On Tuesday night, 540 miles west of Black Mountain, Rockmont was vibrantly alive in Oxford, Mississippi! Veteran campers, along with their families and friends, gathered at the Byars home to get a taste of what Rockmont is all about. The living room was full of excited boys as we talked about flying down the zip line during free swim, discussed what it’s like to churn home-made ice cream at homesteading, and answered every possible question you could ask about kayaking. These young men were truly passionate about camp! Along with discussing the incredibly fun and engaging activities at camp, we also viewed the brand new Why Rockmont? animation, which you can view now on our homepage. Parents were able to catch a vision for how all of this incredibly fun programming is the platform by which we seek to help boys grow into the responsible, contributing men that God is calling them to be. The time we shared in Oxford was a real treat, and we look forward to seeing our friends there come east in a few months for another powerful summer of growth!
Last week’s travels took us to a couple significant Rockmont towns within our very own state of North Carolina. On Tuesday, Shawn and Jon enjoyed meeting some new prospective families at the Gaston Day School Summer Camp Fair. What made the trip all the more special was the opportunity to see some of our own campers passing through the event with their classes and later with their parents. We were so excited to see the Jentsch (pictured left) and Current families, and we are looking forward to hosting a Gastonia show in a few weeks. Be on the lookout for more information about Rockmont’s return to Gastonia and Charlotte.
After visiting Gastonia, later that week Shawn drove down the mountain and on down I-40 to visit St. Timothy’s Episcopal School in Raleigh. Upon arriving, he was quickly greeted by the Barnett family and was helped to set up the Rockmont display by veteran camper, Alexander. It’s always a joy to visit Raleigh as so many campers and staff have come from our state’s capital.
Hitting the road again has been an exciting adventure and one that has gotten all of us pumped about the summer ahead! Keep checking back to learn where we’re headed next.
Oh, and by the way, have you hit the “Why Rockmont?” button on our homepage lately? Check out the new animation on camp’s mission. What a great way to communicate what Rockmont is all about to your friends, family, and neighbors!
After a joyful Christmas season and a few weeks of settling back into some office work, Matt and Shawn fueled up again and hit the road this week to continue spreading the word about Rockmont. Matt headed west and traveled down to Auburn University while Shawn turned east to Davidson College. Our travels will continue to take us to camper homes this Spring, but we will also add college fairs to our itinerary as we continue to seek out those counselors, lifeguards, and staff members who make Rockmont such an effective place for your son to grow each summer!
Matt drove down to War Eagle country for the Auburn Summer Job Fair, meeting up with David Appel from the A-Team. David is going to be making the transition to being a counselor this year, so you may see him in your cabin! Matt has always enjoyed the trip to Auburn, as we have gotten some amazing staff over the years (Trip Hughes, Bobby Owen, Andrew Nevin, and several others), and there’s always a good turnout. Matt spoke with several prospective counselors and program staff, and looks forward to the interviews to follow! Matt also recommends a stop by Toomer’s Drug Store for a tall glass of lemonade. Also, pay your respects to the Oak trees while there.
Shawn was excited to reconnect with Bear Camp counselors Grey Gordon and Parker Murphy on the incredibly beautiful campus of Davidson College. Both gentlemen are starting their second semester and are excited about what’s head as they continue to push through Davdison’s rigorous academic program.
It was refreshing to be with them and to see their excitement for camp. We shared dinner together at Fuel Pizza and discussed what it’s like to serve as a counselor at Rockmont with two of their close friends who are looking for summer opportunities. It was a fruitful trip and has us really excited about reconnecting with staff and moving towards the summer!
Next week, Dan will be headed out to Louisiania and back for a few home shows. Keep checking back to learn where we will be headed next. Our Travel Calendar is already taking shape. Please let us know if you would be interested to host Rockmont in your home this Spring. We would love to bring our video and story deeper into your community. You can call the office at (828) 686-3885 to learn more. Have a great weekend!
May this Christmas and every day that follows be a truly joyful time to celebrate the ever-coming Christ!
Visit our Flickr page to see more Rockmont Christmas photos, including pictures of horseback caroling and Mike Beaver’s award-winning ugly Christmas sweater.
It’s always exciting to see how God works in bringing two people together! On November 19, members of the Rockmont family gathered in Nashville to celebrate the marriage of Scott Radbill and Stephanie Glass.
