back: Jacob Breed, Parker Miller, Harris Russ, Charlie Navarro. Front: Brooks Claiborne, Lucas Kwon, Henry Jackson, Pearce Hennessey, Liam Nachawati

Cabin 22: Back: Ben Kampine, Harrison Milward, Charlie Jones, Adrian Vermillion, Clayton Allen. Front: Teddy Edinger, Haddon Barnhill, George West, Connor Heaton, Will Pope

Cabin 24: Back: Archie McClure, Ainsleigh Horn, John Cotton, Bryson Clouse. Front: Jory Wilson, Reynolds Cort, Dawson Engel, Quinn Brackett, August Ollek

Cabin 27: Back: Jaxon Wooten, William Jackson, Gibbs Carson, John Langerman. Front: Mullins von Werssowetz, Hank Wiland, Beau Thompson, Emerson Kim-Gray, Beckett Daniel

Cabin 30: Back: Alexander Jaeger, Luke Strange, Tuck Sanders, RJ Bascom. Front: Finn Hoffmann, Jack Maxwell, Jack Butcher, Hillyer Loehr, James Lewis

Cabin 25: Back: Jordain Ferguson, Robert Thompson, Webb Skeen, Louie Costa, Eli Sherrill. Front: Noah Earney, Charlie Wakefield, Brown Thomas, Liam Johnson, Chandler Murphy

Cabin 28: Back: Winston Smith, Finn Kornstein, Buster Chapman, Hudson Mozingo, Wabbly Castillo. Front: Russell Boehm, Mac Tindel, Remington Capt, James Griffin, Henry McLaughen

Cabin 34: Back: Tom Short, Sawyer Fleming, Webb Brewer, Grant Earp, Aryan Kumar. Front: Thatcher Tupis, Theo Phillips, William Hubbard, Charlie Cathcart, James Hubbard

Cabin 26: Back: Ben Farmer, Thomas Trautschold, Judson Plotner, Will Masters, Dan Poole. Front: Richard Tapp, Thomas Jackson, Charles Wood, Army Robinson, Henry Snipes

Cabin 29: Back: Paco Guerrero Marquez, William Scaljon, Henning Gess, William Lewis, Johann Graf von Westarp Arellano. Front: James Blankenship, Fen Stull, James Allen, James Breaux, Watts Israel

Cabin 35: Back: Jackson Burns, Walker Morehouse, Gib Johnson, Erik Figueroa. Front: Jack Hand, Thomas Miranowski, John Gilmer, Ransome Lambert, Caelan Solomon

Cabin 33: Back: Henry Koch, Henry Bast, Will Herbert, Henry Battle. Front: Ford Skeen, Heyward Boykin, Jack Westfall, Charlie Corrinet, Jack Benton

Cabin 31: Back: Watts Stewart, Bond Meadows, Rivers Powell, Jeremiah Hall-Jones. Front: Jay Williams, Anderson Burke, Dixon Wendell, Andrew Hickey, Finn Louis

Cabin 32: Back: Brayden Hunt, Henry Womble, Isaac Farish, Sal Filingeri, Colin Oram. Front: Wesley Street, Tripp Harris, Wesley McKnight, Nolan Howell, Foster Jones

Cabin 36: Back: AJ Johnson, Carter Lyles, Luke Turrentine, Ward Headley, Miguel Canas Santos. Front: Brody Galbreath, Xander Lockhart, Hale Bowman, William Lampley, Henry Hall

juniorcamp

Cabin 2: Back: Will Cameron, Jack Bischoff, Robert Buckfelder, Luke Daniel, Michael Mullen. Front: Kavi Morris, Taddeo Sirtori, Sam Tracey, Davis Peerson

Cabin 5: Back: Mateo Simbana, Johnny Bahl, Oliver McKnight, Teddy Hutcherson, Sage Williams. Front: Landon Mullett, Teddy Flynn, Gere Smith, Bobby Thomson

Cabin 37: Back: Howard Bellingrath, Tyson Vandersteeg, Benjamin Dillard, Henry Vandersteeg, Cormac Carlin. Front: Jack Houlihan, Dunbar Brittain, Montgomery Ellis, Will Carlson, Bruce Swenson

Cabin 3: Back: Diego Garcia, Wyatt Baker, Wilder Weeks, Ben Corbett, Zion Woodruff. Front: Hoyt Jones, Will Oppenheimer, Charlie Caldwell, Jack Renfroe

