Scamp Spirit One of my favorite aspects of being Aloha’s Director is staying in touch with campers, counselors, and alums throughout the year. I hear again and again — from community members far and near — that Aloha is the place they think of as home. I’ve asked myself often: What turns a summer camp into a home? Each of us was new to Aloha at one time, of course, so how is it that this magical place in Vermont has become our home? What is it about Aloha that nourishes our souls, feeds our hearts, and pulls us back again and again to the shores of Lake Morey? For some it may be the music — knowing the words and the tunes to the songs in the songbook; being able to hum well-established harmonies, or even make up your own; recognizing what song is coming next after hearing just a few opening chords on the guitar or piano; remembering that Biff Fink wrote “Helen Shaw’s Song,” while Cara Latham wrote “Here on The Water.” Music permeates every aspect of our lives at camp, and is the spirit that fortifies our daily rhythms.
I 've asked myself often: What turns a summer camp into a home? For some it may be the sense of place — knowing where Mahoosucs and the Treehouse are; recognizing the growth of young flowers or saplings over the course of weeks or seasons; feeling the familiarity of root-studded paths underfoot; being transported by the scent of pine, or the comfort of campfire smoke carried by a summer breeze. A sense of place can help us feel grounded in an
2019
environment and connected to its essence, bringing a sense of physical communion to what may be otherwise simply an emotional or psychological experience. Still others find comfort in the camp’s lore — Shel Ball’s connections to Mother and Father Gulick, or Maggie White’s relationship to Helen Shaw; the fact that Erin Wilson was Julia Hall’s tent counselor, or that Amelia Huang’s mom (and Yarrow Randall’s aunt) and I were in Club together; the story Doug Baker shared at Wishing Fire of how he met Tory at Aloha before they were husband and wife; why we talk about SubClub, DubSubs, and TripSubs, or where Nancy’s Nightmare got that name. Our stories weave across generations and experiences — joining us to one another and tethering us to a history that is greater than our individual verses, while at the same time creating space for us to write our own new chapters. Home is a place where you are enough as you are — a place where you can be yourself, whoever that self may be. It is the relief that comes with being seen and recognized, challenged and affirmed, trusted, respected, and welcomed. Home requires nothing of you — it is a place where you give freely of yourself, and you get more than you need. Home represents the comfort of friendship, the ease of acceptance, and the familiarity of belonging. I look forward to welcoming you all home to Aloha in 2019. Hugs and love, Sarah littlefield Director of Aloha
pines
ELIZA Kissick Head of Pines
Favorite camp word: “cabeen!”
The other day I walked my dogs to Aloha and summer memories came flooding back. I walked by the Cabeen and thought about our unit time in the Lanakila War Canoes. I stopped at the basketball court, my favorite spot for Sunday night unit time. I loved listening to our thoughtful discussions, and hearing you recognize one another for the compassionate, brave, and inclusive things you had done that week. Next I headed to our Jinx, and remembered our TWO Golden Broom celebrations: the morning we were surprised with hot chocolate, and the last night of camp with our legendary dance party in our very own Club Jinx. Of course, I also thought of our unit’s dedication to toilet plunging. What made this walk so meaningful was that it reminded me of the many times all of you — campers and counselors — behaved in insightful and courageous ways. Pines counselors, you inspired me every day — making our unit the loving and fun-filled place it was. Campers, you incredible young women motivated me to be my best self, to try new things, and to always be brave. Every one of you proved to be a Powerful Aloha Maiden. Soon, I will board a plane to Bath, England for five months, studying and working with students with learning differences. While I am intimidated by this adventure, I will embrace this challenge. Every moment will not be easy, and I am okay with that because like all of you, I am a PAM and I can do hard things. I miss you all. P.S. I am bringing my crocs with me to England. I hope the British think Jibbitz are cool.
