Zipping down the water slide at our camp reunion

During our camp reunion back in August, one of the highlights for the alumnae was sliding down our brand new water slide.  The tower stands at 30 feet high and the vinyl slide itself slides for 50 feet.  It is so much fun to climb the tower and then fly down the slide to the lake below!  Here are some great photos of the slide that were taken during the summer.

Now that the slide has been broken in properly by all of our campers and alumnae, we are ready to come up with a creative name.  A few suggestions have been put forward, but a name has not stuck.  If you have any suggestions just send us an email at office@rockbrookcamp.com or comment below.  You may just become a part of Rockbrook history by inaugurating the slide with an official Rockbrook name.  Let us hear from you!

Related Rockbrook Camp posts:

1. Swimming, Diving, I’ve Been Striving
2. New Historical Photos Added
3. Generations of Rockbrook Women

We were so happy to learn of the recent nuptials of Rockbrook alumna Kristin Abele.  Kristin and her husband James were married on January 14th in Key Biscayne, Florida.  A mini Rockbrook reunion took place as Kristin’s sisters Lauren and Madi (both former campers), as well as Anne Romatowski and Kelley Hubbell were in attendance.  Kelley, Anne and Lauren were even able to come to Florida a week early for a some fun adventures before the big event.  Kristin reported that lots of camp songs were shared that week, even at the wedding.  We love that Rockbrook spirit!  Kristin even mentioned that many of the wedding guests could instantly recognize the special bond that all RBC girls share!

Rockbrook Spirit

Here is an update from Kristin herself:

“As an update for me…aside from getting married…I started my own business, with my husband in fact. We own and operate The Found Gen, which is a story/scripting group based in Miami that offers writing and editing services with an emphasis on marketing to businesses–we write copy for websites, blogs, newsletters, email marketing campaigns, proposals, marketing presentations, film scripts, commercial scripts, keynote speeches and more–and now after our wedding, we’ve even started getting requests for wedding ceremonies now! And, I completed my first novel last year and now that the wedding has come and gone–i’m aiming to edit it and send it out to be published this Spring.”

Congratulations Kristin and James!  We are so happy for you both.

Kelley, Kristin, Madi, Lauren and Anne

Related Rockbrook Camp posts:

1. Recently Spotted in Brevard- The Greene Sisters
2. Fitness Onboard with Cindi Bonner
3. Meet Mirabelle Buchanan

While driving out to Rockbrook recently we spotted this amazing rainbow!  If there was a pot of gold to be found, where better than to find it at RBC?  I wonder where it would be?  Maybe near the Junior Lodge, Castle Rock, Rockbrook Falls or Dunns Rock?  Where do you think it would be?  I think the hidden treasure of RBC is the treasure we carry in our hearts filled with the wonderful people, friendships and memories that we all share!

In the words of poet William Wordsworth: “My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.”

Related Rockbrook Camp posts:

1. Rockbrook Memories Book
2. The Heart of Rockbrook
3. Rockbrook Party in Charlottesville, VA

From homemade pizza, to felafel and feta salad, to Mexican tamales, the Rockbrook kitchen staff serves up top-notch culinary creations. While earlier days at Rockbrook didn’t offer the same international variety of foods, it could boast of a bountiful, sustainable, and local food source. A 1926 RBC brochure states that the vast majority of the food used at camp was produced at the Rockbrook Farm, located across the road from camp on Greenville Highway. The farm, which was personally managed by Henry Carrier, provided all of the fixings for a balanced, healthy meal: eggs, chicken, lamb, mutton, milk, cream, butter, and vegetables. Rockbrook even cured it’s own ham and bacon for the summer.

Long rows of vegetables at the Rockbrook garden

Campers gather corn from the farm

Rockbrook currently does not have any large-scale farming, however it does have a rich garden. Located on the lower sports field, the RBC garden was started in 2009 and has been growing steadily ever since. Campers enjoy maintaining a variety of plants, and are especially excited to pick ripened vegetables, such as squash, zucchini, edamame, bell peppers, tomatoes, and beans. Once picked and washed, these vegetables are featured in the dining hall’s salad bar. Below, you’ll find a few of our favorite shots from a garden workshop this summer, where campers delighted in making tussie mussies and building a scarecrow!

Related Rockbrook Camp posts:

1. The Summer Camp Dance
2. Summer Camp Book Series
3. The History of Goodwill

We just received this years Carrier Pigeon- hot off the presses and it is dedicated to YOU- the Rockbrook Alumnae who keep the spirit of Rockbrook alive all over the world!  Thank you for being such wonderful supporters of the scene of your girlhood dreams! Here’s to 90 more summers of fun, friendship, memories and adventure.

2011 Carrier Pigeon dedication page

Related Rockbrook Camp posts:

1. Nancy Carrier’s Impact on Brevard
2. The Carrier House Tennis Court
3. Nancy Carrier and Peggy the Great Dane

Rockbrook Water Wheel, 1923

Did you know that in the 1920′s the power for most of Rockbrook was created by a water wheel?  In 1923, a water wheel was installed just below the lake and dam to run the electricity for the camp.  The water wheel came from the Federal Distillery right across the road from camp. The Distillery building is one of three in Transylvania county, and currently the only one still standing. The distillery is believed to have operated from the mid-nineteenth century until Prohibition when the wheel was removed and relocated across Hwy 276.  The water wheel was such an important feature of camp there was even a song written about it!  Check out the sheet music that we found in honor of Rockbrook’s Water Wheel.

Download the whole song here.

Related Rockbrook Camp posts:

1. Rockbrook Campers at Triple Falls
2. New Historical Photos Added
3. A View from a Lodge in 1923

The 2011 Carrier Pigeon, our annual summer yearbook,  is at the printer right now in preparation for sending out over the holiday.  It is filled with so many wonderful stories and memories of the past summer. There are so many highlights, we thought we would share a few with you!  The fun, friends and feeling of Rockbrook never changes, whether it is 1921 or 2011!

Splashing and laughing

in the rocky creek,

with our tangled hair

and our soaking wet feet;

In the dining hall

we all loudly sing,

then at rest hour flop down

and don’t say a thing.

Cabinmates are like sisters,

and friends ever better,

and everyone’s hoping

to receive a letter.

Walking along

a quiet forest trail

or running a brush

through a horse’s soft tail.

In hilarious evening skits

every girl has a part,

In this beautiful wooded mountain,

you can tell why we’re called the heart.

- Miriam E.

Related Rockbrook Camp posts:

1. Trail Rides at Rockbrook Camp
2. Rockbrook Memories Book
3. Rockbrook Campers at Triple Falls

The holidays are officially here when Brevard celebrates with the annual Holiday Parade and Twilight Tour.  If you are in the area come on over to Brevard this weekend and join the fun.  The Twilight Tour will be held on Saturday, December 4 from 11-4 in the downtown shopping district.  Highlights of the day will include carriage rides, carolers, live music at the courthouse, dancers, local vendors and of course, a visit from Santa.

Visit The Heart of Brevard for more information.  We hope to see you there!

Related Rockbrook Camp posts:

1. Nancy Carrier’s Impact on Brevard
2. The Brevard Music Festival
3. The White Squirrels of Brevard