Post Office Box 98Tuxedo, North Carolina 28784

Telephone 828-692-0262Fax 828-696-1616

www.fallingcreek.com

Accredited by the American Camp Association

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” PSALM 133:1

FallingCreekCampF O R B O Y S

is to provide a setting, a program, and dedicated leadership to

allow our boys a maximum opportunity for personal growth and

fun as they develop an understanding of their relationships with

nature, their fel low man, and God.

O U R M I S S I O N

From the start, community at Falling Creek begins ineach cabin group, where campers and staff learn

about each other and make friends.

Cover: After morning watch,campers and counselors walk toBlake Dining Hall for a heartybreakfast.

Welcome to Falling CreekNestled in a peaceful mountaintop cove in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina,

Falling Creek is surrounded by lush forest and beautiful wilderness. It’s an ideal setting

with fresh, cool nights and warm days. Embracing traditional Christian values, Falling

Creek welcomes all

campers and strives

to nurture spiritual

growth in a relaxed

set t ing. Summer

camp also offers a

unique opportunity

for physical and

social growth. We

encourage develop-

ment in these areas by providing sound leadership and a variety of enriching experiences.

It’s our hope that campers realize their strengths, as they relate to others and the world

around them.

C A M P L I F E

A community of fun and friendship

“THIS PLACE DRAWS PEOPLE BACK” - CHUCK MCGRADY, DIRECTOR EMERITUS

ackpacking trips into themountains. Sleepingunder the stars.Kayaking. Sailing.Tennis. Rock climbing.

Building friendships that last a life-time.

Since 1969, Falling Creek has attracted campers from more than 30

states and several countries. Campersreturn year after year, and manybecome staff members. Falling Creekis an experience a boy carries withhim for a lifetime.

Making Choices. “Boys at FallingCreek learn to make decisions forthemselves. We view ourselves as an

B

There’s time built into the dailyschedule for campers to relaxand have fun with their campbuddies.

7:30 AM WAKE UP

8:00 MORNING WATCH

8:20 BREAKFAST/MORNING

ASSEMBLY

9:20–10:10 FIRST ACTIVITY

SESSION

10:15–11:05 SECOND ACTIVITY

SESSION

11:10–12:00 THIRD ACTIVITY

SESSION

12:00 PM FREE SWIM/FREE

ACTIVITIES

1:00–3:00 LUNCH/REST PERIOD

3:00–3:50 FOURTH ACTIVITY

SESSION

3:55–4:45 FIFTH ACTIVITY

SESSION

4:50–5:40 SIXTH ACTIVITY

SESSION

5:40 FREE SWIM/FREE

ACTIVITIES

6:30 SUPPER

7:30 EVENING PROGRAM

9:00 CALL TO QUARTERS

9:30 LIGHTS OUT

D A I L Y S C H E D U L E

n and friendshipeducational institution—a differentkind of education than boys getduring the rest of the year. It’sdeveloping self-worth, learning howto live with a group of people, howto see opportunities for growth andpursue them,” says Donnie Bain,Director. “Although we recognizethe importance of learning skills, the

value and character developmentthat takes place at camp is ultimate-ly the greatest benefit to each boy.”

One of the first activities is an ori-entation tour of all the camp activi-ties—from the riding stables to therifle range; from canoeing to moun-tain biking. Campers then select sixdifferent activities to take part in on adaily basis.

With an extensive wilderness pro-gram, most Falling Creek camperseagerly take advantage of the varietyof trips offered throughout the sum-mer. The longest and most extensivetrips are offered during the MainSession.

A dedicated and enthusiastic staff

is the heart of any camp program.Falling Creek counselors are carefullyselected and come from all over theUnited States and several other coun-tries. Each counselor is at least 19years old and has completed at leastone year of college. The average ageof our counselors is 23, and abouthalf return each summer.

Every camper lives in a cabingroup with six other boys and one ortwo counselors. Falling Creekbelieves that having boys from differ-ent parts of the world living togetherin community fosters social maturity.Cabin groups go on overnight camp-ing trips together at least once aweek during each session.

One of the most important parts of eachboy’s camp experience is making friends —

many will be friends for life!Morning assembly is a fun way to start the daywith songs and skits.

W A T E RSWIMMING . THE BLOB . ROLLER COASTER . HIGH WIRE . SAILING . FISHING

he Falling Creek waterfrontis located in the center ofcamp on a private lake fedby mountain springs.

Docks with high andlow diving boards are excellentinstructional facilities for swimmers,from beginner to advanced.

