At Home and Abroad

At Home and Abroad

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Happy Valentine's month from all of us at Camp Illahee! We've continued to have beautiful snowy weather here in the "heavenly world". Gardner woke up early on Saturday to explore camp with her camera. Of course Liza and Newton tagged along making fresh tracks in the snow. Patches and Luke have been hanging out in the pastures and the lakes are covered with ice. Enjoy this glimpse of Camp Illahee magic!

Pinecrest has been a quiet house with only Gardner and me. After our exchange student returned to Argentina, Gordon and Turner traveled to Bangkok, Thailand on February 4th for a two week mission trip in Southeast Asia. My dad joined them so there are three generations of our family represented. It hasn't been your typical mission trip; much of the first week involved exploring the outlying countryside and villages via motorbikes. (Yes, they didn't tell me that before they left!) Typical days were 300km of dirt road biking using GPS devices to find their way- the ultimate geo-caching. A highlight was staying near Chiang Mai for two days with an American missionary family who has been home-schooling their teen-agers. Turner enjoyed comparing notes with them, going to the market and even playing a few video games. The siblings will travel to the states next fall to begin college. Turner and Gordon will finish their week with other long term missionaries evaluating their projects and determining support that they need from follow up groups. Gardner and I will be excited to greet them on Friday night at the Asheville airport!

On the domestic front, we've had a great time tuning into the Olympics on NBC. I wonder if we could spice up the Illahee Olympics with our own version of curling or maybe by adding some ice to the slip-n-slide! The dedication and discipline of the athletes is always so inspiring. But you know, I get to work with some really inspiring young people every summer. Illahee counselors always amaze me with their good humor, dedication to the girls at camp and willingness to dive fully into the community. Illahee is a beautiful camp, but the counselors and campers bring it to life. We are having a great time putting together next summer's awesome group of counselors. Gretchen visited the University of Georgia where Kat Owen helped her recruit. She has also visited Emily Mehta, Annie Mieta and Meme Summerell at Davidson College, and Laurie caught up with Jennifer Gift, Mary Valentine and Kat Costello in Brevard. We will be posting a staff update- who's returning and who's new in early March and will send camp families the parent handbook and online links for activity sign ups and Ship Store orders. So stay tuned!

We are hearing from lots of alumnae who have been spreading the word about the May 14th alumnae weekend. Reunion information and registration can be found at http://campillaheereunion.myevent.com Please share that with other alumnae whom you know! Have a wonderful February and check back often for more news from "the heavenly world!"

Another SNOW!?

Another SNOW!?

Friday, January 29, 2010

Camp Illahee Snow from Camp Illahee on Vimeo.

Liza and Newton Play in the Snow at Camp Illahee from Camp Illahee on Vimeo.

Lots Going On As We Round The Corner!

Lots Going On As We Round The Corner!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

It's been a fast-paced New Year at Camp Illahee. We've had a great time chasing Liza, who has doubled in size and is keeping Newton young. Our daughter,Gardner, turned 17 on New Year's eve and her host brother, our Argentinean exchange student has been with us since the holidays. We have been learning a lot of Spanish in our house! Last weekend we made a quick trip to Washington, DC to show him our nation's capitol. Thanks to alumna Megan Bel, we had fantastic tours of the White House and the Capitol building. We also visited the Natural History, the American History, the Native American, the Air and Space, and the Holocaust Museums- not bad for two days! By the afternoon of the second day, we were about to have a minor museum revolt on our hands, so we finished our time in the city as the sun set watching the lights come on in the Capitol and the Washington Monument. Even with Partisan politics, legislative gridlock, and mountains of bureaucracy, one can't help but get chills visiting our nation's capitol. What a beautiful city representing hope and freedom. And as we've cried watching the unspeakable tragedy unfold in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, we can't help but feel proud of our citizens for their generous gifts, and spirit of service to the people of Haiti in the midst of such suffering. The out pouring of world aid and the US leadership in the efforts is our country at its best. We need to pray for the people of Haiti and all those whose hands are helping them to heal.

