BUILDING KWE’S PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
orking at Kieve and Wavus fosters real-world skills that prepare people for demanding, rewarding careers and lives. Leadership experience from camp, paired with school-year internships, is an unparalleled path to success. If your company needs a highly capable intern, or if you can be a career resource in any way, please reach out to Alumni Engagement & Campaign Coordinator John McDevitt at johnmcdevitt@kwe.org By doing so, you’re not just helping our counselors. You’re ensuring our campers learn from role models who are prepared for the enormous
leading our kids.
All are welcome to join as we celebrate the life of NANCY KENNEDY at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 27 at the Kieve chapel.
If you want to see love, you
see it everywhere. Love is creation, creativity. Love is eternity, all souls, all beauty on this Earth. You live in love’s embrace. Love is YOU.
NANCY KENNEDY
REMEMBERING NANCY KENNEDY
won the grandmother lottery with Nancy. When I was too young to remember, I named her Laa Laa because she was so musical, always singing to me and her other grandkids (Ben, Blair, and Amos). During long Maine winters, we used to spend hours in her bed watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins, and The Sound of Music while Laa Laa served us orange slices and frozen pizza. She was the real life Truly Scrumptious, Mary Poppins, and Maria von Trapp all
rolled into one tenderhearted, thoughtful, irreverent, amazing person. A lifelong teacher, Kieve’s playwright, and organist, Nancy was everyone’s summertime grandma. I was immensely proud to share her with thousands of other campers and counselors.
Nancy and Dick were recently married and still in their 20s when they came to Damariscotta Lake to run Camp Kieve in 1959. They then spent every subsequent summer here for the rest of their lives. Together, they led by example, pouring themselves into this place first so it could survive, then thrive. They set the tone. They comforted homesick campers. They hosted dinner parties eight days a week. In 1969, campers crowded into the Red Farmhouse and huddled around the TV to watch the moon landing. At the end of Nancy’s life, she was an avid emailer, penpalling and Zooming with friends and family daily. They presided over generations of learning, growth, change, and progress.
Together, my grandparents gave Kieve away so it could grow stronger as a nonprofit. Later they established the Leadership Decisions Institute so Maine students could benefit from the resources and philosophies of this special organization. Nancy was overjoyed when Kieve merged with Wavus so girls could enjoy the same transformational camp experience the boys had revelled in for so long.
To me, losing Nancy marks the end of an era. Of course I’m sad to miss her. And I’m filled with gratitude for all the wonderful time I got to spend with Laa Laa. She stands for everything Kieve Wavus Education aspires to be. With her innate kindness and respect, Laa Laa led with boundless love and hope. She was whimsical, warm, welcoming, and funny; forever patient, selfless, and steadfast. She spent more than 65 years at Kieve and never missed a Sunday chapel. Laa Laa leaves a legacy of tenderness and care for those who need it most.
Gratefully,
Sam Kennedy President & Chief Executive Officer
In Her Own Words
Hear Kieve’s favorite organist and grandma share her KWE story on our archived podcast. Scan the QR code to listen on Spotify ►
Anne Sibley Kennedy
July 27, 1935 – Feb. 7, 2025
Nancy on the original Snowgoose. Nancy welcoming you to Kieve.
Nancy and her grandchildren at Kieve chapel.
$1,912,723
KWE uses its endowment, consisting of unrestricted investment funds and restricted funds set by generous donors, to support key initiatives. This year’s unrestricted endowment draw was put entirely toward financial aid. Other endowed funds include:
• Damariscotta Lake Endowment
• Fish Fund
• Kennedy Family Endowment
• Keroden Fund
• Loyalty Fund
$1,053,896 RAISED 684 DONORS
• Sapir Family Fund $17 MILLION
ENDOWMENT IS VALUED AT AS OF APRIL 2025
2024 ANNUAL REPORT
KIEVE & WAVUS
We know that exploring Maine’s wilderness, alongside fellow campers and led by inspirational role models, is transformational. So we set a strategic goal in 2022 to reach new families and eliminate financial barriers for their kids to attend camp. In 2024, more than $1 million of financial support was awarded to 13% of campers, a 139% increase since 2022. In 2025, our endowment draw will fund only 45% of camp financial aid; we must fundraise to ensure this level of support in perpetuity.