All campers sign up for swimminguntil they show proficiency in fourbasic strokes, aten-minute treadand float, and afive-minute contin-uous swim. Boyswishing to devel-op further skillsmay continue totake swimmingclasses, workingon advancedswimming strokes,distance swim-ming, and lifesav-ing skills.

During freeswims, boys canjump on the blob,slide into thewater on theRoller Coaster orride over theUpper Lake whileholding onto the High Wire.

The Wind. Sailing is a great teacher of responsibility and respect for theelements. The Falling Creek sailingfleet is located 15 minutes from campon Lake Summit, a mountain lake with27 miles of shoreline.

Boys learn seamanship and sailingtechniques so that they can meetalmost any situation in and aroundboats with confidence. Campers startfirst on land with the basic points and

principles beforesailing in in-struction boatswith members ofthe sailing staff.Campers thenadvance throughthe various boatsrequiring a mini-mal amount ofskill to the morechallenging boats.

Fishing. Fishingis offered as aninstructional activ-ity on our twolakes and nearbystreams. Boyslearn how to tieknots and how tofish with live baitand artificial lures.

Fly fishing is offered as a special sign-up activity.

T

“I go back because it’s fun.

There are lots of opportuni-

ties here that you don’t get

back home.”

BEN CUNNINGHAM

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

“Last summer at the begin-

ning of camp, when my

parents were driving me up

Camp Road, I told my par-

ents ‘I’m home!’ That's what

camp really is to me — my

second home.”

ALEXANDER THOMAS

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Smiles on the water, in the water, and over it

The Blob: You have to see it to believe it. An inflated balloon floating in the Upper Lake, with one end below the diving tower. Boys jump! They bounce!

r, in the water, and over it

PADDLING TECHNIQUES . BUOY & SLALOM COURSE . RIVER READING

alling Creek offers an out-standing canoeing programoriented towards single-and multi-day trips onexciting whitewater rivers,

as well as peaceful mountain lakes.On the Lower Lake in the center of

camp, boys learn correct paddlingtechniques. They learn to work with apartner in a tandem canoe and effi-ciently paddle through buoy andslalom courses.

Introductory trips on the Green andTuckaseegee Rivers introduce campersto the basics of whitewater paddlingand river reading, safety, and rescue.

Intermediate rivers, such as sectionsof the French Broad, Nantahala andChattooga have faster currents andmore obstacles to avoid. At this level,boys increase their river reading andjudgement ability and learn suchadvanced techniques as “surfing.”

At more advanced levels, boys willlearn to paddle safely such challeng-ing rivers as the Ocoee, Pigeon andNew River Gorge. Usually, it takes aboy several summers to progress tothese rivers.

Besides paddling whitewater rivers,boys also can take part in two- andthree- day canoe camping trips onLake Fontana and Lake Jocassee.

F

C A N O E S . K AYA K S

Before a camper goes on a rivertrip, he learns basic paddlingtechniques and river safety. Ashe gains practical experience,there are more and more chal-lenging rivers to test his skill.

“I came here because of my

brother, I came back because

of my brothers.”

MAX CRADDOCK

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

“If home is where the heart is,

Falling Creek is my home.”

HENRY FOAH

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

Paddling Whitewater Rivers & Mountain Lakes

Once a boy has completed a prescribed sequence of rivers in a tandem canoe, he maycontinue his whitewater training in a solo canoe, C-1, or whitewater kayak.

r Rivers & Mountain Lakes

B I K I N G

Riding rough terrain and mountain trails

BIKE MAINTENANCE . TRAIL RIDES . OVERNIGHTS . CHALLENGE COURSE

ountain Biking is oneof the fastest-growingactivities at FallingCreek. Atop multi-speed mountain bikes,

boys explore the varied terrain of the

nearby mountains, with many campersworking up to extended overnight tripsin the Pisgah National Forest.

Our qualified instructors help boysmake basic safety checks on every ride.Boys go through a mountain-bike prepcourse before beginning our program, sothat we are comfortable with their safetyand ability in riding our mountain bikes.Once they have completed the prepcourse, boys spend time on our chal-lenge course where they practice dealingwith obstacles they may encounter ontrail rides. Following the challengecourse, boys can begin trail rides aroundour camp property and progress tolonger and more difficult trips in thePisgah Forest and the Tsali area.

M

On our mountain bike challengecourse, an instructor shows bikershow to negotiate the most common obstacles: fallen trees,rocks, and one’s own fears.

“The reason I chose Falling

Creek many years ago was

because its activities are

progressive. You want to

find a camp that’s a home

for your boys so they can

grow in ways they can’t at

home. I have two sons. The

older one received his Eagle

Scout badge this year, and

a lot of it was

his experience at

Falling Creek.”