Do you have a favorite memory that has stayed with you since leaving camp at the end of last summer? Something that has stuck with me throughout this school year was the night of my Hobo Dinner, but actually after the dinner was over. After slaving over a fire for what felt like days, I was sitting outside the woodchuck hole, eating chicken with a friend and a counselor, when some friends graciously offered to help clean up with us instead of going up the hill. It was pitch black out and we were all exhausted, but being the only ones down the hill, sneaking around the trip kitchen (with permission, of course) was quite a fun experience. I felt so incredibly grateful for the friends who did more than I could have ever asked for, and to be able to slow down, eat food, and sit under the stars after the craziness of the dinner. For me, camp is about the little things that you can’t help but think of and smile, and that is exactly what this moment was. hadley iselin
An Aloha memory that has stuck with me throughout the year is playing card games with my tent family at night. Every night my tent family and I would all gather on my counselor’s bed and play President. We would laugh and compete to see who could win the most games and see who would be dubbed President until the next day. I would often end up with my stomach hurting from laughing so hard. This memory, along with many others, has resonated with me because it was in these times that I felt very happy. emma trindade
Hi Seventh Heaven! I am currently road tripping with Ali Simonds back to Vermont after a semester in Ohio for Winter Break! We were just talking about how you can often tell when you cross a border, even though the landscape is continuous. It reminded me of driving to camp, and all the little signs I remember along the ride that let me know camp is getting closer and closer. When the land starts to get hilly I know I’m in New England, and when the highway winds alternatively through scenic vistas and cool rocky roadcuts, I know I’m in Vermont. Or like when you’re on a trip and you know you’re in New Hampshire or Maine because of all the fake wells. Or even when you’re walking up to SH after lunch and you know when you pass the mailboxes, you’ve made it up the steepest part of the hill. Not only does the physical landscape have markers leading me towards camp, but the year has time markers as well. When you start to miss warm sunny rest hours in the middle of winter, when you suddenly become really cool for knowing the shark song, but you know the wrong version (did this happen to anyone else??), when you pull out all your camp clothes to see what you’ve outgrown … sometimes it seems like the whole year leads back to a Lake Morey summer. Even if you won’t be able to come back, the idea persists in your consciousness and fills you with warm, occasionally itchy, happy memories. Here’s a joke: What did one woodchuck say to the other after camp was over? A: I want some More-y!
seventh heaven
amelia huang Head of Seventh Heaven
FAVORITE BUGLE CALL: “beginning of rest hour, followed closely by Reveille!”
Dear Crossroads 2018,
CROSSROADS
yarrow randall Head of Crossroads
Favorite camp word: “Fabadoobee” (a gordo-ism)
Wow! I miss you all so much. We got our first real snow here in Philadelphia, and it feels like the summer is so far away, but that means camp is closer than you think! Right now, I miss the group hangs, the intense game of tent family feud, and licking marshmallow off my fingers when you all made me the gooiest s’mores. I also really wish that office jobs made us play games like Little Sally Walker; it is way harder to learn everyone’s name when they just introduce themselves once and don’t wear a name tag. Another thing I miss is a great evening story. I just moved to a new apartment and I haven’t quite found the right moment to ask my roommate to participate in an evening dramatic reading. Hopefully I’ll figure out how soon. I try to carry Aloha with me everywhere and bring all of your energetic, thoughtful, kind, caring, ridiculous, silly, and delightful spirits with me. Even when I’m trying something new or figuring out where I belong in a new space, I think back to the nights sleeping under the stars and the mornings this past summer when I scream sang. When I started camp (sooo many years ago) those were all new and terrifying experiences that I was nervous to try, but look at me now! I know I can do hard things. I so hope you are all embracing every moment and also crossing off the days until the start of camp! See you soon!
