Remembering Skip and Dolly

Dolly Thomas and Erika Kluth pose for the camera.

Camp legend and long time friend, Dolly Thomas passed away on December 21st in her home at College Walk in Brevard. Her memorial service will be held in Brevard on Saturday, January 11th. Generations of Illahee girls remember Skip and Dolly fondly from their leadership of the riflery program at camp.  From Long Island, NY, … Continued

We Love this Time of Year!

Summer staffer Becca V hugs Laurie on a recent visit.

We love this time of year!  Each day our mail carrier, Brandy, brings in holiday cards and greetings from camp families.  Laurie, Gretchen, and Kris are on the phone catching up with counselors and Junior counselors who are fresh off of the exam trail. Laurie even caught up with Becca for lunch on her way … Continued

A Season of Thanksgiving!

Laurie Strayhorn and two staff members in Charleston pose.

We woke up on this day before Thanksgiving to snowflakes coming down in camp!  After yesterday’s steady downpour, the fresh falling snow is a welcome change and a harbinger of the holiday season.  Kris will be heading south to Atlanta and Dave will be heading north to Ohio this afternoon to meet their families for … Continued

Welcome to Fall!

Two yellow labrador retrievers, Liza and Newton pose for the camera.

It has been 6 weeks since the 93rd season “wrapped” at Illahee.  Leaves are fluttering down from the trees marking the transition into fall.  We have pulled out our fleece jackets and the leaf blowers!  It has been an exciting month with the debut of our online camper registration.  By the end of September, all … Continued

Summer Updates

Horse and camper exhibit perfect form as she jumps a beautiful Palomino over a rail.

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Orientation Begins!

Camp Illahee counselors holding hands during orientation, keeping a yellow balloon in the air.

The beginning of orientation is always the culmination of a tremendous amount of planning, and feels a little like Christmas for us year rounders at Illahee. The guys have put the finishing touches on the facility and it sparkles and shines…Gretchen and Laurie eagerly anticipate the arrival of all of the GREAT Illahee girls they … Continued

Summer is Here!

I have the best view outside of my office window.  The rhododendron trees next to the dining hall are in full bloom and the cinnamon fern are growing up around them.  They definitely announce the arrival of summer.  It would be peaceful except for the pressure washing that is taking place next to the dining … Continued

May Rituals Getting Ready for Camp!

It’s May at Camp Illahee!  There are some things I always do in early May; they are pre-camp rituals. On May 1st we rounded up fire extinguishers – 44 of them- from around camp so that they could be tagged and inspected by ….the fire extinguisher inspector.  Then we label and put them all back … Continued

Plant a Garden!

After an unseasonably cool start to spring, we finally got out to Hannah Ford to plant the new raised bed gardens last night. One bed will be flowers, another predominantly herbs for the Illahee kitchen and salad bar! Miss Dee, who will be back to create exciting salad bar offerings, is super-excited about the herb … Continued

Everywhere We Go!

Camp Illahee girls hail from all over the world. This summer, over 33 states and 6 foreign countries will be represented among campers. Today, we were enjoying a great spring day in sunny south Alabama and noticed a bunch of young sailors getting their Prams and 420s ready to race. Among those sailors? June camper … Continued