Cabin 1: Back: Henry Smith, Cannon Cole, Bo McCrory, Cort Adams, Asher Sloan. Front: Stokes Bimbo, Will Mardam-Bey, Beau Beychok, Lawrence Hancock

Cabin 4: Back: Stepan Parizek, Walk Still, Archer Sidhom, George Brown, Rodrigo de Unanue. Front: Holt Smith, James Delaney, James Perrotta, Jack Holland

Cabin 7: Back: Janos Csurar, Speller Haley, Tim Natonski, Robby Hoak, Jamie Sheehy. Front: James Kameen, Benton Whitacre, Tom Hagan, Barrett Staton

Cabin 6: Back: Jordi Sentoll, Marion Moses, Dee Leonard, Luke Hermann, Jay Williams. Front: Samuel Jordan, Reid Stephenson, Winters Loehr, Jay Phillips

Cabin 38: Back: Jack Jenkins, Will Tempelhof, Leo Cavenaghi, Webby Webster. Front: Oliver Collard, Freddy Smith, Hunter Grambling, Cjay Mase, John Walsh

Cabin 39: Back: Tyler Plowman, Pete Davidson, Ben Spearman, Ward Powell, Anthony Johnson. Front: Nathan McDow, Wright Yelverton, Walker Mackelcan, Knox King, Roman Gall, Teddy Drucker

Cabin 40: Back: Will Cameron, Sawyer Harmeling, Hunter Louis, Elliot McNulty, Erik Soelberg. Front: Gaham Delk, Rhett Heyward, Fort Robinson, Ollie Snyder, John Seigler, Jack Charles Miller

Cabin 8: Back: Dan Poole, David McLaughen, Aston Rodrigues, John Hunter, Jaden Latiola. Front: Kent Clayton, George Jones, Gray Lee, Huntley Cordia

Cabin 11: Back: William Ashcroft, Henry Brock, Charlie Sample, Paxton Morris, Luke Dodson. Front: Allen Kiser, Jack Otis, Fred Kelly, Kai Frisoli, Foster Tindel

Cabin 14: Back: Harry Spring, Everett Waldo, Fenn Fennebresque, Nolan Ryan, Clayton Kunz. Front: Hart Peerson, Blake Pritchard, Smith Osman, Connor McClatchy, Jack Jewell

Cabin 9: Back: Rex Bowen, Walker Sigmon, Ogden Saik, Charles Bullwinkel, Landry Dansou. Front: Caiden Brady, Hays McCarley, Sykes Bard, George Hodge

Cabin 12: Back: Charlie Friedrich, Thomas Alexander, Wilson Wycoff, James Rhea, Gabe Cullens. Front: Brooks McAleer, Colin Matthews, Will Gentry, Alistair Morrison, Owen Rudolph

Cabin 19: Back: Bryson Clouse, Collin Goodman, Emerson Lackey, Johnny Sullivan, Luke Stevenson. Front: Blue Clayton, Mason Creekmore, Theo Polenz, Halsey Iselin, David Bowlin

Cabin 10: Back: Moise Milenge, Remy Karas, Charles Allen, Wyatt MacKeen, Marcos Celma. Front: Brendan Reilly, George Smith, Frank Brooks, Jack Karas, Hutton Mard

Cabin 13: Back: Tom Short, Merritt Pace, Webb Puricelli, Thackston Peter, Will Gilliard. Front: Nicolas Leidy, Wells Buchanan, William Roy, Gould Hagler

Cabin 20: Back: Gregor Innes, Henry Fitch, Carter Kent, Henry Shultz, Isaac Brown. Front: John Datta, Henry Phipps, Gibson Hunt, Cooper Ravencrat, Wilson Kirby

Cabin 17: Back: DQ Lonzer, Winston O’Brien, Lyle Perry, Theo Lafeber, Clayton Allen. Front: Henry Theunissen, JJ Nicosia, Andrew Campbell, Jack Greenan, Rhodes McCoy

Cabin 15: Back: Reuben Seroa, Andrew Wright, Quincy Carter, Robbie Griffin, Elijah Pogue. Front: Gaines Barron, Max Rinderer, Jack Grenier, Henry Namde, Luke Cerveny

Cabin 16: Back: Caleb Black, Elias Schweiger, Will Young, Greyson Williams, Koah Brooks. Front: Landon Campbell, Rowe Swann, John Mills, Barrett Martin, William Ipock