Old Hideaway! It’s crazy to think that only in 5 months we’ll all be back at Aloha for yet another amazing summer! In November I had the opportunity to go to the 50th Foundation anniversary celebration, and seeing Aloha not bustling with campers was a weird sight. Seeing everything so bare made me reminisce back to the fun summer I had with you all. Aloha and Old Hideaway 2018 will always have a special place in my heart as it was my first summer as a Unit Head. I know it sounds cliché, but I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more incredible group of campers and counselors! Since June I’ve often thought about the many memorable moments we had as a unit and as a family, including sing-a-longs, sleepovers, double tent family meals, playing hand tennis, counselor pranks like hanging crocs in the jinx, celebrating our golden broom win, mega-beds, oh yeah and that time during s’mores when I terrified more than half of you all by saying that a snake had just slithered across my foot! Sorry for that :). In all seriousness, it eased a lot of my concerns as a first time Unit Head to know that I had an awesome unit of campers and counselors that I knew I could count on to be strong leaders and amazing role models. Your kindness and support made my summer! I can’t wait to see what my third summer at Aloha will bring…third time’s the charm right?
old hideaway
alisha lawrence Head of Old Hideaway
FAVORITE CAMP VIEW: “THE STARS AT NIGHT”
more favorite memories... Last year was my first year at Aloha. I went in not knowing anyone and unbearably scared. It didn’t take me long to learn how loving and caring the community was. I will never forget my experience of mini banquet. I remember looking at the candlelight through tear-filled eyes. I knew at that moment I was surrounded by family. With tears streaming down my face, even though I couldn’t see them, I still knew my friends were there for me and that’s how it would be at home too. I knew I could go to them for anything even if we were thousands of miles apart. I knew I could call them at 1 in the morning and talk to them about anything. I knew that I would always remember them. At Aloha it’s easy to feel loved and the people there always root for you to succeed.
lizzie hedeman
There was not one single memory that has stuck with me more than others, but hundreds of little wonderful moments. Stargazing with my tent family, falling out of sailboats, and learning a synchronized swimming routine are only parts of what made my summer so incredible. It was the people that I shared these moments with that make them so impactful. They are the ones I think about during the cold New York winter, with exams coming up, and when I feel like camp is a million miles away. And it makes me smile. This school year I have made an extra effort to bring my “camp self” home with me.
talia skaistis
Aloha is just such an amazing place — the countdown to return starts the day we leave camp. I love being with, hugging, and talking to the people that have grown to be some of my best friends, that have become a big part of my life — all year, not just during camp. Aside from all the fun activities we do every day like kayaking, tennis, and landsports, what makes Aloha so special are just the simple moments like playing cards in your tent and laughing harder than I’ve ever laughed.
Kellye Cleveland
Greetings from Lake George, NY!
Club 2018
julia hall Head of Club
Favorite time of day at camp: “the moments right before reveille blows”
As the days between the end of summer 2018 grow in number and the days till the start of summer 2019 grow smaller, I find myself thinking of Club Hill. I remember with a smile our energetic times, specifically AJ & Chiara dancing, and also our reflective times when I hear “Rivers and Roads.” Each day was full of love, laughter, learning, and growth. Each of you brought your amazing and unique selves to camp and because of that, the summer was authentic and special.
As you continue this year, remember to be loving, powerful, playful, and free, and most importantly to be your best self. Remember how we enjoyed a variety of delights, like ice cream after the show, tie-dye and pizza with Bridge, building the bonfire during the summer heatwave, and a day in Hanover, NH as a reward for staying focused on acquiring your club skills? There were so many moments of accomplishment throughout the summer, like an eight-hour solo, competing in the Amazing Race, hosting a pancake breakfast on Winships, receiving your Club pin, and creating Aloha magic by setting up banquet. Among those big moments, there were also small moments too — together, they prove that powerful women (just like you) dare. As you continue this year, remember to be loving, powerful, playful, and free, and most importantly to be your best self.