SARAH THOMAS

(MOTHER OF ALEXANDER)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

n and mountain trails

Adventure, independ ence, and self-reliance

“Coming from New

Orleans, climbing a rock,

not to mention seeing a

rock, was unbelievable.

When I finally got the

courage to sign up for rock

climbing, I struggled all the

way up my first climb.-

Climbing brings out the

best in me—my passion for

conquering challenges.”

PATRICK GILLIN

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA

he Mountaineering Staffspecializes in leadingBackpacking and RockClimbing trips throughsome of the most beautiful

wilderness areas in the Southeast,including the Joyce Kilmer/SlickrockWilderness Area, the Pisgah NationalForest*, the Nantahala National Forest,Linville Gorge, and Jocassee Gorges.

Mountaineering counselors areexperienced outdoorsmen, free fromcabin respon-sibilities, whodevote theirfull attentionto planning,packing andleading trips.Our tripsrange fromsmallovernights oncamp proper-ty to 6-daytrips alongtheAppalachianTrail and Mt.Rogers.

Two counselors are always presentfor all overnight trips, and campersquickly develop an understanding ofthe woods and an ability to camp andhike safely.

In the course of a typical week, five or six trips might leave camp---each designed to meet the needs of different ages and skill levels. All boys, regardless of age, are encour-aged to participate in the fun and ad-venture of wilderness camping.

Rock-Climbing. The most importantfeature of the Falling Creek RockClimbing Program is our emphasis onsafety.

Boys begin by learning basic termi-nology andrope-handlingtechniques.After theymaster theseskills on theground, theyare allowed tostart climbingon our climb-ing wall.

Once a boyproves heunderstandsthe fundamen-tals of climb-ing and groupcooperation,

he is invited to continue with moredifficult multi-pitch climbs.

Falling Creek utilizes some of thebest climbing areas in North Carolina,including Looking Glass Rock, LinvilleGorge, Cedar Rock and Table Rock.

MOUNTAINEERING

T

HIKING . BACKPACKING . ROCK-CLIMBING

The climbing wall challenges boys at all ability levels.

d ence, and self-reliance

A strong element of Falling Creek’s philosophy involves teaching boys tominimize their impact on the wilderness through the principles of Leave NoTrace camping. Campers are taught to appreciate the outdoors and to leavea campsite exactly as they found it.

“One of the most important lessons we can teach is to respect the environ-ment,” says Chuck McGrady, Director Emeritus and former NationalPresident of the Sierra Club.

The first lessonof rock climb-ing: how to tiethe climbingrope into yourharness using aFigure-8 knot.

C a r i n g f o r t h e E n v i r o n m e n t

*Operations on National Forest System lands are authorized under Special Use Permit by the Pisgah National Forest.

Challenge, skill-building, and team spirit

L A N D S P O R T SSOCCER . TENNIS . BASKETBALL . WEIGHTLIFTING . LACROSSE . ARCHERY

RIFLERY . ULTIMATE FRISBEE . CROSS COUNTRY

Archery requires focused atten-tion, upper body strength, andprecision at all stages right up toreleasing the arrow. It’s anactivity that challenges everyone,from beginner to expert.

hile we offer manycompetitive activities,we feel that it isimportant for boys todevelop good sports-

manship and teamwork as well asimproving their skills. At Falling Creek,we recognize boys who demonstrateunselfishness in their everyday lives.We would rather see a boy developawareness to the feelings and needs ofothers, than to win on the soccer fieldor basketball court

Soccer is always popular at FallingCreek. Counselors teach ball-controlskills and help boys develop proficiency at dribbling, passing andshooting. Lively scrimmages letcampers apply their skills in gamecompetitions.

Basketball. Boys of all ages enjoy play-ing on Falling Creek’s two outdoor all-weather courts. Emphasis is placed onball-handling and other fundamentalsto help improve individual skills. Scrimmages help boys learn to worktogether and practice teamwork.

Lacrosse. In our lacrosse program,through a series of drills and counselorinstruction, boys are introduced to thebasics: from stick handling, to shootingtechniques, to passing and catchingskills. They learn offensive and defen-sive team strategies, and are able to puttheir new skills to use in small-teamand full-team scrimmages.

Tennis. Qualified staff members offerdaily instrution on five hard-surface,all-weather courts. Fun and construc-tive games are used to develop youngplayers’ skills.

Ultimate Frisbee. This activity is fastbecoming a favorite. Campers areinstructed in the rules and strategy ofthe game and a variety of throwingskills.

