The Other Fellow First Magazine - Fall 2023

THE OTHER FELLOW FIRST Magazine for Camp Dudley and Kiniya

Fall • 2023

F E AT U R E S 6

Summer Highlights

See for yourself how much fun it was around our camps this summer. From the Adirondacks to the Green Mountains, laughter, joy, and fellowship was had by all!

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DKAA Reunion at Camp Kiniya

It was incredible to see so many of you in Colchester in August to celebrate Kiniya’s 105th summer!

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The Other Fellow - Half a World Away

Learn about #18500 Bill and Carolyn Harper's journey to Vietnam, and putting "The other fellow first."

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Composting at Camp Dudley

Dudley Director, Matt Storey, gives the lowdown on all things composting at Camp!

D E PA R T M E N T S 4 5 38 41 46 47 48

Letter from Our Directors Letters to the Editor DKAA Gatherings Alumni News Future Campers Weddings In Memoriam

The Other Fellow First Magazine Editors: Jessica Dils, Dave Langston, Lora Langston, Brendan Loughman, Drew Rider Design: Brendan Loughman Front Cover Image: #18801 Drew Rider, Fire Drill Celebration on Main Campus Back Cover Image: #18070 David Nelson, Stacy Brook - Summer 2023

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34 Share Your News!

Make sure you let us know about the latest happenings in your life! campdudley.org/theotherfellowfirst

Follow Camp web: campdudley.org email: info@campdudley.org social: @campdudley1885 | @campkiniya

campdudley.org

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Letter from Our Directors

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he dust has now settled on the 2023 season and we are able to look back with extreme pride as we reminisce on the magic of camp. We worked with nearly 1000 campers alongside a staff of nearly 400 dedicated people who made being at Camp and working with children a priority. We are truly blessed to be leading these two camps.

Each fall we gather with colleagues from likeminded nonprofit, camps from the Northeast at an event we call Consortium. We were reminded this year that this event that is now nearly 20 years running was started by Dudleyites Jon Appleyard and Wheaton Griffin as a way to share best practices and learn from others who share the love of camping. We gathered for 24 hours in Hebron, NH, with this year’s hosts at Camp Onoway and Camp Pasquaney. As you can imagine this group of camping professionals always have plenty to talk about!! We openly share on topics of recruiting, mental health, environmental sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, and most importantly— how we all continue to have such FUN in our roles working with campers. It is an inspiring group, and we leave each year with a list of to-dos and an eagerness to make next summer even better.

Looking back on the visit reminded us of how truly fortunate we are at Dudley and Kiniya. Here are five things that we are particularly proud of this time around—things we could not do without the support of those reading this magazine.

1. Camp Composition: We just finished a remarkable summer led by an amazing group of leaders and staff who supported the most diverse community (28% of our campers identify as racially diverse) that we have ever had at our camps. We had a record number of Leader applications (well over 100 in all!), which allowed us to accept a talented group who led each day with the campers' best interests in mind.

2. Affordability: Our tiered pricing program is a leader in the industry and has allowed us to fill Camp with the most deserving campers—while being fiscally responsible. While we continue to fine-tune the program, families and campers continue to benefit from a system that makes them feel at home no matter what.

3. Alumni: We have an incredibly strong and loyal alumni network who love our camps and want to give

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back in so many ways. We hear stories from young people just starting their careers who have alumni mentors in their corners. We packed the house at Kiniya for the DKAA Reunion with young alums who could not wait to get back to their beloved camp (page 16).

And each time we need additional financial support to push us over the edge, the Dudley Family shows up and gives us the boost we need.

4. Environment: Our impact on the environment each summer is significant, and we are working on ways to reduce it on a daily basis at our camps. After a summer with outside environmental challenges such as wildfire smoke and the health of our lake impacting daily programs, we know that we need to find ways to act now.

Composting (page 34), solar power, land usage and management, energy usage, and environmental education are all top of mind as we look ahead to future generations of campers.

5. Food: YUM! During a summer when staffing was a giant challenge in every industry and at every camp, our food service teams knocked it out of the park! OUR FOOD WAS SO GOOD! Campers on both sides of the lake benefitted from remarkable teams who showed up each day to provide us with awesome food, and of course our dining halls were rocking each day! Thanks, team!

Of course there are many more things that we are proud of but these jumped out at us. We have plenty of work to do as we plan for next summer and beyond.

We are honored to lead these two camps and thank you all for your support as we take on the challenge— we are truly blessed to do what we do.

Matt Storey Camp Dudley, Director

Marnie McDonagh Camp Kiniya, Director

Letters to the Editors Since our last edition of The Other Fellow First, we have received a couple of fun updates about small world Camp connections. We are pleased to share them with our entire community with the hope they will inspire others to be on the lookout for Camp friendships that span the country and the world.

From #20622 Laura Standard in June 2023

From #10903 Walter Meade via text message

As you might remember, they became good friends during their first year at Kiniya in 2012. Rose and Maya met again this year at the University of Colorado Boulder, where they are both part of the women's Ultimate team. Their team made it to this year's D1 National Ultimate Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio in May, where they came in second. Woo-hoo!

Says Walter, “On a sailing ship near Italy, the woman next to me for dinner had a dad who grew up in Port Henry and went to Camp Dudley. He was born in 1902.

She thinks his camper number was #24. Orin Phelps.

Small world. Orin talked about Dudley all his life. Also knew Bill Sharpless a generation or so later.”

After some research, a few pieces could be connected. #10555 Dave Langston texted back: “Walter, thanks for your note about the dinner gathering on the Italian sailing ship. Based on the 1902 birthdate, I found a record of Orin M. Phelps in our 1914 records! His Camp number is #2382! I was wondering if you happened to get a photo of your dinner guest. Also, I wanted you to know I was not able to make the connection to Bill Sharpless. The only person I found was at Camp a few years after you and I started. Thanks for getting back to me if you are able. Dave.” Stay tuned for another chapter in this unfolding story.

Hi Marnie & Matt, I wanted to send you a fun update about our daughter, #22722 Maya Standard, and #22733 Rose Bransford.

I emailed Lefty a photo from when they were campers, as well as one from Nationals last month. This stuff makes my heart sing.

Hope Camp gets off to a great start!

Laura Standard

campdudley.org

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Camp Highlights Summer 2023

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udley and Kiniya programming strives to balance our activity pillars of Athletics, Arts, Outdoors, and Spirituality, providing each camper with meaningful experiences in all areas. The following pages capture the action of Summer 2023 and illustrate the wide range of camper experiences.

See for yourself how much fun it was around our camps this summer.

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Extravaganzas, Mellowfest, and holiday celebrations helped bring creativity, freshness, and energy to the pace of the summer. Chapel talks, vespers, Sunday talks, and weekly hymn sing offer memorable moments that inspire and demonstrate the importance of making “The other fellow first” part of everyday life. Cabin leadership teams worked hard to encourage campers to explore new activities and challenge perceived comfort zones, resulting in discovery and personal growth.

Summer 2023 also provided memorable offcampus experiences for NOLS campers in the Wind River of Wyoming and exchange programs at Camp Abbensen in Germany and Camp Salduero in Spain.

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his past summer, our Outdoors programs at Dudley and Kiniya offered a full complement of exciting adventures in the beautiful Adirondack and Green Mountains, even with unusually hot and wet weather!

Every single one of our campers at both camps participated in a hiking, canoe, or rock climbing expedition.

Our teams worked hard to ensure all safety measures were in place so our campers could have a fun, challenging, and safe experience. As our alums know, the Adirondack and Green Mountains are some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world, and we are proud to provide our campers with the chance to explore and appreciate them.

Our hikes took campers through the winding trails of the mountains, allowing them to see breathtaking views and experience the area's natural beauty up close. Our canoe trips offered a unique perspective on the region's waterways, allowing campers to paddle through calm waters and take in the tranquility of the lakes and streams. And for those looking for an extra challenge, our rock climbing program allowed campers to scale the rugged cliffs with the help of experienced guides.

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campdudley.org

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Summer Awards

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warded at the end of every summer, The Last Whistle and Spirit dedications are two of the highest honors one can receive at Camp Dudley and Camp Kiniya, presented to a member of each community, respectively, who shows devotion and love towards others and this place we all cherish, and who has an unwavering commitment to living by the motto, "The other fellow first."

This year’s recipients are no exception.

Congratulations to #13820 Marcus Chioffi (The Last Whistle) and #20964 Amanda Perry (The Spirit), and thank you for all that you do! Read summaries of the dedications below, and be sure to check out the full speeches atcampdudley.org/theotherfellowfirst.

The Last Whistle | Camp Dudley

The Spirit | Camp Kiniya

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his year, the 85th Last Whistle dedication was awarded to Marcus Chioffi, a devoted and loyal member of the Camp community who has been a constant presence since he first walked through the gates as a Plebe in 1985. In his time, Marcus has held various positions at Camp, including being a Leader, the Junior D-head, both a Boat House and A-Hut staff member, and working maintenance. He also played a significant role in the integration of Camp Kiniya into the organization and served on the Board of Trustees.

Marcus's contributions to Camp Dudley go beyond his official roles. He is known for his unwavering commitment to helping others, his loyalty, and his remarkable intuition to know when someone needs support. Marcus is a trusted advisor and mentor to many, and his impact on the camp's community is immeasurable. He is a champion heckler with a heart of gold, someone who always knows what to do and how to put a smile on everyone's face. Marcus is incredibly proud to be a part of Camp Dudley and believes that summer camps have the power to change the world, and it shows.

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manda Perry is a beloved member of the Kiniya community since 2008 who has genuine empathy and the ability to positively impact every life she touches. Never one to let challenges hold her back from opportunities, Amanda’s determination and positive outlook always shine through in everything she does.

