Camp Greystone Alumunae Reunion - 100 years!

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The highly anticipated Greystone Alumni Reunion celebrating the camp's 100 years certainly did not disappoint.  Like all things Greystone, every detail was perfectly planned, executed brilliantly, and sheer joy to experience.

Marco's Pics from the 100th Reunion
100th Reunion Recap
100th Reunion Recap Video 

To say that serious effort was made by women of all ages to relive a piece of their most formative years is a serious understatement.  We had 615 alums ranging from 25-92 + more than 100 staffers (working for free!) that came from as far as our sweet Vanessa's Switzerland---and for just two nights!  

I'm admitted 2.5 months late posting this, but here were my thought just one week out:

In October, I made s’mores by a bonfire singing familiar praise songs and slow camp songs alongside 700 of “my people”. Ranging from 21-92, I obviously did not camp with them all in the ‘80’s & 90’s, but I still “knew” them all that weekend. That’s the thing about Greystone. Doesn’t matter from where you came, how you got there or who you are. Everyone’s there for one purpose: to glorify God.

It’s so easy among the sea of believers and in such a beautiful setting where the fun, worship, laughter, tears (and food!) keep coming in abundance, but I pray we were all refreshed and returned to our personal mission fields with more energy for the world.

Thank you, Camp Greystone and incredible staff, for the amazing weekend, the walk down memory lane, the open gates of hospitality and providing a nurturing environment where thousands of lifelong friendships have been cultivated. “Bless this camp, oh Lord we pray.”

We were greeted with stunning weather Friday evening for cocktails on the Pageant Court.

 

Flag was, well, moving and hysterical simultaneously...the appropriate introduction for the weekend.

 

The gym was magically set-up for dinner, and the food delicious, as always.

The adjacent Walk Down Memory Lane room served its purpose well.  Amazing how much they have on file from as far back as 1920.

Main Campers from the 1990's----I'm in there a few times somewhere!

 Amy Grant, Elisabeth Elliott and Cori Ten Boom graced us over the years.

Late night by the Blob Dock....s'mores by Even's Fire, singing behind Heidi's lead, followed by JimBoy's obsession with fireworks.

 

 Tentalow Row never looked so bright!

 Our War Canoe!

 

The sign of things to come

My favorite way to start the day at Greystone.

There definitely was not 7:00am yoga when I was a camper. 

What a feeling to fill (overfill!) the dining hall again, 

complete with Breakfast Club!

 Morning Assembly, also complete with some old favorites still sung today.

And Dana, who lulled us to sleep after taps for years before venturing out to make her own career and CDs, graced us again.

Camper and counselor just a few years ahead of me, Heather Hollerman is now a professor at Penn St., author, and Podcasting "The Verb", in which she dissects specific words in the Bible.

Saturday afternoon was filled favorite activities....the high ropes course, which I predate, was the absolute best!  And so fun to have Margaret's counselors belaying me!

 

 

So fun to shoot where Margaret loves to, now.  We need to hit a range at home!

 

No phones at riflery, where the guns are now so light and the triggers so easy you can't even feel them release.

And a private concert by Dana, performing her "Joy", written about Greystone.  

A stroll through council fire----man, spent many hours listening to Libby's wisdom here.

The only plaque from our era currently still up (they're all decades older, or 2005 and beyond), but our names have literally faded away.

The decade pictures were priceless.  See Marco's link above for the real deal.

 Lower Bungalow 5 for the weekend!

The one and only thing Laura hadn't accounted for was how to get the attention of nearly 700 chatty ladies.  She hadn't anticipated even HER voice over the camp-wide intercom being insufficient.  But....there is always a solution.

Cocktails huddled together under the new, bigger and better Shepherd's Gazebo as the rain tapered.

BANQUET!

We nailed Felix and toasted Libby as if she was still with us.

 

 

A Toast to You, We Raise Tonight, 

Dear Libby.

 A cake for a 100 years!

 Katie's toast to the Greystone Alums

Margaret's toast to the Future of Greystone

 And a personal favorite 24-year-old toast to the Spirit of Greystone.

 No Banquet would be complete without a final tear-jerking toast from counselors to campers, heard many nights now in our own household...

 ....AND, the final Odd-Even score announcement.  Accumulated over 100 years, the total score was something less than a 100 points difference....sounds like a Duke-UNC stat!

Combining Banquet with Closing Vespers, we raised our lights for all the world and floated our candles for Christ on the lake while we sang slow songs.

 Following vespers, we had a decades-spanning Talent Show that....well, what happens at the talent show stays at the talent show!  Lifetime favorites included the Men's Staff "More than a Box", Greystone Pickers, and '97 Kristi Webb giving us a 10 second memory of every other one!  MC's for the night included '-18-'19 counselors---what a trip!

Coffee Talk!

Icing on the cake was Laura and Margaret fighting over the mic to prayer us home for the evening.  Both "done" with their responsibilities for the weekend, it was an experience definitely never replicated during the summer when camp is dry. 

And with that, 35+ turned in at midnight.  21-34, however, had a dance party until 2:30 that was also experienced from too nearby BL5.  God bless them and their youth.  

