Good evening from Freedom, and welcome to Day 3.

What a day it was. The forecast threatened rain all week, but the sky clearly didn’t get the memo — we woke up to blue and stayed there. We took full advantage of it by sending half the camp up a mountain.

The morning belonged to the climbers. The Saxons, the TPs, and the Jugglers all laced up and took on Green Mountain together, and by every account it was a brilliant hike — the kind where the views at the top make every switchback worth it. After lunch we sent a fresh wave out the gates, with the Scouts, the Tumblers, and the Scribes heading off to tackle Rattlesnake Mountain. Tired legs, big smiles, and a few new summit stories to bring home.

Back on grounds, the rest of camp was knee-deep in a full slate of activities, making the most of a gorgeous afternoon on the fields, the courts, and the waterfront.

But the best part of the day came after dark. Tonight was the Staff Talent Show, and our team did not hold back — twelve acts in all, ranging from the admin crew throwing on capes for a superhero skit to the waterfront staff bringing the house down dancing to Bad Bunny. Watching the kids cheer for the very grown-ups who look after them all day is one of our favourite traditions, and there’s a real lesson tucked inside the laughter: that getting up on stage, making a bit of a fool of yourself, and simply being yourself is one of the bravest and best things you can do. If the staff can do it, so can the campers — and that’s exactly the point.

A beautiful day, a packed evening, and a camp full of happy, worn-out kids. Sweet dreams from the realm.