I’m sitting down to write in the sitting room that is part of Laurie’s and my master bedroom at the far end of our home called Pinecrest, central to and on the edge of Pineview, our oldest girl’s hill. We have always been in the “thick of it,” and are always at every meal, evening … Continued

I think the slower pace and change of schedule are two of the things that most Illahee campers and counselors look most forward to on Sunday. The day usually starts with a sleep-in, always popular on Pineview with the older girls, and maybe a little less so with Hillbrook, and in turn, their counselors. “Herding … Continued

One of the best days of the summer- the fourth of July! It’s nearly 11 pm and I just got back from the farm and camp is quiet after a great day! It started early this morning with Rollins leading her staff on a horseback parade through camp singing songs and surprising girls before the … Continued

I’m listening to two of my favorite camp sounds as I sit down at the end of a great camp day…the pitter patter of the tail end of a much-needed rain passing through, and the sound of screen doors slamming with the happy sounds of Pineview girls getting ready for bed. There is laughter, banter … Continued

Who isn’t a Taylor Swift fan? She’s been part of the fabric of Illahee since she came on the scene with her hit Tim McGraw around age fifteen. That was seventeen years ago. I think Taylor embodies a strong woman. She is smart, savvy, and not without struggles. She has been able to grow with … Continued

I am typing to the distant sound of the Macarena. DJ Dogg is here tonight and we are having the much-anticipated Illahee Prom, held in the best venue around- the Rec Lodge! Marcus, aka DJ Dogg, is a Brevard local and all around awesome guy who has been our beloved camp DJ for the past … Continued

I can pretty much count on waking up a minute or two either side of 6:00 am. It doesn’t matter whether I’m early to bed or stay up howling at the moon. Sometimes Laurie tries to game my internal clock by asking me what time I’m getting up, and then saying, “I’m setting an alarm … Continued

They’ve got grit! Last Saturday, Marie and three girl friends (including Janna Barton Carlson, Illahee trip leader and activity instructor since 2011) headed to Camp Daniel Boone at 5:30 a.m. to start their 30 mile through run on the Art Loeb Trail. They finished 10 1/2 hours later having covered 8000′ feet of elevation- an … Continued

An Illahee girl in the 1940s might’ve spent her morning loading up golf clubs, bags, balls and tees to hit the links. She may have paddled in canoe formation but I’m doubtful she would’ve roped up to climb Looking Glass Rock or rolled a kayak in the lake. She may have hit tennis balls with … Continued