Amanda is known for her listening skills, kindness, and support of others, and constantly shows her skill as a quiet leader, offering her support wherever needed, even if it is not with her standing center stage.

Amanda's strong character and resilience earned her a position as a cabin Leader in 2018, and she continued to impress in 2019 by mentoring and supporting her leadership team and campers each day.

She exemplifies true leadership by demonstrating a daily commitment to the camp's core values, the motto, and she is caring, kind, loyal, hard-working, supportive, and a role model to all. Amanda's spectacular attitude and kindness make her an extraordinary individual who is deeply valued and respected by the Kiniya community and well deserving of this honor.

Pat Peavy Award | Dudley and Kiniya

Pete Nash Award | Camp Kiniya

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he Pat Peavy Award is given annually to one Dudley leader and one Kiniya Leader. These individuals, selected by their peers, best exemplify the traits of Dudley & Kiniya leadership—caring, integrity, and putting others before self. The purpose of this award is to commemorate Pat Peavy’s leadership, service, and legacy to Camp Dudley and Kiniya.

The Pat Peavy Award was created through the generosity of #10065 William T. McCutcheon and his family in memory of #14229 Patrick Peavy, former camper and Leader at Dudley, who passed away in 1995. Said Bill, “Pat was thoughtful, fun, honest, and had a great concern about others. His parents, Linda Crow and Patrick Peavy, were very proud of him, as was his brother #14665 Michael. He was, in short, a great Dudley leader.”

2023 Peavy Award Recipients Peter McClearn - Camp Dudley Kendyl Brower - Camp Kiniya

he Pete Nash Award has been created and offered at Camp Kiniya to recognize an outstanding staff member. It is presented in honor of Pete Nash—on staff at Kiniya since 1958—to one staff member each summer who is selected by their peers. The individual selected will display a daily commitment to Kiniya’s core values—Character, Community, Stewardship, and Leadership. The honoree will exemplify the character traits of our dear ‘ol pal, Pete Nash—caring, kindness, loyalty, a solid work ethic, a supportive attitude, and a role model to all.

2023 Pete Nash Award Recipient Rose Bransford

Both awards carry a monetary scholarship that its recipients apply to their education or leadership development.

campdudley.org

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Marnie McDonagh Celebrates 30 Years at Camp Kiniya By #13804 Matt Storey

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his past summer marked 30 years since Marnie McDonagh arrived at Camp Kiniya from her home in Australia as a water ski instructor. A lot has changed over those 30 summers, but we are certainly lucky that Marnie is happy to call Kiniya her home.

The first time I met Marnie was during a board visit to Kiniya before our camps became partners in 2006. It didn’t take long to understand how fortunate we would be to have Marnie leading the Camp Kiniya team; having that come to fruition into the next several decades was the best possible outcome we could have imagined.

I’ve now had the benefit of working alongside Marnie for the last 14 years. During this time I have learned so much from her, and we have become dear friends and confidants. She and I compare notes almost daily and have come to appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses. We know how to best push each other and how to support each other. I feel very fortunate to be her colleague.

Marnie is incredibly good at her job, a unique position that suits her strengths and talents. She is the ultimate multitasker—able to balance homesick campers, state regulations, special diets, high lake levels, clogged toilets, and hectic travel schedules with ease. She is an excellent communicator and makes

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everyone she speaks with feel heard, valued, and welcomed. When the campers arrive each summer, she makes them all feel special and wholly included.

Marnie puts each girl at ease as they experience being centered as the most important priority during their season.

My two daughters, Ellie and Rachel, have been to Kiniya for a combined 21 summers—spending nearly half of their summers on earth at Kiniya! They, along with thousands of other young women, have grown up fortunate enough to have Marnie as a positive role model and strong influence in their lives. She is certainly someone they will remember for their entire lifetime.

There have been many times when I ask myself in my role as director, “What would Marnie do?”

Knowing that she is in my corner just across the lake is a blessing and a gift.

Marnie, thanks for all that you have done for our two camps.

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campdudley.org

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DKAA Reunion

By #17982 Matt “Rooster” McElroy and #21013 Sarah McKani DKAA Co-Presidents

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ello, Alumni Community! It was incredible to see so many of you in Colchester in August to celebrate Kiniya’s 105th summer! We loved soaking up a weekend full of the best parts of Camp—a burst of energy as friends poured through the gates on Friday, a whole range of weather that didn’t slow anyone down, and lots of love to go around as dear old pals reconnected on the shores of Lake Champlain.

We gathered with friends who have been part of the Camp community for decades (three cheers for #7289 Ace Scharges!) and some of the newest members of our community (hello, baby Chip, who joined the many Piazza family members in our ranks!).

It was an excellent cross-section of folks from various generations of both of our wonderful Camps.

The weekend had so many highlights—it’s hard to name just a few! Alums and future campers enjoyed the climbing wall, games in the field, and arts and crafts in Treiber. #25223 Liz Moore set up a raucous obstacle course of the board chairs, much to everyone’s delight!

Hymn sing was full of joy and beautiful harmonies, with a medley of voices chiming in for favorite songs from both sides of the lake. #19976 Holly and #20076 Anne Kennedy gave a beautiful perspective on what Camp means to them on Sunday, and the community had many sweet and peaceful moments on the porch of Mimi’s Lodge and ‘neath the pines.

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On Saturday evening, we celebrated with our past six board chairs and had a chance to recognize #22898 Whitney Phelps for her immense contributions as Camp’s first female Board Chair.

We continued annual traditions by handing out 50-year pins to #11321 Stephan Bradley and #11448 Rob Howard. (No 75-year pin earners were in attendance.)

We also honored the People of the Year: the Girls Committee that made our sister camp a reality after the Board expanded its mission to include girls.

The Girls Committee included: #18141 Fran Bisselle, #11321 Stephan Bradley, #12082 Pat Butler, #11864 Tom “TC” Canning, #14255 Christy Coyne, #11264 Mark “Davo” Davenport, #18762 Betsy Edie, #19629 D’Anne Hurd, #19876 Beth Kaufman, #19976 Holly Kennedy, #10784 Wayne Meisel, #9555 Randy Quayle, #19408 Linda Saarnijoki, #8767 Sandy Short, and #10649 Steve Wertimer.

This remarkable team laid the foundation for the strong relationship between Kiniya and Dudley today. True to Camp’s values, they led with compassion, authenticity, and heart, all while connecting with the alumni community, nurturing relationships with Kiniya’s leadership, and honoring Kiniya’s history. We are so grateful for their devotion to our Camps and this group’s commitment, thoughtfulness, and leadership in navigating the expansion of our mission.

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People of the Year 2023 - The Girls Committee Pictured L to R: #8767 Sandy Short, #12082 Pat Butler, #18762 Betsy Edie, #11864 TC Canning, #19408 Linda Saarnijoki, #9555 Randy Quayle, #19629 D’Anne Hurd, #10649 Steve Wertimer, #18141 Fran Bisselle, #11321 Stephan Bradley, #19976 Holly Kennedy. Not pictured: #14255 Christy Coyne, #11264 Mark “Davo” Davenport, #19876 Beth Kaufman, #10784 Wayne Meisel.

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For nearly all in attendance, the most powerful moments of the evening came from #20108 Eliza Davis, #20076 Anne Kennedy, and #21049 Eva Wertimer, daughters of Girls Committee members Linda Saarnijoki, Holly Kennedy, and Steve Wertimer. Eliza, Anne, and Eva described their memories of their parents’ work on the committee and the impact of that work: their own formative summers at Kiniya. Their admiration for their parents was moving, with an emphasis on how meaningful the Girls Committee work has been to so many in our community.

We then moved over to Mimi’s Lodge for hymn sing, led by #20535 Giulia Campana and #22526 Matt Johnson. Marnie shared a special surprise as she announced the 2023 Spirit dedication, #20964 Amanda Perry, for her phenomenal work leading the spirituality department at Kiniya this summer.

The fun continued into the early morning hours, with so many wanting to make the most of every minute with these people in this place.

Sunday service brought peace and introspection, and included many alumni through singing and offerings.

The mother-daughter duo of Anne and Holly Kennedy spoke about what Camp meant to them—the perfect pair to end the weekend!

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There are many people to thank for this extraordinary opportunity to come together: #20053 Pat Teague, #25567 Shannon Anderson, #20005 Gail Coleman, and the entire kitchen staff for spoiling us with nourishing and delicious food. Tom, Angie, and Kissy for making sure the Kiniya grounds were ready for us all to enjoy. Dave, Dawn, and the rest of the year-round staff, who prepare the logistics of reunion for months in advance (all while also putting on the best summer ever for campers!).

The summer staff members who worked an extra weekend so that activities would be open for all of us. And of course, Marnie, who brings elegance and warmth to these weekends while making us all feel at home every time we return to Kiniya. We are so grateful to everyone who pitched in and all who traveled to Colchester to join us.

Note from the authors: Reunion weekends are hosted

by Camp and the DKAA at no charge to attendees. If you enjoyed the weekend and feel so moved, please consider a donation to the annual fund. Your generosity helps support our Camps’ greatest needs.

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The Other Fellow—Half a World Away By #18500 Bill and Carolyn Harper

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he other fellow first is a guiding light. Its “gleam” is what first attracted my wife Carolyn and me to Dudley. It’s what we hoped would inspire our sons, #18778 Blake and #19903 Austin, when they eventually stepped into the circle of Camp. Those simple words have helped generations step across “troubled waters.” And yet, honestly, putting “The other fellow first” is rarely as simple as it seems. Sometimes the “other fellow” is well known to us and within reach—standing by our side or living across the street. Or, as Carolyn and I have learned, sometimes the “other fellow” is half a world away, and was once both a stranger and an enemy. Much like our life with Camp, our involvement with PeaceTrees Vietnam has reminded us, over and over again, that living out the motto can change lives across generations and across the world.