In the Heavenly World, we have "broken ground" on the Heigh Ho bath house project and as soon as the snow melts and the ground thaws, we'll be ready for the foundation! Ahh, such luxury at camp...new toilets that flush! Laurie has started ordering clothing for the Ship's Store. This year we will have some new items! In addition to the Soffee shorts for the little girls, we will offer the Nike style "velocity short" for the older campers! We also will be unveiling a new Illahee logo in our t-shirt designs. Campers look out for photos and ship store items in early March and you can place your orders online! And speaking of online and designs, the new website is well underway and we are SO EXCITED about it! We can't wait for you to see it next month. You are going to have a great time exploring it. Gretchen and Maria have been working on some of the art and graphics for it, so we can’t wait to unveil it!

Gretchen has been talking with many staff members and we've had a great time interviewing a big group of Illahee girls who are now freshman in college. Many haven't been at camp since middle school or their Spark summer, and they look so different all grown up- Arrington Clark, Collier Tynes, Libby Wallin, Sara Bailey Stocks, Becca Vinson!!

And not to forget our grown up Illahee girls, the spring reunion for alumnae and staff is May 14th to 16th. Alumnae and staff over 21 who would like to find out more can go to http://campillaheereunion.myevent.com to learn all about it! We know that the reunion will be a great way to kick off the summer season and to celebrate Illahee's 90th birthday!

Introducing Liza Dog!

Introducing Liza Dog!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Happy Holidays! We are super-excited to be in Christmas week at camp! The winter storm that came through here late last week has only added to the holiday fun. We are pleased to announce that we have a new addition to the Illahee family! Liza Dog came to the Strayhorn house last Wednesday evening. Bred and Born to Polar Bear and Lacey in King Henry Virginia, she should be the perfect camp dog (after Newton of course). Speaking of Newton, after ignoring her for the better part of her first day, he couldn't stand it any longer...she's just too darn cute. The snow fell, and Newton, Liza and entourage couldn't wait to get in it to play. Check these pictures out!There are also some pretty fun pix from all of our camper showings the last few months.

We hope everyone got their Christmas present from Santa's sleigh! If not, check out the mailbox today or tomorrow. A little hint: for those of you who were not able to make one of our fall camper reunions, this will be a great walk down memory lane! We are glad we got them out on Thursday as the winter storm that covered the eastern United States got its start in Brevard with 8-12 inches. Camp is pretty in the summer, but there is something about a good snow that just makes it beautiful.

Before the snow hit, things were hopping at camp. We just about finished clearing the site for the new bathhouse next to the Paw Paw Patch that will serve Heigh Ho. We have a portable saw mill at camp that is going to cut up the pine trees that were cut to make room for the new building, and that's what we will build it out of...pretty cool, huh? The guys are also finishing up the renovation of a house that we bought recently on the edge of camp to house married adult staff during the summer. We have lots of painting going on, and planning (for the best summer ever). Gretchen has been firing up Skype (web video) and talking to lots of former campers who want to be full-fledged counselors next year! My favorite thing about turning the corner into the new year is that camp is right around the corner! And this is one summer you won't want to miss! It's Illahee's 90th Birthday Bash! It's going to be a summer-long celebration. As part of the 90th, we will be debuting a brand new logo update and website in early spring with loads of new content and interactive pictures and video going on...it's super-exciting!

In this year where we all are reassessing what is truly important, we are very thankful for each of you and that we can call you part of the Illahee family! A most blessed Christmas to each and every one...remember that Christ is the reason for this season!

Finishing Up Camper Travel!

