Camp Harrison is not just for summer, y’all. Families get a chance to visit in both the spring and fall and join in the fun! I thought by sending my son to camp there for two summer sessions, to a pair of Mom and Me weekends and the winter camp would mean I’d pretty much had the full experience. I was wrong!
I got an e-mail about Fall Fun at Camp Harrison, which was an offer to come visit camp for FREE any Saturday from Oct. 7 through Nov. 18 open to any camp families or YMCA members. You could come for the day and do camp activities from archery, the climbing wall, paintball and more. For us, it meant a chance to invite Daddy to experience Camp Harrison for the first time – he hadn’t made the cut for Mom and Me weekends (smile). So once our fall baseball seasons ended and we had a free Saturday, we make the trip up I-77 to Boomer, N.C.
One thing my son Wade, 7, had been telling me he got to do last summer at camp and loved was hiking to the “Overlook.” He told me at the top of the hike he saw the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He couldn’t really find the words to describe it, but he had piqued my curiosity. Hiking the Overlook was at the top of our list for Fall Fun.
I knew it was going to be a bit of a challenge when our camp guide escorted us to see the goats and chickens, joined us at archery and then told us he’d meet up with us again after we’d hiked The Overlook. Ha! It was not for the feint of heart, that’s for sure. Steadily steep is the way I would put it. But with hiking sticks furnished by our three sons, ages 7 and twins who are 6, we had a great time chit-chatting and enjoying a beautiful fall day as we hiked to the top.
I didn’t realize it when I got there by my son Wade told me my first word was “WOW” as we got to the top. He’d been perched there waiting for his slow mama to get to the top. I hate to even post a picture of it and spoil the surprise of what you see – for those who might do it themselves some day. But I decided to do it anyway because a photo cannot even do it justice.
What a special moment that was and a fun day for our family. My 6-year-old son Johnny also took his first ride (and second and third) down the zipline, and our whole crew got to try “mountain pies” for the first time – sandwiches cooked over a campfire. All in all a fun day and a quick trip to and from Charlotte, without having to pack sleeping bags and a bunch of overnight stuff. When I asked my husband, a pretty understated and introverted guy, what he thought of Camp Harrison at the end of the day, he said, “That’s a very nice camp.”
Yep, it is. There’s one more Saturday (Nov. 18) to experience Fall Fun. Then there’s holiday camp coming up in December 8-10, where kiddos get to stay for the weekend and enjoy holiday fun like cookie-making, crafts and more.
For more information about Camp Harrison and summer camp, click here.
YMCA Camp Harrison
Where campers build character, develop confidence and grow in their faith.
Camp Dates: June 9 – August 10, 2024
Ages 6-16
800-514-1417
7901 South NC 18
Boomer, NC 28606
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Register | Summer 2024