$1M IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT AWARDED TO CAMPERS
139% INCREASE (SINCE 2022)
THE
LEADERSHIP SCHOOL
TLS is a vital resource for Kieve, Wavus, and Maine. In 2024, our 20 full-time educators led our camps in the summer and honed their teaching skills throughout the school year by facilitating experiential programs for more than 6,000 Maine children. We underwrote 50% of tuition ($570,000) for 83 total TLS programs. During a historic teacher shortage and located among largely underserved communities, we made TLS an innovative pathway to Maine teacher certification through a partnership with the University of Southern Maine that is funded entirely by KWE. In 2024, two TLS educators earned certifications through our program, and four more will earn certifications in 2025.
$570K FOR 83 TOTAL TLS PROGRAMS
LINCOLN COUNTY FOOD INITIATIVE
In 2024, KWE — in partnership with Healthy Lincoln County and Rising Tide Co-op — leveraged our two industrial kitchens, year-round food service staff, vehicles, and employees to provide meals for neighbors in need. We served five pantries and provided 5,300 meals to combat local food insecurity.
5 PANTRIES SERVED 5,300 MEALS PROVIDED
KWE’S EDUCATION PIPELINE
he number of career educators who grow out of Kieve Wavus Education is astounding; hundreds since the 1981 founding of the Leadership Decisions Institute (LDI), now The Leadership School (TLS), and countless more from our camps.
Since making TLS a full-time teaching fellowship in 2020–21, nine fellows have gone on to become Maine educators, and we partnered with the University of Southern Maine to make KWE a formal teacher certification pathway. In alignment with Maine’s Department of Education standards, all requisite credit hours — at least four courses and all student teaching through TLS’s educator-in-residence program — is paid for by KWE, allowing our fellows to matriculate from TLS with a certification to teach in Maine without any debt. This program provides Kieve and Wavus more than 20 dynamic directors and counselors each year and is actively helping to address statewide teacher shortages that are reaching crisis levels. From 2023 to 2024 alone, Maine’s teacher deficit grew by more than 1,000 teachers.
From Maine to California and everywhere in between, KWE alumni are making a difference in education. Here are a few of their stories.
The daughter of a local diner owner and a lobsterman, Gretchen grew up in Falmouth, Maine as the oldest of six kids. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, she spent 1997 to 2002 working as an educator at TLS, at the time known as LDI and as a staff member at Kieve before earning her master’s in school counseling at the University of Southern Maine.
“KWE helped me find where I belonged in the world. It supported me as I moved into a graduate program and eventually my new role as a school counselor, which I’ve been lucky to be in for 20-plus years,” says
Gretchen, who credits KWE for steering her toward her destined path of caring for and empowering students.
Gretchen, who conducted a lot of course work for her degree and a ton of internship and practicum hours, said none of that prepared her as much for the day-today work she currently does with students as what she learned during her time at KWE. She recalls working with amazing educators who were great at connecting with not only the students but with the young adults who hadn’t yet figured out their career path.
“We all felt inspired watching and learning from them. They pushed me to keep growing and developing my own skills in working with kids, facilitating groups, developing curriculum and activities in creative ways, managing chaos — all skills I continue to use on a daily basis in education,” says Gretchen, who currently sits on KWE’s Board of Trustees and chairs our Education, Programs, & Safety Committee. Gretchen lives in Round Pond, Maine with her husband and three children — two Wavus alums and a Kieve camper.
“I’m so fortunate to have found KWE as a young adult, and I am even more grateful as I continue to feel the immeasurable impact it has on my children, my students, and my community,” Gretchen says.
Vinny Dotoli’s interest in education began in high school. He knew he wanted to work with kids, however he felt he lacked the self-confidence to stand in front of a classroom. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Union College, Vinny began working at TLS, at the time known as LDI, in the fall of 1991.
Through his work with local students, including 8th graders from South Bristol, Vinny felt he and the other educators were truly making an impact. As the season
Gretchen Brinkler
School Counselor at Bristol Consolidated School in Pemaquid, Maine
Vinny Dotoli
Head of School at Harlem Academy in New York City
wrapped up, Vinny wanted to stay involved. He met with the South Bristol principal and became a longterm sub throughout the winter.
“I had an amazing experience,” Vinny says of his time teaching in South Bristol. “I connected with so many kids and families with a genuine interest in doing the best for each other and for their kids.”
