Issuu

Sunshine and Smiles

Growth, laughter, and life-changing experiences

AmessagefromKimConroy,ExecutiveDirector

As I mark my first anniversary with Camp Blue Skies, I am in awe of the incredible experience of being part of this community. It has been a privilege to serve as Executive Director, and I am grateful to share with you some reflections on our progress, lessons learned, and vision for the future.

Reflecting on the journey

This past year has been a time of remarkable growth and learning for Camp Blue Skies. We have served a record number of campers and volunteers, adapted programming, hired several staff and strengthened our partnerships. Each session has been a testament to our collective efforts, filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories, reminding us of Camp Blue Skies’ profound impact on the lives of our campers, their families, and our volunteers.

Lessons learned

Stepping into the role of Executive Director provided me with invaluable les-

sons. One of the most significant has been the importance of listening to our campers, our staff, and our supporters. Understanding our community's diverse needs and aspirations guides our decisions and inspires us to innovate and improve. Additionally, fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusivity has been instrumental in creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.

Looking ahead

Our team will spend the next six months creating our ’25-’27 strategic plan. Our vision includes goals to enhance accessibility, expand outreach efforts, and further enrich our programs. We are committed to leveraging technology to improve camper registration and communication and ensure Camp Blue Skies remains financially accessible.

In closing, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each member of the Camp Blue Skies community campers,

families, volunteers, donors, and staff. Your support and dedication are the heart and soul of our camp, and together, I am confident that we will continue to make a positive impact on our community's lives.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible family. Here's to many more years of growth, laughter, and lifechanging experiences at Camp Blue Skies.

Georgia

Williams Syndrome

The Wall Street Journal spotlights Dick Sesler and our camps

In April, Dick Sesler and Camp Blue Skies made headlines again. This time, though, the article appeared in The Wall Street Journal, one of the top newspapers in the United States with nearly 4 million subscribers.

Dick and our camps appeared in the April 14 “Second Acts” feature, which focuses on retirees who pursue dream careers.

“It was an absolute honor to be featured in a newspaper that I’ve been reading most of my life,” Dick said.

“I received several emails and calls from friends and readers inspired by

how we’re changing the lives of adults with developmental disabilities.

Wondering how Dick got the attention

of The Journal? Through AARP, where Dick won a Purpose Prize Fellowship in 2022. The reporter asked AARP if they had any recommendations on potential subjects for the “Second Acts” story.

The AARP Purpose Prize Fellowship is the gift that keeps giving,” Dick said. Special thanks to volunteer and program assistant Ryan Bost for taking photos that accompanied the story.

Blue Skies Bash sets new fundraising record

On Feb. 23, 270 new and familiar friends joined together for a night of fun, Boot Pong, great food, brews, and music by Faultline at The Barrel Room at Triple C. Special thanks to Coca-Cola Consolidated, Domtar, Faison and our sponsors, “Camp Counselors,” attendees, and the Fun Committee for making the night a huge success and helping us break our Blue Skies Bash record with more than $80,000 raised.

2023-24 volunteers, program instructors & health services

Camp can only happen with the following dedicated people! We are grateful for their time and talents. The names in bold attended all sessions.

2024 sessions: WS: Williams Syndrome; GA: Georgia; WK: Weekend. 2023 sessions: NC1 & NC2

