Director Letters

Among the many blessings that come from our Open

House travels are the countless interactions and conversations that we get to be part of. Our February trip to the West Coast was no exception!

On two separate nights in two different locations, I found myself engaged with two alums recounting memories and stories from their years at Camp. While conversations like this are common at our gatherings, these two were particularly special.

7KH¿UVWZDVZLWKD'XGOH\'DGZKRVHWHQ\HDUROG daughter will be attending Kiniya this summer. The second, just one night later, was with a Kiniya Mom ZKRVHWHQ\HDUROGVRQZLOOEHZLWKXVDW'XGOH\7KLV 'XGOH\'DGDQG.LQL\D0RPZHUHFDPSHUVWKHPVHOYHV in Westport and Colchester at the same time, and both ZHUH¿OOHGZLWKDQHTXDODPRXQWRIH[FLWHPHQWDQG HQWKXVLDVPIRUWKHLU¿UVWWLPHFDPSHUVWRGLVFRYHU&DPS for themselves! There was an uncanny similarity in their sentiments of how Camp made them feel and why they want this experience for their children.

One night later, I witnessed a beautiful exchange between a returning Kiniya camper and a new recruit. When asked how she would describe Camp, the returning camper stated, without skipping a beat, “It’s magical!” For a few sweet minutes, I stood back and felt every ounce of magic that she was describing. While the obvious ones were VWDWHG³([WUDYDJDQ]DV&RXQFLO5LQJ.LZL'D\6KRZV´ it was clear that the most special moments were the more VXEWOHPDJLFDORQHV³7KHVXQVHWV7KHSLQHV7KHIRXU leaf clovers! The people!” The New Oxford American DictionaryGH¿QHVWKHZRUG magical as: “beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life.” Camp is magical. I’ve always known this. I also know that magic doesn’t always VLPSO\KDSSHQLQQRLV\¿UHZRUNVRUJLDQWH[WUDYDJDQ]DV Our returning camper in California reminded me of this. Magic hides in the small details. In the way the pines planted by Miss V.B. shade us from the hot summer sun. In the singing and cheering at mealtimes. In the golden hour just before sunset when the lake sparkles and the ZDYHVODSDJDLQVWWKHVKRUHOLQHEHORZ,QWKHEODFNDQG white photos in Mimi’s Lodge, a reminder that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. Maybe it’s not so much that Camp itself is magical, but that each of us gets to feel magical when we’re at Camp together. There is no greater gift.

Among our many campers this summer, I will have the SOHDVXUHRIFDULQJIRUWKHGDXJKWHURIWKH'XGOH\DOXP, met in California and Matt will have the pleasure of caring for the son of our dear Kiniya alum. I will get to welcome RXUUHFUXLWZKROHDUQHGDERXWWKHPDJLF¿UVWKDQGIURP her new camp friend!

Here’s to Kiniya’s 102nd summer. It’s certain to be a magical one!

Like a lot of other things that happen here at Camp 'XGOH\WKH6SDLQ([FKDQJHSURJUDPVWDUWHGZLWKD casual conversation. After decades of successful exchanges at Camp Abbensen in Germany—and excited about an increased demand for travel spots—we were eager to ODXQFKDQHZ6SDLQSURJUDPLQ%HIRUHZHNQHZ LWP\RZQSHUVRQDOFRQQHFWLRQVWRWKH6SDLQ<0&$ were lining up with #12495 Fanning Hearon’s travel experience as a high school student in Valencia. Fanning introduced us to his host family from years prior, and, vamos! We had a program up and running that included international camping, tourism, and family homestays.

#16999 Jessica and I have just returned from an incredible YLVLWWR6SDLQZKHUHZHJRWWRVKDUHLQVRPHRIWKHVDPH experiences that our campers have each summer.

I tried new foods,ZRXOGFRQVLGHUP\VHOIDGYHQWXURXV when it comes to eating—but this time was the best. I tried exotic seafood, meats, cheeses and veggies that are not part of my usual diet and loved them. Campers get to try new meals that may seem strange or foreign; when they’re taking this leap alongside friends and cabinmates, everything seems more appetizing.

I stepped outside of my comfort zone,JHWWRWUDYHO TXLWHDELWLQP\UROHDQGRIWHQWLPHV¿QGP\VHOI presenting material in front of large groups of people. But here I was last week, outside of my own country, listening and sharing in a different language, through an entirely different cultural lens. Frankly, I was nervous. I got that same trepidation a camper feels when he’s away from KRPHIRUWKH¿UVWWLPHRUZKHQVKH¶VFOLPELQJWKH.LQL\D

FOLPELQJWRZHUIRUWKHYHU\¿UVWWLPH-XVWOLNHDW&DPS, was surrounded by supportive friends, and it all worked out.

I made lifelong friends and we shared meaningful

conversations :HVSHQWDFRQVLGHUDEOHDPRXQWRIWLPH ZLWKWKH%HOORIDPLO\LQ9DOHQFLD-HVVDQG0DWWZLWK Cristina, #25433 Ana, and #24558 Martin pictured above). We have come to know and love their kids, Ana and Martin, through their Camp and homestay visits here ZLWKXVDW'XGOH\DQG.LQL\D+RZHYHUZHKDGQRWVSHQW PXFKWLPHZLWKWKHLUSDUHQWV-XDQDQG&ULVWLQDWUHDWHG -HVVDQGPHOLNHOLIHORQJIULHQGV²HYHQIDPLO\:HWRRN long walks and bike rides, met family friends, shared amazing meals, and had long talks about growing up, our faith and even world peace. These are the same kinds of connections I see forming at Camp each summer. Campers show up from different parts of the globe and build lasting friendships, one interaction and conversation at a time. 7KH\¿QGWKHPVHOYHVLQPHDQLQJIXOFRQYHUVDWLRQVWKDWFDQ push each other—during vespers, on long hikes or around DFDPS¿UH,WLVLQWKHVHLQWLPDWHVSDFHV²PRYLQJDQG seeing through a brand new lens—that we are able to bring different parts of the world to each other.

I am blessed to be able to visit so many amazing places GXULQJP\WUDYHOV-XVWDVDW&DPSLWLVWKHH[FHSWLRQDO SHRSOHZLWKLQWKH'XGOH\IDPLO\ZKRWUXO\PDNHLWVSHFLDO /HW¶VDOONHHSVSUHDGLQJWKH'XGOH\PDJLFZKHUHYHUZH may be.