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
If we were selling a product, Be a Great Girl would be our tagline. We have it incorporated into signs on every hill, in the architecture (bottom of the dining hall doors), and even in a hashtag #bagg that is used as a reminder like I used to say every time Gardner or Turner left … Continued
I woke up this morning still in disbelief that we had already begun the Four- Week and Mini One sessions. June flew by, and it doesn’t seem possible that we welcomed 280 new campers through the gates yesterday! I wasn’t the only one with these feelings; yesterday during lunch I ran into a long time … Continued
The 2018 season opened last weekend with lifeguard training, van driving and the arrival of all the staff on Monday. We are well into the week and the counselors are enjoying ice cream and crafting door dec’s in the dining hall. I just said good night to the camp moms who came to be on … Continued
This month’s mantra, “April showers…” has been broken and we have now had 72 hours of sunshine! Despite waking up to freezing temps, we are singing praises. The Heavenly World is a-bloom and looks beautiful. After a month of grey mist, the trees and grass have reaped the benefits and are greener than ever. The … Continued
