How has it already been eight weeks since we lowered the cabin flaps, deflated the lone swim-lake tube, and cleared out the last box of salty snacks?! Other than a few furry four-legged barn animals, Jasper and Dahlia, the final members to leave the camp community for the season were nurses Mary and Denise. They … Continued
Camp Illahee families participated in a Youth Outcomes Study conducted by Clemson University and sponsored by the NCYCA. Illahee was one of nineteen private independent camps included and had the highest participation rate! 55% of our camp families took part in last summer’s survey. (The overall parent response was 24%). Thank you Illahee parents! Your … Continued
Lindsey and I traveled to our two largest camp towns, Atlanta and Charlotte, a few weeks ago. We decided that early January is a great time for camp movies as we had 75 energetic camp girls at each show. It’s fun to see junior counselors and older campers gather on the floor in a living … Continued
We love this time of year. The leaves are turning at camp and the fall colors are beautiful! We’ve been watching Mary Lou’s transformation of the 2015 camp highlights video and are excited to take it on the road. Gretchen is heading to Nashville and Birmingham for our first camp shows of the season. Over … Continued
Camp Illahee’s 95th season closed a month ago, and it’s a crisp 45 degrees this morning with Carolina Blue skies. The summer opened with an alumnae reunion weekend. 150 Illahee women joined us from all over the country representing four generations of campers and counselors. We’ve posted some photos from the reunion. During camp we … Continued
Cinco de Mayo has a special meaning at Camp Illahee! It marks our official summer countdown and it is quite a fiesta around here! Camp directors wear a variety of sombreros during the year and in May, it’s the paint, plant and clean hats. The office becomes the supply zone. We divide our days between … Continued
“Manners make a person nice to know.” Or rather I should clarify that good manners make a person nice to know! And at Illahee, one area that we practice kindness and putting others first -is in Tilley Lodge, our dining hall. I figure that the community spends about three hours a day gathered in the … Continued
Cabin life is a big part of the Camp Illahee experience. We like to think of the cabin group as a “family at camp.” When a camper arrives on opening day, Kris greets her at the gate with her cabin assignment. Girls are often full of emotion as they hop out of their car to … Continued
Yesterday I was opening the mail that had piled up last week while we were all away at the American Camp Association Conference in New Orleans. I opened a hand drawn Illahee pine branch with Thank You on the front. The letter from our 5th grade camper began, Dear Camp Illahee Staff…..Thank you…. Every day at … Continued
Camp Illahee alumnae (who are over 21) are invited to return to the heavenly world for the weekend of May 29th! Plan to arrive between three and five on Friday to begin a festive weekend! Delicious meals will be served in Tilley Lodge. Evening programs include skits, camp movies, songs around the campfire and time … Continued