Finishing Up Camper Travel!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

I have a lot to report this week! There is a lot of exciting news in the Heavenly World. It is a beautiful day after another few days of rain from Hurricane Ida earlier in the week. The Strayhorn family was in New Orleans last weekend for a family wedding and for the New Orleans camper showing at the Ellis family's home. Gordon was in Florida for the week, with great showings in Tampa, Ormond Beach and Jacksonville. There were over 40 Ormond girls plus parents at the showing! It is a Camp Illahee town! Laurie drove from New Orleans to Mobile where she had a great gathering at the Dales, just in time for Ida's uninvited landing. Instead of plans to fly out the next morning, she turned tail and headed north in her rental car and drove all the way back to camp! We are all relieved that she came ashore with a whimper instead of a roar!

We just finished brunch with Kris and Soup Campbell and Carol and Jonathan Sundheimer, who are enjoying a beautiful weekend in Brevard with other friends. Soup is finishing up his Masters in Athens, Ohio, in late May and Jonathan will receive his law degree in May as well. Seems like all the cards are lining up perfectly for another summer in the Heavenly! Hmmm...

We are proud to announce a new addition to the Strayhorn family! Our faithful lab, Sadie, died 13 months ago, and we surprised Turner for his 15th birthday with the news that he could pick out a new lab. It is a girl, and she will be ready the week after Thanksgiving. Turner likes "Liza" and it will be his pup, so we'll see.

She's adorable. Newton is pretty excited to get a little sister himself!

In other news, we have settled on our website creators, and we think we have assembled a terrific team to re-author our place in cyberspace. IT will take a lot of work to do all we want to do, but when everything comes together, it is going to be a place that you will want to come back to over and over again! There will be lots of pictures, and lots of video, so stay tuned!

Laurie is excited to leave tomorrow morning for Washington D.C. area to see Rosey and Ellie Haney, and Gordon will be at Frank and Elizabeth Tindall's home in Asheville for a camper showing there. We love seeing all of you this time of year! Can you believe Thanksgiving is in a few weeks?!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Labs have to be the best dogs in the world. What other breed would suffer the indignity of dressing up for Halloween? October 31st is one of those milestones in our family's life. Last summer is a distant memory. We are full steam ahead planning for Illahee's 90th Birthday Bash, and getting ready to wrap up the fall travel season. Laurie and I have had a couple of weeks at home, and we are getting ready to head back out for the final blitz next week. I can't wait to see all of our friends in Tampa, Jacksonville and Ormand Beach, FL! Laurie will be in New Orleans and Mobile, and Gretchen will be in Columbia, SC this week. Check out our travel schedule and come see us!

One of the things that is fun during the summer is answering curious camper questions about our family. Many are very envious that our own children get to have sleepovers in the cabins (once that I can remember), use the Tarzan and Streak off-season (happens a lot!), and have cool birthday parties at camp. Well, our youngest turned fifteen this week, and we decorated the small camp bus with balloons and streamers, and I donned my Hawaiian shirt (I thought about Sugar Daddy), and we picked up almost all of his entire class at school and brought them back to camp for a cookout, bonfire with s'mores, and a movie on the big screen (at our house, not McLeod). It was really fun, and I was so pleasantly surprised to see how much fun they all had and how nice they were to each other. That part also made me think of camp. There are no nicer girls than Illahee girls!

O.K. in other camp news, Tennis Dave Hartsock is engaged! It took him forever, but he finally proposed to Nicole on his birthday! No date yet, but we think it may be around Easter. We are already working on getting Dave back with an extended role at camp. We are renovating a house we bought adjacent to camp for adult staff to live in who may have needs that extend beyond a camp cabin.

In other camp news, we are clearing a site next to the Paw Paw Patch for a brand new Heigh Ho bath house, with individual showers, no pull chains! and lots of room! That should start in a few weeks, and be ready well before camp!

Finally, we are in the final round of interviews for a website team to redo the camp website! We have had some great meetings and are super-excited! A fresh new design, lots more pictures and video, and more functionality for campers, staff and alumnae alike! It's going to be a BIG year...and of course the BEST Summer Ever at Camp Illahee summer camp for girls! Woo Hoo!