From there, Vinny went on to teach for about 10 years in schools in Rhode Island and Boston. He then moved to New York City to earn a master’s degree in educational administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. Vinny got an education leadership degree and wrote a master’s project about starting a new school for gifted low-income students. He, along with others, opened that school — Harlem Academy — in 2004, where he currently serves as the head of school.
KWE has recently partnered with Harlem Academy to cultivate new family camper relationships and is excited to welcome eight students to camp this summer.
“Every time I think back on that year, I think that there is no better start to my career that I could have had,” Vinny says. “People can tell if you actually care and you’re willing to genuinely engage in practices that are not only supportive of them and what their needs are for that day, but genuinely looking out for their future selves. That’s something that I started to understand through the work at TLS and South Bristol. It was a real blessing of a year.”
Andrew Davis, affectionately known as Woody to many in the KWE community, was a Kieve camper for eight summers during the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. He went on to be a counselor for several summers, during which time he founded and directed Kieve West, a program to bridge campers from Maine Trails to counselors. Andrew’s time in a leadership role at Kieve had a significant impact on his career. Being surrounded by full-time educators who also held administrative roles at schools opened Andrew’s eyes to a potential career path.
“For anyone considering Kieve, whether they want to go into education or not, the experiences of challenge, perseverance, and meaningful connections with adult mentors are invaluable. These are the types of lessons that can’t be replicated in a summer internship or traditional work experience,” Andrew says. “KWE provides opportunities to develop skills that are often overlooked, like making authentic connections with students and
guiding them through moments of challenge. These are the types of experiences that can set you apart, regardless of your chosen career path.”
Andrew, who holds a master’s degree in education and a master’s degree in business administration, along with a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Stanford University, said that while education is deeply ingrained in who he is, Kieve played a pivotal role.
“When I look at the institutions and experiences that have defined my life, Kieve is first. So while I may have ended up in education regardless, Kieve was instrumental in shaping that path for me,” he says.
Both of Andrew’s sons now attend Kieve, and he has been pleased to see them have positive experiences at camp and on wilderness trips — the same ones that were so formative for him.
“The experiences of challenge and grit that I developed at Kieve, like the Allagash trip where it rained 13 out of 14 days, have been invaluable. These types of genuine challenges are so important for young people, and it’s something that’s often missing in their lives today. Kieve provided me with those formative experiences that I now try to replicate for the students at my school,” Andrew says.
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT TLS
Want to learn more about The Leadership School and its incredible impact on local students, schools, and future educators?
▲ Check out our recently updated website and new informative video by scanning the QR code.
2023–24 TLS BY THE NUMBERS 2024 ANNUAL REPORT
$570,000 FINANCIAL AID TO SCHOOLS 20 EDUCATORS 2 TLS EDUCATORS WHO EARNED THEIR MAINE TEACHER CERTIFICATION
83 PROGRAMS 6,353 STUDENTS
Andrew “Woody” Davis Head of School at Mount Tamalpais School in Mill Valley, California
CABIN ROW TO CAREER: LILY CASTEEN BECOMES FISHERIES FIELD ASSISTANT
ily Casteen, who has been a Wavus counselor for the past four summers, is taking on a new challenge this summer as a fisheries field assistant with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. From May through at least September, the Virginia native will be based out of Ashland, Maine with field work expected to span across the Fish River Lakes Region, including the Allagash River.
The position builds upon Lily’s lifelong interest in fisheries and aquatic science, as well as her undergraduate education in fish and wildlife conservation from Virginia Tech. “What excites me the most about this job is getting to do the kind of work I love in a place I feel really connected to. I have been so fortunate in my time working at Wavus to get to experience places like the Allagash, and now I have a chance to apply other types of professional skills and knowledge to improving them and sustaining them for others to enjoy, as well,” Lily says.
