Kieve Wavus Education News Fall 2025

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FROM WAVUS POINT TO WORLD JUNIOR ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS PAGE 2

MAINE OUTDOOR SCHOOL FOR ALL PAGE 4

CADDY TAKES THE STERN AT CAMP KIEVE PAGE 8

VOL. 99 • NO. 2 / FALL 2025

KIEVE WAVUS EDUCATION / A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

In This Issue 1

Letter from Sam Kennedy

2

From Wavus Point to World Junior Rowing Championships

4

Maine Outdoor School for All Growing a Row for Our Community

5

TLS 2025–26 Preview

6

Teaching the Teacher: The TLS Fellowship Approach

8

Caddy Takes the Stern at Camp Kieve

10

Kate and Sarah’s Excellent Adventure

14

2025 Kieve and Wavus Annual Dedications

15

A Paddle, Long Overdue Honoring 25 Years at KWE

16

Honoring 10 Years at KWE

17

The Anne S. Kennedy Welcome Center Opens

18

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Fall 2025 Event Highlights A Restorative Retreat for Cancer Survivors Building a Collaborative Local Food System KWE Staff Present at Common Ground Fair Paddle & Pines In Memoriam

21

Paddle & Pines Spotlight: Matt and Sarah McKenna

24

Welcoming New Members to our Board

25

Board of Trustees

26

Alumni Updates

27

KWE Community Gets Mooving

28

Future Campers

Second Session Lupine camper practicing her trucker hitch knot on a trailer of Allagash canoes.

BUILDING KWE’S CAREER NETWORK at Kieve and Wavus W orking fosters real-world skills that

prepare our alumni for demanding, rewarding careers and lives. Schoolyear internships, paired with leadership experience from camp, is an unparalleled path to success.

If your company needs a highly capable school-year intern, or if

ii | KIEVE WAVUS NEWS FALL 2025

you can be a career resource in any way, please reach out to John McDevitt at johnmcdevitt@kwe.org.

By doing so, you’re not just helping our counselors. You’re ensuring our campers continue to have role models who are best prepared for the enormous responsibility of leading our kids at camp.

LETTER FROM SAM KENNEDY spring newsletter, I wrote I nthatthelosing my grandmother

marked the end of an era for Kieve Wavus Education. She spent 65 summers on Damariscotta Lake, caring for campers and setting a loving tone at this wild place.

In July, we gathered at Kieve chapel to say goodbye to Nancy “Laa Laa” Kennedy, on what would have been her 90th birthday. At her service, I read a note I’d found on Laa Laa’s desk a couple years ago. In her famous handwriting, she wrote:

You can always tell who is a Kieve boy because he is warm and wonderful, and he knows how to cheer loudly.

Isn’t that the truth?

An era may have ended with Laa Laa, but I’m profoundly grateful for her generation’s lasting legacy of kindness, respect, and positive cheer that remains at the core of KWE culture. To me, counselor announcements after camp meals at our dining halls stand for much of the goodness we hope our community projects back out into the world beyond Kieve and Wavus. Campers chant for “bars” from Skylar “SkySky McFly” Porter and for Will “Sloot” Slootmaker to “get loose” (after Bruce blazed the trail). SkySky freestyle raps with words shouted out from the Jewell picnic tables. Bruce — and, now, his protégé, Sloot — act out ridiculous yoga moves with flip-flops on their hands and upside-down sunglasses on their faces. They’re rewarded with the kindness and cheers of hundreds of adoring camper fans.

Comfort zones are stretched, and

this in-camp silliness makes us braver as we head out into the wilderness and back home to our communities. The world could use more of that KWE kindness.

In that spirit, you can imagine how proud I was to receive the following message from a stranger who encountered Wavus’s Juniper cabin on Mount Washington this summer:

I climbed Mount Washington today and crossed paths several times with a group of about a dozen girls from your camp.

One of the leaders was guiding a couple of the youngest girls up one of the diciest pitches on the Tuckerman’s Ravine headwall, and it was a pleasure to see her encourage them as they worked their way through a really challenging climb. The rest of the group was just ahead and they exuded positivity and pride. We saw them again at the top, and they were bubbling with delight in their accomplishment. I have not seen that much joy in a long

time. It was truly inspiring. I told the leaders briefly how impressive they were on the trail, but it wasn’t enough, so I am sending this note.

That’s what it’s all about: courage, perseverance, overcoming obstacles, adventure, kindness, pride, cheer, and joy — the same qualities Laa Laa recognized in our campers all those years ago.

It is extraordinary that the first 100 years of KWE are coming to a close. The same ethos and values Laa Laa observed (and helped to instill in our community) remain just as strong today. At Kieve and Wavus, at The Leadership School, and at every KWE gathering we host here on Damariscotta Lake and beyond for folks from all walks of life, there’s a magic that has carried across generations — from a small camp for boys in 1926 to the expansive education nonprofit Kieve Wavus Education has evolved into today. I can’t wait to celebrate that magic and our future at our centennial celebration next August.

Gratefully,

Sam Kennedy President & Chief Executive Officer

Wavus’s First Session Juniper cabin at the summit of Mount Washington.

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 1

FROM WAVUS POINT TO WORLD JUNIOR ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS camper from 2015–2022, Lauren Dubois traveled to Trakai, W A Wavus Lithuania in August to compete at the World Junior Rowing

Championships, where she and three teammates rowed the Team USA U19 straight-four to a gold medal. It was Lauren’s second U19 gold. She and the Team USA eight-boat also outpaced the field in St. Catharines, Canada in 2024. Lauren is a freshman at Princeton University and a member of the school’s varsity rowing team. After she returned from the World Junior Championships, she sat down with Kieve alum Mac King (Kieve 1996–02, KW West Camper 2004, Kieve Council 2005–08) to chat about her camp career, her life post-Wavus, and how the two intersect.

Mac King: First of all, congratulations.

Lauren Dubois: Thank you!

MK: We have it on good authority there was another Wavus alumna who was with you at Worlds?

LD: That is correct. She was in my boat as well. Teagan Farley.

MK: Did you know her when you were a camper?

LD: No, she was first session, and I was second. But I always talk about Wavus. It’s on my Instagram. It’s everywhere. And she told me that she went as well for a couple of years, and we really bonded over that.

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MK: We’re not going to make you tell us how Wavus made you into a great rower and great person — unless you want to go there! — but how do we explain how two Wavus women ended up on the same boat at Worlds in Lithuania?

LD: I did some self-reflection on this. I think the trips at Wavus kind of instilled that trust in your friends and in each other to really push yourself. Before Wavus, I’d never portaged, I’d never hiked 200 miles through the woods, I’d never done any of that, and no one else you meet has either. I think that grit and willingness to put myself in uncomfortable situations

helped me in school and sports.

Just being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

MK: Don’t know if we can put “willingness to endure pain” in our marketing materials, but we like it.