PeaceTrees was founded in 1995 by a Gold Star mother and daughter whose son (and brother) was killed in the Vietnam-American war. The early vision for PeaceTrees was simple: bring war veterans and others together, from all sides of the conflict, on the land where they had been enemies. Bring them together to meet, reconcile, build relationships, and help heal land devastated by war. On that first trip to Vietnam, those pioneering citizen diplomats walked the land many had traveled years ago, met their war counterparts, and were transformed by their encounters with the “other fellow.” As a result of those first encounters, it was clear that reconciliation and friendship could heal past wounds. It was also clear that building on those reconciled relationships could change the future for people living in areas that were the most scarred by war.

PeaceTrees Vietnam today, 28 years after that first encounter, has stayed true to its initial vision. Its core work is sponsoring the clearance of explosive remnants of war in central Vietnam. It provides explosive ordnance risk education, primarily to children, to prevent accidents from the explosive ordnance left behind. Once land is safe, PeaceTrees supports community-led development projects that help address generational poverty rooted in the aftermath of war, including building homes, libraries, and kindergartens and planting trees. It sponsors scholarships for children impacted by an explosive ordnance accident or living with a disability. Today the PeaceTrees legacy includes more than 3,000 acres of land cleared; more than 100,000 unexploded ordnance cleared; 44,000 trees planted; 100 family homes, 12 libraries, and 22 kindergartens built. Beyond that, deep relationships

have been built with families, communities, and local governments—including the U.S. Department of State and the central government of Vietnam.

The inspiration for this transformation continues to be so simple, and is the essence of the motto we share: bring people together—to meet the “other fellow.” Carolyn and I have been involved with PeaceTrees from the early years. We have traveled twice to Vietnam as citizen diplomats with PeaceTrees and found the “other fellow” in mothers whose sons died in conflict, in children at kindergartens built on reborn land. We have been welcomed into remote villages and been graced with generous hospitality.

More than anything, our own lives have changed— troubled waters have been calmed and we have witnessed gleams of hope and joy in the lives of these “other fellows,” these other people, who were once strangers and are now our friends.

Photos in this article are from Bill and Carolyn’s trips to Vietnam in support of their work with PeaceTrees.

Below, Carolyn reacts with joy and enthusiasm at the Grace Church Kindergarten, which was built and then sponsored with ongoing support from Bill & Carolyn's church in Bainbridge, WA. The kindergarten is in a small, rural village not far from Khe Sanh, Vietnam.

Says Carolyn, “It was a joy to visit on our citizen diplomacy trips.”

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The Bronx Fellow

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By #16200 George Matthews

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n Saturday, June 10, 2023, a group of Dudley and Kiniya campers, alumni, families, and friends gathered for a volunteer event with Grassroots Grocery in the Bronx, New York. Grassroots Grocery is a non-profit that delivers fresh produce to families who are food insecure in New York City. The Dudley-Kiniya group participated in a “Produce Party” wherein they worked together to unload, sort, and wrap a truckload of donated fruit and vegetables, which they delivered to a network of community pantries that distribute food to families and community members. #14571 Pete Groves and #25771 Wyatt Groves organized this event as a way to bring together active campers, families, and alumni who live in Westchester County, New York City, and Connecticut through a service activity. It was a wonderful way to gather, give back, and launch the summer of 2023 with "The other fellow first" in mind.

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Camp-Inspired Careers

JD Deardourff

Charlie O’Rourke

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othing beats a summer at Camp, and if we could, many of us would love to spend all year scaling the climbing wall, bagging ADK peaks, or water skiing on a glassy morning on the lake. Alas, summer comes to an end come August, and our community scatters all over the country and the world. But one way or another, many alums find ways to bring a little bit of Camp’s magic into the “off-season!”

Below you’ll read about how four alums’ experiences at Camp inspired their career choices, each in different fields. The same fun-loving experiences that develop moral, personal, physical, and leadership skills in Westport and Colchester have led to many diverse career paths for our alumni.

Under the leadership of #15017 Evan George, and Dudley parent and founder of Career Ready Coaching, Jeff Chapski, and with the support of our community, Camp has been building the infrastructure for a strong alumni network, helping our Leaders and Staff transition into the next phase of their lives and careers. In the spirit of amplifying their hard work, the Dudley Kiniya Alumni Association (DKAA) wants to highlight the careers of some alumni who were inspired by their time at Camp.

What is your current job title and industry? How do you describe your job to folks who may not be familiar with it? #17147 JD Deardourff: Artist. I tell people I make collages for show and paint murals for dough. #18555 Charlie O’Rourke: I am an actor in New York City. I’m currently in a production with the American Vicarious —a theater company in Brooklyn, NY—and am teaching high school theater at the Denzel Washington School of the Arts in Mt. Vernon, NY. I always say that

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Sammi Tulungen (Muther)

Hannah McPheron

I’m an actor first and foremost, but perhaps a more accurate description would be that I’m an acting teacher ready at any moment to act himself. #21531 Sammi Tulungen (Muther): I am a Youth Services Librarian in Providence, Rhode Island, at the Community Libraries of Providence, a nonprofit that operates as the city's public library. If it has been a bit since you last visited your local library, gone are the shushing staff and silent spaces! Libraries today are vibrant community centers. Each day is different. I get to jump from storytimes into weaving class, from playing with Legos to helping with math homework or planting in our garden. #20444 Hannah McPheron: I work with the Girl Scouts of Greater New York as the Manager of Volunteer Support with the Troop 6000 team. Troop 6000 is an incredible initiative that started back in 2017 and is designed to provide Girl Scouting for families living in temporary housing in the New York City shelter system.

The program creates community, teaches leadership skills, and builds a sense of belonging to young Girl Scouts navigating displaced housing. We work in all five boroughs, serving hundreds of children, and are growing rapidly as we move the program into asylum-seeking facilities in NYC. My day-to-day activity consists of leading groups of scouts but also recruiting new community volunteers and expanding our volunteer program. (Most recently, we added several Kiniya alums!)

How did Camp inspire this career choice? Were there any specific people or activities that may have influenced you?

JD: I spent most of my rest periods doodling and most of my choice time messing around in Brodie. As a Leader, I was inspired by fellow Leaders and fashion influencers #18457 Colin Heaberg, #18835 Will Gisel, and #18368 Burlington Barnett. As a camper, I always looked up to #15191 Ollie Jeffers (and still do a little bit ;) ).

Charlie: I always loved acting and playing drama games as a kid. I took Drama Majors all three years I was a camper, and covered them as an JL, AL, and Leader whenever I could. I remember learning from #18079 Diana McGuigan, #19189 Candace Bruchs, #13043 Rich Egan, and #15546 Mike Candela in Drama Majors, but was apprehensive to get on stage in a Saturday Night Show. I finally got up the courage and auditioned. I was cast, and from then on, you couldn't get me out of Witherbee Hall. Mike Candela actually told me I couldn't audition for a show my junior summer because other kids needed a chance to participate. I have since worked with Diana at Witherbee as a staff member, and she even wrote a letter of recommendation that got me my current teaching job. Witherbee will always be an important part of my theater career, and I consider myself lucky for that.

Sammi: So much of what I loved most about being a leader at Kiniya is mirrored in what I do at the library. A lot of my time is spent connecting kids with books and programming that will excite and challenge them and that will help them to be kind, empathetic adults when they are older. Sound familiar? Public libraries, at their core, are a funny concept in today's world—take our things for free, and just with your signature on the back of your card, we trust you to bring them back when you are done. It’s so special to be part of a neighborhood community in this way. I’m lucky to have been trained by the amazing Leaders I had, as well as my peers, on how to be part of a community because that translates directly into what I do as a librarian.

Hannah: When I began as a junior at Kiniya, there was an ever-present thoughtfulness to the idea of being a "leader." It started out with small acts when you were a camper and grew into the building blocks of your teenage years aging through the leadership ranks. When I became a Leader (capital L) at 18, it was now every day, with less emphasis on myself and more on the leadership I was able to model and teach to my campers.

I spent countless hours asking #20595 Kat Nelson for

guidance, emulating #19231 Kari Mckinley's leadership style, and constantly being inspired by my peers never to stop growing and learning in my own leadership.

After I graduated college and tried my hand at a few careers, I continually came back to a passion for leadership development, specifically for girls and young women. While not every kid has the chance to go to Kiniya or Dudley, I want to help guide the children in my communities to see themselves as leaders.

What advice do you have for younger folks who may be interested in this career?

JD: Let it rip!

Charlie: Just because you're not acting right this second does not mean you're not an actor. The acting profession can be a lot of different things for a lot of different people. Find your sweet spot and don't get discouraged!

Sammi: Check in with your local library for volunteer opportunities. It’s always exciting to have teen volunteers support programs or help with shelving. Attend programs, check out physical materials, or see what is on the streaming platforms; using your library is a great way to see if you like what we have to offer. To be “a librarian,” you need a degree in library science, but there are lots of jobs in libraries that do not require advanced degrees! I am glad I worked in libraries before getting my degree, giving me a chance to know it was what I wanted to do long term. Whether you are interested in being a librarian or not, I hope everyone reading renews (or gets) their library card soon!

Hannah: My advice to folks looking into leadership development with a nonprofit similar to the Girl Scouts is to begin by simply volunteering in your community. Find local organizations and initiatives dedicated to supporting families and individuals in your neighborhood and get involved. Be open to diverse, education-focused careers outside the classroom, and persistently invest in your own leadership growth and development. Last but not least, even after your last summer at camp, stay in touch with the CDK community. You never know who will lead you to the next opportunity; through a long series of events, an initial camp connection is how I ended up with the Girl Scouts.

