One of the greatest parts of camp isn’t found on the schedule.
Every day is filled with activities, meals, games, and adventures, but between all of those moments are small pockets of unstructured time.
Around Rockmont, we call it milling.
Milling is simply being present.
It’s standing on the Quad after an activity, walking to dinner, or sitting on a bench while campers throw a football nearby. More often than not, it’s during these moments that campers wander over and begin talking. There’s no agenda or lesson plan – just conversation.
Those conversations are where relationships are built.
A fifth grader might tell you about his favorite hobby back home, a book he’s reading, or the project he hopes to build in blacksmithing later in the week. A high school camper might ask about college, careers, or share what’s been on his mind lately. These conversations may seem ordinary, but they allow us to truly know our campers and encourage them in ways that matter throughout the rest of the session.
This is part of the magic of camp.
We get to watch campers try new things, step outside their comfort zones, and form friendships that often last well beyond the summer. While activities create shared experiences, it’s often the moments in between that create meaningful connections.
In today’s world, those moments are becoming harder to find.
We live in a culture filled with schedules, notifications, and constant distractions. There aren’t many places where it’s normal to simply slow down, let your mind wander, and have a conversation without somewhere else to be.
Camp gives us that gift.
As the Head of Mountain Camp, I spend a lot of time milling with our older campers in the Sycamore Quad.
Those conversations can go just about anywhere. One minute we’re debating the greatest sandwich ever made, and the next we’re discussing how we’d survive a zombie apocalypse. Somewhere in between, we’ll talk about friendships, plans, or whatever else happens to be on someone’s mind.
The topic is rarely what matters most.
What matters is that campers know someone is willing to listen.
Sometimes the most impactful part of camp isn’t a big event or a championship game. Sometimes it’s simply a counselor standing still long enough for a camper to say, “Can I tell you something?”
That’s the art of milling.
– Bobby Hagan Brooks
Head of Mountain Camp