LD: [laughter] I just remember there were so many moments on Wavus trips when I was so ready to be done, but then my friend in the back of the canoe just made my day so much better. It’s kind of similar in rowing: The actual sport is so gruesome and painful, but the people make it better.

MK: When did you start rowing?

LD: I started my freshman year of high school, so three years ago.

MK: What do you like about it?

You’ve told us it’s painful, but we assume there’s some joy beyond winning involved as well.

LD: I’ve never done a sport like rowing. What I like about it is it’s totally a team effort. If I mess up, it

ruins it for everyone, so it kind of keeps you accountable. I like that. It’s very unifying. It’s nice to share those experiences. In high school, they called us—the crew team—a cult, because we just spent 24/7 together on and off the water because no one knows what it’s like unless you do it, similar to how Wavus was. You just bond over those experiences.

MK: Cultish accusations do remind us of Kieve and Wavus. We get that a lot. Unrelated to rowing, what did you get out of being a Wavus camper?

LD: So many incredible memories.

I’m still in contact with the girls in my cabin from Trails. Honestly, those were the best summers of my life. The amount of laughs and memories, learning how to take care of myself, independence, confidence: Wavus did such an amazing job of teaching me values and how to get along with people in tough situations.

Just carrying myself with pride through everything.

MK: How do you bring that Wavus spirit to your life outside of camp?

LD: I try to keep the energy. Every summer after I left Wavus, I felt like a totally new person from how I entered camp. I tried to carry that energy of dancing on tables and jumping around all the time and being a different level of happy into the school year and hanging out with my friends, bringing that joy I got from Wavus into the rest of the year. Now that I don’t go to Wavus anymore, I think it’s just remembering you can make literally anything fun.

MK: OK. Time for a couple of unfair questions. And you can dodge these as much as you like.

Are we allowed to ask you about Olympic aspirations?

LD: I’ve definitely thought about it. There are levels before the Olympics. It would be U23s next, which would be during my college summers, and then the senior team after that. I’m not one of the tallest but if I work hard enough and do really well at Princeton, there is a possibility of doing U23s, and then if I keep the grind going after college with maybe the senior team, [the possibility of the Olympics] is definitely in the back of my mind. Who doesn’t want to be an Olympian? That’s amazing.

We’ll see where my path goes.

Wavus alums Teagan Farley (far left) and Lauren Dubois (far right)

MK: And second unfair question: When rowing is over, is there a dream job you have circled? And by the way, “I have no idea” is a perfectly fair answer.

LD: I’m interested in econ and math. I love math. I want to do something with math. Most of my family is in the finance world, so I might go down that path as well, but I’m not dead set on any one thing. I’m keeping my options open.

MK: Very fair. Last question: The whole Kieve Wavus community gets this newsletter, so all the girls in your cabin back in the day and all your counselors might see this. Anything you want to tell them?

LD: That I’m so grateful and thankful for all the experiences I had with them. I wouldn’t be the person I am without Wavus and without the amazing people who filled my summers there. I love them so much.

MK: Lauren, this was awesome. Thank you so much.

Congratulations and good luck with freshman year.

LD: Thank you!

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 3

MAINE OUTDOOR SCHOOL FOR ALL a proud member of the Maine A sOutdoor School for All (MOSFA)

network, Kieve Wavus Education helped LD 895, An Act to Support Immersive Outdoor Education by Establishing the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program, get passed almost unanimously (144-1!), and signed into law by Maine’s governor this past May. The Outdoor School for All Maine Students program made Maine the second state, after Oregon, to establish an Outdoor School program in statute that aims to deliver hands-on and experiential outdoor learning for every public school student in grades 4–8 across the state.

Outdoor Schools like The Leadership School (TLS) connect Maine kids with incredible outdoor learning opportunities that develop

collaboration and STEM skills, build confidence and self-awareness, and highlight the importance of Maine’s natural resources. Students are better prepared for success through academic and career pathways that will help build a labor force skilled in resource management, conservation, outdoor recreation, agriculture, and forestry, while also developing the next generation of teachers, who can contextualize environmental education across any academic discipline.

KWE helped lead an effort that raised almost $500,000 through private philanthropy to ensure that the University of Maine Cooperative Extension would be able to pilot the program for the 2025–26 school year. The collective effort means more than 1,000 new Maine students will benefit from Outdoor School this year. KWE and schools across Maine hope to build momentum to have the state permanently fund this program, ultimately serving 14,000 students

every year to ensure that every publicly educated child in our state can benefit from at least one transformational Outdoor School experience at TLS or one of our peer Outdoor Schools during their middle school years.

MOSFA is a network of overnight learning centers partnering with schools and communities to provide outstanding outdoor education experiences, foster strong community connections, and help build a vibrant future for Maine. To learn more about MOSFA, the newly established Outdoor School, or to get involved or provide support, email coordinator@mosfa.org.

◄ Scan to learn more about the Outdoor School.

GROWING A ROW FOR OUR COMMUNITY summer, Kieve Wavus T his Education donated leftover

Environmental Stewardship Coordinator Judy Jutras donating garlic.

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produce from our gardens to Grow-A-Row, a program run by the Lincoln County Gleaners in partnership with Healthy Lincoln County. Through the program, community members are encouraged to grow extra food in their own gardens that can be shared with others who may not

have access to fresh food. Some gardeners plant an extra row or raised bed specifically to donate to the program, while others donate any surplus. With the help of several volunteers, the produce ends up at various share tables and share sheds around the county.

This summer, the program collected over 300 pounds of food from community gardeners.

TLS 2025–26 PREVIEW Since it began in 1981, The Leadership School (TLS) has grown from a fiveweek spring session into a yearround teacher education program central to our nonprofit mission as an educational institution.

TLS BY THE NUMBERS teaching 18 TLS fellows

educator-in24 TLS residence schools

residential schools— 48 TLS and counting

◄ Visit our website to learn more about the structure and impact of our programs.

13 Maine counties

educators enrolled in KWE’s 14 TLS teacher certification program

TLS SCHOOL PROGRAMS Residential & Outreach TLS educators facilitate programs on the Kieve campus (residential) and at participating schools (outreach).

Educator-in-Residence (EIR) TLS educators serve at a local school, building their capacity by blending our experiential approach to socialemotional learning and environmental stewardship curricula with coresubject area instruction, student behavior support, faculty duties, and extracurricular programs.

CAMP KIEVE & WAVUS CAMP FIRST SESSION JUNIOR I

SECOND SESSION

THE LEADERSHIP SCHOOL FALL TERM RESIDENTIAL & OUTREACH

WINTER TERM EDUCATOR-IN-RESIDENCE

SPRING TERM RESIDENTIAL & OUTREACH

JUNIOR II

KWE EVENTS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 5

TEACHING THE TEACHER: THE TLS FELLOWSHIP APPROACH a great teacher will positively affect B ecause thousands of kids throughout their career, the best

way to make a lasting impact is simple: teach the teacher.

At KWE, we believe that people don’t learn by listening and watching. They learn by doing. That’s why we’ve evolved our school into a program that gives aspiring educators real, hands-on experience teaching thousands of students each year.