W

“Hopefully I can become

everything Falling Creek

holds dear.”

MATT DANES

BELLE ISLE, LEEDS, UK

“ I know a safe haven in the

mountains where strangers

become brothers and dreams

become reality.”

HONOR COUNCIL

lding, and team spirit

A tennis ladder, camper-counselor tourna-ments, and camper tournaments challengeplayers at all levels. All campers learn thestrategy, sportsmanship, and court eti-quette that characterize a good tennisplayer.

Archery-Riflery. Archery and rifleryare taught with a strong emphasis onsafety and responsibility.

Bow strengths in archery vary from15 to 40 pounds, and shooting dis-tances of 15 to 30 yards provide achallenge to both the beginner and theexpert archer.

The covered riflery range allowsboys to shoot in any type of weather. Each boy is allowed to shoot six daysa week on a 50-foot range andreceives instruction in four positions:prone, sitting, kneeling, and standing.

RID ING . NATURE

iding. With morethan 20 horses readyto ride and trailsthroughout its nearly425 acres, Falling

Creek offers a unique opportunity forriding and horseback overnights.

Boys start out in the ring learningbasic horsemanship skills. When a boydemonstrates that he can control hishorse, he may begin trail riding andtaking advantage of the numerous out-ings and overnights planned by theriding staff.

Our facilities include two barns, tworiding rings, five pastures and miles ofbeautiful mountain trails.

Opportunities vary from small picnicrides to overnight trips and two-daytrail rides for more advanced riders.Special clinics are offered throughoutthe summer. Emphasis is placed onthe safety of the rider as well as thewell-being of the horse.

Boys who demonstrate interest andenthusiasm are invited to participate inthe Main Camp Gymkhana.

Horses, snakes,owls, and salamanders

R

TRAIL RIDES . HORSEBACK OVERNIGHTS . PLANT & ANIMAL LIFE“I’ve always liked horses,

but I didn’t start riding them

until I came here.

In my second or

third year, a counselor

suggested that I try jumping.

I was real scared.

He encouraged me

a whole lot to do it.

I’ve learned that I can do it.

Now that’s all I want

to do.”

RICHARDWHITAKER

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Nature. Guided by a group of nat-uralists who integrate biology, ecol-ogy, and botany into the program,campers see what’s abstract in atextbook happening before theirvery eyes. They go on night hikesto learn about astronomy and noc-turnal animals. They explore thephysics of water molecules byobserving and learning to attract

water striders, spider-like insectsthat skate on a lake’s surface. Theytake advantage of a rainy morningby searching out aquatic creatureslike frogs, tadpoles, and snakes.They discover that the area aroundFalling Creek is particularly fascinat-ing because its natural life combinesthe ecologies of northern deciduousforests and southern pine forests. In

Nature, campers learn to appreciateconservationist Baba Dioum’sfamous maxim, “We conserve onlywhat we love, we love only whatwe know, and we know only whatwe are taught.”

s, and salamanders

Best of all, in the camp’s NatureCenter, the boys meet Rufus andBB, red-tailed hawks that havebeen at Falling Creek since the late90s. And, of course, almost all theboys love to watch the snakes feed!

C R E A T I V I T Y

Discovering talents and interests

CRAFTS . MUSIC . INDIAN LORE . SPECIAL EVENTS

rts & Crafts. FallingCreek has a well-equipped craft shopwhere boys learn toexpress their individual

tastes and talents. The activities rangefrom woodworking and pottery toleatherwork, painting, drawing andphotography.

Indian Lore.The IndianLore programseeks to givecampers anappreciationof the craftsand culture ofNativeAmericans.Boys learn tomake Indiancrafts fromnatural materi-als and createtheir own out-fitting for aspecial IndianGrand Councilcampfire pre-sented at theend of theMain Session.

SpecialEvents. Thereare certaintimes during

each session when regular activitiesstop and all boys participate in camp-wide special programs. These mayinclude Field Days; Track Meets; TheFalling Creek Olympics; The IronmanTriathlon; The Falling Creek HorseShow; Backwards Day; Wild, Wild,West Day; California Day; and Carnivals.

Other spe-cial eventsincludeCounselorHunt, camper-counselortournamentsin tennis,foosball, ping-pong and bas-ketball. Daytrips to thecool, refresh-ing waters ofSliding Rockin the PisgahForest are memorableexperiences.

Dances. Theboys ofFalling Creekoccasionallyget togethersocially withsome of theneighboringgirls’ camps.