Something that’s really stuck with me from last summer is all of the tent family times especially when we would go to the benches, a short distance away from camp. We would skip rocks and talk and in this time we all became very close. It became “our place” in a way and was special to us. We went there our very first tent family time as we were just getting to know each other and then the last when we had spent seven wonderful weeks together and were preparing to leave. We got to know each other better there, especially the first time which really allowed us the chance to open up. It was a meaningful, memorable time for all of us and it has stayed with me since. CARLA GALASSO
deep thoughts from sigel On closing night last summer, we gathered in Father Gulick’s Ravine to hear community members share what they’d bring home with them. I looked up — as I have many times — to count the line of old red pines that cuts across the ravine, the boundary trees of a disused fenceline, one fewer this year than the last I counted. Traces of the past that grounded and surrounded us as we articulated our paths forward. After 20 years of wandering at camp, no copse of trees feels unknowable or static. I’ve walked the same untracked woods between Sleepers and Mad Hatters — once clear, now almost a century grown in — nearly 100 times. I’ve seen the nuance in how it changes: white pines encroaching on the previously clear-cut meadow below Sleepers; an old wooden hunter’s hide rotting into the ground; the thick bark of the red pines above Mad Hatters gripping on to the barbed wire that might once have kept Mr. Winships’ cows from taking a bath in Lake Morey. As I’ve watched those landmarks evolve, so too have I: I broke that path first after my senior year in high school as I readied myself for college; again as a college student who changed her major 5 times before finding the right one; again as a recent graduate puzzling out early career decisions; and every time I’ve visited camp since. When I walk that route, I am all of those stages of myself, conversing with who I was, who I am, and who I want to be. Now, at age 30, I am Executive Director of the International Contemporary Ensemble. The practice of developing new music alongside living composers is one of revering and appreciating the past, but understanding that we build from history; we
don’t get stuck in it. In music, grounding oneself in what’s come before can be the best way of building a launchpad for adventure, exploration, and risk.
Aloha is a place where our history and our today provide the reflective ground to write a new story. Each time I walk my woods track, I remember lines from Robert Frost’s poem “Birches” — in which the narrator sees white birch trees with trunks bent so their tops point back towards the ground. Logic tells us that the trees were bent by heavy ice storms that weighed their tops down till they couldn’t be righted; but the narrator instead likes to imagine the work of an adventurous young explorer, light with curiosity, climbing the trees so high that they bent and set the explorer down again. Every tree, every piece of wire embedded in bark, every rotting hunter’s hide tells a history — but we walk those woods as today’s actors charting paths forward. Aloha is a place where our history and our today provide the reflective ground to write a new story and a new dream of what can be. I’m so grateful I got to write that story with you all last summer, and so honored to get to do it now with my International Contemporary Ensemble family! All my love, Sigel
rebecca Sigel Counselor
counselor news
After camp, I had the chance to travel around the States once more! I stayed with camp friends and family, and saw new and exciting places like New Orleans, Charleston, Miami and San Diego (just to name a few). I also decided to venture into Tijuana, Mexico. This was my first time traveling to a country where their first language wasn’t English, but if camp and life have taught me anything it’s to push the boundaries of what you’re comfortable with. I spent the next month and a half meeting people, trying amazing food and seeing all the wonders Mexico had to offer. After six months away from home I went back to New Zealand. I got a new job working for a helicopter tourism company on the South Island. I meet just over 200 people a day who come here to fly on the Franz Josef Glacier and do a 3-hour hike. It’s the perfect job until I can return to the shores of
Lake Morey once more. I hope everyone’s had a wonderful holiday and is ready to embrace 2019! Much love from the bottom of the world, Jimmy Dennehy
Aloha 2019! As I sit in my dorm room, I am dreaming of sitting on the kayaking docks looking out and watching all of you practice skills, and accomplish goals you have set for yourself for the summer.