Through a formal partnership we developed with the University of Southern Maine, TLS fellows are able to earn a professional educator certification and a graduate certificate — without worrying about tuition. KWE covers all costs of the coursework and of student teaching (for our educator and the partner school). Right now, more than 75% of TLS educators are enrolled in this program.

For our talented educators like Henry Ledyard (Kieve 2013–17; Kieve Council 2019; 2021–25; TLS 2024–present), the program can open doors. After graduating from Western Washington University with a K–12 certification in physical education and health, Henry knew he wanted more experience before diving headfirst into the public school system. First, he wanted — like we believe all 6 | KIEVE WAVUS NEWS FALL 2025

teachers should have — the foundation and confidence to be a transformational teacher for the long-run.

“I had done my practicum and student teaching, but I didn’t feel like I had enough time to really develop my skills as an educator,” Henry says.

TLS gave him that time — and more. Henry is now earning a second certification in social studies, while also gaining invaluable experience teaching our experiential approach to social-emotional learning and environmental stewardship. Last year at Damariscotta’s Great Salt Bay School, Henry worked with middle school social studies classes while pursuing his certification. This year, he’ll layer on even more: leading social-emotional learning blocks, running outdoor programming, and bringing his passion for physical education to his EIR school.

“This will make me a more confident candidate when I approach teaching jobs — and it’s giving me the socialemotional tools I’ll need to help my students thrive,” says Henry, who also serves as our Camp Kieve waterfront director during the summer, bringing consistency and stability to the heart of our in-camp experience.

COMMUNITY CLIMB NIGHTS

us this fall and through J oin the spring for Community

Climb Nights! These familyfriendly events are open to the public and feature indoor climbing with the guidance and support of our amazing TLS staff.

THE TLS FELLOWSHIP DIFFERENCE • An integrated experiential and outdoor education approach blended with traditional instruction, preparing teachers for any educational setting.

• An emphasis on our experiential approach to social-emotional learning that allows fellows to develop expertise in fostering student well-being, teamwork, and emotional intelligence.

• A cohort-based and immersive learning experience where fellows live, train, and collaborate on our campuses, building strong professional and peer networks.

See you at the Buck building at our new time from 5:30–7:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Continuous teaching and skill development where fellows teach, reflect, and refine their approach in real time, guided by our TLS director staff — all outstanding mentors in their own right.

• Summer leadership training through roles at camp, whether as a head bunk counselor or assistant director, strengthening their ability to mentor and engage with students in various learning environments.

• November 14, 2025 • December 5, 2025 • January 23, 2026 • February 6, 2026 • March 13, 2026 • April 10, 2026 Admission is an optional fee of $5/per person or $10/per family.

All gear is provided.

Waivers to be signed upon arrival. For more information, contact Zachary Whiting at zacharywhiting@kwe.org. Please keep an eye on our Instagram @kievewavus and Facebook @kievewavuseducationinc for changes or cancellations.

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 7

CADDY TAKES THE STERN AT CAMP KIEVE It’s hard to put into words just how grateful I am to be the director here. Getting to watch campers push themselves, grow, and then carry that grit, kindness, and confidence into the rest of their lives is the best part of the job. I’ve always felt like a kid at heart, and even though I never attended Kieve as a camper, I make up for it every summer by getting outdoors, living in the moments, and reveling in those Kieve relationships.

— CADDY BROOKS Camp Kieve Director

Chef Caddy taking a brief break from directing to make bacon for campers on the Fourth of July.

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Caddy sending off a 2024 Maine Trails group.

is a Celtic verb that K ieve means to strive in emulation

of — to work hard to acquire skills, knowledge, and attitudes from others so as to improve yourself.

At Kieve, and all of KWE, we build on this foundation of experiential learning, providing a staff full of tremendous role models worthy of emulation.

The Camp Kieve director holds a uniquely challenging and rewarding role which balances active leadership and management of young staff, caring communication with campers and families, and constant attention to a culture that allows everyone to grow and be themselves. The leader should be present and consistently help others into the spotlight. They should inspire the culture around them without being too prescriptive.

They are charged with protecting the timeless spirit of camp while evolving to meet boys’ needs today.

Enter Caddy Brooks.

Caddy with Junior Kieve I campers.

Caddy addressing the campers on the last night of Second Session following the final campfire.

A Salisbury School graduate and ’09 Colby College alum, Caddy began his career in business before finding his calling in education. After a year at Groton School, he served as a teacher, coach, and athletic director at Hebron Academy. Caddy first visited TLS with his Hebron Academy seniors in 2021. The respect he had from both students and colleagues was obvious. He carried a playful, infectious energy and lived our values in every interaction.

So in 2023, Caddy left Hebron to become a TLS educator during the school year and an associate Kieve director during the summers. He immersed himself completely in KWE. Now three summers later, Caddy is Kieve’s leader, assuming his new director title.

Not a Kieve alum himself, he revels in the nuances of Kieve like a new camper but has the steady demeanor of a seasoned educator. He listens, learns by doing, and moves in a way

that makes people around him feel confident to be themselves.

Whether you’re a camper or counselor, Caddy doesn’t just know your name but also your story. He plays cards with kids and jumps into massive soccer games on Walker Field. Caddy always makes time to connect with you. Campers wrote home just to mention the now-infamous “Caddy stack!”, and counselors traded letters with him on trail. He isn’t just leading camp — he’s living it.

“Caddy embodies the values on which Kieve was founded nearly 100 years ago, and he brings new energy and a fresh perspective to the culture here. He starts every day with a dip in the lake, he hops into four square games before lunch, and he listens to campers struggling with homesickness,” says KWE President Sam Kennedy.

“Kieve couldn’t be in better hands as our next century begins.”

Caddy and KWE President Sam Kennedy at the Katahdin summit.

BROOKS FAMILY

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Paige: Caddy’s wife, assistant health center director at Wavus, staff knockout champion, and walking sunshine.

Bug: Camp mascot, therapy dog for homesick campers, primary suspect for all who-done-it theme days, and G-swim sentinel.

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 9

KATE AND SARAH’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

BY WAVUS CAMP DIRECTOR KATE KAPLAN

Being with counselors and campers mid-trip is an incredibly special privilege.

They are buzzing with an energy that has come purely from hard work, early mornings rising before the sun, and a shared experience that is so dominant it’s almost as if the group is beginning to meld into one person. summer, Healthcare & Risk Director Sarah T his Kennedy and I had the opportunity to head north

and see two of our Wavus groups — Long Voyage I and Allagash I — during their trips. Last summer at pickup, Andy Stevenson, father of Wavus camper Josie Stevenson, mentioned he and his wife Hannah would love to host Josie’s cabin in 2025 as they passed through Moosehead Lake on their Long Voyage trip, so the excitement was a year in the making!

Itinerary and Notes • July 27: Pack up resupplies for Long Voyage I and Allagash I. Head three hours north from Wavus through Greenville and arrive at the northern tip of Moosehead Lake to meet up with Long Voyage I and our hosts, Andy and Hannah Stevenson.

