Earlier this month, Gordon and I embarked on my “dream trip”- a journey to Kenya and Tanzania with fellow camp directors, Ann and Grant Bullard. We spent ten days in platform tents, waking before sunrise to explore different corners of the Serengeti. Expansive sunsets, varieties of birds and being close to herds of elephants, families … Continued
Twelve Inches of snow blanketed Camp Illahee last Friday, just in time for a snowbound weekend. I was in New York with a dozen Manhattan based Illahee girls enjoying the last camper gathering before the New Year. Having raised two children at a summer camp, parenting in the city is intriguing. Our family’s “tree-dition” is … Continued
It has taken us a week to choose a name for our newest camp “pup.” Ideas ranged from Fig, Sir Isaac, Squirrel, Scout, Buddy, Rufus, to Ranger, Pooh, Sunny, Oliver. So many Camp Illahee options! Gardner picked him up in Kentucky last Friday, and until yesterday, he has been “pup.” While updating the Illahee History, … Continued
During the summer an afternoon shower is often part of the daily routine. For many campers, it is a coveted time- it might mean a chance to finish a good page-turner, write a letter to family, or conquer the six-string lanyard that’s been days in process. It is a time to slow down and wait. … Continued
It is hard to believe Illahee welcomed my family nearly 14 years ago thus beginning my camper years. It was the July session in 2002 -I was deep in the throes of soffe shorts and Lizzie McGuire. I still remember the night before camp, lying awake trying to calm the butterflies in the pit of … 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
Campers talk about what they like about Camp Illahee.
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