favorite memories continued... I thought for a long time and could think of nothing, not because I had none, but because Club summer just left me with too many amazing memories to narrow it down to just one. Then I started to think more about just a memory that has stuck with me, and I decided that my moment is more of an object that I received last summer: my blue bucket hat. It’s childish, quirky and has become one of my most treasured possessions. Not only did a very special counselor — who I look up to very much — give it to me, but it became a kind of symbol for me in becoming the best version of myself. Aloha has taught me to be myself, and my bucket hat is a way for me to be that self. That is why my bucket hat will stick with me wherever I go. anna mcintosh
As a new camper at Aloha last year, I was pretty nervous. Now I know that I had no reason to be! I have many amazing memories from camp this year, but my favorites happened on the water. I was in a boat at almost any opportunity I could get, and one of my favorite experiences was on Nancy’s Nightmare. There was a pontoon boat, and a counselor drove it around the lake. We could pick our music and dance all we wanted. We had so much fun, dancing, singing, and enjoying the beauty of Lake Morey. I remember feeling so happy and free, and this taught me to always have fun and be myself. My friends and I were making complete fools of our selves, but nobody cared. We all saw each other’s beauty and inner personality. No one felt embarrassed or self-conscious, and were free to be ourselves, covered in sticky cotton candy and shouting at the top of our lungs. Ann Rightmire I think my favorite memory from this summer is how much time I spent in the boathouse. I had so much fun and learned so many things. I miss everyone so so much and can’t wait to see everyone again. I am so excited for this summer! Aloha! shannon o’connor
This year has been very busy, but I have been out on the river a couple of times, including during a Swift Water Rescue Course. I have also had the opportunity start teach rolling clinics at my school, and (not to brag but) all of the girls I have taught these rolling clinics with have been very impressed with how we teach rolling at Aloha! Go us! I also got to visit Eleanor Frost in Vermont, and drove down to camp and saw some people working at Hulbert (shout-out Blair!). We decided to hike to the bluff, which was just a bit icy and treacherous. After visiting camp, I decided I simply had to come back to camp in 2019, so I am looking forward to seeing all of you down on the kayaking docks this summer! I love and miss all of you, and I cannot wait to be back in Vermont this summer! Aloha! Elise Baker
it gives to the floor of the Hale. It was no match to a PAM rendition but I did get that spark of excitement you get when you are waiting to eat a Shell Bar. Oh how I cannot wait to have one of those again. A big shout out to Pines, and to my swimming squad, we’ll sing so loud that they’ll hear us all across the lake. See you on the Swim Docks for anAloooooha to all you wonderful other “perfecto-banana” summer! PAMs from a rather wet and windy Ireland! I am looking out at the lake- Aloha, Rosanna McBrien like puddle forming in my garden and can’t help but wish that I was back on the shores of Lake Morey, sitting in Wishing Fire, looking up at the sky turning those unforgettable shades of pink and purple — my happy place! How has it been five months since we were all last together? I recently heard an updated rap version of The Rattlin’ Bog and couldn’t help but recount, to any of my friends that would listen, about the extra ‘spring’
from counselors... opportunities to see several camp friends this fall, and each person I’ve seen has made me miss camp even more. Doing a winter Bluff hike and walking out on the ice on Lake Morey (I know, it feels weird just to write ice and lake together!) with Elise Baker really hit home. I’ve really known this all along but… Aloha 2019! I can’t wait to come back for another It has been a hectic year since the end amazing summer and see each and every one of you. I have a feeling this of camp - I’ve been back at college summer will be the best one yet! and my busy schedule has made me Love always, yearn for the serenity on the shores Eleanor Frost of Lake Morey. I’ve taken a lot of Aloha everyone! I am currently writing to you while on my winter break, the majority of which I have spent home with my family in Vermont. It has certainly felt very weird to drive by camp over the past few weeks and be in the general camp vicinity while there’s snow on the ground and people are ice skating on the lake rather than boating or swimming!