Leading trips like the Allagash, St. Croix, and Maine Trails gave Lily valuable experience navigating the woods of northern Maine and taught them patience, flexibility, and persistence. “I learned that I could be calm under pressure, push through discomfort, and trust myself to lead and make the right calls in remote settings,” says Lily, who added that some of her favorite Wavus memories are of fishing with campers on trip in the same places she will be working.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE? YOU CAN CHARGE HERE
s part of KWE’s ongoing effort to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, we’ve installed our first of many electric vehicle chargers. The first pair lives at Kieve’s Kennedy Learning Center, and this spring will bring another pair to Wavus near the new director house. Moving forward, the plan is to incorporate two chargers for every future building across both campuses. A
100% OF KWE’S ELECTRICITY USE OFFSET BY SOLAR POWER
2 ELECTRIC CAR CHARGERS
872
PANELS, TOTALING 419,170 KWH, OFFSETS THE EQUIVALENT OF 411,206 POUNDS OF CARBON ANNUALLY
1
FULL-TIME ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR
185
ACRES OF PRESERVED LAKEFRONT LAND
2
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT PLANS FEATURING PHOSPHORUS MITIGATION
THE CREATIVITY IS OVERFLOWING, LITERALLY
“
I want kids to lead with curiosity and allow for mistakes,” says Gus Williams, who claims he has Kieve’s best view of this from his post as the camp’s art instructor. This past summer, he saw it all — from creatures that lived in the trees to T-shirts featuring phrases he still doesn’t quite understand, masks gorgeous and grotesque, or a graffiti wall memorializing jokes of the day.
“I care very little about the products made in the studios. What I care about is the excitement and drive
that keeps campers coming back and working. I care about the questions they ask and the problems they make for themselves to solve. Honestly, it really follows Kieve’s tenet of perseverance.”
At a camp that champions trying new things over competition, the interest in art activities is exponential. “At almost all moments of the day, you could find a camper tinkering away at a project born purely of their own inventiveness,” Gus says. “It’s a beautiful circus of mess, where everyone is a freak so everyone fits in.” Among the historied favorite ways for campers to express themselves — pottery and printing.
Legend has it that swimming is the most popular activity at Kieve. But we did the math. Turns out it’s pottery. Both pottery and swim ran a whopping 62 times in summer 2024. And that still didn’t satisfy the kids’ need to create. So Gus started opening the studio during free time as well. This gave birth to the DPS (Dead Potters Society), where passionate and impatient campers came to continue their work, to make something out of nothing; a lasting lesson similar to that learned on the trail when campers invent games or languages to pass the time, and in turn, expand their sense of self and community.
Printing’s popularity isn’t far behind. It’s been a Kieve staple for almost half a century. In 1978,
following a donation of a press and cases of type from the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union in Boston, Kieve parent Howard Bliss began his long tenure of training counselors, ordering supplies, and opening and closing the shop. In 2024, Howard “retired” at the age of 93; his daughter, Sarah Bliss Seamans took up the reins. “Printing has been a beloved activity since I was a kid here,” KWE President Sam Kennedy says. “It’s one of the favorite things campers-turned-counselors are excited about sharing with the next generation.”
Yes, creativity is everywhere at camp and the appetite is only growing.
FUNDRAISING FOR WAVUS ARTS CENTER
Across the lake, the creativity is equally unlimited. We’re committed to building Wavus’ first-ever arts center. Nested into the woods and across from Haynes and Aliquippa, it will provide an Innisfree-like indoor space to play and gather rain or shine. The facility will also support creativity and community yearround through schools and community events.
FUNDRAISING FOR A NEW KIEVE ARTS CENTER
Kieve’s arts center is one of the oldest buildings on campus, and while not currently a safety risk, it will soon become one and will need to be replaced. An updated arts center, named in honor of the adored Kieve pottery instructor Alan Baldwin and to be built where Old Bunkerhill currently sits, will enhance the Kieve summer camp experience. It will provide better opportunities to serve our local communities through The Leadership School and year-round events. Kieve’s lessons in perseverance should be shared as widely as possible, after all.
The winterized arts center, built into the hill off the Drumlin, will provide treehouse studios with space for yoga, pottery, a cooking classroom, nature activities, an all-camp gathering spot with a stage and large hearth and fireplace, and a new staff lounge with a gym.
The updated arts center will be designed to blend into the rocky top of the hill landscape. The four-season facility will feature a cooking classroom, pottery studio (with space for our antique print shop!), and nature center.
level. “Whether they are taking their first few steps ever, or conquering every climb blindfolded, the sense of accomplishment is ever-present. And equally as important is the supportive climbing culture where all of those challenges are celebrated like the great successes that they are!”
Climbing at Wavus is as much about community and leadership as it is personal growth. Campers are encouraged to demonstrate and teach the skills they have learned on the ropes course to others; to help other girls go beyond what they initially thought possible. On Qual Day, when campers choose to participate in their favorite activities, the ropes course is bustling the whole time, according to Julia, who counted 85 campers on the course at one time last year. And during camp’s final days, you’ll see some of our most committed climbers, who have learned all the climbing knots and earned the trust, belaying fellow campers themselves with the support of our fantastic staff.