• July 28: Head north and hop back onto the Golden Road, traveling three hours east to meet Allagash I at their Chamberlain Bridge resupply.

All set to go! I filled my two water bottles, and Sarah chose to bring two full cases of seltzer.

To each their own!

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Making sure all of Allagash I’s bins are accounted for.

The Golden Road is a private logging road that stretches nearly 100 miles across the North Maine Woods. Built in the late 1960s, it was the thoroughfare for the Great Northern Paper Company. We access most of our extended canoe trips via the Golden Road; it’s rugged, remote, and almost entirely without cell service.

Prepping for the Trip Review the cabin resupply form to ensure we have all of the pre-packed totes with food, gear, and clothing.

Snail mail — the most cherished resupply item!

Pack all of the fresh foods requested and make note of items we’ll need to pick up at the store on the way.

Pack mail, a fresh camera card, and batteries.

Pack essential extras that might be needed — extra tent, water filter, propane, etc.

Pack up the resupply med kit filled with anything a cabin might need to re-stock their own med kit.

Andy, a true Wavus dad!

Check with the tripping team to make sure the group hasn’t sent any satellite messages about needed gear, medical issues, etc.

Vehicle check for our diesel truck. Lead Maintenance Staff Jay Dowling refreshes my tire-changing skills and wisely sends me off with not one, but two, spare tires.

Sarah arrives. We pack up the truck with the help of our tripping directors and go over final details. North Maine Woods, here we come!

Sarah will never miss an opportunity to praise sun and bug protection. These Voyage girls don’t mess around!

The Road to Moosehead Lake

Lead Maintenance Staff Jay Dowling reminds me how to change the tire. Thank you, Jay!

We arrive in Greenville, Maine around midday and then travel up the western side of Moosehead Lake through Rockwood. This is where we lose cell service (and paved roads) so we switch to navigating with the Maine Gazetteer. When we reach the top of the lake, we turn west via the Golden Road.

The last 200 meters into the Stevenson camp is, by far, the bumpiest road (path?) that I have ever driven on. It seems impossible that our big white truck fits through this forest, so thick with trees you can’t see more than 10 feet ahead. The diesel dives up and down as we’re swallowed by the pits in the road and we’re laughing the entire way. Just before Sarah and I both voice the “how FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 11

You’d be astounded to watch a girl’s entire world stop spinning as she dives into reading those letters you send. It’s the most refreshing type of, ‘the kids are alright’ kind of feeling.

much longer can the truck handle this? Are we even on the right path? We wouldn’t be able to turn around anyways!” thoughts, the path opens up and we’re hit with sunlight reflecting off of Moosehead Lake. The Stevensons greet us right away, and the girls of Long Voyage I come running.

The girls arrived here around 11 a.m., so they’ve had a nice long day of swimming and relaxing. It’s a gorgeous, hot day on Moosehead, but soon after we arrive, the entire group puts on their rain jackets and pants. The bugs are coming out! Hannah and Andy put together the best dinner as the sun starts to fade closer to the water.

The tents are up, and counselors Audrey and Emma get the group going on locking up camp for the night. We call this “bomb-proofing,” and our groups are diligent to make sure everything is secured for the night to prevent attracting animals or losing gear/food to the elements.

Long Voyage I packs up as the sun rises over Moosehead Lake.

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Long Voyage I heading east toward the Northeast Carry.

Photo courtesy of Andy Stevenson.

Day 2: Moosehead to Chamberlain I wake up around 4 a.m. and can already see headlamps flickering around on the lawn and hear the sound of tent zippers and sleeping pads being deflated. Long Voyage I campers are already halfway into packing up their site with the help of Emma. I see Audrey on the screen porch, her headlight cast over maps for the day and her notebook full of paddle partner line-ups. Andy and Hannah are busy in the kitchen getting breakfast together for the girls. Today, the group will portage their boats and gear over the Northeast Carry, an infamously long, 2.1 mile portage trail that leads them to the West Branch Penobscot River. Nerves are mixed in equal parts with love, encouragement, humor, and the simple notion that this is just what needs to get done!

After a hearty breakfast, the group is off to the dock and quickly into boats. We watch them paddle off into the sunrise over relatively calm waters.

Sarah and I are slow to leave this amazing spot with the most loving hosts. But, Allagash I awaits! We say our goodbyes and hop back into the truck to head east toward Chamberlain Bridge. Shortly after, we pass through the Caribou checkpoint to pay the toll and register ourselves with the rangers. We pass a very creepy abandoned logging camp, but unfortunately, no moose today. This drive actually takes us past the end of the Northeast Carry, so we leave a case of Gatorade for the Voyage girls who are likely just beginning their portage.

Right around 10:30 a.m., we reach Chamberlain Bridge where Allagash I is eagerly waiting. There’s a

Sarah chatting with the folks at the checkpoint.

wonderful ranger station here, so the counselors have already checked in, discussed the days ahead with the rangers, and reviewed any incoming weather. These rangers keep a close eye on our groups, and we’re grateful for their guidance.

When you arrive at a resupply, the campers want three things immediately— their mail, the treats you brought for them, and every detail about what is happening in camp. An experienced counselor knows that it’s best to get the tedious tasks of the resupply done first and then celebrate with treats and mail. Erin and Parker, our counselors, are excellent. These campers are tired but full of pride from crushing the 1.8 mile Mud Pond portage yesterday. I help the counselors sort through gear and carefully trade trash and dirty laundry for fresh food and supplies. Just as soon as we begin, I see Sarah already elbow deep in the cabin’s med kit, reviewing med minutes, re-stocking supplies, and examining bug bites on the campers. One of the water filters is being funky for this group, so they happily take the spare that we brought. They also take some extra propane. The reward for all this work? Mail, fresh fruit, and Diet Coke! Mud Pond war stories are flying through the air as Sarah and I try to keep up with the collective chatter.

As much as we’d love to stay, we’ve got to get this group back on the water before the afternoon winds pick up. We say our goodbyes and leave all of our well-wishes behind for the last nine days of their adventure. With a truck full of trash and dirty shoes, we make the trek south. Cell service, paved roads, and whatever in-camp shenanigans that occurred in the past 24 hours await us!

DIET COKE!? A well-earned luxury. It was warm; they didn’t care.

Erin and Parker expertly sorting and packing up for the nine-day stretch ahead.

Gash I enjoying mail and treats!

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 13

KIEVE ANNUAL 2025 DEDICATION

WAVUS ANNUAL 2025 DEDICATION

the 1985 Annual Dedication, Dick I nKennedy wrote of his wife Nancy, “She has

love and commitment to the mission, A deep the people, and the place runs through

Nancy Kennedy

treated Kieve campers, staff, and families like dogs. … She treats everybody whom she touches like a dog. But you must understand how she treats dogs. She is an eternal optimist who sees only the best side. If the dogs get sprayed by a skunk, they should sleep in our bed in order to be relieved of humiliation. Other dogs eat once a day; Nancy’s eat continually. In her eyes, dogs are never lazy; they are conserving energy.