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From the Kiniya Archives

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his year’s greatest treasure at Kiniya (aside from the incredible campers we served!) came in the form of a brown box package delivery in early spring. Inside it was a note and photo from its sender, the daughter of a Kiniya alum who spent summers on the shores of Lake Champlain from 1927-1929. Eighty-nine community members were pictured, with Helen Van Buren standing proudly in the center of them all. Each person was here for eight full weeks, the names of every one handwritten in black ink on the back of the photograph.

One community for the entire summer: fully, wholly, completely.

As we all know, traditions change over time.

No summer is like the one before it, and no summer will be just like the ones to come. We come together each summer as different humans. Different from each other. Different from the way we were a year ago, with different things that excite us, charge us, fuel us, and challenge us.

But the meaning behind treasures like pins and kiwis we acquire from Camp lasts long beyond the time we’re here. More often than not, the friendships and gifts that emerge from any given summer are passed onto the next, marking the shared culture we cherish.

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Awards Setting up for reunion weekend offered another opportunity to unearth all the treasures we have accumulated through the years—old awards (check out the cool felt versions pictured above from the 1960s!), trophies, pictures, yearbooks, and letters.

Kiniya Pin The 1927 all-camp photo arrived with another incredible gem—the camper pin from that very same year. Having never seen this pin or any other version of it, we loved sharing it with our campers this summer, a relic once treasured by a sister camper from a long ago summer. During our first Sunday Service Initiative, each one of us held it and passed it with love from one community member to another.

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REDISCOVERED

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very so often, a gem reappears in the Dudley Archives. The Last Whistle and now The Spirit serve as yearbooks of sorts, documenting the cabins, events, outings, speakers, and general fun of the summer.

Our team produces them for the campers and staff as a treasured record of historical details and people through the years. The Last Whistle first appeared in 1938. ecently, the archive team rediscovered what seems to be the precursor to The Last Whistle. It is called Camping on Champlain and was produced in 1910!

From what we know, it was the only year such a document was published. It is a five-by-eight-inch, handbound booklet primarily authored by Condict “Doc” Cutler. It contains a short description of summer events, telling about the campers' adventures to the Mineville mines, Ausable Chasm, and High Falls Gorge, and sailing on the “Vagabond” sailing boat. No “Doc” Cutler publication would be complete without a few of his narrative poems, which are filled with vivid imagery. Camping on Champlain contains only a few photographs and is less than 20 pages in length, but it offers a fantastic look at camp life only two years after we moved to the current property in Westport.

Camping on Champlain is now available as part of our digital archives and can be found online at campdudley.org/archives.

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Fufilling the Vision

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s we approach the end of another year, two vital initiatives continue to support a large part of both camps' operations—the Annual Fund and the Kiniya Staff Housing Initiative.

The Camp Dudley/Kiniya Annual Fund is critical to the continued success of our organization.

It provides funding for scholarships, leadership development, maintenance improvements to our facilities, and helps us keep our programs affordable for families. Through the Annual Fund, donors have been able to provide life-changing experiences to thousands of campers over the years. Our goal is to raise $925,000. Said #26254 Liz Kirkpatrick, Chair of the Development and Alumni Relations Committee, “While we have made significant progress towards the goal, we rely on generous parents, alums, grandparents, and friends who make gifts near the end of the year to help ensure the activities and programs supported by the Annual Fund are fully funded.” Gifts to the Annual Fund are critical to sustaining Camp Dudley and Kiniya as vibrant and thriving communities for generations to come.

Kiniya Staff Village Underway: One cabin completed. Four sites ready for construction when funded.

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Since 2006, we have invested in upgrades to Kiniya’s facilities, rightfully prioritizing infrastructure first, camper cabins second, and major buildings third.

Finally, we turned our focus to staff housing, and in the spring, we announced the Kiniya Staff Housing Initiative. After months of planning, construction was completed on the first cabin of Kiniya’s new Staff Village, just in time for summer 2023. The Staff Village and the acquisition of 939 Camp Kiniya Road are both critical parts of a comprehensive strategy that will meet Kiniya’s staff housing needs. Opportunities to support this $1 million donor investment in our staff are available. Please contact Marnie McDonagh, Dave Langston, or Dawn Gay if you’d like to learn more.

Your support always makes an impact on our campers, staff, and the transformative experiences offered by Dudley and Kiniya. Thank you for your generosity and your commitment to our growing community.

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Composting at Dudley By #13804 Matt Storey

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e have been composting for the last several years at Dudley and Kiniya. For many summers Camp Kiniya has had an amazing resource at the Intervale, who partners with camp to turn food waste into rich soil.

Since Dudley does not have such a resource available, we continue to enhance our own composting system in order to reduce the amount of waste that goes into the landfill.

This summer we partnered with Composting for Good, an Adirondack nonprofit with roots in the summer camping world. After visits to others who have found success with large-scale, on-site composting, we decided to create a neighborhood-scale vertical drum composting system on campus. This system allows us to collect all food scraps from the kitchen and dining hall and mix them with carbon (wood chips, sawdust, or wood shavings that are readily available) to create compost that we will use in our vegetable gardens and fields. We used a section of the North lot where we have our garbage and recycling vessels to house 6 large drums (4 feet tall by 4 feet around). There we used a compost auger to mix the contents and keep it aerated every 1-2 days. Food scraps were added daily

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and as we filled one drum we would move on to the next, keeping the drums rotating.

When the correct carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is maintained, the compost generates its own heat, reaching temperatures between 130-150 degrees, which creates decomposition and reduction of the overall pile. From there, we move the piles into the composting garage for secondary decomposition.

After that, we move the pile outside to sit for a period of time to reach ambient temperature and to cultivate beneficial soil microbes.

To be perfectly honest, this was a ton of work— sometimes incredibly unpleasant— as dealing with food waste can be challenging. That said, our goal of reducing food waste that would otherwise find the landfill was accomplished. We diverted over 22,000 pounds of food waste! We learned a lot in the process and will continue to perfect the system for next season to include more drums and a concrete pad for them to sit on. We’ll also include an educational aspect to the program, so interested campers will play an active role going forward.

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Camp in the Community

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hroughout the year, Dudley welcomes the community in using its spaces. Since our last publication, the Henry S. Poler Leadership Barn has once again served as a base of operations for a community blood drive. With the help of the Adirondack Regional Blood Center, we hosted this year’s event in support of the #GiveLikeCharlie blood donation program commemorating our friend #20804, Charlie Gillis. Other #GiveLikeCharlie drives take place each spring in Charlie’s hometown of St. Louis, as well as in Seattle, Washington, and Bennington, Vermont.

With the opening of the school year, students from Boquet Valley Central School in grades six, eight, and ten enjoy “Dudley Days.” During these annual events, our local students participate in a day of programming on the challenge course through experiential education opportunities that campers see all summer long. This was our thirteenth year sharing some of the summer fun with local students.

This fall, area sports teams have again called Dudley their home field. Boquet Valley boys and girls soccer programs use the upper fields all week long for practices and games. The Moriah Boquet Valley cross-country athletes use the Frisbie Farm and golf range to host races that include high school students from across the North Country.

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his summer Kiniya campers participated in a number of service initiatives for the community. Thank you again to all the families who participated in our opening day food drive. Over 500 pounds of food and goods were distributed to The South Burlington Food Shelf, Hope, VT, and The Jane S. Munt Family Room. These local organizations work to fight hunger in the VT area, assist families with childcare, provide early education, and act as community hubs.

During the session, campers had the opportunity to create pet goodie bags, distributed to our local humane society.

Each cabin worked to build a variety of cat and dog toys that would be distributed to pets looking for new homes. We also created a collection bin in Trieber (home of Kiniya’s arts & crafts) to gather friendship bracelets that could be distributed to UVM Medical Center. It was wonderful to see our campers take the initiative as they filled up the container throughout the summer.

Some of our JLs and farm-to-plate majors also had the chance to travel off campus and learn about local farms and food distribution. Our JLs explored the process of gleaning from a wonderful local organization, The Intervale Center, and a group of our seniors toured The Barber Farm. We hope to offer even more off-campus service opportunities in the future.

Barber Farm Jericho, VT

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DKAA Gatherings

Las Vegas, NV, October 2023 | #15198 Ben Cady, #26598 Adam Puncochar, #15191 Ollie Jeffers and Kiniya parent Jane Pirtle (Ben’s sister) met at the brand new Sphere in Las Vegas to take in a U2 concert.

Saratoga, NY, September 2023 | #15877 Brendan Loughman, #17098 Carl Jackson, #17119 Mark O'Neal, and #17681 Steven Nelson met up at SPAC for a Guns N' Roses concert.

The Dudley gents all agreed that Slash stole the show! Pictured L to R: #17681 Steven Nelson, #15877 Brendan Loughman, #17119 Mark O'Neal, and #17098 Carl Jackson.

Southport, ME, September 2023 | #10463 Tom "Fungo" Mendl, #11889 Dwight Poler, and #13804 Matt Storey got together for some late summer exploring, boating, and hiking in and around Boothbay Harbor, and of course plenty of time was spent catching up on all things DUDLEY! Pictured L to R: #13804 Matt Storey, #11889 Dwight Poler, and #10463 Tom Mendl.

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Brunswick, ME, September 2023 | #23369 Hannah Donahue and #22804 Rachel Storey recently reconnected in Maine at a Bowdoin vs. Colby game.

Hannah is a freshman at Colby College, where she plays soccer, and Rachel is a sophomore at Bowdoin College, where she plays basketball. In addition to now being Mainers, they were pals at Kiniya and roommates at the Holderness School in New Hampshire. Pictured L to R: #23369 Hannah Donahue and #22804 Rachel Storey.

