White squirrels are easy to spot around here. In fact, our very own White Squirrel Festival is held each Memorial Day in Brevard and is our unofficial summer kick-off. In the last couple of years, we have noticed a few more each season, and this fall has yielded a “bumper crop.” Two siblings are very … Continued
The past two and a half weeks have been fantastic! The five of us – Gordon, Laurie, Gretchen, Kris and Caroline divided destinations, logged miles across eight states and enjoyed visiting with old campers, new campers and prospective families in 13 cities! In week one, just before halloween, Gretchen and Caroline gathered with our Nashville … Continued
This fall marks a new beginning for our riding director and long-time Illahee friend, Bianca who got married this past Friday to her long-time beau Brad! Dave, Caroline, Kris and Soup were all able to make it to the wedding at the Sleepy Hollow Inn near Black Mountain on a blustery, wet, fall evening. (Laurie … Continued
We are a couple of weeks into the off season and I feel as if I can finally begin to process the summer! We have spent the past days tying up loose ends, straightening activity areas, sending lost and found, and laughing over funny summer moments that are being re-lived through video editing. It does … Continued
It seems like just a few short weeks ago that we were greeting counselors with an optimism that this would really be the Best Summer Ever. The reality is that there’s a lot that goes into that hope that is beyond all of the careful planning and screening that we do each year…and all of … Continued
I am absolutely amazed that I am sitting down to write and it is only 9:30 PM! Taking Hillbrook to Sliding Rock is a little like herding cats, and a little like watching grass grow…if you get in a hurry, you’re just setting yourself up for frustration. Nothing moves fast, except the girls sliding down … Continued
I don’t know that I have ever seen a happier start to Junior camp than today! I’m sure that is music to some of your ears. It’s a big step to take your “babies” to camp…they’ll seem like “big girls” when you pick them up…even after just a week of fun and exploring independence. Laurie … Continued
The final night of camp is always such a symphony of emotion. This particular session’s end also means that many of our counselors who have been together for ten weeks now, are headed back to life outside the “bubble.” They have rekindled friendships and made some new ones, and it occurs to me (as it … Continued
One of my favorite nights of the session traditionally falls on the Wednesday evening before Friday’s close. Tonight, it started with short vignettes performed by the drama classes…and they were great. There was a scene from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the scene where the nuns sing How Do You Solve a Problem Like … Continued
Taking the little girls to Sliding Rock is a little like herding cats. With Pineview, I can set my watch by the time we leave camp, arrive at Sliding Rock, finish sliding, arrive at Dollys and get back to camp. Luckily, I don’t have the drill sergeant personality, and it doesn’t bother me either way…early … Continued