Scott and Stephanie’s story of finding one another is a tale that spans the continents. Scott, who has served as the Mountain Camp Director for the past 8 summers, felt God calling him to take his teaching skills to a missionary school in Bulgaria. It was there that he met Stephanie, who had been working with the missionary team in Bulgaria since 2004. Before long, it was clear that they wanted to pursue a relationship. Scott and Stephanie’s story soon brought them both to Nashville, where Scott proposed, and even to a summer working together at Rockmont where campers and staff fell in love with Stephanie. The wedding, officiated by our own Rev. Dan Davis, was a grand Rockmont reunion as we celebrated and wished them all God’s blessings!
Standing (left to right): Sarah Becker, Eric Beason, Abby Becker, Rebecca Becker, JJ Litchford, Stephanie & Scott Radbill, Dan & Karen Davis, Morgan & Matt Ragland, and Carl Sullivan. Kneeling (left to right): Shawn Marler, Steve Sandman, Bert Ellison, Caleb Becker, Micah and Josie Davis, and Daniel Weatherby.
Photo provided by the talented Birmingham-based photographer Samantha Fergusion of His Hands Photographs.
If you have ever stepped foot in the Roundhouse a midst the busyness of an Opening or Closing Day at Rockmont, then you’ve met Diana Seifreit, the one whom I affectionately call “The Roundhouse Queen.” Whether its camper skill placement, coupon books, camper mail, lost and found, or a host of other camp needs, Diana has the experience-tested knowledge that helps us keep things running smoothly during the summer.
We wanted to share with you, our Rockmont family, some great news that we have heard echoing through the valley. Just last week at Black Mountain Elementary, North Carolina House Representative Pastsy Keever and a room full of faculty and students honored Diana by naming December 16, 2011 “Diana Seifreit Day.” There was much fanfare, including students playing trumpets and several rounds of applause. Diana was also presented with a framed tribute, roses, and special hand-made gifts from students.
Why so much celebration? Diana was recognized for the many ways that she has given of her time and talents, always present to lend a helping hand, in a time when state budget cuts have lowered the number of teachers in public schools. With fewer faculty to do all the necessary work, Diana has been one who has stepped up to help make the school experience a meaningful one for children in Black Mountain. We at Rockmont are not surprised by this honor and are proud to stand alongside our friends down the road to applaud Diana’s compassionate work. We are truly grateful to call Diana, along with a number of other self-giving local teachers, part of the Rockmont family. Diana will be here next summer, ready as ever, to greet you with her much-loved Weimaraner, Willow, and to make camp a special experience for all!
While you are making gifts for your family and watching the Rockmont Thanksgiving DVD, you may be wondering what all of our horses and other barn animals are up to this Christmas season. Do they even celebrate Christmas? What do they do during the winter months?
Well, wonder no more! I headed over to the stables last week to check in with our very own wrangler and Riding Director, Sara Boelt, to see what the barn animals have been up to since the summer ended. What a fun visit! I delivered some Santa-wear that Karen and Josie Davis had created for the horses to wear during the annual Black Mountain Christmas Parade. Just for fun, Sara and I had a dress rehearsal with a few of the horses. We even dressed up Sancho, everyone’s favorite donkey (pictured left with Sara), so that he wouldn’t feel left out. Several Rockmont horses made it to the parade, including Caspian, who dressed as the reindeer Vixen and was ridden by another member of the Rockmont family, Emily Beaver (pictured below). Lighter, Buddy, Dillon, Samson, Terje, Dapple Dumplin, and Dagmar were also on hand for the big event. As you can see, celebrating Christmas is an important part of the year for our summer steeds.
After a short break following camp, the horses saddled up again for Sara’s off-season riding lessons. Sara provides lessons in Hunt seat riding, an English style of riding, for local folks who want to learn. This is really good for everyone because it keeps our horses in good shape and in regular contact with riders. Closer to Halloween, they participated in trials at the Haunted Horsemanship competition. Buddy dressed as an American Indian, while Caspian competed as a unicorn. The horses even got to see a little action in another competition that we hosted right here at camp down on the lower fields. Aside from lessons, the horses still go on trail rides, though the scenery is a little different now with the leaves gone and cooler weather. If you were to ask them, the Norwegian Fjords would tell you that they are actually looking forward to winter and hoping for a little snow. Others, particularly the older horses, prefer thick blankets and the cozy protection of the barn during winter.