Raleigh, NC, September 2023 | A reunion of Cubs '85 gathered in North Carolina for some golf and to celebrate nearly 40 years of friendship. #13564 Jeff MacBean, #13785 Todd Lubin, #13804 Matt Storey, and #14107 Jay Wells gathered in September. Jeff and Jay both live in North Carolina, Todd is in Los Angeles, CA, and Matt is in Westport, NY. Pictured L to R: #14107 Jay Wells, #13785 Todd Lubin, #13564 Jeff MacBean, and #13804 Matt Storey.

Keeseville, NY, September 2023 | #13804 Matt Storey and #16999 Jess Storey visited their friend and Board member #8580 Bob Craft and his wife Jamie at their beautiful lake house in Keeseville, NY. Bob had grandchildren on both sides of the lake this summer, and it was wonderful to look back on a successful season! Pictured L to R: #16999 Jess Storey, #8580 Bob Craft, #13804 Matt Storey.

DKAA Gatherings

Berlin, Germany, July 2023 | #11904 John Ulin, current Board Chair, visited our partners and friends at Camp Abbensen in Hanover, Germany this summer. While there, he was able to meet up with #19180 Lukas Ebeler, #10064 Ekki Albrecht, and #14671 Wolle Springer.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, September 2023 | A large crew of Bolsters, McKinleys, Wertimers, and other Dudley alums gathered in Puerto Rico for the wedding of #19649 John Wertimer and Alexis Katz, New York, NY. Photo 1 Pictured L to R: #19674 George Wells, #19583 Jonah Florence, #19666 Guthrie McGlynn, #19399 Bolster McKinley, #21503 Ian Porter, and #19630 Patrick McNamara | Photo 2 - Third Row L to R: #19893 Henry Bolster, #19399 Bolster McKinley, Michael Mac Bolster Houghton, #22445 Clay Bolster, #21645 Luke Bolster, #20745 Jake Bolster, and Ethan Bolster. Second Row L to R: #25444 Magdalena Monastra, Leo Bolster, #20608 Martha McKinley, Jack Bolster, Kate Bolster Houghton, #22008 Willa McKinley. Front Row L to R: Frances Wertimer and #21049 Eva Wertimer.

Williamstown, MA, August, 2023 | #8252 Charlie Johnson, Bethesda, MD, was able to deliver #7731 Pete Willmott, Williamstown, MA, his 75-year pin in person! These two pals go back to their early days as campers at Dudley. Pictured L to R: #8252 Charlie Johnson and #7731 Pete Willmott.

Hannover, Germany, July 2023 | #19180 Lukas Ebeler, celebrated the one year anniversary of his wedding to Leonie Schmitt with his family and friends. Of course, Dudley friends joined for the celebration. Pictured L to R: #22809 Tom Johannsen, #21503 Ian Porter, #19674 George Wells, #21979 Martin Hansen, Leonie Schmitt and #19180 Lukas Ebeler, #26603 Pieter Harten, #24468 Soeren Boie, #19616 Will Krueger, #21084 Paul Lacursi.

San Francisco, CA, July 2023 | #13469 Joey Donahue, Atherton, CA, and #11904 John Ulin, San Marino, CA, had a mini-reunion at the final Dead & Company concert in San Francisco in mid-July. Pictured L to R: #13469 Joey Donahue and #11904 John Ulin. campdudley.org

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DKAA Gatherings Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 2023 | #18866 Pat Gillespie and #22172 Austin Carmody, both currently living in Argentina, got the chance to meet up for coffee in Buenos Aires. Patrick has been living in Argentina since 2018 and Austin has been there since February of 2023.

They connected over stories from their time at Camp, how hiking in Patagonia takes them back to their younger years in the Adirondacks, and how living abroad has been life-changing.

Pictured L to R: #18866 Pat Gillespie and #22172 Austin Carmody.

Elizabethtown, NY, April 2023 | Members of the local Dudley crew participated in the 43rd Annual Doc Lopez Run for Health, a 5K for charity, at the Cobble Hill Golf Course in Elizabethtown, NY, this spring. Great job, everyone, and #15017 Evan George even came in 7th place overall! Pictured L to R: #22128 Geo Price, #15017 Evan George, #19524 Dawn Gay, #18801 Drew Rider, #16999 Jess Storey, and #13804 Matt Storey.

Copenhagen, Denmark, Spring 2023 | #22146 Emma Caffry and #24558 Martín Bello met up while Emma was on her semester abroad. They had a great time catching up and talking about all things Camp, even if they were over 3,600 miles away from the shores of Lake Champlain. Pictured L to R: #22146 Emma Caffry and #24558 Martín Bello.

New York, NY, Spring 2023 | A group of Dudley and Kiniya alums gathered this spring in Prospect Park to catch up and take in the beautiful weather. Photo 1 Second Row L to R: #20443 Lydia Knapp, #23219 Margaret Lee, #21883 Kelly Graham, #20046 Annie Canning. First Row L to R: #18070 Dave Nelson, #22088 Chandler Ryan, #20916 Sarah Rider, #19625 Angus MacKinnon. Photo 2 L to R: #22088 Chandler Ryan, #22637 Hannah Schwoebel, #21337 Ellie Schwoebel, #20046 Annie Canning. Not pictured: #21013 Sarah McKani and #16730 Rick Raymond.

Long Island, NY, Spring 2023 | #19100 Dwight Vicks, New York, NY, visited #17525 Pete "Shorty" Treiber at his farm, Treiber Farms, in Peconic, NY, this spring, where he checked out the farm and the two reminisced on their days at Dudley.

Colchester, VT, Spring 2023 | #20001 Marnie McDonagh, #20595 Kat Nelson, Bill Willey, and #21532 Pete Nash got together at Kiniya for a trip down memory lane.

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Alumni News #6581 Berkeley Johnson, Mashpee, MA, reported that he had recorded his first hole-in-one during a round of golf at his local club, and that he now holds the record for being the most senior club member to claim that accomplishment. #7801 Noel Brown, Baltimore, MD, reconnected with Camp during the summer. Noel wrote of his fond memories of Camp beginning in 1949. He also noted that his father, #1968 James N. Brown, supported Bob Marshall's recruiting efforts in New Hartford, NY. #9295 David Griffith, New Hartford, NY, wrote following a very wet pickup day at the end of the first session. After being at Camp in 1958-59, it was easy for David to recommend Dudley when his daughter and son-inlaw were looking for a place for his grandson, #27095 Connor Belcher. During the parents' day visit, Dave was able to visit Owasco Lodge where he had been 60 years ago. He fondly remembered his JL, #8804 John Storey. #10649 Steve Wertimer, New York, NY, writes that he is retired and loving it, and he enjoyed being at Kiniya with #21049 Eva Wertimer, New York, NY, for the DKAA reunion this summer.

#10801 Dave Donahue, Strafford, VA, shared a photo from 1987. Says Dave, "I believe the picture was around New Year's, December 1987. I was home on leave and linked up with #11264 Mark "Davo" Davenport at #10527 Mike Buck's home in Plattsburgh, NY. Mike was the photographer." #11156 John Lowry, Arlington, VA, finished a cross country bike trip from Portland, OR to Portland, ME. in early October.

He has connected with a few Dudley friends during his travels and tells of a great adventure.

#11448 Rob Howard, Hudson, WI, shares that he has been enjoying retirement, filling it with travel, involvement in Rotary, and volunteering at his local YMCA Camp St. Croix. Shown L to R: #11448 Rob Howard, #12152 Charlie Johnson IV, #10463 Tom Mendl. #11778 Charles Alexander, Mountain View, CA, wrote Camp during the early summer. Says Charles, "Having gotten my start in the Camp marathon, I'm coaching cross country and track at Los Altos High School in CA. My cousin's boys, #26260 Max and #26257 Theo Marinos, are campers this summer!" #12190 Provost David Kotz, Lyme, NH, and #10342 President Phil Hanlon co-led Dartmouth's Commencement ceremony this spring. Dave was the master of ceremonies and Phil awarded the degrees and gave his final Valedictory Address. This day was Phil's final day of ten years in office as President of Dartmouth College. #12689 Carl Koenig, Oxford, NY, attended the Binghamton University vs. UMBC game this May where former camper/ leader/staff member #12778 Drew Johnson's son, #23078 Luke Johnson, Lewes, DE, pitched a winning game against Binghamton, making his record for the year 6-1. Additionally, Luke was the America East Pitcher of the Year and was selected All Conference - First Team. Congratulations, Luke! #13744 Tom Bisselle, New Russia, NY, joined #13804 Matt Storey, Westport, NY, on the summer staff at Dudley this season working in the Archery Glen as well as supporting campers in many ways. Matt and Tom were roommates at St. Lawrence University, and Tom is currently a student support counselor at Boquet Valley Central School. #14234 Chris Smith, Concord, NH, was recently named the athletic director at Saint Paul’s School in Concord. Chris has been with St. Paul’s since 2014, serving previously as the associate director of athletics, head boys and girls squash coach, and head of Middle House. campdudley.org

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Alumni News #14571 Pete Groves, Bronxville, NY, wrote following the first session drop-off. Says Pete, "After the drop-off of my son, #25771 Wyatt, I met up with an old friend and camper #14306 Charlie Lozner, who is also my old boarding school roommate, and who dropped his daughter #26306 Edie off at Kiniya the same day. We returned to NY and hit the ADK trails! We did Bald Peak (pictured), and then Cascade and Porter on the next day. Super fun trip—maybe a new June tradition!" #14866 James Mayo III, Baltimore, MD, was able to return to Dudley for some time this summer to be a part of the 2023 season, joining the team to play a couple of hymn sings and performing at the All-Camp Council Ring at the end of the season. It was great having him back! James is currently working as an Academic Advisor at Notre Dame of Maryland University. #15057 Kuk Jai Chun was able to stop by Dudley this summer with his wife and son. Kuk first came to Camp in 1989 to learn about summer camps in America in an effort to bring the concept back to Korea.