Mark your calendars FULL SEASON: June 26–August 14, 2019 FIRST SESSION: June 26–July 21, 2019 SHOW WEEKEND: July 20–21, 2019 SECOND SESSION: July 23–August 14, 2019
Aloha from a very cold New York City! I have been having dreams of Aloha lately. I am missing Lake Morey, singing in the Hale, laughing on the kayaking docks, and sitting on the grass in Seventh Heaven. I recently moved and started a new job, and when I am feeling anxious and unsure I think of how I watched all of you dare to try new things this summer. I remember my kayakers rolling on the Andro, ferry gliding across the Deerfield River, and overcoming their tippy test nerves. I am inspired by all of you. Aloha 2018 was a brave and magical place, and I hope that all of you powerful women have dared to be your best selves this year. Also, Cabeen says hi. Love, Carrie Kissick
CARLA GALASSO
from the aloha community
Hey Aloha! ng on the back steps of the into January, and wishing I was sitti I’m thinking of you all as we descend e Morey. Cabeen staring out at a glittering Lak Boston where I was I visited camp, taking the bus from n whe mer sum last you of y man I got to see h I missed camp, it was a great Alliance of LGBTQ Youth. Althoug ton Bos the with ip rnsh inte an g doin king, walking, and exploring. wonderful people and did lots of coo d me of Lake Morey. summer. I lived in a house with four it e near my house, becaus reminde d, Pon aica Jam was ton Bos in t ing to go back to Boston. My favorite spo graduate college this spring, I’m hop I r afte that h muc so city the d like In fact, I ege this spring with a degree in it’s already coming up! I finish coll eve beli ’t can I ion, uat grad of g Speakin nonprofits before going back to ies. My current plan is to work for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality stud ent. school, likely as a social work stud other. it won’t be too long til we see each Love, I’m missing you all a lot, and hoping
SGH Gavis-Hughson
H07-09, A10-13, *14-16
The Camps of The Aloha Foundation 2968 Lake Morey Road, Fairlee, VT 05045
Hey Aloha Family! adult—if that’s even e college and officially become an uat grad I r yea the 9, 201 ady alre r. I remember being I can’t believe it’s ready to move to Paris for the semeste ing gett was I r, yea last e tim This possible! because it was impossible to camp for the first time, it was scary to g goin like of d Kin s. vou ner er sup ironment would look like. imagine what my life in this new env t of a classroom full of French easy. I had to speak French in fron Once I arrived, adjusting wasn’t so e friends with new people. mak myself on a budget, and for p sho ery groc and k coo to n pt a more positive mindstudents, lear e things, I needed to consciously ado thes at ul essf succ be to er ord in es Sometim me. This skill, I realized, was , and embrace opportunities around set in order to take risks, reach out out my ten summers at camp. something I had worked on through into the unknown Now, preparing for my next big step le. edib incr be to out ed turn oad My semester abr just a little less so. once again nervous—but this time, world of “adulthood,” I find myself Lots of love always, Val Elefante H07-09, A10-13, *14-16
from the aloha community
Hello from New York! After stopping in for our brief visit at the start of the summer, we thought we’d share a little bit with you about what we’ve been up to since we left Lake Morey’s shores. Lauren refused the idea of us being roommates, so Caroline is living with Mikayla Cleary (C’11 whoo) in the building next door to Lauren. Her apartment is not much larger than a camp tent. This summer, Caroline, Lauren, and Olivia Kylander found themselves on a Soviet era bus in Tallinn, Estonia with a KGB reactor named Olaf who serenaded them as he played Country Roads on his guitar. He thought the youth wouldn’t know the song, but boy did they know it. Caroline is in grad school studying Oral History at Columbia, and Lauren is in her senior year of college working on writing a play about camp, and had one scene of it performed at NYU in November. Caroline was a part of the original table read so look for the two of us in green shorts on Broadway together in 2025. Much love from both of us, Lauren Cunfer, D06, H07-09, A10-13, *14-16 & Caroline Cunfer, D06-07, A08-11, *12-14