And what about Beau? For those of you who visited the stables last summer, you would have met an old hound dog who came to spend his retirement at the Rockmont stables. He was a little shy at first, but we are pleased to report that he has warmed up quite nicely to life at the stables, following Sara around as she performs the necessary winter chores. Beau, Lighter, and the rest of the Rockmont gang out at the stables look forward to seeing you next summer when you sign up for a Trail Ride. Until then, they’ll be right here getting ready for you!
Dan, Shawn, and Matt wrapped up the 2011 travel season last night in Raleigh, NC. We were back at the North Hills Club, a great venue with delicious cookies! We had an amazing turnout for our shows, the Rockmont family really brought the enthusiasm for a great night.
It was great to see so many people, veteran and new families, come out to support Rockmont and learn about our mission of growth and developing young men, especially in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season! Dan kicked off the shows by talking about our mission, the opportunity for growth, and how summer camp can offer a powerful Rite of Passage for young men. After the video, Shawn and Matt answered questions, spoke about the gift of stories, and how camp is only as good as the staff. There were lots of great questions about Rockmont, how we keep campers safe, what activities are available, and more.
Matt opened the 7:30 show by talking about his first experience at Rockmont, and how that first instance of “taking leave” from his family helped shape similar experiences later in life. It is an important Rite of Passage for any young man, because there will come the time when we are apart from parents and loved ones. Summer after summer, Rockmont has been a place that is committed to giving young men a vision bigger than themselves.
It was a great way to end the travel season and go in to the holidays. We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
Whew! The last two weeks have been very exciting for me. I have crisscrossed the Southeast to visit Rockmonters in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee! A large part of the traveling was my Thanksgiving Tour of Rockmont home shows, and the most recent part was a very special Rockmont wedding (article to follow very soon!). I am pleased to report that the Rockmont family is healthy and even growing in a number of ways. Summer 2012 is going to be incredible!
I was truly blessed on my trip around the Southeast to experience some of the finest hospitality in the Rockmont family. I had spent a whole week in Mississippi, working out of Starkville as my home base. Thomas Sellers (pictured right, with me and Joey Jacob) not only housed me, but he also helped to set-up a staff recruiting table at Mississippi State University. Thomas served last summer as the Birch Tribal Director and is now working hard to draw in more families from Mississippi and more staff from MSU as he continues his graduate work. When I left Starkville to return to Birmingham, I had the opportunity to catch up with Napo Monasterio (pictured above). Napo, a Rockmont camper from 1993 to 1997, reported that his wife Sally recently gave birth to their first son. We can’t wait to have little Ethan at camp whenever he’s ready!
My last stop on the Thanksgiving Tour was at the home of Chris and Helen Harmon in Birmingham! Their son Christopher has been a camper for the past five summers and has a wealth of Rockmont knowledge. He will very likely be one of our lacrosse skill instructors when he is on staff one day! The Harmons were joined by two other Rockmont families, the Huddles and the Jones family. Neighbors turned out to the show, and were quickly invited into the camp experience as we made s’mores and enjoyed good company. One family even drove all the way over from Tuscaloosa to learn more about Rockmont. I’m very excited about the growing excitement over camp that was felt in Alabama! The Harmons were very gracious hosts, and we are so very thankful for their commitment to Rockmont. We truly have a lot to thank God for this Thanksgiving season as the Rockmont family, particularly, for one another!
You may be wondering why I’m posting about The Hunger Games. We’ve never posted on movies before, especially a movie trailer. But, we’ve never had one of our Directors in a movie before! You wouldn’t have noticed, but during the summer, our own Jon Brooks took a couple days off to go film for the role of Peacekeeper in the upcoming movie. He was in several scenes, none more emotionally charged than the Reaping. But little did Jon know that he would be the unknown face next to Katniss when the trailer premiered yesterday!
We had a lot of fun in the office watching the scene and grabbing screen shots to share with family. Lo and behold, though, that particular shot was featured on the front page of Yahoo! and E! online. Crazy, huh?
The movie should be a lot of fun since it was the popular book at Rockmont this summer for both staff and campers. To see it played out will be exciting. Adding to the interest in our area is the fact that many of the scenes from District 12 were shot not far from Rockmont property!