He spent time learning from #7405 Willie and #16000 Lois Schmidt, and took what he learned home to start a program that his daughter and son-in-law now run. It was great having Kuk back on campus, and he enjoyed seeing how much Camp had both changed and stayed the same. #15191 Oliver Jeffers, County Down, United Kingdom, recently released a new book called Begin Again and has been on tour through a portion of the fall to introduce it to the world. Here at Camp Dudley, we celebrated right along with Ollie as we received our own personalized copy. Get your copy today at a local bookstore or visit oliverjeffers.com. We also added a collection of Oliver’s books to our Alumni Author Library that is housed in the archives. If you saw Oliver on his book tour, make sure to let us know.

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#15198 Ben Cady, Edina, MN, and #22406 Mollie Farnham-Stratton, Essex, VT, teamed up for some pre-season training at both camps this summer, specifically discussing how to handle sensitive topics with our campers. #15271 Eric Sydor, Westport, CT, reports that #26071 Graham Sydor, #26671 Annabelle Sydor, and future camper, Parker Sydor earned the esteemed title of "46er" this September by summiting their 46th Adirondack High Peak. Congratulations, Graham, Annabelle, and Parker! #15815 Karim King, Antigua, and current year-round team member #14158 Will Long, Elizabethtown, NY, shared a morning breakfast during the 2023 season. Karim was able to return to run the tennis program this summer, and he loved reconnecting with his old pals, including Will. Karim is currently the tennis director at The Curtain Bluff Club in Antigua. #15898 Bill Phelan, Pelham, NY, shares that he had great fun at the DKAA Reunion at Kiniya, and it generated a lot of excitement at home from future campers! #16126 Justin Noel, Monaca, PA, was joined in the Fourth of July festivities at Dudley with Coach Beard and all the boys.

Justin is currently the principal at Beaver High School in Pittsburgh. #18866 Pat Gillespie, Buenos Aires, Argentina, was recently named the Bureau Chief for Bloomberg News in Argentina, leading a small, but mighty team of reporters covering a difficult chapter in Argentina's history. Pat says, "My foundation in leadership comes from my time at Dudley and living by the motto, 'The other fellow first,' and if any Dudley folks are ever in the area, I'd love to meet up!"

Alumni News #19882 Malcolm Brown, Manchester, VT, and his family, including #21695 Bennett "Raji" Allison, took a trip to Portugal in August in remembrance of their grandparents, who passed away last year. Everyone had an incredible time, visiting must-see attractions in Porto and Libson, and they even got to catch an exciting Liga Portugal soccer game! #19976 Holly Kennedy, Lakewood Ranch, FL, and #20076 Anne Kennedy, Greenwich, CT, enjoyed time together at the DKAA reunion and shared the Camp Kiniya Chapel platform at the Sunday Chapel Service. #20222 Courtney Granfors, Philadelphia, PA, writes, "I changed my career path about a year and a half ago and now work in pharmaceutical consulting. I attribute my success in my new career to the leadership skills I developed at Camp. I've been living in Philadelphia for five years now and absolutely love it. Go EAGLES!" #20278 Kelsey Goodwin, Portland, ME, writes, "Hello! It's the middle of July, and I had to share my own magical camp moment! I run a small day camp at the non-profit I work with, and we partner with an organization called SailMaine that takes our students sailing in Casco Bay each week. While I was getting our students in their boats, I saw Victoria Espi, my host sister from the Spanish Exchange in 2016. In Portland, Maine, of all places! She is working as a sailing instructor here this summer, and we were both stunned by this small world moment. She was 11 when I met her and her family in Valencia, and now she just turned 19. I'm so incredibly grateful for the unexpected ways Kiniya has continued to bring me unexpected joy, opportunities, and friends even years away from its shores!" #20466 Emily Goodwin, Burlington, VT, reports that she will be completing grad school in December. Says Emily, “I’m in my last semester at Arizona State University online. I’m receiving a degree in special education with a concentration in applied behavior analysis and working on my certification to become a board-certified behavior analyst.”

#20580 Kyle Munshower, Minneapolis, MN, and his theater company, Spiral Theater, put on a production of Kyle's original show, Overtoun, this fall. They have an exciting lineup of shows this year, including The Scribbler, which was performed at Dudley in the summer of 2022. If you're in the Minneapolis area, Kyle says, "Come by and check out one of our shows; we'd love and appreciate the support from the Dudley and Kiniya community!" #20764 Endy Perry, Stamford, CT, returned to Camp this summer to help out on the publications team. Endy took a bunch of great pictures, and he was even able to recreate this photo from ten years ago with his brother, #23764 Sam, Wilton, CT, who was a leader this summer. Endy is currently working as an executive zone business manager for PepsiCo in Connecticut. #20964 Amanda Perry, Wilton, CT, recently arrived in Scotland to pursue her MLit degree at St. Andrews University. She is the recipient of the R&A Ransome Scholarship, a leadership and academic-based award that will be funding her studies. Amanda just completed her 14th summer at Camp Kiniya, starting as a camper in 2008, and making her way through the leadership ranks. She spent two summers running Kiniya's Arts Department and most recently acted as the Head of Stewardship in 2023. Amanda wants to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Kiniya community who have helped shape her into the woman she is today. Also, a massive thank you to #20001 Marnie McDonagh, #20982 Ibby Maruca, and #20071 Meghan McCormick for all their support throughout the admissions process! #21204 Ellie Storey, Brookline, MA, and her colleagues from the New England Center for Children ran in the Falmouth, MA, road race to raise nearly $38,000 for their organization that supports those living with autism. Ellie is currently a teacher in the Southborough, MA, location.

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Alumni News #21337 Ellie Schwoebel, Cambridge, MA, writes she has started teaching seventh grade English and Language Arts at Putnam Avenue Upper School in Cambridge. The change happened quickly, and she started in mid-September! Says Ellie, "I really like the city! I am excited to do some more exploring of the area this fall after getting settled in." #21695 Bennett "Raji" Allison, Toledo, OH, is working on his PhD at the University of Toledo.

He shares that, while the work is hard, everything is going well, and he is excited to begin his rotations this fall, where he will work on research focusing on hypertension and infection pathways of bacteria in a microbiological lab. #23396 Sophie Reusswig, Mechanicsburg, PA, writes, "Through the Dudley/Kiniya networking sessions that took place in 2021, I was able to connect with #13405 Dir. Beth Schmidt who works at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Over the past year, she helped me set up three ride-alongs with the department to get a glimpse of my future career path as a forensic scientist. During this process, it also came to our attention that my father, #11796 Dave Reusswig, attended Dudley at the same time she was there, and she coached him in tennis! Recently, my parents and I flew out to Las Vegas for a week and met with Beth. We are all very grateful to have connected, and we had a great time at a Las Vegas Aces game!" #24687 Cassius Chinlund, Los Angeles, CA, won the USTA Easter Bowl Spring National Championship this spring, and he is currently the #1 ranked Junior tennis player in the country, both 18U and 16U. Late-Breaking Alumni Gathering Dudley friends gathered in Williamstown, MA at Cricket Creek Farm to celebrate #19304 Tom Dils & #23844 Maddie Leopold’s wedding on July 1, 2023. Pictured L to R: #18731 Dave McCann, #19264 Jake Refojo, #19304 Tom Dils, #19674 George Wells, #19666 Guthrie McGlynn. Maddie and Tom have spent many years using Westport as their home for adventures, from hiking all 46 Adirondack high peaks to cross country skiing at Mt. Van Hoevenburg.

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Join us for Summer 2024!

APPLY NOW!

2024 DATES

All returning campers can guarantee their spot for 2024 if they apply BEFORE December 1st.

First Session

New campers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible with enrollment starting December 1st. (As always...the sooner the better for all applications!)

Spread the word and please send us great kids!

Thursday, June 27th — Drop Off Sunday, July 21st — Pick Up Second Session Thursday, July 25th — Drop Off Sunday, August 18th — Pick Up

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Future Campers #15877 Brendan and his wife #21986 Olivia Loughman, Shelburne, VT, greeted their son, Asher, on July 15, 2023.

#18795 Thomas “T” McKeown and wife Kristin, Chicago, IL, announced the arrival of Henry Wright McKeown, who was born on September 21, 2023.

#16472 Billy Brouse and his wife Melissa Myers, Asheville NC, welcomed August Echo Brouse on June 3rd, 2023.

#19180 Lukas Ebeler and his wife Leonie, Hannover, Germany, welcomed their son, Fiete Jasper Ebeler, on July 7, 2023.

#17342 Kevin Dempsey and his wife Siobhan, New Orleans, LA, greeted Callan Robert Dempsey on January 25, 2023.

#20203 Mary and her husband #24834 Charlie Hopta, welcomed Chip aka Charles Adams Hopta IV to the world on April 12, 2023.

#18655 Will Sword and his wife Anne Sekley, Earlysville, VA, greeted their daughter, Magnolia, on August 16, 2023.

#21013 Sarah “Bear” McKani and her husband Kunal, Brooklyn, NY, greeted their son, Aditya, on July 30, 2023.

#18724 Nathan Gay and his wife Heather, Scottsdale, AZ, greeted their son, William, on August 15, 2023.

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Weddings #9137 Ken White married Mary “Molly” Kasriels at Ken’s home in Westport, NY, on September 8, 2023.

#20493 Harry Granfors, Warwick, RI, married Danni Foley in Westport, NY, on September 23, 2023.

#16156 Mike Press, New York, NY, married Ann-Hunter Van Kirk in New York City, June 16, 2023.

#21211 Sam Napper, Westport, NY, married Alexandra Bernier at Camp Dudley on September 9, 2023.

#19043 Patrick McCormick, Minneapolis, MN, married Susima Weerakoon in Canandaigua, NY, June 21, 2021. (Ed note: Apologies for the late notice.)

