Parents FAQ

from one parent to another

For your convenience, we’ve assembled the most popular and often-asked questions and provided in-depth answers. If you don’t see your question answered here, drop us an e-mail or call us directly at (828) 883-2181. We’d be delighted to hear from you.

more about choosing a camp

What Should I Look For In A Girl’s Summer Camp?

When choosing a camp, its culture and leadership are the most important factors to consider. In its one-hundred-plus years of history, Illahee’s Leaders have helped to create a culture where young women can thrive. At Illahee, we believe that girls benefit from the summer camp experience: unplugging from the world of technology, making new friends, experiencing adventure, and connecting to God and one another authentically in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.

Illahee’s dynamic camp directors are fully involved in the camp’s daily operations. Their leadership sets a strong positive tone throughout camp. In addition to Illahee’s leadership, its enthusiastic, talented counselors and well-maintained facilities will impress you.

Camp Illahee is accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA) and follows or exceeds the standards set forth by the camp industry. The ACA maintains an excellent website (acacamps.org) that offers lots of information and advice for parents.

What Makes Illahee Special?

Illahee is a warm and welcoming place. There are buildings, songs and ceremonies that have been part of Illahee since the 1920’s, yet each summer brings new songs, new skits and new ideas that make Illahee a dynamic environment for each successive generation of girls.

At Illahee, we are committed to making each summer the “best summer ever.” To do that, we must be committed to the happiness of every one of our girls. It is knowing and recognizing that each camper is truly special that makes the camp community so warm and accepting.

Camp Illahee is community and family. A medium-sized camp with a summer population of 275 girls, Illahee offers each camper a broad enough group of friends to find a niche, but not so broad that she will feel lost or overwhelmed. Girls grow up at Illahee. It is not unusual for campers to attend for seven and eight summers setting new goals and developing new interests as they get older.

Illahee Is A Christian Camp. What Does That Mean?

Camp is a wonderful place for girls to enjoy the beauty of creation and develop a personal relationship with God. As a Christian summer camp, faith is an underlying part of the camp’s program. Illahee is non-denominational. Our campers come from a variety of Christian traditions representing many different styles of worship. We actively seek staff who are comfortable leading by Christian example, and who will reinforce the religious instruction taught at home. Devotionals, Sunday worship services and songs represent Christian themes and teachings. Many former campers and staff tell us that camp was where the seeds of a lifelong faith were planted!

living at summer camp

what are the cabins like?

Illahee cabins are well-maintained, board and batten structures with screened windows. Girls are assigned to bunk beds. When they arrive at camp, their beds are made and ready for them. The cabin group functions as the camp family unit. However, girls travel independently to their activities so there is the opportunity to branch out and make other friends.

Illahee cabins are situated in three Hill groups organized by age. The two younger hills, Hillbrook and Heigh Ho are situated along the swim lake and are designed as “double cabins” with a bathroom between them. The double cabins share a roof but consist of separate cabin groups with a bathroom (sink and toilet) in the middle. Most cabins accommodate two counselors and 8 campers. Each hill has a shower house near the cabins.

The oldest hill, Pineview, is situated around the director’s home. These cabins vary in design and use a common shower house and bathroom. Cabins generally have eight girls and a counselor. Pineview girls enjoy a later bedtime and more time in the evening on the hill. With the directors living “next door” there is a lot of adult interaction and supervision.

Can We Request For My Daughter To Be In A Cabin With Someone?

What If My Daughter Comes Without A Buddy?

A camper may request a friend to be in her same cabin. If the request is mutual, we are happy to arrange that. Sometimes it’s best to put friends from home next door in a double cabin in order to give each girl some space to make new friends. In order to encourage new friends and experiences, we try to avoid putting groups of friends from the same school/hometown in the same cabin.

Camp Illahee is a very welcoming community and is not a “clique-y” place. We are careful to put new campers and campers who come solo into cabin groups where they will make friends and not be left out. Often parents worry about whether a daughter will make friends at camp, but with the counselor’s leadership and group activities, the cabin becomes one big happy family early in the session.

Camp is a great place to make new friends. Girls may have a chance to reinvent themselves in this new context. Shy girls often grow more confident and the class clown may feel that she can relax and let others shine.

How Do You Choose Your Counselors?

At Camp Illahee we choose our counselors very carefully. Laurie and Gretchen work together to hire the best candidates possible. Many are former campers or friends of current staff members. Our senior counselors must be at least 18 years old and/or have completed a JC summer or their freshman year of college. We visit many college campuses to recruit and select great role models and mentors. Counselors are interviewed personally. We check references and run background checks on all staff members. Additionally we invite a small number of junior counselors each session to support our senior counselors (fewer than 20%). For all of our counselors, we seek enthusiastic, wholesome individuals who are genuinely interested in working with children.

health and wellness

What Are The Arrangements For Medical Care?

Camp Illahee has a wonderful health center with a homey atmosphere. The Wishing Well, located conveniently across from the dining hall in camp, is staffed with two to three RNs at all times. In addition to the nurses who live in the Wishing Well for the session, a local pediatrician comes to camp twice a week and is also available to see campers in his office. Transylvania Community Hospital is ten minutes away.

what is the food like?

Gone are the days of chicken noodle soup and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (though we always have plenty of pb&j available along with apples and bananas). Kid’s palettes are much more sophisticated these days. While we don’t offer sushi (yet), we do have traditional well-prepared meals. Some favorites include Sunday fried chicken, wild rice, broccoli and lots of Rich’s rolls, ice cream, homemade chicken enchiladas, pizza, spaghetti with meat sauce or with pesto and lasagna. Salads and vegetables are served with all meals and the “encore table” offers alternative options for vegetarians or for campers who may want to explore new dining options.

Meals in the dining hall are served family-style with a counselor assigned to each table and campers changing tables every few days. Camp is a great time to encourage a healthy lifestyle and eating habits. Food allergies and special requests can be discussed with the directors, who will work with the kitchen manager to best accommodate your daughter’s needs.