A

Boys get to choose their ownprojects in our woodworkingshop. The strength of our craftsprogram is the interest andenthusiasm of our staff forwhat they teach.

“I’m a teacher during the

year, but I know I can make a

bigger difference in these boys’

lives during the summer at

camp than I can during nine

months at school.”

ROBERT KIRBY

16-YEAR FCC STAFF MEMBER

HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

“I remember coming into

camp the first time and

being a little nervous,

but as soon as I met my

counselors and

cabin-mates, I was excited

and ready to have a

great summer.”

HAYES SAER

GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT

and interests

The Closing Campfire and Banquet.This is an event rich with tradition andmeaning for the campers. It is anopportunity for the camp communityto reflect on the session and give asense of closure to the campers’ expe-riences. “It always amazes me howmany campers come back and talkabout their closing campfire and ban-quet,” says Donnie Bain. “It helps toremind us how much camp means tocampers. And we understand, becauseit means just as much to us.”

Falling Creek offers campers theopportunity to pass off requirementsfor all or portions of several BoyScouts of America merit badges.

M e r i t B a d g e P r o g r a m

1 - Iroquois Tribe2 - Indian Lore

3 - Riflery Range4 - Athletic Field5 - Roller Coaster6 - Cherokee Tribe7 - Catawba Tribe

8 - Infirmary9 - Tennis/Basketball

Courts10 - Doctor’s A-frame11 - Campfire Area

12 - Lower Lake13 - Swimming Docks

14 - The Blob15 - High Wire

16 - Main Office17 - Dining Hall18 - Miller Lodge19 - Nature Hut

20 Archery Range21 - The Climbing Wall22 - Canoe & Kayak Hut

23 - Stables24 - Mountain Biking Hut25 - Mountaineering Hut26 - High Ropes Course

27 - Fishing Hut28 - Morning Watch

he Falling Creek experience revolves around the 150-acre main campus, pictured

here. This area is surrounded byhundreds of acres of lush forest,open pasures, and miles of beauti-ful trails, allowing for a multitudeof wilderness opportunities.

A dream becomes reality...and keeps growing

hen Yates metMarisa atAppalachian StateUniversity, sum-mer camp was

already in his blood. His family hadlong been involved with camps inWestern North Carolina. Yates andhis brothers attended Falling Creek —Yates for 12 summers as both acamper, C.I.T., and staff member.

In the summer of 1989, Yates andMarissa both worked at FallingCreek—Yates leading the whitewaterprogram and Marisa heading up thewaterfront. After they graduated withdegrees in recreation from ASU,Marisa joined the staff of the YMCA,first as aquatic coordinator, and thenas a staff trainer. Marisa later servedas a Certified TherapeuticRecreational Specialist at theAlexander Children’s Center. Hercommitment to the well-being of chil-dren and families is exemplified byher volunteer work with many com-munity programs, as well as with herneighborhood, church, and children'sschools.

Yates, meanwhile, returned to hishometown of Charlotte, N.C., to serveas President of Bissell Development.In 1991 Yates and Marisa married andnow have three daughters; Annie,Lucy, and Mary. Even as Yates wasforging a successful career in thebusiness world, he continued to workwith children, serving as assistantscoutmaster for the same troop inwhich he earned his Eagle Scout.The Pharrs moved to Asheville andYates became Vice President of com-mercial development for BiltmoreFarms. Returning to camp was theopportunity of a lifetime for them.

For the past three decades, camp-ing has been an important part ofDonnie and Kim Bain’s lives. Donnie,

who started at Falling Creek as acabin counselor in 1972, advancedover the summers to mountaineeringcounselor, program director andassistant director. A graduate ofDavidson College, Donnie receivedhis M.A. in Education from GeorgiaState. He taught for five years both atThe Lovett School in Atlanta and inthe Henderson County school systemwhile returning every summer tocamp. His wife, Kim, graduated fromConverse College, and received herM.A. in Education from Georgia State.During the winter, Kim is a teacher inthe Henderson County School Systemand every summer she manages ourprogram office. Their sons, Johnathanand Michael were campers at FCC,and, along with their sister Betsy,have all contributed their talents tothe FCC staff.

WDONNIE AND KIM BAIN

AND FAMILY

D I R E C T O R S

YATES AND MARISA PHARR

AND FAMILY

Additional information on Falling Creek is available online

at www.fallingcreek.com“A camp experience is something you can’t get anywhere

else. It not only allows you to build skills like paddling and

tennis, but also to build life skills—how to get along with

others, be independent and make decisions for yourself—

that you would never have a chance to do at home or

school.” –YATES PHARR