Everybody who has ever known Nancy must, like me, be thankful she is confused about people and dogs.”

Since she first arrived to Kieve in the summer of 1959, Nancy “Laa Laa” Kennedy has been the camp’s heartbeat. For 65 years she conducted the camper choir from behind her squeaky pump organ every Sunday. She was the dreamer who brought laughter to the Innisfree stage in the plays she wrote. She comforted the homesick with fun size Snickers bars at her kitchen counter. The consummate role model, she exuded tenderness, hope, and love for all of us to emulate. As we said goodbye to Nancy this year, gathering on July 27 to remember her on her 90th birthday, we give thanks to Laa Laa for showing us how to lead with our hearts.

14 | KIEVE WAVUS NEWS FALL 2025

Joy Bengtson Giffen

Wavus Registrar and Coordinator Joy Bengtson Giffen’s 10 years of service to Kieve Wavus Education. A steadfast confidant to Kirstie Truluck and then Kate Kaplan, an evergreen source of advice and perspective to the counselor staff, and an effusive caregiver to the thousands of campers who have spent their summers playing at the Point, Joy’s role is part and parcel to the spirit of Wavus.

Joy was integral to the planning of the Wavus 100 Celebration. She didn’t just ensure the band, caterers, invitations, and other details were in place, but she also delved deeply into the history of Wavus to ensure the celebration authentically reflected the journey Wavus has taken over the past 100 years.

For the last decade, and hopefully for many years to come, Joy has been the first smiling face greeting visitors and families, and the first voice on the phone when families call. While on paper, her job calls her to be in tune with the finest details of running a camp logistically, she owns this passionately because she knows that love is in the details. She strives to leave every person she comes into contact with a little more joyful than she found them.

A PADDLE, LONG OVERDUE are many reasons to T here thank Dan Bliss. We thank

him for how he and Jody raised their two kids, Courtney and Will — both longtime Wavus and Kieve campers and counselors — who now help direct our camps.

We thank him for making sure, after benefiting from Kieve for four years as a camper, that he came back to pass on what he learned for seven years as a counselor. We thank him for convincing Dick Kennedy to support the Team Canada trip, a precursor to Long Voyage and Maine Trails, deep in the Ontario wilderness. We thank him for deciding, after he and Jody dedicated their careers to teaching at Indian Mountain

School, to give his time driving Kieve and Wavus campers all over the woods and waters of Maine and New Hampshire. We thank him for being a role model who listens and cares.

So many of us take our cues from watching Dan — as a parent, friend, mentor, educator, and bus driver—who has now dedicated 17 years to KWE, and many more inclusive of his parent summers.

Dan’s son Will, Kieve’s in-camp director and KWE’s associate operations director, presented his dad with his paddle, telling the campers around them, “If you ever get the chance to say thank you to the person who introduced you to Kieve, you should do it. Thank you, Dad, come get your paddle.”

Thank you, Dan, for what you’ve done for this place, and for being the role model so many of us strive to emulate.

HONORING 25 YEARS AT KWE summer, we had the T his privilege of honoring our

beloved Associate Business & Human Resource Director Summer Morton for 25 years of service to Kieve Wavus Education during the Closing Embers Ceremony at Wavus.

Summer is responsible for so many things that keep this organization strong and successful.

From onboarding new employees to auditing financials, recordkeeping, making sure the staff get paid on time, and that our holiday party goes off without a hitch, Summer’s got it covered.

When awarding Summer her paddle and blanket, Wavus Camp Director Kate Kaplan shared, “When I think of what it means to be a steadfast, evenkeeled, dutiful team member, I think of Summer. She is entirely solutionoriented, and she cares deeply about the feelings and people behind the numbers. Over 25 years serving one organization is an act of love, labor, and loyalty. How lucky we are that Summer has remained a constant here through ups and downs and changes and triumphs.”

Summer, we are forever grateful for the legacy you continue to leave.

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 15

HONORING 10 YEARS AT KWE summer, we honored T his Joy Bengtson Giffen, Robby

Ford, and TJ Feagan for 10 years of amazing leadership at KWE. Their milestones reflect deep loyalty and commitment to our mission, place, and people.

Wavus Registrar and Coordinator Joy Bengtson Giffen received her Wavus paddle and blanket at Second Session’s Closing Embers. Wavus Director Kate Kaplan, camp leaders, and campers shared gratitude for Joy’s decade of knowledge, advice, and most importantly, kindness. With profound love and commitment, Joy has served as a trusted advisor to Kate and her predecessor Kirstie Truluck; a friend and support system to counselors and staff; and a caregiver to thousands of campers.

Known for her warm and welcoming presence, Joy is a vital part of the KWE community.

“Joy has been steadfastly by my side for life in and out of summer

Kate Kaplan (left) presenting a Wavus paddle and blanket to Joy Bengtson Giffen (right).

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camp,” Kate shared. “We’ve talked before about the misconception of heroes being grand and flashy. How deeply heroic it has been of Joy to simply have an open seat, open ears, open heart, and chocolate — whenever we need it.”

At Kieve, Sam Kaplan proudly presented a paddle to Associate Camp Kieve Director Robby Ford at Second Session’s closing campfire.

Robby began his Kieve journey as a counselor, quickly beloved for his creativity, enthusiasm, and deep commitment to the campers. His contributions — from legendary theme days like the “High School Musical” flash mob and “Avatar” Aqua Attack 2010 to his mentorship of both campers and fellow counselors — have added to Kieve’s lore. After serving in multiple roles during his 20s, including as an assistant wilderness tripping director, Robby returned with his wife Meredith and their three sons in 2022 to help lead the camp and support leadership transitions, all while staying grounded in his mission to serve the kids. This summer, as he was honored for 10 years of service, Robby’s oldest son Owen was there to watch as a South Glenayr camper. It can’t get more special than that!

Sam and Robby also had the honor of presenting Assistant Wilderness Tripping Director TJ Feagan with his paddle. Encouraged by his close friend Dan Gabriel, TJ arrived at Kieve in 2010, with Robby as his first head bunk counselor. Robby quickly recognized that TJ had a knack for

Sam Kaplan (middle) presenting paddles to Robby Ford (left) and TJ Feagan (right).

teaching. Though he hadn’t been a camper, TJ fully embraced Kieve’s values and dedicated himself to creating meaningful experiences for kids throughout his college years.

There were no summer internships for TJ, despite studying to become a certified public accountant; he even extended PTO to lead a JK cabin in 2016. In 2020, he decided to trade in the spreadsheets to become a teacher. Since then, TJ has been a cornerstone of Kieve’s tripping department, teaching skills our staff need to lead trips safely and ensuring every logistic gets executed the right way. It was another special full-circle moment when Robby handed TJ his paddle, honoring his decade of loyal, impactful service, and leadership at Kieve.