#21479 Rebecca "Woj" Wojciechowicz, Somerville, MA, married Brandon Henshaw in Speculator, NY, June 10, 2023.

#19304 Tom Dils and #23844 Maddie Leopold, Lyman, ME, were married in Williamstown, MA, on July 1, 2023.

#19649 John Wertimer and Alexis Katz, Brooklyn, NY, were married in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 30, 2023.

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In Memoriam #6131 Elliott “Palooka” Bates, Southbury, CT, passed away peacefully on June 15, 2023.

Elliott first came to Camp in 1940. He moved through the leadership ranks, acting as a Leader from 1945-1947 and received his 75-year pin in 2016. Bates always said that Dudley taught him values that guided him through his adult life.

Elliott was born in Bronxville, NY, and graduated from The Kent School in Kent, CT. He joined the class of 1952 at Williams College, finishing his education there after serving in the Army. He attended Officer Candidate School, served in Korea, received a Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service, and was honorably discharged in 1953.

Bates started his career in the personnel area at New York Trust in NYC, continuing with Wells Fargo Bank in California. Elliott, his wife Marilyn, and their children returned to New York, where Elliott accepted a position in the executive placement field. He retired from Wright Associates in 2000; he and Marilyn moved to Heritage Village in Southbury, CT, in 2007.

In retirement, Elliott continued to be an active sportsman, keeping up with friends from his childhood and always was a true gentleman with elegant, oldschool manners and a sense of chivalry. He was an incredible father and grandfather; his cheerful outlook, kindness, and big smile will be forever remembered.

Elliott was predeceased by Marilyn, his loving wife of 55 years. He is survived by his three daughters, Betsy, Leslie, and Jennifer; sons-in-law Claude and Edward; and grandchildren Matthew, Stacey, Kimberly, Karen, Gray, Cameron, and Bailey. #6777 Kent Elliott, Jacksonville Beach, FL, passed away on March 17, 2022. He attended Camp from 19431947 and received his 50-year pin in 2004. Kent’s career in the US Army was long and distinguished. He was drafted in 1956, attending Officer Candidate School after Basic Training. After his first commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in Korea, Kent volunteered for and was selected for Special Forces duty. He served at various locations worldwide, retiring from active duty in 1977.

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Elliott’s many awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star, the Ranger TAB, the Master Parachutist’s Badge, and the Scuba Badge. Kent is survived by his wife Nancie, sons Kent and Josh, and daughter LeGrand. Grandson #19977 Josh Elliott also attended Camp. Kent is interred at Arlington National Cemetery. #7380 Craig W. Bristol, Bradford, NH, passed away surrounded by his family on December 2, 2022. Craig first came to Camp as a member of the kitchen crew in 1946.

After his JL year in 1947, he became a Leader in 1948 and 1951. Some of Craig’s fondest memories were the overnight canoe trips that he led with younger campers.

He was the proud recipient of a 75-year pin and spoke frequently about his time at Camp and the important lessons/values he gained from his experiences.

Craig was born in Bronxville, NY, and spent many summers on Laurel Beach at his grandfather’s house in Milford, CT. He attended the Taft School in Watertown, CT, and Yale University before serving in the US Navy on the USS Midway during the Korean War. He held many positions in the marketing and sales industry: Cadillac, AMF, ITT, and Sheraton Hotels.

Having raised six daughters, his life was always full of excitement and sporting events. Craig had a love of sailing and the outdoors, spending most of his life living or visiting the New London, NH, area.

Craig always lived by the Dudley motto, “The other fellow first.” Craig was always there to help anyone in need. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Craig was predeceased by the love of his life, Emily D. Bristol, and a daughter, Deborah C. Bristol.

Those left to keep his spirit alive are his remaining five daughters, three sons-in-law, 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. #7818 Robert “Bob” Ferguson, Clearwater, FL, passed away on June 1, 2021. (Ed. note: We only recently learned of Bob’s passing.) Bob was at Camp in 1949 and 1950 as a junior and senior and received his 50year pin in 2002. Bob was originally from New York, where he taught high school biology. He was associated with Camp Sloane in CT, spending summers as a camper, staff member, and eventually Executive Director. Bob gave so much of his leadership and positive

In Memoriam personality volunteering at various groups in the Clearwater community. He and his wife Janet were named “Community Heroes” by the Lightning organization. Bob is survived by his wife Janet, daughter Cindy (Dan), son Eric (Stephanie), and four grandchildren. #8037 Robert “Bob” Bates, Carmel, IN, passed away on April 3, 2023. Bob was at Camp from 1950-1957. During that time, he advanced through the leadership ranks, leading his own cabin from 1955-1957. Bob received his 50-year pin on a visit to Camp in 2018.

Bob was born in Meadville, PA, graduating from Allegheny College after attending Denison University and serving in the US Army. He was a reporter for the Meadville Tribune, Activities Director for the YMCA in both Pennsylvania and Indiana, and was employed by the Social Security Administration in Richmond, IN. Family and church were first and foremost in Bob’s life. He was predeceased by his parents and first wife, Sandra Walters. Surviving are Bob’s wife, Jean Swickard Bates, sons Rob (Amy), Andrew (Karen), David (Holly), and Jon (Mallory), as well as stepdaughter Jennifer Morrisey, stepson Jeff Hickman (Christie), 13 grandchildren, two sisters, nephews, and nieces. #11301 Doug Sears, Sr., Westport, NY, passed peacefully on June 30, 2023, after a brief stay in Elizabethtown, NY, Hospital. Doug worked at Camp in the Maintenance Department from 1964-1993, eventually becoming the leader of that group.

After his retirement, he continued to work part time for Dudley. His wife, #13306 Yvonne, also worked at Camp for many of those years. Doug was honored with the Last Whistle dedication in 1973.

Doug was born in Port Henry, NY, and served in World War II on a Navy sub-chaser. After an honorable discharge, Doug returned home and married the love of his life, Yvonne, in 1950. They moved to Westport, NY, to work and raise their family. Common themes in Doug’s life were his kindness toward others and his sense of humor. Doug was an avid outdoorsman.

Doug is survived by his children, Sharon (Ronnie) Stafford, #11228 Doug Sears, Jr. (fiancee Tanya Hiltz); brother Bob (Deanna) Sears; grandchildren Larry and Andy Deso and Nathan Stafford; brother-in-law George

Maffey, niece Elizabeth Maffey, and nephew George Maffey III, along with many friends. #13737 Bruce Hoskins, Westport, NY, passed away on August 6, 2023, with his family by his side. Bruce worked at Dudley as a member of the Maintenance Department for more than 20 years, beginning in 1984. Bruce was best known for his construction skills, and his handiwork can be seen in many of the cabins, several of the staff quarters, the “Institute,” the flooring in MacLean, and the redesigning of the Lee chairs currently gracing the Witherbee porch. In Westport, from the sheds at the Westport Fairgrounds to the docks at the Westport Marina to the sacristy of St. Philip Neri Church, Bruce’s work still stands.

Bruce was born in Willsboro, NY. He was an Industrial Arts graduate of SUNY Oswego and received his MEd from St. Lawrence University. He served in the US Army during the Korean War conflict and achieved the rank of corporal.

Hoskins was a man of many talents; he was a former Industrial Arts teacher at Lake Placid High School and Westport Central School, where he fulfilled a variety of roles. As a volunteer and captain, Bruce devoted 65 years to the Westport Fire Department and Emergency Squad. He was recognized as a Westport Citizen of the Year and was inducted into the Westport Central School Hall of Fame. Along with three other teachers, Bruce purchased the Westport Marina, remaining a co-owner until 1984.

Of all things, the family was most important to him. Bruce married the love of his life, Nona Cross, 68 years ago and shared seven children: David (Cindy) Hoskins, Robert Hoskins, William (Spring) Hoskins, Kathryn (Michael) Gavin, Tammy Johnson, Cheryl (Jim) O’Reilly, and Margaret Hoskins. Bruce took extreme pride in his nine grandchildren, teaching them how to fish, to select a quality hammer, to measure twice and cut once, to love s’mores, and to be thankful. In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, Bruce is survived by his sister, Pat (Gay) Young. Bruce believed that a good piece of furniture should be like a family, built with love to endure through the ages. He will be missed by all.

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In Memoriam #15151 Maile Moore, Lynn, MA. We are saddened to share that #15151 Maile Moore died suddenly and unexpectedly at her home at age 48.

Maile loved Dudley. It was more than a place to her; it was part of her very person.

After all, she grew up at Dudley, was baptized at the Dudley chapel, took some of her first steps at Dudley, sang with all her heart at hundreds of hymn sings, and spent all or parts of every summer there for half her life from 1975-1999. During those summers, she forged deep and significant friendships that lasted throughout her life, especially with Kirsten Bartholomew, becoming as #13322 Karen Bartholomew says, a member of their family.

Although already part of the fabric of Dudley, Maile became an official staff member in 1990, working for her father, #8838 E.P., as an assistant in the Hike Hut. No nepotism there, she was excellent, especially each summer, working with and initiating new assistants into Dudley and Hike Hut protocols.

Dudley fueled and fed her love of live theater, and she became a mainstay in Witherbee, as one of the so-called “Witherbee Rats” performing in numerous plays. Her love of Shakespeare grew exponentially, as she played Lady Macbeth, Adriana (The Comedy of Errors), and Juliet, in #10875 Steve Schmidt’s send-up of Romeo and Juliet: Romeo et Julietta.

Outside of Dudley, Maile graduated from Mount Holyoke College and received a master's degree from The University of Texas, at Austin. She also spent two summers at the Middlebury Language School learning Arabic, followed by a year in Cairo, Egypt, on a CASA fellowship. She used her language skills volunteering with immigrants and refugees, helping them acclimatize to and navigate through life in Boston.

Later Maile worked in clinical data management at many Boston area companies. She took great pride in her work, eventually becoming Director of Clinical Data Management.

