Summer camps prepare individuals for life’s storms.
As much as I’ve attempted to write about anything other than Hurricane Helene’s impact on our community, it seems disingenuous.
54 Days ago we experienced Hurricane Helene here in Black Mountain/Swannanoa. If you’re reading this, you likely care about our neck of the woods and have done your own reading on the cause of the devastation, so I won’t do so here.
Nothing can effectively prepare you for every element of an event like we went through… but my experiences at camp, and specifically Rockmont, comes surprisingly close.
Summer camp isn’t just about canoeing, crafts, and campfires—it’s a masterclass in resilience.
Camp teaches you how to problem-solve under pressure, communicate effectively in chaos, and, importantly, maintain a sense of humor when everything feels upside-down. The skills we cultivate at camp—adaptability, teamwork, resourcefulness—are the same ones that can make a world of difference when life shakes up reality a bit.
During and following the events of Helene, these lessons resurfaced in ways I would’ve never imagined.
Clearing debris, coordinating resources, and comforting neighbors tapped into a similar energy to leading a group of campers and staff on a hike when the weather shifts, or when the program you planned needs to change. The stakes were higher, of course, but the core is the same: assess the situation, support each other, and keep moving forward.
I saw it in others, too. Former campers, staff, and alumni from years past came out of the woodwork to help during recovery weekends, embodying the ‘Rockmont Way’ mentality of service they learned here.
Pictured (above): The first Recovery Rockmont Weekend crew.
It reminded me that camp doesn’t just shape summers—it shapes lives. Whether you’re 8 years old navigating homesickness, 12 years old working on a challenging route on the rock wall, or 33 and digging through flood-soaked rubble, the tools are the same:
Grit, grace, and a willingness to work together.
If you’ve ever wondered why summer camps matter, this is why. A place like Rockmont doesn’t just teach you how to build a fire—it teaches you how to rebuild, period. How to face adversity with courage and compassion. How to take a deep breath, look around, and (like Jed Bartlet in the West Wing) say, ‘Okay, what’s next?’
And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing here in Black Mountain. Rebuilding. Together. It’s not always graceful, and it’s rarely easy, but it’s possible because we’re leaning on lessons learned not just in the storm, but long before it.
To every parent who has ever sent their child to Rockmont, to every camper who has ever shown up nervous and left a little braver, and to every counselor who ever thought the summer’s challenges were ‘too much’—know this: the ripple effects of what happens here are more profound than any of us realize. You’re not just investing in memories. You’re investing in resilience—for life’s rainy days and hurricanes alike.
Courage,
Daniel Weatherby
Associate Director
Pictured (Above): Some of the Rockmont crew who were on site during Helene 2 days after the storm.
Pictured (Top): Lake Eden Road on Wednesday, September 25th (2 days before Helene)
Pictured (Middle): The first Recovery Rockmont Weekend crew.