Ella and Hattie Smith are soon-to-be the third generation of Illahee campers!

I have been enjoying lots of Illahee reunions this fall and it’s a treat to see so many alumnae with their daughters. I’ve visited with several three generation camp families at shows!  In Ormond Beach, FL Betty Loucks attended with her daughter Corrie Wise and granddaughter Summerlin Wise (1998-2010).  Betty started the Illahee tradition in Ormond Beach, now one of our bigger camp cities.  She worked over 20 summers as Frank and Elizabeth’s “go to gal” even after her own three daughters attended camp.  And she has had five camper granddaughters, three of whom have been recent counselors.  Corrie not only was a camper but returned as camp nurse while her girls, Summerlin, Caroline and Maribeth attended.  Summerlin was a counselor in 2009 and 2010 and enjoys living in Ormond Beach.  I’d love to add up the camper years of the Loucks Dynasty….well over 100 combined! Betty’s friend Molly Christman was also at the show.  This upcoming summer will be Molly’s 20^th on staff as she teaches Fit for Life and Woodworking.  I also saw Priscilla Chanfrau, whose sister in law, Liz, is our new camp rep in Ormond Beach.  Priscilla introduced her nieces to Illahee and recently moved from New York City back to Ormond Beach.

In Charlotte, Susan “Schatzie” McClave (ten year camper in the 1950’s) was beaming with her daughter Kelly McClave Smith and her twin granddaughters Ella and Hattie- finally old enough for camp!  After the show she wrote, “I love Illahee and am soooo excited about Hattie and Ella starting our 3rd generation of campers.  I will relive every activity they take plus some!!!.

Three more generations from Mobile, the Feore and Key families

A highlight of the Mobile show was seeing Cornelia Zieman Feore (1950’s) with daughter Katie Feore Key (camper and counselor in the 1980’s) and granddaughters Adele and Mary Michael.  Adele is returning for her 2^nd summer at Illahee.  My mom and Cornelia were best friends in high school and used to travel to their NC camps by train each summer.

Other mother/ daughter teams at shows include Foofie Axelrod Schaefer with Lily in New Orleans; Katherine Oxnard Ellis with step-daughter Jax in Savannah, where Kelly Phillips Garrett hosted the gathering.  Katherine was as excited about the movies as Jax and enjoyed photos of her sisters Liza Oxnard Aratow (Boulder, CO) and Robbie Oxnard Bent (Bronx, NY) in Kelly’s camp logs.  Liza’s five year old daughter is a future camper and Robbie’s daughter Clara is a returning July session camper.  In Tampa Amy Michel Pattison was with her girls- all three will be campers this summer in July!  Julia Tindall Pinkston kicked off our camp reunion tour in Atlanta where she continues to do an amazing job as camp rep and Illahee cheerleader.  Her daughter Emily is a six year July session girl!

In Richmond, I caught up with Emily Ocheltree Gottwald (2006-07)for breakfast.  She is a beaming bride- just married at a family ranch in Mammoth Lakes, CA last summer (wearing her cowboy boots). She helps to direct an after school outdoor adventure program in Richmond.  At

the New Orleans camp show, I had a great visit with Lawton Fabacher (former camper and on staff from 1998-2008) who is substitute teaching while contemplating a big move- from the Big Easy to the Big Apple, perhaps?  A good camp friend of Lawton’s, Alex Simmons Klitsch visited camp in September with her husband and baby boy who was born in December!  Alex lives in Houston and was in Asheville for a wedding.  Brelan Riddle Montgomery (2003-2005) also popped by camp with her husband in July. She is a nurse in Spartanburg….do I see the Wishing Well in her future?

On Sunday I received a fun email with photos from Illahee’s Carole Sherada who was our capable office manager for over ten years.  She is in Thailand where she joined Toya West (staff member and on leadership team from 1999 to 2010)!  When Carole left Illahee in 2004, she began house sitting in Mexico and travelled in Guatemala during the winters using her hometown in Michigan as her base.  Toya’s adventures have taken her to teaching positions in Korea, Spain and most recently Thailand.  It’s fun to know that these two Illahee women were able to reconnect across the world! And I look forward to staying connected with you throughout the year. Send me your news to include.

Illahee alum, Toya West and Carole Sherida reunite in Thailand!

Laughton Fabacher visits with Laurie in New Orleans