VOLUNTEERS

Jessica Agostini: WK

Sam Aguilar: GA

Alina Akhmedova: WK

Amber Amburn: NC1

Woody Appleby: NC1, NC2, WS, GA

Nia Austin: GA

Riley Axe: NC2, WS

Pat Backe: NC2

April Balchune: NC1

Arilyn Baldowski: NC1, WS, GA

James Barber: NC1

Robin Barschow: NC2

Chase Beasley: GA

Diane Boda: NC2, WS

Kristin Bogner: NC2, WS, WK

Katie Boyd: WS

Noah Bradley: NC1, WK

Jason Brancato: WK

Ed Brogdon: NC2, WS

Jaymi Brooks: GA

John Bush: GA

Ben Cardwell: NC2

David Caswell: WS, GA

Katie Catoe: GA

Julia Chaisit: WS

Bryan Chambers: NC1, NC2, WK

Chelsea Chesser: NC1

Lindsay Chute: NC1

Fana Cisse: NC1

Patrick Cole: NC1

Ashley Colver: GA

Chloe Conlon: GA

Michael Coulter: NC1, NC2, WK

Lindsay Cowell: WK

Chad Crockford: NC2, WS

Ellen Daniel: NC2

Beverly Davis: NC2

Natalie de Guardiola: GA

Keyla De La Cruz-Ramirez: GA

Zoey DeLaney: NC1

Francis Desiderio: GA

Steve DeSutter: NC2

Raymond Dold: GA

Abbie Dougherty: WK

Kylie Doto: WS

Shelby Doyal: GA

Carson Driggers: NC1, NC2

Sarah Duckstein: GA

Caylee Durden: WS

Jamie East: NC2

Chazz Edwards: WS

Fe Egas: NC1, WK

Aiden Farrell: GA

Amy Firth: NC2

Safara Figaro: WS

Scott Fletcher: NC1, NC2, WK

Tonya Flippin: NC1, WK

Andy Gamble: NC2, GA

Anna Pate Glover: NC1

Briana Graham: GA

Jen Griswold: NC1, NC2, WS, GA, WK

Jon Griswold: NC1, NC2, WS, GA, WK

Carrie Guerrette: NC2, WS

Sydney Harris: NC1

Iasa Hatem-Fazzi: NC1

Tom Hess: WS

Jonathan Hill: WS

Kari Hill: WS

Drea Holloway: GA

Gabrielle Howard: GA

Gage Howard: NC2, WS

Nikki Howie: NC1

Scott Hundertmark: NC1

Paul Ingle: NC1, NC2, WS, GA

Julia James: NC1

Ryan Jewett: GA

Ali Jones: NC2

Laughton Jones: WK

Scoggin Jones: WK

Stephanie Jordan: WS

Shelley Joy: WK

Isatou Kebbeh: WK

David Keesler: NC2

Susan Keesler: NC2

Darlene Kerr: NC1

Marc Kirsch WK

Susan Kirsch: WK

Abbey Lautenschlager: GA

Lena Ledbetter: NC2

Joel Liestman: WS

Wongail Lloyd: GA

Deb Lollar: NC2

Brandon Lopez: NC2

Mary Hannah Lott: GA

Nicky McCoy: NC1

Julia McDearis: WS

Morgan McGahan: GA

Garrick McNeill: WK

Eleiezer Majambere: NC1

McKayla Mayes: WS

Garrett Mercer: NC1

Thom Miller: NC2

Sarah Monnin: NC1

Haleigh Moore: GA

Mike Mung: NC1

Brian Murphy: WS

Pat Murphy: WS

Phil Nelms: NC1, WS, GA

Michael Neyhart: GA

Leah Nixon: WS

Vy Nguyen: WS

Kristina Ntifo: GA

Cooper Oljeski: NC1

Erin Olson: GA

Darrell Owens: NC2, GA, WK

Eliana Owens: WK

Harry Padgett: NC2

Sue Padgett: NC2

Ella Paradis: WK

Lauren Patterson: WK

Emma Perry: GA

Alexis Phillips: GA

Natalie Pindeda: NC2

Philip Popwell: GA

Lauren Presnar: WS

Luis Quintero: NC1

Debby Rea: GA

Kataya Reese: WS

James Rich: WS

Jalen Richardson: WK

Karen Rigdon: GA

Morgan Rothrock: NC1

Rob Ruhe: NC2, GA, WK

Dave Safirstein: NC2

Jen Sellars: WS

Bimal Shahi: NC1

Doug Sheffield: NC1, NC2, GA

Shamya Shipman: WS

Kate Shupe: NC2

Erin Smith: GA

Savannah Smith: WS

Loyce Smith: WS

Natajisia Smith: WS

Lacie Stiewing: WS

Beau Studley: NC1

Dan Sturzenbecker: WS, GA, WK

Cass Swicewood: GA

Ruth Thiongo: WS

Julie Toth: NC 1

Steve Toth: NC1

Destiny Ulmer: WS

Rose Van Etten: WS

Anthony Velazquez-Godinez: NC1

Chris Welsh: GA

Tahirah Williams: NC1

Calli Ann Wilson: NC1, GA, WK

Katee Wilson: WS

Kyra Wilson: WK

William Wilson: WK

Kenzie Wimbush: GA

Darcie Wolfe: WS

Caroline Wood: GA

Daniel Wood: GA

Tim Wright: GA

Kathy Young: NC1, NC2

Rachel Young: NC1

Jack Zavitkovsky: NC1

Marilyn Zilka: WS

Amber Zimmerlink: NC1

PROGRAMMERS

CT Anderson: NC1

Alex Ball: NC2, WK

Alison Barry: WK

Bradford Barry: NC1, WK

Matt Boehlke: WS

Ryan Bost: NC1, WS, GA

Robbie Brown: NC2

Hunter Callahan Band: GA

Brian Capron: NC1, NC2, WS, GA

John Cashion: NC2

Ceasefire Productions: NC1, NC2

Patrick Connelly: NC1

Mike Davis: NC1, NC2

Bobby Derek: NC1

Nick Doris: NC1, NC2, WS, GA

Max Duggins: NC1

Michael Eastridge: NC2

Chad Ek: NC1

Kris Fetter: NC2

DJ Frankie: NC1, NC2, WK

Julia Franklin: NC1, WK

Mark Holman NC2

Beth Hook: NC1

Allie Hovis: NC1

George Johnson: NC1

Andy Kane: NC2

