It’s the beginning of a new season at Illahee- summer #97# BESTSUMMEREVER. A few years ago, we defined this time of year as the Busy Buzz of May! Our riding director, Sellers, arrives next Wednesday to wrangle the horses; Lifeguards take their first slide down the Streak on Thursday. Van drivers and trips’ staff will … Continued
It is hard to believe Illahee welcomed my family nearly 14 years ago thus beginning my camper years. It was the July session in 2002 -I was deep in the throes of soffe shorts and Lizzie McGuire. I still remember the night before camp, lying awake trying to calm the butterflies in the pit of … Continued
Lindsey and I traveled to our two largest camp towns, Atlanta and Charlotte, a few weeks ago. We decided that early January is a great time for camp movies as we had 75 energetic camp girls at each show. It’s fun to see junior counselors and older campers gather on the floor in a living … Continued
Cinco de Mayo has a special meaning at Camp Illahee! It marks our official summer countdown and it is quite a fiesta around here! Camp directors wear a variety of sombreros during the year and in May, it’s the paint, plant and clean hats. The office becomes the supply zone. We divide our days between … Continued
If I didn’t know better, I would expect Junior camp to start with a whimper and end with a roar, but it’s really the other way around (except the whimper part). These girls are wide open, and ready to go….which is a good thing, because camp is designed for lots of energy! It is fitting … Continued
Camp just doesn’t feel right without campers…even for the day that we take to regroup between sessions. We said goodbye to a terrific group of three-weekers on Friday, and counselors had yesterday to explore the area, sleep…some of them to move into new cabins. We welcomed a new crew of Junior Counselors and a few … Continued
Yesterday we celebrated Memorial Day with the arrival of the 2012 camp staff ! After nine months of planning, the start of orientation is a welcome beginning to summer. I have to admit, that I always get butterflies with camp’s opening and the flurry of last minute preparations and projects, but after our first evening … 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
If you ever toured Illahee before visiting, you were probably serenaded at least several times by groups of campers singing, “Welcome to Illahee…the mountains echo welcome to thee…” The sounds of camp were certainly echoing from Heigh Ho and Hillbrook hills as we started our four-week and mini 1 sessions today. All is “right” in … Continued
But, this morning felt a lot like I remember Christmas feeling when I was Hillbrook age. Yesterday, I was dead-tired from the last “push” to get ready and then got “schooled” by my sixteen year-old on the Butter Gap trail on mountain bikes last night…(we left at 6:30 PM and rode until almost nine and … Continued