Cabin 21: Back: Cormac Carlin, George Broadbent, Harry Kenney, Patrick Corso, Cooper Cowden. Front: Nolan Singer, Bryce Singer, Carter Kenny, Clay Hall, George Mazanec

Cabin 29: Back: Wabbly Castillo, Ben Murry, Walt Andrukonis, Owen Mascia, Johann Graf von Westarp Arellano. Front: Yeatts McAulay, James Speight, Hayes Binion, Hemby Norman

Cabin 32: Back: Brayden Hunt, Davis Bard, Barnes Fish, Vance Witman, Colin Oram. Front: Ben Holland, Yogi Pamballa, Shepherd Jordan, Camp Grammer

Cabin 35: Back: Christian Ishimwe, Mikah Shodja, George Caldwell, Larkin Kovac, Erik Figueroa. Front: Augustus Randall, Danny Kiepura, Evan Gilbert, Teddy Rickenbaker

Cabin 26: Back: Ben Farmer, Sam Harris, Worth Story, Jamie Stevens, Thomas Anders. Front: Clark Murphy, Graham Story, Jack Thomas, Jack Carlson, Daxton Tupis

Cabin 30: Back: Jordain Ferguson, Jack Loftus, John Colin Derbyshire, Sam Sherrill, Webby Webster. Front: James Loftus IV, Liam Cook. Webb Wuellner, Mac McGinnis

Cabin 33: Back: Henry Koch, Covington Ipock, James Allen, Colin McCauley, Ham Mandell. Front: Wheeler Villacis, Dylan Tucker, Graham Armstrong, Michael Pirani, Daniel Chipley

Cabin 31: Back: Howard Bellingrath, Will Corbett, Enzo Rodrigues, Henry Schneider, Winston Smith. Front: Thomas McLeod, Nikolas Krastev, Davis Harrell, Ben Long

Cabin 34: Back: Tyler Plowman, Henry Mallette, Henry Fortney, Mason Mullins, Aryan Kumar. Front: Trip Whipple, George Hoyle, Win Noble, Baker Swanson

Cabin 36: Back: AJ Johnson, James McCrystle, Theo Tracey, Avery Ines, Jeremiah Hall-Jones. Front: Harrison Rankin, Colt Sherman, Henry Sherman, James Bisciotti, Zane Hoover

Cabin 27: Back: Ben Kampine, Payson McKnight, Bradley DeBorde, Banks MacKeen, Jaxon Wooten. Front: Luca Gremaud, Jameson Hughes, Charlie Dail, Luther Hills-Stegner, Austin Zage

iron man & honor council

Iron Man Participants: Back - Miles Stengle 406, Parker Spence 205, Beckham Prahler 201, George Clements 207, Oakley Stichter 203, Berkeley Willis 101 (Ironman Champion - Third year in a row), Xander MacPhail 302, Duffy Cotter 209, Townes Clements 202. Row 4 - Shepherd Crotty 505, Henry Graham 508, Sutton Atienza 306, Harrison Oshins 304, Carson Pleiman 102, Jimmy Hessberg 309. Row 3 - David Hinshaw 510, Brooks McReaken 404, Walker Borders 501, Harrison Blais 503, Reece Davidson 402, Mills Marcoux 204, Will Baumann 307, Holden Harrell 104, Phillip Jones 106, Grayson Vanlandingham 109, William Crawford 407. Row 2 - Henry Lowry 509, Jesse Carmichael 507, Brek Johnson 105, Davis Springmeyer 208, Thomas McAulay 401, Davy Wallace 308, Willett Stukes 107, Lee Swetenburg 409, Owen Lentz 506, Mac Kintner 405. Front - Robert Janson 504, Madden Mahalak 301, Finn Arwood 305, Matthew Karellas 108, Ollie Erwin 403, Dillon McCullough 502.

Honor Council: Back - Eleanor Donohue, Max Albright, Jack Solcher, Henry Koch, Ford Layman, Will Cameron, Michael Mullen, Whit Flickinger, John Hayden Scheland, Beans Ervin, Henry Smith, Heather Moffatt, Rex Bowen, James Albright, Thad Jones, Ben Farmer. Front - Pip Garten, Lowe Miller, Lucas Miranda, Grant Loeffler, Ben Finney, George Barret, Judd Collins, Gideon Koehring, Patton Vargas, Keigo Kanazawa, Madden Mahalak, George Clements, Parker Spence.