Joy, Robby, and TJ we love you and appreciate all you do for so many people here at KWE and beyond!

THE ANNE S. KENNEDY WELCOME CENTER OPENS first-ever designated K WE’s office building officially opened

this past summer. The building, located just down the hill from the old Harrington House, which has been reverted back into staff housing, will allow many of our year-round leaders to work under one roof. The building is also home to Kieve’s new and improved Camp Store. In honor of camp’s beloved Laa Laa, the new office has been named the Anne S. Kennedy Welcome Center. Be sure to stop by and check it out the next time you are at Kieve!

LOOKING TO DECLUTTER? you know that in D idaddition to monetary

gifts, KWE accepts a variety of in-kind donations? In the past year, members of our community have graciously donated docks, furniture, and so much more.

Examples of items we would gladly accept include: • Furniture • Camping gear • Vintage Kieve and Wavus memorabilia Gifts are shipped at the donor’s expense and will no doubt be used and appreciated by the KWE community for years to come. If you would like to make an in-kind donation, please contact Communications Director & Chief Advancement Officer Erin Gilligan at erin@kwe.org.

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 17

FALL 2025 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

WELLNESS SPOTLIGHT

A RESTORATIVE RETREAT FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

full of A lways campers, students,

or community members, our campuses are buzzing no matter the time of year.

Once summer camp comes to a close, The Leadership School kicks off and KWE begins hosting a wide range of mission-aligned programs across both campuses for statewide initiatives, Veterans, families fi ghting cancer, college students, local businesses, and more.

Fall 2025 highlights include: LEADERSHIP • PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS • RURAL YOUTH INSTITUTE • BOWDOIN COLLEGE STUDENT LEADS

• MIDCOAST GIRL SCOUTS WELLNESS • TRI-STATE DISABLED VETERANS • SPACE TO BREATHE

• SPECTRUM GENERATIONS • UNITED RECOVERY FUND COMMUNITY • MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY STATE OF THE LAKE EVENT • LEADERSHIP MAINE

• COASTAL SENIOR COLLEGE • EDUCATE MAINE

18 | KIEVE WAVUS NEWS FALL 2025

Photos Provided by Betty J Borry Breast Cancer Retreats

June, 21 women who are I nbattling or are in remission

from breast cancer came together for a restorative retreat at the Kennedy Learning Center. This year marked the 30th anniversary of Betty J. Borry Breast Cancer Retreats’ “Adventure Weekends” and the return of the group to the KLC since before COVID. Betty J. Borry Breast Cancer Retreats is a nonprofit organization that aims to support, empower, and enhance the quality of life for women of all ages and stages of breast cancer through adventure-based

support opportunities in a retreat environment. The organization’s adventure retreat weekends are described as inclusive and rejuvenating where women can challenge themselves physically, emotionally and creatively to find healing through the power of nature.

While at Kieve, the participants had a wonderful time walking the trails along Damariscotta Lake, competing in an egg drop challenge in Buck, and challenging themselves on the high ropes course, including taking on the ever-popular HS Swing.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

BUILDING A COLLABORATIVE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM

Photos by Andy Gagne Photography

200 participants from A round many small nonprofits came

together at Wavus in May for the 2025 Maine Food Convergence Project. The group gathered to explore how shifts in the food system can advance social and racial equity while increasing climate resilience.

The Maine Food Convergence is a nonprofit that aims to create spaces where people working on food, land, and climate issues can explore collaborative solutions to complex problems, leading to a coordinated and collaborative local food system that fosters the well-being of people, the planet, and communities.

Sessions throughout the event were led by representatives from groups such as the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and focused on sustainable local food systems, school meals, mental health in the hospitality industry, and changing growing conditions in Maine.

KWE STAFF PRESENT AT COMMON GROUND FAIR Food Services K WE Lead Cooks Mike

In addition to workshops and group activities, the event featured a curated menu of dishes from several partner organizations including KWE, Fork Food Lab, The Good Crust, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Nauti Foods, Haali's Halal Cuisine, and the Sheepscot Valley RSU12 School Nutrition Program.

Flynn and Cleo Bell, Associate Operations Director Will Bliss, and Events & Hospitality Director Marge Greenleaf partnered with representatives from other nonprofit organizations in the Maine Farm and Sea to Institution Network for a presentation on local farm products in schools at the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity in September.

In addition to his part-time work at KWE, Mike also serves as director of student nutrition services for Sheepscot Valley RSU 12.

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 19

In Memoriam Chris Brown Gerald Burpee, Sr. Helen K. Cleaves Tim Ellis Rob Flory Carol Ann Fulmer Sally Nielsen Hough Bill Jessup Mary Perkins M.L. Riley Cathy Dunlap Thorpe

Honoring Laa Laa More than 200 members of the KWE community, including alumni and loved ones, gathered at the Kieve chapel to celebrate the life of Nancy Kennedy (July 27, 1935–February 7, 2025) on July 27, which would have been her 90th birthday.

Paddle & Pines

We’re grateful to our Paddle & Pines friends for making arrangements to leave a planned gift, ensuring that our mission will continue to make an impact beyond our lifetimes.

Dave & Louise Abbot Franny & Franny Abbott Evan & Mallory Atherton Tom & Ella Auchincloss Marjorie Wing Berry Bob & Sally Bishop Kathryn & Steve Brackett Bill & Charley Brown Sandy & Sissy Buck Whip & Sally Buck Bob & Suzanne Burrows Frank Carey Chip Carpenter Clayton Chambliss Noland Chambliss Morgan & Sonia Churchman Duncan & Christina Cocroft Jay & Misty Cooper Charlie & Posy Dana Andrew & Robin Davis Jon & Mary Davis Max & Becca Dinning Chris & Kolleen Dougherty Candace Dyal Denny & MaryLenn Emory Candice Falloon Hill & Susan Ferguson David & Carol Ann Fulmer Larry & Marilyn Gardner John Gassett & Jackie Jones Matt Gault Joan Gedney Roger & Betsy Hall Adam & Erin Haselkorn Morrie & Fenella Heckscher Daren & Justyna Hudson Al & Jan Ireton Eric & Pam Jensen Bill & Pat Jessup Joel & Laura Kaplan Sam & Kate Kaplan Ruth Keans Dick & Nancy Kennedy Henry & BJ Kennedy Sam & Sarah Kennedy

Jeremy & Diana LaCasse Mary Lansing Bain Lee Ernie Marriner Doug & Hanne Maxwell Matt & Sarah McKenna Carl & Gail Meier Collie Moller Walter & Kate Morris Gardner & Diana Mundy Caroline Newcomb Tyler Pace & Mims Montgomery Lisa Parker Ollie & Barb Parker John & Meg Peacock Dev & Debbie Phelps Bo & Lynne Preston Aiden & Katie Redmond Charlie & Annie Richardson Ency Richardson Hugh Riddleberger & Louise McIlhenny Helen Roberts Mark & Eleanor Robinson Cliff & Susan Russell Frank & Polly Saunders Sheila Shorr Loren & Joanne Southern Carol Stout Muffy Stuart Doug & Linda Tawse Rob & Anju Tawse Dixon & Gail Thayer Stephen Thomas & Evy Blum Charlie & Daphne Townsend Tom & Laura Townsend Rob Trippe Ken Van Durand Dave & Kathryn Villano Bill & Margot Walker Charlie & Tia Whinery Betty Willey Russ & Diana Williams Fred Wood Robert & Liz Wood

— The Paddles & Pines seal denotes deceased.

