I recently received the sweetest, happiest e-mail from a camp mom about a kind of off-season camp “reunion” she had for her daughter. It reminded me that other camp reunions also happen in the off season, and I want to help you to plan to attend one by giving you a “save the date” kind of heads-up.
You could also consider planning a local reunion in your neck of the woods and we can help with that, too. Just let us know your plans and we’ll share it with the Camp Alleghany for Girls community through social media. We can add a contact e-mail so folks can get in touch with you, and that can help in your planning. If you want to do that, e-mail me about it!
But before I tell you more about that, let me share the note from a camp mom:
I thought I’d share this picture from today of Peyton Fern with her ‘Ghany Girls who came from near and far to celebrate Peyton’s birthday! They were beyond happy to be reunited!!
Peyton Fern had the “best birthday ever” while reuniting with her fellow ‘Ghany Girls this December. She was joined by Isabella who came all the way down from New York to DC for the event as well as Claire from Fredericksburg and Amelia, Ali, and Sarah from nearby Alexandria. The girls had a blast and can’t wait to be all back together again at camp this summer!
This isn’t the first time I’ve received heartwarming stories like this. Here is a sampling of a few older blog posts on winter reunions that are fun to read and might spark an idea for you:
- 2015 Winter Reunions Recap
- Mini Camp Counselors Reunion Recap
- The Second Annual Counselor Reunion
- Camp Friends
- Camp Makes the World a Smaller Place
- A Wintry Camp Reunion in the Midwest
I’m so glad that Peyton and her camp buddies had such a wonderful reunion time! And I’d like to tell everyone about two other opportunities coming up.
January Counselor Reunion
For a few years we’ve been hosting a wintertime counselor reunion and we’re doing so again in 2017. Only this time it’s with an added twist — we’ll be socializing for sure, and catching up with each other. But this reunion is also offered as a brainstorming session so that recent counselors and those who hope/plan to be at camp for Summer 2017 can help us to learn, grow, and plan.
By posing some important questions about programming, departments, special events, scheduling, team work and etcetera, and having counselors weigh in with constructive thoughts and their own ideas, we feel like we will in a sense be “crowdsourcing” some of the most powerful insight into our camp program and camp community all while having lots of fun together.
This reunion (see poster to the right and click to enlarge) happens in early January — January 7th to be exact, all day, from 11:30am until 5ish when counselors can pursue their own after-reunion outings and get-togethers.
It all happens in Richmond at my cousin’s comfy and cozy place where we can lounge at our ease while brainstorming away! I do need RSVPs no later than December 30th, 2016, so definitely e-mail me if you’re in (and we hope you are!).
February Alumni Reunion
Later in the season, in Alexandria on February 4th, 2017, the Camp Alleghany Alumni Association is offering an all-ages and families-included winter reunion for all! I’m telling you now so you can save the date, but I’ll have more specific location and time information in the coming weeks.
You don’t have to be a member of the CAAA to attend, though joining is easy and inexpensive and helps the CAAA’s efforts. The reunion is also open to former staff, Green team members, and others…
Usually these events happen in a reserved part of a restaurant where the CAAA offers a few nibbles and also the opportunity to buy your own and purchase drinks through a cash bar.
Like I said, I’ll get more details as this event shapes up but I know we’d love to see you all, from the youngest ‘Ghany Girl currently in attendance to those campers from way back when who just want to pour over old camp pics, sing a few camp songs, and meet up with lifelong camp friends!
In the meantime, I hope you all are having a beautiful and happy holiday season in whatever you’re doing and we hope to see you soon (or hear your stories for the blog if a winter reunion happened/happens for you!)
— Elizabeth Dawson Shreckhise, Assistant Director, Camp Alleghany for Girls