Facilities Management Team: Back- Doug Smathers, Simon Wilson, TJ Westbrook (Director), Casey Pullen, Nathan Hall, Thomas Cason, David Echeverria. Front- Tony Martinez Luna, Leo Hernandez Duran, Luis Vazquez Perez, Alma Sanchez Lima

Assistant Line Heads: Rex Bowen (Tsuga), AJ Johnson (Betula), Heather Moffatt (Samara), Ben Farmer (Robinia), Michael Mullen (Sorrel)

Line Heads: Whit Flickinger (Robinia), Santiago Garcia de Villa (Tsuga), Eleanor Donohue (Samara), Johnny “Beans” Ervin (Sorrel), Jackson Schlierf (Betula)

Media Team: Annie Pharr Ramsbotham (Media Manager, Blog Contributor), Leslie Sloan (Lead Blog Writer), Mike Nuckles (Blog Contributor)

DASH: Jamie Maloy, Johnny Chamoun, Evan Hunt, Freddy Somers. Front - Harrison Keys, Beckett Holmes, Henry Donohue

Culinary Team Members: Back- Isaac Hernandez, Angie Mera, Raphael Hauptli, CJ Sumner. Row 4 - Jose Manuel Munoz, Fabri Vettoretti, Miguel Martinez, Adriano Tay, Vanny Martinez, Mel Martinez, Josue Fortis. Row 3 - Alberto Flores, Rosi Gonzalez, Imani Brice, Erick Candia. Row 2 - Yari Jimenez, Dee Keene, Lu Gonzalez, Alli Kilby, Yera Ochoa. Front - Karla Vasquez, Mardem Contreras, Astrid Sarmiento, Vale Rodriguez

Culinary Leadership: Isaac Hernandez (Manager), Raphael Hauptli (Chef), Alli Kilby (Director), CJ Sumner (Trip Food Manager), Imani Brice (Head Baker), Dee Keene (Head Chef), Yera Ochoa (Manager)

Program Coordinators: Asher Sloan, Will Cameron

Steve “SFL” Longenecker is an outdoor educator and has been a part of the Falling Creek staff & traditions since 1975.

Seasonal Leaders: Jennylynn Johnson (Quality Improvement Coordinator), Taewoo Kim (Coaching Instructor & Office Administration).

Trip Leaders: Back - Evan Stone (Paddling), James Drury (Backpacking), Zeus Merange (Mountain Biking), Gary Storm (Climbing), Gunner Glick (Mountain Biking), Lee Fickling (Paddling). Front - Etta Pierce (Climbing), Madi Voyles (Backpacking), Kennedy Bass (Paddling) Not Pictured: Ben Williams (Guest Pro - Paddling) and Croft Hamilton (Guest Pro - Climbing)

Seasonal Directors: Left to right: Assistant Director, Jeremy Gillespie (Main Camp). Assistant Outdoor Adventure Director, Stick Stichter. Assistant Program Directors: Sunny Durocher, Ford Layman.

Media Team, Photographers and videographers: Grace Thomsen (Videographer, Lead), Camille McDougald, Carolina Meneses (Lead), Jen Cressman, Hannah Frazier, Not Pictured: Vince Green (Father/Son Weekends)

Leadership Team: Back- Zach Rivera (Asst. Program & Staff Director), Matt Sloan (Chaplain & Program Director), TJ Westbrook (Facilities Director), Frank Tindall (Associate Director), Marisa Pharr (Director), Yates Pharr (Director) Middle- Jeff Killebrew (Staff Recruitment & Development Director), Alli Kilby (Director of Food Services), Jasmine Westbrook (Administrative Asst. & Store Manager), Catie Cornett (Head Nurse), Will Wilson (Outdoor Adventure Director), John “JGB” Burton (Senior Advisor “Greybeard”) Front- Mike Nuckles (Camper Development Director), Paige Hafner (Communications Director), Nathan Newquist (Operations Director)

Samara Line Staff Members: Back - Madi Voyles, Etta Pierce, Kennedy Bass, Eleanor Donohue, Evi-Jane Garnett,Triana Lorenzo de Unanue, Andy Perez, Jordan Lenarz. Row 2 - Avery LeMay, Hannah Frazier, Jen Cressman, Maria Cruz Amengual, Sam Kelly, Aubrey Sprinkle, Fanni Barna. Front - Lilly Janisch, Camille McDougald, Kara Edwards, Heather Moffatt, Bella Kraines, Grace Thomsen, Carolina Meneses. E

medical staff nurses

Joe Jackson Hunter Louis

Mary Halsey Maddox

Elizabeth Bucher

Rebecca Sellers

Steve Feingold

Harrison Plunkett

Jennie Thompson

Maris Almquist

Tisha Baker

Catie Cornett (Head Nurse)

