The first day of activities brings a collective sigh of relief for directors, counselors and the campers. I think we all like some routine after opening day. Last week’s orientation and staff training included settling in horses that were shipped in from south Florida and eastern North Carolina lesson barns. The riding staff worked on … Continued
We are excited to be counting down the weeks to summer 2023 and want to share some exciting updates including some changes to the year round director team.. Gardner and her husband Lucas will be moving to Illahee at the end of May with sons Brooks (age 9) and Jasper (6 mos). Gardner has been … Continued
I can’t help but acknowledge that this week has been tough with recent tragic events in Nashville. We are holding that community in our prayers. Though I write feeling heavy, I do find hope in the months to come. Being a steward of Camp Illahee is such a privilege and I am reminded of the … Continued
A new year is here and we are officially beginning the camp countdown! The time leading up to January generally brings a slower pace for our year-round crew; the phones ring a little less in the office, and the days end a little bit earlier. Everyone has adjusted to the cold, dark evenings and it’s … Continued
Happy December, Illahee Explorers! This summer, hundreds of campers set off on out-of-camp trips. No river was left unpaddled, no rock unclimbed, no trail untrodden. It. was. epic. Then, before we could blink, everyone headed back to their respective corners of the world. We packed away all the PFDs, harnesses, and packs. The leaves turned, … Continued
Gardner and Lucas welcomed Jasper into the world on October 13th, a week ago, in Columbia, SC. At 7lb 11oz and 20″ long, he was the same size as his brother Brooks on his December 25th, 2013 birthday. And both boys were born on a great-grandmother’s birthday- Brooks on Gordon’s mother as well as Laurie’s … Continued
For those of you like me, living in a state where you have endless summer and a couple of “fake-out falls”, it may be hard to believe we are almost a week into the start of this leaf-changing season. Here in Columbia, SC we are still cranking the AC and singing praise when the high … Continued
I am usually the one to wrap up the updates on the final night of the session. It’s particularly nostalgic on the last night of the summer. Tomorrow, we close a great session for a really fun group of GREAT girls, and camp also gets really quiet until we all meet again in 2023 in … Continued
Junior Camp is a grand finale to a great summer! After 30 years of camp directing, I feel a little like Peter Pan with the lost boys…I won’t grow up. Living life surrounded by childhood is a gift filled with optimism and wonder. Our college aged counselors are anticipating their careers and a life that … Continued
Diana Ross’s voice serenaded us bright and early across the hills at Hannah Ford Farm this morning- nothing like waking up to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!” Last night Pineview had their hill-wide overnight four miles down the road from camp, at our farm outpost. If I’m being honest, there is usually some hesitation surrounding … Continued
