Encounter Faith: Cultivate Wonder – Grow Gratitude
To this day, my first time canoeing Frank Bell’s Rapid is vivid in my memory: My tandem partner and I nervously approached the rapid’s horizon line. I could hear the crashing of the water and feel my heart beating. I was obsessed with the river as a camper, and always impatient for my next whitewater adventure;…
Be the One: JC Climbs Everest Equivalent for a Great Cause
Hello, my name is Eddie Perez and I am a Junior Counselor here at Camp Chosatonga from Memphis, Tennessee. For the last seven years, I have been blessed to call this community rooted deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains my home. Throughout these last few months, a majority of my time has been put into…
We are a Family: REUNION: The Mountains are Calling
The blessing of camp is that the circle of friendship extends not just through your cabin or tribe, not just through your session, your summer or even your era. Camp friendships cross lines of age, of experience, of location. The counselors I looked up to adoringly are now my peers. Campers whose homesick shoulders I hugged are now in the carpool line with me. The sister (and brother) hood we create in our Green Cathedral continue to weave us together over a lifetime.
We are a Family: The Power of Friendship in the Mission of CKC
A few months ago, I attended the wedding of a former Chosatonga counselor, Mitchell Webb and his beautiful bride, Betsy. Once arrived at the church, I found myself tightly packed in the midst of 3 or 4 rows of former campers and counselors. Watching these old friends arrive, one by one, there was the tense…
Be the One: Ukraine and Camp
Ultimately, camp is all about learning how to love. Because of the mysterious way in which we’re all connected in the Body of Christ, our efforts to do good anywhere effect people everywhere.
Life in the Mountains: Offseason Ambiance
Mary Lang has worked in the Kahdalea office since May of 2021, just after graduating Belmont Abbey College. Hiking, writing, jumping off waterfalls, editing, and conversing on philosophical topics make up some of her favorite moments. This summer, she looks forward to being on Wilderness staff. About halfway through September I got to the point…
The Importance of Play: Anne Trufant the Pirate: Musings on Joy
Dear Ones, Don’t you just love being covered with paint?! Do you just wake up sometimes wondering what kind of wildness you can get into in a day!? Well you know that as one of the elders of this group, of course I NEVER do that…except sometimes! I was visiting with one of my daughters…
Encounter Faith: Van Gogh and the WILDEST Gifts in the Cosmos
Dave Trufant gives legendary talks at our Sunday morning Chapel. Chosmen of all generations can attest to this! He relates simple, timeless wisdom with a certain “BOING!” that only “the Dave” can do. His joy is infectious and his talks leave the young men lighthearted, hopeful, and a little bit more comfortable in their own skin, as well as more inclined toward answering the many “knocks” we may receive on the door of our hearts throughout life. One of his more beloved talks revolves around, of all people, Vincent Van Gogh.
Adventure: Burning Calories and Crushing Miles
By Sean Callahan – Chosatonga Wilderness Staff ’21 It started with a phone call, and ended with 102 miles on the Appalachian Trail. Back in April, I received a call from a friend encouraging me to pursue a summer backpacking leadership position down in North Carolina. After researching and noticing the outdoor components of the…
We are a Family: The “CKC Recipe”: our ingredients for an incredible summer
The CKC Recipe You don’t need to be here long to realize that there is something different about Camp. Kahdalea and Chosatonga have been around for a long time (60 years! Woohoo!) and the people who come here can vouch that it is life changing. There is a magic here that helps people to grow…