The daffodils have moved beyond small hints of spiky tufts, and now sprinkle the hillsides in bright yellow blooms- signaling spring is just around the corner! The trees are still looking bare around camp, and I think we would all agree that it would be nice to shed our winter coats and retire the space heaters … Continued
A new year is well underway and with that brings much excitement as we begin the countdown toward another awesome Illahee summer. Each year offers a fresh perspective when looking ahead. This is true for the year-round directors as our wheels are turning with plans for the summer. Not only have we been brainstorming ways … Continued
December is a festive month in the heavenly world. Apart from the usual holiday celebrations, there is lots of excitement around camp. We are wrapping up the travel season and have loved seeing Illahee girls in their hometowns. Thank you to everyone who came out to see the 2018 summer highlights video (it will be … Continued
Gardner just returned from the first road show of the season- a tour through Houston, Dallas and New Orleans. Lindsey heads south to Charleston tomorrow. Our brand-new video with highlights from the 2018 season is the feature at each camp show, along with a chance to meet other campers and visit with hosts and directors. … Continued
Camp is full of color right now. The rhododendrons are spotted with yellow leaves, crisp red maples are turning and the colorful oaks loom high above us. The pines stay green for a while and tease us that winter is a long way off. We wake up to freezing temperatures, but the afternoons have left … Continued
We have been tight-lipped about some very recent and exciting news in the Illahee world. The youngest Strayhorn, Turner, is headed to…THE ALTAR! Turner and his fianceé Marie got engaged last month in Seattle, Washington two weeks before Marie flew across the pond to spend the year in Ferrol, Spain on a Fulbright scholarship. While … Continued
It’s hard to believe a month has passed since our final goodbyes of the summer! As families transition back into the school year and staff settle into the college routine, a new season at camp takes some getting used to. For the year-round crew a quiet camp is a big adjustment- we miss the ring … Continued
I think we all went overboard with our gushing praise for all things mediocre when I was raising our kids. Non-competitive camps were all the rage, and there were ribbons and trophies for participation. There’s some holdover there, but for the most part, I think parents and their kids know when something is praiseworthy, and … Continued
Adolescence for girls is a roller coaster…and camp is an anchor. It’s not the only anchor, but it’s a powerful one in the tempest of teen years. It struck me on Father’s Day how important it is for dads to keep their head in the game when raising daughters…dads are key. You should be that … Continued
