Who's Ready for Camp?

Who's Ready for Camp?

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Last week was a big week in the annual life of us as camp directors. A lot of those projects that we started with hopes that we would finish prior to camp were completed, and our crews began the massive clean-up that we have to do after camp sits dormant all year long. We are especially excited about the new docks all the way around the swim lake! It is going to be awesome to have ALL that room for swim classes, lifeguards and just hanging out. It also just looks so much better!

The list of folks who came last week to help out is pretty big. We had someone pressure wash the kitchen and especially the hood and cooking equipment. A man came and installed four new dryers in the laundry and checked all of the gas equipment. The two rock masons finished up the porches with new flagstone. They look amazing as well. James and Richard replaced some railroad ties along the path to McLeod while Brian and Cesar replaced some steps along the Wishing Well and from the dining hall down to the Beanstalk climbing tower. Ropes course guru Mike Fishesser will come to camp on Tuesday and do a thorough full course inspection. The fire extinguisher guy came and checked all 100+ fire extinguishers in camp. The buses and vans had their oil changed and were inspected for the season. The cabins were blown out first and then thoroughly cleaned with soap and water. The pretty pink impatiens were planted around the dogwood tree and in planters around camp.Brian replaced a few sections of flooring in the dining hall and we installed two pressure-assist high tech toilets in the bathrooms there. Hopefully, no more plunging!

This week, we'll continue the big clean-up. Gordon has been working on a newsletter, which some of you may have seen already...and it led you here. Horses will start rolling in, as well as some of our early staff for training. Lifeguards will begin their training, as well as some of our other specialty areas. We spend nine months getting ready for camp, and we can't wait. This is going to be the Best Summer Ever!

We were treated to a visit this weekend by former office manager, Carole Shereda. Carole retired five years ago, and has been wintering in Mexico, with her full-time residence in Detroit. It had been more than four years since her last Brevard visit, and we were excited to catch up with her. She was amazed at all of the great changes at camp and wishes us all well this summer in the Heavenly! A few more weeks!

The Countdown!!

The Countdown!!

Monday, May 04, 2009

I've always thought of Illahee's swim lake as one of the happiest places on earth. I've seen beautiful mountain lakes surrounded by sheer rock faces, hidden swimming holes on an obscure trail deep in a hollow, but there is something about our swim lake that just seems right. Tucked between the cabin lines and nestled in a hemlock and rhododendron grove, it comes alive with the gleeful shouts of hundreds of campers in just a few weeks...Illahee's 84th summer!

This summer, the swim lake will have received a facelift, making it more inviting than ever. There are new docks all the way around the bulkhead, a new Tarzan platform, and new L dock as well. The guys are pruning the Heigh Ho side of the lake as I write, clearing old brush and making way for more hemlocks and rhododendron. I know where I can't wait to hang out!

Anybody else tired of hearing about the recession and all of the ills that we face as a country? Camp is the perfect antidote! No T.V., no newspapers, no radio...just a chance to hang out with some of the best and brightest girls we know! Our theme this summer is "Summer of the All-Stars!" One benefit of the economic downturn is that our biggest competition when hiring super-star counselors is a corporate internship or a trip abroad. Guess what? The competition has all but dried up...which means that we have a terrific cast of staff characters back this summer to help us have the "Summer of a Lifetime." Be sure and download the pdf file that includes most (but not all) of our summer staff!

Besides cleaning and painting, and getting ready for camp, we've also been attending weddings. Long-time camper and staffer Molly Morgan got married to Michael Hammond in a beautiful (and fun) ceremony in Sea Island, GA. After a couple of days of celebrating, Laurie, Kris and Gretchen ran in to a group of Orlando campers at a rest stop entering North Carolina. They were on a school trip to nearby Black Mountain. Ever run into a teacher at a grocery store? Can you imagine?!

We are thankful that we have a full house this summer, a testament to our wonderful Heavenly World. We look forward together to making this the Best Summer Ever. June campers, we will see you in a few short weeks!