Rachel Betts

Lauren Robinson

Brewer Eberly

Jennifer Blanchard Kattie Boeggeman

Natalie Clements Vivian Coleman

Andrea Engstrom

Lori Green Garrett Goodman

Sarah Howell

Lillian Magruder

Laura Mester

Kelly Rainey

Jennifer Schneider

Michelle Puntriano

Bre Snider

Erin Hiller Vassy

Andrea Schneider

Laura Walsh

Mary Lobianco

Chuck Neimeyer

Erin Walters

THE DATE

Traditional Sessions

Father/Son Weekends

2025 Fall Camp Movies and Reunion Tour

Calling all new and returning Falling Creek families, campers, counselors, and alumni in your area - it’s time to come together!

Join Falling Creek Camp director Yates for our annual Falling Creek movie and reunion tour - and invite your interested friends.

Yates will share the camp movie, and each boy will receive a 2026 limited edition trunk sticker.

Come see old friends, meet new ones, and learn why we believe Falling Creek is such an amazing place for boys.

Tuesday, October 7

October 8

October 9

Wednesday, October 15

Thursday, October 16

Monday, October 20

a call toquarters

The Deeds That Become Memories:

THE MAKING OF A LIFE

“The memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime.”

W

TAPS

Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky; All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

All FCC Campfire programs end with the community standing and singing the first verse of Taps together.

When I first heard this quote as a boy, I didn’t fully grasp its depth. It was just a Pink Floyd lyric stitched onto a team banner at Falling Creek — chosen by the captain of the Gold Team during my final summer at Falling Creek Camp for Boys. I was the Green Team Captain that year, proud and a little wide-eyed, having spent eight summers as a camper and two more as a counselor. Back then, it felt like just another amazing summer at camp. But now, older and a little wiser, that quote hits differently. I’ve come to see how true it is — especially when I think about my time at Falling Creek. Coming from the suburbs of New York City, Tuxedo, NC might as well have been Mars! Falling Creek wasn’t just a summer camp — it was a world apart. A place where I learned to sit in discomfort. Where I discovered that fear wasn’t a dead end, but a doorway. Where I stopped thinking of myself as the center of everything and started seeing myself as part of a greater whole.

At Falling Creek, I met boys from all over the country and across the world. Some went on to be doctors, lawyers, politicians — even a few rock stars. But what I remember most is the goodness — the kindness, the honesty, the humor — that ran through those boys like a shared language. Many of them grew into men who are good dads, strong mentors, and steady anchors in their communities. They may not make headlines, but they make a difference. That’s what Falling Creek instilled in us: Good Boys doing good things grow into Good Men doing good things.

I think often of my summer times “on the mountain” -- Morning Assembly on the porch, refreshing jumps into the lake and long hikes that left us tired and triumphant. I think of the strong friendships forged around campfires and the shared struggle of the counselors who modeled

quiet strength and compassion. And I think of how those experiences have shaped the morals I carry with me today — integrity, grit, empathy, and a sense of service.

Falling Creek taught me that growth thrives in the face of discomfort. That leadership is service. That the best memories aren’t made from ease, but from effort — from showing up, working hard, laughing loud, and helping others. And more than anything, it taught me that the greatest privilege of receiving these gifts is the chance to pass them on.

That’s why I’m so proud to help Yates and Marisa by spearheading the Falling Creek Campership Committee, which raises awareness and funds to send boys from under-resourced backgrounds to camp. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of a boy discovering his strength, his values, and his place in something larger than himself. These are not just summer opportunities — they are lifechanging experiences that ripple outward into families, schools, and communities.

It’s personal for me, because I believe with everything in me that every boy deserves the chance to experience a place as magical and formative as Falling Creek. The world needs more of what this camp creates — and giving back is one way we can all keep the circle unbroken.

by Perry Silver (camper ‘87-‘94, staff ‘97-‘98)

Perry Silver (back right) as a counselor in 1997, pictured with Robert Kirby and Hays Latiner. Perry now leads the new Falling Creek Campership Committee.

Perry and his son Ollie visited camp and Ollie is pointing to his dad’s Cabin Ishi sign (currently Cabin 16) from his camper days.