This past summer was the fifth year at camp for one of my daughters — Chloë — and the second for my other, Anwyn, known affectionately around camp as “Onion.” And this year they learned things they’ve never learned before. That’s because this year they were both counselors rather than campers, with a whole new […]
A pre-camp party
I thought I was bad with counting down to camp — that feeling of, “I can’t wait, I can’t wait,” coursing through my blood and bones. But it seems Melissa Hunt and her family had it pretty bad, too! Melissa, who is a Charleston, West Virginia area recruiter for camp, was so excited that she […]
A summer job at camp
Part-time and seasonal jobs are harder than ever for teens to get. When the economy is less-than-vigorous, sadly, older and more skilled folks who are out of work take even minimum wage jobs in order to keep their families afloat during job searches. But this also means teens and college-age kids can struggle to find […]
A wintry camp reunion in the Midwest
My daughters and two camp friends recently had a campers’ reunion in St. Louis and it was such fun I had to share it with others. My three daughters — Megan, Lindsey, and Ashley (Ghany girls, all) — were in such anticipation for their friends to come visit! Our house was all abuzz as we […]
Two homesick first-time 2013 campers register early for 2014!
Meet Taylor Pounders (12) and Ellie Williams (11), each from Richmond, Va. Both first-time campers for first term 2013, they didn’t know each other before camp and met only briefly while at camp. However, their mothers (your humble narrators) bonded through a coincidental meeting and recently got the girls together for lunch. Our mother-daughter (x2) […]
Getting the jump on packing
My daughter is about to enjoy her last summer at Camp Alleghany as a camper. Yes, she’s reached that age — 16 next week — when she only has this one last summer left to bask in the complete splendor of “just” being a camper. Our baby’s growing up! Sure, 16s have responsibilities, too, like […]
Homeschool and camp go hand in hand
This summer will be my daughter Chloë’s fourth year at Camp Alleghany (and boy is she looking forward to her four year initiation). Chloë started at camp when she was in seventh grade and was bit by the ‘Ghany bug instantly. Even that first year she begged in a letter home to stay for the […]
From dad with love
It turns out that the ghost of F. Scott Fitzgerald writes for our blog! Well, sort of… The truth is that former counselor and 2013 Assistant Head of Senior Camp and Upstart Mom Georgie O ‘Toole found a wonderful old letter written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and sent to his beloved only daughter Frances Scott […]
Thank you to B.A. and all!
Editor’s note: This is a letter we received from a camper’s mom. While it may seem out of sequence relative to the summer and the term camp, we decided to run it as a blog entry anyway since it is so touching, thoughtful, and sweet! Dear B.A., Seven years ago I met a bubbly blonde […]
The heart of southern hospitality, Alleghany style
I had the privilege this summer of being invited by my daughter Cate Wilcox to visit her while she is working at Camp Alleghany. Thirteen years ago she began her adventure as a ‘Ghany Girl. After senior camp, and eight years — skipping only one year in 2006 — of being a counselor, she now […]