Maile brought a sparkle to those who knew her, even in tough times. Maile loved to laugh—hers was always the loudest. She exuberantly celebrated the important, and less important, moments in her friends' and family’s lives making those she loved feel special.

She could become enthusiastic about almost anything, and her enthusiasm infected those around her. She was a loyal friend, a fierce ally, and a beautiful soul. We will miss her and forever be thankful to have been blessed to have her for the time we did.

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#20730 Julian Holland Brown III, Baltimore, MD, entered into eternal rest on August 15, 2023. Julian was introduced to Camp through the Baltimore Rotary in 2008 and remained a camper through his senior year in 2011.

Born in Baltimore, MD, Julian showed an insatiable curiosity and an unmatched dedication to learning.

In 2011, Julian became an integral part of the Ingenuity Math and Science Program at his high school, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. An excellent athlete, Julian was captain of his high school lacrosse team, and he received the Most Valuable Player award in 2015.

After graduating from high school in 2015, Julian was admitted to the United States Naval Academy as a member of Company 22. There, he forged strong bonds and lasting friendships, became a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, and participated in outreach programs in the community.

Julian was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy in 2019; he attended submarine engineering school in Charleston, SC. From 2021-2023, he served on board the New Jersey (SSN 796), where he was promoted to lieutenant. Julian was recently awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for outstanding performance and devotion to duty. He ended his career with the Navy as a nuclear submarine officer.

Brown’s truest source of happiness lay with his family. He was a devoted uncle and a loving brother and son who treasured family gatherings and holidays.

Julian met his girlfriend, Melvina “Mel” Brown, in 2019; they built a life and home together in Hampton, Virginia, along with their two fur babies, Bodie and Xena.

Julian radiated warmth and love, bringing his kindness and compassion into the lives of others. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Julian Brown and Nathaniel Morehead. Julian is survived by his father, Julian Brown, mother Tonia (James) Lott, sisters Jasmine (Jordan) Harris and Shaquan (Khari) Brown and grandmothers, Jeane Morehead and Frances Brown. Stepsisters, uncles and aunts, nephews, nieces, and cousins, along with best friends Kai Lively and Tenee Blackett, join the host of other family members and friends who will remember Julian.

YEAR-ROUND TEAM

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

J.J. Alexander

Ben Cady

Tyler Chapman

Bob Craft

Peter Groves

Erinn Harley-Lewis

Tom Brayden

Dawn Gay

Nicole Hylton-Patterson

Monique Jones

Liz Kirkpatrick

George Matthews

Kevin McCormick

Kari McKinley

Evan George

Anita Johnson

Martha McKinley

Shiro Nogaki

Tom Pohlad

Chris Rodgers

Catherine Sanderson

Ted Smith

Jamie Johnson

Dave Langston

Alice Tornquist

John Ulin Board Chair

Robin Wells

Will Long

Brendan Loughman

Marnie McDonagh

Drew Rider

Kissy Rowley

Jesse Smith

Jess Storey

Matt Storey

Ben Sudduth

John Tomkins

Matt McElroy Sarah McKani DKAA - Co President DKAA - Co President

Learn more about our Board campdudley.org/bot

Learn more about our Year-Round Team campdudley.org/our-team

Make sure you let us know about the latest happenings in your life! campdudley.org/theotherfellowfirst

Follow Camp web: campdudley.org email: info@campdudley.org social: @campdudley1885 | @campkiniya

Angie Hill

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Our Friend Davo

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W

hen Mark “Davo” Davenport first arrived at Camp Dudley in 1972, he was among the few young men to come to Camp for the first time as a Junior Leader, but despite the late start to his Dudley career, it was the start of a deep, personal connection that would last over 50 years and change his life as well as the lives of the countless “other fellows” he would come into contact with during those decades.

As Davo was fond of recounting, it didn’t take long for him to realize that this was a place that he wanted to dedicate his life to, and he immediately started asking the Director at the time, Rollie “Stich” Stichweh, and others, how he could make a career out of working for Camp Dudley. Fortunately for all of us, he made it happen, and he made Dudley and Kiniya better places with his passion for helping young people and his commitment to this institution.

It may sound a bit cliché, but it is absolutely true that Davo made meaningful and authentic connections with everyone he knew. Over the past few months, every attempt to remember Davo that has been relayed to Camp has been personal, heartfelt, and filled with a sense of joy for having had the chance to know him.

And while no single tribute can capture the richness and depth of his influence on our Camps and its people, let’s celebrate and honor our beloved friend.

From the moment he arrived at Camp Dudley, Davo’s larger-than-life energy and enthusiasm filled the air. His first cabin leader assignment in Princeton Lodge in 1973 offered a handful of campers a unique look at his sense of humor and humility. Through the mid and late 1970s, his campers and fellow leaders witnessed his creativity, compassion, and seemingly inexhaustible energy. His teams experienced the “Davo Style” of Dudley coaching and always had an exciting mix of rugby drills from his days at the University of Maine.

Campers of this era saw Davo begin to spread his wings on the Witherbee stage long before he appeared on the big screen and learned to ... “Do the Dance.”

It was 1983 when Davo moved from the cabin into his staff role; he continued to be an ever-present personality all around Camp. That year, Davo’s farreaching knowledge and influence can be seen in a small note on the title page of The Last Whistle. It reads “Davo, Bolster, and Beaner - Comments.” This credit reminds us of his quick wit and always having a oneliner at the ready. By this time, Davo had also started writing and directing for the stage. This is a passion Camp would benefit from for many years. After working to perfect his craft on the West Coast, Davo returned to the Witherbee Staff from 1994 through 1998, where he inspired us to try new things, find our voices, and tell a story with passion and humor. At Kiniya, The Wolves was written and directed by Davo in 2018 to celebrate

the opening of Mimi’s Lodge. That play was recreated in 2023 in his honor. (Visit campdudley.org/davo to see the list of productions.)

Davo’s wife Cathy, daughter Bridget, and granddaughter Carmel (named after Davo’s late mother) are his biggest fans. They, along with his loyal companion Biscuit, provided the love and support that allowed Davo to make such a significant impact on so many in the Camp family. Bridget's appearance on the Dudley stage at a young age may have even laid the foundation for her becoming a staff member at Dudley and at Kiniya in later years. Being the father of Bridget, Davo’s passion for a girls’ camp was greater than most, and his role on the Girls Committee in bringing Kiniya into the Dudley Family in its formative years was instrumental. Watching Davo return to Kiniya to direct a show, enjoy a meal, or experience a hymn sing made it clear that his passion for supporting future Leaders was equally shared with Kiniya’s campers and staff.

One of Davo’s most valuable gifts to Camp has been his extraordinary dedication to connecting with alums. His outstanding recall of names and faces helped everyone connect with Camp's history and their place in it. Talking with Davo about the “old days” was like having instant access to the Last Whistles. This gift, as some called it, was valued by Willie Schmidt, Wheaton Griffin, Andy Bisselle, Matt Storey, and Marnie McDonagh in their roles as directors.

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He also served as an important mentor and counselor to a wide range of Dudley and Kiniya leadership, all the way from an Aide taking their first steps in our leadership development program through to chairs of our Board of Trustees. His trusted guidance has helped our cabin leadership deliver amazing experiences to campers in their charge, our board and directors navigate unprecedented institutional challenges, and many individuals through their own personal challenges.

A critical member of Camp’s year-round leadership team beginning in 2000, Davo served as Head of Alumni Outreach and Administration, Head of Leadership and Alumni Relations, and Head of Arts. He often served in these roles simultaneously.

Many of “Davo’s Leaders” would tell you that his honest feedback, usually delivered with a subtle hint of humor, inspired them to learn and go beyond their perceived limitations. While some would say that Davo’s most important legacy to Camp was his support and connection with alums, others will argue that his contribution to developing a generation of inspiring leaders stands out. Both are true and of equal importance to our community. Even after he retired from full-time service to Camp, alumni from many eras would call the office looking for Davo just to connect with a familiar voice with whom they could share stories and relive some of that Dudley magic.

But Davo’s arrival as a full-time member of the year-round team also meant that he would be a full-time, year-round resident in the North Country, and he made an indelible and positive impact on the communities around Camp as well. As a resident of Port Henry, Davo was a dedicated, civic-minded resident who was committed to making life better for his neighbors. Davo served communities around Westport,

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Port Henry, and Moriah as an elected official, coach, referee, and businessman, and he deepened the ties between Dudley and local residents.

Davo’s impact on the Dudley and Kiniya community is deep and wide, and his legacy will last for generations to come. It’s a testament to his outsized yet down-to-earth personality, amazing ability to relate to so many people from many different walks of life, and his incredible and consistent dedication to our community.

Said Matt Storey, “He gave so much to so many and was perhaps the most loyal person I’ve ever met.

That is why he was, and will continue to be, a true Dudley legend. I am so sad to lose such a dear friend, but I am left feeling lucky that he was a part of our lives and that we all had the chance to learn from him and laugh with him. He made us all better people and Camp Dudley and Camp Kiniya better places.”

The Davenport Leadership Fund In celebration of Davo’s 50 years of service to Camp and in recognition of his inspiring leadership of young men and women, we are pleased to announce that The Davenport Leadership Fund has been created as part of the Camp Dudley Foundation. Each year this fund will be used to support development and enrichment activities for Dudley and Kiniya Leaders, allowing Davo’s vision to continue for generations to come. While he might not suggest it, we think he would certainly love seeing the funds being put to good use on the leaders of the future.

Those wishing to support this effort should make a gift to Camp and note it for the Davenport Leadership Fund or contact Dave Langston or Dawn Gay in the Camp office. You can also visit campdudley.org/davo for more information.

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Camp Dudley, Inc. 126 Dudley Road Westport, NY 12993

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