MAKING A PLANNED GIFT 20 | KIEVE WAVUS NEWS FALL 2025

A planned gift is one of the most flexible and meaningful ways to support future generations of KWE campers, students, teachers, and community members. To learn more go to giftplanning.kwe.org or scan the QR code.

PADDLE & PINES

SPOTLIGHT A PLANNED GIFT is one of the most flexible and meaningful ways to support future generations of KWE campers, students, teachers, and community members.

Giving through your estate plan or a gift that provides lifetime income can have significant tax benefits while also providing for KWE and your family.

We invite you to discover more about the long-lasting impact of gift planning at KWE and the reasons so many donors choose to give back in this incredible way by visiting giftplanning.kwe.org and hearing from a donor in their own words below.

If you’d like to inform us of a planned gift to KWE or learn more about the best way to make your gift, please contact our Communications Director & Chief Advancement Officer Erin Gilligan at erin@kwe.org.

MATT AND SARAH MCKENNA

We have included KWE in our estate planning so future generations can have access to the same life-changing opportunities that have meant so much to me, and to help continue to spread the message of kindness and respect.

Kieve Wavus Education has had such a powerful impact on the person I am today—first as a camper, then as a counselor, and even now as a board member. The experiences I’ve had at KWE have taught me invaluable lessons about pushing beyond my comfort zone and persevering through challenges, and through all that, I’ve been lucky enough to build incredible bonds and friendships. But KWE’s enduring impact on me will always be the one rule that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. This is something that Sarah and I are incredibly passionate about and strive to instill in our boys.

— KWE Trustee Matt McKenna (Kieve 1993–97; Kieve Council 2001–03)

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 21

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Your gift to the Annual Fund supports this year’s adventures and a lifetime of courage, leadership, confidence, and friendship.

Long past our time in the woods and waters of Maine, a Kieve Wavus education is forever.

Make your gift today at kwe.org/give

Photo Courtesy of Andy Stevenson (Wavus Parent 2016, 2021–25)

▲ or scan the QR code.

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 23

WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS TO OUR BOARD ROB BROWN

Brown will never forget boarding that coach bus R ob in Connecticut to take the long trip up I-95 North to

Nobleboro at 13 years old.

“I’m an only child, so coming up to Maine and being in the woods with new friends and a new environment was very formidable. Particularly the emphasis on the trips at the camp,” says Rob, whose family learned about Kieve through Rob’s godfather, a Kieve parent. Rob was hooked and returned two more summers, completing Maine Trails in 1996.

Today, Rob runs the real estate business at ArrowMark Partners, a private investment firm based in Denver,

Colo. and has four daughters (ages 10, 8, 5, and 2) with his wife Julia. Both are proud Wavus parents. Their oldest daughter Finley just completed her second full session this past summer, summiting Mount Washington, while their second oldest, Quinn, attended the junior session to begin her Wavus adventures.

Rob and Julia originally hail from the East Coast and wanted their children to have a New England summer experience. Julia wasn’t familiar with Kieve and Wavus but was instantly taken with the camps and their core values. The Browns recently hosted a KWE reunion in Denver and love to see the community come together throughout the country.

Rob’s time as a camper gave him independence, adventure, confidence and space to get out of his comfort zone, which is why it was an easy decision for him to join the Board of Trustees to give back and care for a place that means so much to him. He is excited to help the camp continue its traditions and values that have remained throughout the past century.

“The camp has really kept its North Star over a long period of time, which I think is important and very unique, particularly in today’s environment. It’s really special to have your children spend a month in Maine in the environment that KWE fosters and remove yourself from a lot of the distractions and influences that our kids face in everyday life,” Rob says.

MATT PETTINELLI Matt and Kristi Pettinelli, sending their son F or Holden to summer camp was a gamble. Neither of

them had attended camp growing up but had heard of Kieve through their friends in Chicago. The jury was still out when Holden returned home after attending the junior session. He decided to give it another shot the following 24 | KIEVE WAVUS NEWS FALL 2025

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

year, that time attending for the full 26-day session along with his sister Sonia, who had just turned 7.

“We very cautiously asked him at pickup, ‘How did it go?’” Matt recalls, adding that Holden responded by asking if he could stay. “I was caught totally off guard.

Holden said, ‘This place is magical and I’ve never had more fun.’ That was when we all fell in love with Kieve and Wavus.”

Holden then returned every summer, completing Maine Trails in 2024 and forming lasting friendships.

Sonia, who also enjoyed her first summer, attended Wavus for three years until it conflicted with field hockey.

She still keeps in touch with a lot of her camp friends, some of whom are also on the same field hockey circuit.

“Getting out of the city and having an opportunity to explore without cell phones is beyond amazing for us,” says Matt, who recalled seeing incredible growth and joy from both children when they returned home every summer with increased confidence and maturity. “It’s not all gumdrops and candy canes when you’re out on a trip and it’s pouring rain and doesn’t stop for two days, but yet you learn how to persevere and move on.”

As a KWE trustee, Matt, who is the founder and CEO of real estate investment firm CapGrow Partners, is focused on land preservation and campus upgrades that align with Kieve Wavus Education traditions and will allow future campers the same experience his children had.

“We just absolutely adore KWE and the entire community and staff, and that’s why it was incredibly easy for Kristi and I to give back the way we have,” Matt says.

Katie Redmond chair Chris Dougherty vice chair Matt McKenna treasurer James Blue secretary Chris Block Reid Bolton Gretchen Brinkler Lisa Brown Rob Brown Lynley Ciorobea Bree Murray Masi Ngidi-Brown Matt Pettinelli Gabriela Pérez Rocchietti Libby Schroeder Harrison Stuart Mistye Wilson

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 25

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four days and three nights rafting the Green River’s Canyon of Lodore in Colorado and Utah this September.

ALUMNI UPDATES 1

3 Spencer Mallozzi (Kieve 1988-90; Kieve Council 1995-99; 2001; Wavus Parent 2021–25; Kieve Parent 2025) and Cooper Mallozzi (Kieve 1986–89; Kieve Council 1994–96, 1999; Wavus Parent 2023–25) dropped their kids off at Kieve and Wavus for first session this past summer.

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4 Stewart Ames (Kieve 1969–72; Kieve

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1 KWE President and CEO Sam Kennedy visited Will Gano (Kieve 1996–02; Kieve Council 2005–07; Kieve Parent 2025) in May at his Bear Stewart factory in Chicago. Like they did as counselors, Sam helped taste test Will’s confections and took part in an intruder drill.