 

 Church in the Pavilion was a magical time of singing hymns and other old favorites capped off with a beautiful sermon by a long time Greystone friend.  Jovial JimBoy choked up for what seemed like the 100th time this 100th weekend, reliving the days of the camp, the strong traditions his mother and father instilled, and the fact that hundreds moved mountains to come experience these things again.  He reminded us of our responsibility to raise young women of faith and always to spread Jesus no matter our circumstances and opportunities. 

  Our UVA girls!  Janey was Margaret's counselor and Elizabeth is our new, beloved friend.  See you at home, girls!

Even Dr. Jones and Sweetie came back for the weekend!  We missed about half the crowd still gabby on the street, but we gathered a pretty solid crew of paddlers for a quick pic.  Man.  Some memories were made with these white water paddlers!  Can you say Nantahala and Ocoee?!?

Gervais!

Greystone's published recap couldn't have summed it up better.  To God be the Glory! 

To sum up the 100th Celebration Alumnae Reunion feels almost impossible. It’s hard even a week later to come up with the words to describe the overall feel and impact of the weekend. It was truly incredible.

On Friday afternoon, we welcomed 615 alumane from across the world (with alumnae traveling from as far as Switzerland!). While some of these alums had recently been to camp, for many it had been decades. One alumna hadn’t been back through the gates of Greystone in 54 years! Friday afternoon’s arrival was filled with hugs, laughs, and happy reunions.

After arriving and checking in for the weekend, alums moved into their cabins and then reconvened at the Shepherd’s Gazebo for a welcome reception. The alumnae snacked on wonderful appetizers, gave even more hugs, and were enjoying themselves so much that they couldn’t hear the bugle for the flag ceremony that followed!
Our staff color guard led us through the flag ceremony as Jimboy welcomed the alumnae back to camp. The alums ranged in age from 25 - 92 years old. To see all of those generations circiling the flag pole was truly breathtaking.

The weekend continued with a Corn Roast style BBQ dinner down at the Blob dock. After moving all of the gymnastics equipment out of the gym and setting up numerous picnic tables near the blob, alumnae had plenty of room to feast on a fabulous dinner and enjoy each other.

S’mores, a photobooth, a bluegrass band, and fireworks topped off the night, as alums laughed with old camp friends. For many, it may have been years and years since seeing a particular camp friend, but for all, it felt like picking up right where you left off…the magic of a camp friendship!
With slightly overcast and drizzly skies, Saturday morning kicked off with a traditional breakfast in the Dining Hall, including ham and apples, grits, and homemade biscuits. Many alumnae found themselves at a loss for words when the singing began. Seeing that many Greystone girls from that many generations singing the same words to the same songs brought many to tears.

Jimboy finished breakfast with a traditional Breakfast Club and a Retailing Spirits after Midnight joke before everyone moved to the Pavilion for Morning Assembly. Singing a mix of older and newer songs, alumnae then enjoyed hearing from Heather Brown Holleman in a short devotion to jumpstart the day.
After Morning Assembly, the real fun began. Alums had the opportunity to enjoy camp activities, many of which they had not tried in years! From High Ropes to fishing to print making to party barge rides, these alumnae acted like campers for the day, enjoying some of their favorite pastimes. With a gourmet taco bar picnic lunch to refuel, it made for a perfect camp day.
One of the favorite parts of the day was seeing camp “greats” participate in the activity they loved, and excelled in, while at camp. The very best of the camp paddlers raced in a war canoe race, the tennis champions from generations past played in a Waves tournament on the courts, the campers who brought Greystone Groove to camp led the class, and archery and riflery cup winners competed for the best targets.
Alumnae also enjoyed relaxing activities throughout the day, as they explored the many camp archives on display. Finding old cabin photos and newsletters brought much joy and laughs! The alums also received their 100th Celebration book and many spent the afternoon purusing Greystone’s history.
As the day wound down, alumnae grabbed a quick shower before regrouping on the Pageant Court for decade pictures and a reception. From there, groups entered the transformed Dining Hall to find their seats for Banquet.
The celebration began in the traditional way. After a prayer, alums belted out Hail Greystone Hail, sang the toast songs to both Mrs. Hanna and Libby, and then ended with an unpracticed, but perfect, Felix clap.
Alumnae feasted on prime rib and enjoyed both lemon and chocolate stacks for dessert. The night ended with toasts, recognitions, an update on camp, the Goodnight Song, and then finally, the reading of the scores (the combined scores from 100 years of team competition).
Saturday night ended with a special Vespers service, which started by circling the flag pole and holding each candle high. Alums then moved down to the lake to float their candles on the water, sending their light out into the world.
From the sentimental to the crazy, the gears shifted quickly (much as they do at camp), as we moved into our Reunion Talent Show. Many acts that haven’t been seen in decades were brought back on stage to thunderous laughs.
The final morning began with a buffet breakfast followed by a church service with Terrell Glenn. It was so very special to welcome Terrell and his family back to Greystone, as he served as Greystone’s first summer-long minister in the 1990s, spending weeks at camp with his family.
After a wonderful worship service, alums gave tearful hugs and bid each other goodbye, many already planning get togethers with camp friends in the near future.
Our alumnae made the weekend so very special, and these pictures don’t begin to show the true magic of the Reunion! If you haven’t seen our recap video, it is a good place to start to even better understand the experience. Alumnae, thank you for a fabulous weekend, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!