Camp High Rocks
Camp High Rocks is a private, traditional residential summer camp for boys located in Brevard, North Carolina. Founded in 1958, the camp is situated on a 1,000-acre tract in the Blue Ridge Mountains, adjacent to the DuPont State Recreational Forest. Sessions range from one to four weeks for rising 1st through 11th grade boys, Father/Son Weekends, and a Family Camp are offered. The camp is noted for its emphasis on outdoor adventure, skill-based instruction, and a non-competitive philosophy.
History
Camp High Rocks was established in 1958 by Sumner McBee Williams Jr. and Jane Bell Williams. The founding of the camp represented a merger of two prominent Southern legacies: military leadership and the pioneering "summer camp movement" of Western North Carolina.
Family Heritage
The camp's operational philosophy was heavily influenced by the lineage of its founders:
- Sumner McBee Williams Jr. grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. During World War II, he joined the Army Air Force in 1942, serving with the 737th Bomb Squad, 15th Air Force as a B-24 pilot. After completing his 35 missions, he returned to the states to be retrained as B-29 Pilot. He completed his interrupted education at Davidson College, did graduate work at Emory and taught at McCallie School, Westminster School and Furman University.[1] He was the son of Lieut. Col. Sumner McBee Williams (1885–1935), a Greenville, S.C. native and a distinguished officer in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. A graduate and football captain of Davidson College (1908), the elder Williams served as the Executive Officer of the Corps at Fort Sam Houston and was a veteran of World War I. [2]
- Jane Bell Williams was the daughter of Frank "Chief" Bell, who founded Camp Mondamin in 1922. As a member of the "first family" of Southern camping, she brought a deep expertise in wilderness pedagogy and whitewater instruction to the development of High Rocks.[3][4]
The camp has remained under continuous family leadership for over 65 years, transitioning from the founders to their daughter and son in law , Townsend Williams Birdsong and Henry W Birdsong. It is current run by Jane and Sumner's grandson, Daniel W. Noland along with several additional family members.
Program and Philosophy
High Rocks operates on a "free-choice" system, allowing campers to design their own daily schedules from a variety of instructional activities. The program is designed to foster independence and self-reliance in a non-competitive environment.
Activities and Wilderness Trips
The camp is recognized for its extensive "trip" program, which utilizes the surrounding National Forests and state parks. Key areas of instruction include:
- Paddling: One of the camp's flagship programs, focusing on technical canoeing and whitewater kayaking. Camp High Rocks was part of a "Golden Era" of paddling instruction[5] where whtiewater paddling is still a big part of their instruction and tripping program.
- Mountain Biking: Utilizing the world-class trail systems of the adjacent DuPont State Forest.
- Climbing: Instruction on the camp's private climbing tower as well as natural rock faces in the Pisgah National Forest.
- Horseback Riding: A comprehensive English equitation program.
Recognition and Media
Camp High Rocks has been featured in several national and historical publications:
- National Guidebooks: In Choosing the Right Camp (1994), author Richard C. Kennedy profiled High Rocks as a premier American summer camp, specifically noting its intentional community and quality of instruction.[6]
- Media: In 1997, Family Life Magazine included High Rocks in its "America's Best Camps" feature. "In 1997, Family Life magazine recognized Camp High Rocks as one of the '30 Best Summer Camps in America,' highlighting its specialized wilderness programming and its adherence to traditional camping values."[7]
- Paddling History: In A History of Whitewater Paddling in Western North Carolina (2008), author Will Leverette documents the camp's role as a primary incubator for the region's whitewater culture and safety standards.[5]
Registration
Camp High Rocks charges around $2300 per week, depending on the length of session chosen. The rate is an all-inclusive fee, and campers also have a store account that allows them to purchase necessaties and additional items.[8]
- ↑ Writer, Staff. "Sumner M. Williams, 79". Hendersonville Times-News. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
- ↑ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1935-03-31). "LIEUT. COL. WILLIAMS DIES AT SAN ANTONIO; Executive Officer of Corps Area Quartermaster Office Fought in the World War". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
- ↑ "Jane Bell Williams Obituary (2023) - Brevard, NC". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
- ↑ "The Transylvania times. (Brevard, N.C.) 1931-current, July 04, 1988, SECTION B, Image 9". Transylvania Times (1988/07/04). 1988-07-04.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Leverette, Will (2008). A History of Whitewater Paddling in Western North Carolina: Water Wise. The History Press. pp. 62–64, 114. ISBN 978-1596294578. Search this book on
- ↑ Kennedy, Richard C. (1994). Choosing the Right Camp: The Complete Guide to the Best Summer Camp for Your Child (1995-96 ed.). Random House. ISBN 978-0812922738. Search this book on
- ↑ "The Best Summer Camps in America". Family Life, Hachette Filipacchi Magazines. 5 (3): 64–72. March/April 1997. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Dates & Rates - Camp High Rocks". www.highrocks.com. 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
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