2 Wavus Registrar & Coordinator Joy Bengtson Giffen, Audrey Lawlor (Wavus 2015–19, 2021–22; Wavus Council 2024–25), River Guide Grace Lawlor (Wavus 2010–17; Wavus Council 2019, 2021–25) and Berkeley Sando (Wavus 2016–19; Wavus Council 2023–25) spent

26 | KIEVE WAVUS NEWS FALL 2025

Council 1974–76), Will Rutan (Kieve 1969–72; Kieve Parent 2006–08), and Chris Bensley (Kieve 1968–70, 1972; Kieve Council 1975–76 Kieve Parent 2005); returned to visit their old cabinmate, Henry Kennedy (Kieve 1967–72, Kieve Council 1973–80; Trustee 1985–89; KWE Executive Director 1990– 2022; Executive Director Emeritus 2022–present), in a warm up for next year’s 100th.

5 Ryan Ford (Kieve Council 2015–19; Kieve Assistant Health Center Director 2024) and Calynd Gee (Wavus Assistant Health Center Director 2024) were married this September in Salida, Colo., surrounded by a huge crew of Kieve, Wavus, and TLS alums!

6 Alex Westcott (Kieve 1990–91; Kieve Council 1997–2000; Wavus Parent 2022–25) recently led student leaders in Outdoor Education at Dunn School in Los Olivos, Calif. on a trip up Mount Whitney.

7 Blake Cote (Wavus 2011–15; Kieve Council 2019), Camilla Gowen (Wavus 2011–15, 2017; Wavus Council 2021), Hadley Cashman (Wavus 2011–17; Wavus Council 2021), Josephine Wellons (Wavus 2014–19; 2021–22; Wavus Council 2024–25), Pepper Claytor (Wavus 2015–19; 2021–22; Wavus Council 2023–35), Caroline Sapir (Wavus 2011–19; Wavus Council 2021), Cam Thompson (Kieve 2011–18; Kieve Council 2021–24), Charlie Horgan (Kieve 2014–19; 2021–22; Kieve Council 2023–25), Will DeMuth (Kieve 2008–13; Kieve Council 2019), Spencer Sapir (Kieve 2011–17; Kieve Council 2021, 2023), and Billy Kitchel (Kieve 2013–10; Kieve Council 2022–23) gathered at a fundraiser in Delaware in June.

Dixon Thayer (Kieve 1961–62, 64; Kieve Council 1970; Kieve Parent 2003–10), Cate Ryant (Wavus 2008), Sean Vuillemot (Kieve 2007), Boone Saunders Moore (Wavus 2007–08; KW West 2010), Griffin Saunders (Kieve 2007–09), Dallas Thayer (Kieve 2003–04, 2006–09; Kieve Council 2013–14), Spencer Verney (Kieve 1998–99), and Mele Ryant Cohn (Wavus 2008) were at Boone’s wedding to Ryan Moore in Oahu when they discovered a KWE crew!

9 Matteo Perper (Kieve 2011–16; Kieve Council 2019, 2025; TLS 2024–25) stopped on Katahdin’s Tablelands during a First Session Maine Trails hike to tend to KWE Trustee Chris Block’s (Kieve 1987–93; Kieve Council 1996–99, 2001; Kieve Parent 2018–25; Wavus Parent 2019–25) disintegrating hiking boots that first carried him up the mountain in the 1990s.

10 Griffin Conner (Kieve 2008–13) got engaged to Anna Farrell this summer!

Word has it there could be some Kieve guys in the wedding party.

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KWE COMMUNITY GETS MOOVING winter, members of L ast the KWE community

were encouraged to get off the couch, engage in some friendly competition, and stay connected through Moove, a team-based fitness app, co-founded in 2020

by Kieve alum Bryan Severance (Kieve 1999–00).

In our first “season,” 24 KWE employees and alumni ran, hiked, swam, walked, weightlifted, and biked (plus so much more) to earn points for their teams in weekly

matchups. By the spring, we had 72 folks on board from current full-time employees, to camper and counselor alumni, to board members, to camp parents.

In KWE’s largest season, the league scored a cumulative 98,584.88 points over seven weeks. As cycling miles and points are a 1:1 ratio, that means we scored enough points to bike the equivalent of four trips around Earth or 7,702 trips between J Scoop and Round Top!

And now by popular demand, we’re back for more: Season 6: November 10, 2025 to December 19, 2025 Season 7: January 5, 2026 to February 13, 2026 Season 8: March 9, 2026 to April 17 2026 Reach out to John McDevitt at johnmcdevitt@kwe.org to let us know you’re interested.

And read more about Moove at moovetogether.com.

FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 27

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Future Campers 1

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Megan (KW West 2006; Wavus Council 2008) and Chris Krouse (Kieve Staff 2007–08; KW West Staff 2011) welcomed future camper Lucy Krouse on August 30, 2024! Wavus 2033!

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2 Jamie Pinkham (Kieve 2001–03; KW West 2005; Kieve Council 2006–13) and Sara Hahn Pinkham welcomed future camper Claire Pinkham on October 18, 2024! Wavus 2033!

3 Lucy and Blake Self welcomed future camper Henry Self on May 24, 2025! Henry is the grandson of Jamey Hebb (Kieve 1975–77; Kieve staff 1979–85). Kieve 2033!

4 Roscoe Wetlaufer (Kieve 2000–05; Kieve Council 2007,

2012–13; TLS Staff 2011–14; Kieve Asst. Tripping Director 2014) and Michelle Wetlaufer (TLS Educator 2012–14; Kieve Assistant Infirmary Director 2014) welcomed future camper Taran Beumont Wetlaufer on February 24, 2025. Kieve 2033!

5 Marge Tucker Cardon (Wavus Tripping Assistant Director 2015; Wavus Council 2011–14) and Liam Cardon welcomed future camper George Brooks Cardon on June 27, 2025. Kieve 2033!

6 Sewell Robinson Bourneuf (KW West 2005; Wavus Council 2008) and Sam Bourneuf welcomed future camper Grace Standish Bourneuf on February 23, 2025! Wavus 2033!

Blake (Kieve 1999–05) and Charlotte Riley welcomed future camper August “Augie” Riley on May 6, 2025. Kieve 2033!

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FALL 2025 KIEVE WAVUS NEWS | 29

Kieve Wavus Education, Inc. PO Box 169 Nobleboro, ME 04555 207-563-5172 kwe.org

NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEWCASTLE, MAINE PERMIT NO. 11

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

kievewavus kievewavuseducationinc

Kieve Wavus Education Centennial Celebration AUGUST 28–30, 2026

It’s time — a party 100 years in the making!

Load up the station wagon, strap down the canoes, and dust off your party hats. Join KWE alumni and friends from every generation for a once-in-a-lifetime weekend of connection, laughter, and celebration.

Accommodations are limited.

Register today — and tell your friends to do the same! ◄ Scan the QR code