Smile Because it Happened! :(

It’s Departure Day! Families across the country, and a few from around the world, are once again being reunited with their campers as another incredible session at HVC comes to an end.

The day started bright and early with a 5:00 AM wake-up, followed by a light breakfast in the Dining Hall at 5:15 AM as the Port Chester/New Haven and Newton buses began loading in the front yard.

But before we could reach Departure Day, we had one final busy day to get through. Yesterday was Packing Day! and it truly was all hands on deck. Campers and counselors packed away their belongings, cleaned their cabins, searched the Lost & Found for any missing items, collected their art projects, and made sure everything was ready for the journey home.

In the afternoon, we gathered in the Rec Hall for our final slideshow of the session, featuring aaaaallll the photos from the past few weeks. It was the perfect opportunity to look back on all the adventures and memories we’ve made together.

Then came our final dinner at HVC. And what better way to celebrate one last meal together than with a Lobster Banquet!

As the day came to a close, we took some time to relax, catch our breath, and soak in those final moments of summer before making our way to our last evening programme — ending the session exactly where we began it: Pinegrove!

Weeks of classes, trips, adventures, performances, late nights, early mornings, and countless memories have come and gone in what feels like the blink of an eye.

Thank you to everyone who made Summer 2026 so special. We wish all our campers, families, and staff safe travels home and hope you enjoy the rest of your summer. From our cabin to yours, we’ll see you in 2027!