Christine Lehman: NC2, WK

Sarah Loach: NC1

Ellie Marston: NC2

Jim Martin: NC2

Shannon Maxwell: NC1, WS, WK

Scott Middleton: NC1,NC2,WS,GA,WK

Cheryl Mimy: NC2, GA

Jean Neal: NC1, NC2, WK

JD Ross: WK

DJ Alan Ross WS, GA

Sugar Creek - Karen Breth, Millie Cox, Tom Cox, Betsey Sesler: NC1, NC2, WK

David Terrell: NC1

Gene Vaughn: WK

Karlie Weaver: NC1

Sharon Welborn: NC2

Joe Young: NC1

HEALTH SERVICES

(Doctors,Nurses/Nursingstudents& Pharmacists/Pharmacystudents)

Erica Anderson: NC1

Ashley Benton: WK

Lauren Bottorf: NC1

Dr. Tyler Boyd: WS

Sydney Bradshaw: NC2

Keegan Brothers: GA

Ana But-Gusaim: NC

Trashen Costen: GA

Carley Cribb: NC1

Afia Dodoo: GA

Lauren Hairston: NC1

Dr. Anna Hale: NC2

Hayley Hamilton: NC1

Elizabeth Harris, RN: NC2

Dr. Christine Klein: GA

Cynthia Laughlin, RN: WK

Ashleigh Lechner: NC2

Alex Letulle: WK

Rachel Lukavsky: GA

Deja Mathis: WK

Ryan McGee: WK

Ragan Mull: WK

Dr. Julie Niezgoda: NC1

Madison Owen: NC1

Mia Passarelli: NC1

Jo Pierce: NC2

Debby Rea: WS

Rebecca Rosato: NC1

Debbie Sert, RN: NC1

Audrey Shultz: NC1

Dr. Haley Simkins: NC2

Candy Stiles, RN: NC1

Dr. David Taylor: NC1

Dr. Shawn Taylor: NC1

Becca Taunton, RN: GA, NC1

Jacqueline Wabler: WS

Tikabo Zerabruk: WK

Connections are a key to successfully recruiting volunteers

Who volunteered for the first-ever Camp Blue Skies in 2010? About 96% of the folks were family and friends of founder Dick Sesler and the core team of Kit Sluder, Liz Rumbaugh, Mary Tinkey, and Rebecca Hilinski.

Since then, again and again, we’ve learned that the people who volunteer based on a personal recommendation often sign up again and again. Then those new volunteers tell their family and friends.

Holly Scheppegrell, a camp team member, talked to Darrell Owens during a pickleball game last summer about volunteering. That evening, over dinner with their wives, Darrell told Rob about the opportunity. The guys volunteered at our North Carolina sessions.

Since then, Darrell and Rob served at our Georgia and Weekend camps and are signed up for October. Rob and his wife were “Camp Counselor” Sponsors for the Blue Skies Bash and invited friends to attend. One couple who came to the Bash volunteered at Weekend Camp. Rob also recruited a long-time coworker and friend who lives in Atlanta to join him at Camp Twin Lakes for the Georgia session.

“It is difficult to explain how incredibly fun and rewarding it is to volunteer with Camp Blue Skies,” Rob says. ”From day one, you feel immediately accepted by staff and campers alike. Every session is packed with positive energy and excitement!”

Another place where relationships count is with businesses like Domtar, headquartered in Fort Mill, SC. As a Camp Partner since 2016, employees have been encouraged to volunteer. Jen and Jon Griswold, both Domtar employees, started with one camp and now volunteer at every session. And John Williams, the former CEO, has served on our board since 2016.

How did John and Domtar learn about us? Through a mutual friend of Dick’s. Again, the personal connection.

“Nearly half of our new volunteers return, and that dedication provides credibility and stability to our camp community,” says volunteer director Christina Orr. “Then the seasoned veterans play a crucial role in mentoring new recruits by sharing their knowledge and passion.”

As record numbers of campers continue to apply, we need a record number

of volunteers to keep up with demand and enable us to offer more camps.

Know someone who might be interested in volunteering for an afternoon? A day? The whole camp?

Please contact Christina@CampBlueSkies.org

2024

Pickleball For Camp fundraiser: Sept 6, Charlotte

Hooked On Camp fundraiser: Sept. 26-27, Camp Harrison

North Carolina #1: Oct. 5-9, Camp Harrison near Wilkesboro

North Carolina #2: Oct. 12-16, Camp Harrison 2025

Blue Skies Bash fundraiser: Feb. 21, Charlotte

Georgia: March 12-16, Camp Twin Lakes, east of Atlanta

Hoops For Camp fundraiser: March

Williams Syndrome: March 19-23, Camp Twin Lakes