R FUNDRAISING FOR WAVUS’ OWN INDOOR CLIMBING FACILITY
ock climbing is the most popular activity at Wavus, yet the use of its climbing tower is limited. It’s entirely dependent on weather, cannot be used in the morning due to the sun heating up the holds, and is skewed toward mental challenges. We’re working hard to change this by bringing our vision for Wavus’ first-ever indoor climbing facility to life. A state-of-the-art indoor climbing wall comparable to Kieve’s will add more variety in climbs, more technical challenges, higher level climbing challenges, the opportunity to learn to set climbs, as well as provide a more beginner friendly set up. The facility will not only elevate the Wavus experience but also expand KWE’s capacity to host community climb nights and enrich programming for organizations and schools beyond summer camp.
In summer 2023, Team Extreme made its comeback to Wavus! This group of 10 campers, along with Kieve’s own Team Extreme, made a special climbing trip beyond campus to climb on real rock. It’s an earned opportunity for those who have completed (almost) all climbs, taught their peers skills that they have learned on the ropes course, and overall, have shown exemplary grit, kindness, respect, and responsibility during their climbing time. Last summer’s Team Extreme enjoyed a morning on a beautiful cliff face in Camden, Maine, led by a local guiding service. Sometimes the adventure comes with extra perks; this time they also got to explore a nearby cave.
2024 ANNUAL REPORT
CAMP BY THE NUMBERS
1,172 TOTAL CAMPERS
96 MAINE TRAILS GRADUATES (17,280 COMBINED MILES ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL)
76% CAMPER RETURN RATE
$1M FINANCIAL SUPPORT
153 WILDERNESS TRIPS TOTALING 1,051 DAYS IN THE WOODS OF TLS EDUCATORS HELP LEAD SUMMER CAMP 100%
23% CAMPERS OF COLOR, A 67% INCREASE SINCE 2022
WINTER AND SPRING KWE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Every year KWE hosts a diverse set of missionbased programs for veterans, families fighting cancer, LGBTQ+ youth, college students, local businesses, and more. Events from this past winter and upcoming spring include:
Vietnam Veterans Camp
Nine Veterans and their spouses took part in our free camp Dec. 5–8. Participants enjoyed spending time together on the Kieve campus, as well as venturing out to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to experience Gardens Aglow with several other veterans and their families from the Boothbay Harbor American Legion Hall.
Kindling Collective’s Queer + BIPOC Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid Training Courses
Classes will be offered in May through the Portland based queer-centered gear library and education center that aims to create an accessible pathway to outdoor experiences in Maine (Wabanaki Confederacy Territory).
Maine Association for Search and Rescue’s Annual Conference
Members from all types of search and rescue groups will come for the annual event in May.
2025 Maine Food Convergence
Around 200 participants from many small nonprofits will come together in May to explore how shifts in the food system can advance social and racial equity while increasing climate resilience.
Betty J. Borry Breast Cancer Retreat
This June, 22 women who are battling or are in remission from breast cancer will come together for a restorative retreat at the Kennedy Learning Center. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the group’s “Adventure Weekends.”
THIS EPISODE’S SECRET INGREDIENT IS… FISH!
n January, Kieve Wavus
Education learned of a generous donation from the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association to the Lincoln County food pantries. Food Services Lead Cook Mike Flynn traveled to Portland to retrieve 1,400 pounds of frozen pollock filets to store in the walk-in freezer at Wavus. Once in Jefferson, the local food pantries worked with Events & Hospitality Director Marge
Greenleaf to coordinate pickups. In addition, the Kieve and Wavus kitchen staff used some of the fish in the meals they prepare through the Lincoln Country Food Initiative, KWE’s program that fights against local food insecurity by leveraging our two industrial kitchens, yearround kitchen staff, vans, and dedicated employees to provide meals for neighbors in need from November through April.
BRINGING WARMTH TO NEIGHBORS IN NEED
ince fall 2023, Kieve Wavus Education has partnered with CHiP, Inc. to support the nonprofit’s mission to help community members keep their homes safe, warm, and dry. CHiP, which stands for Community Housing Improvement Project, accepts log donations that are then stored in Jefferson. Volunteers split, stack, and deliver wood to those who are unable to meet their heating needs. This past fall, several educators with The Leadership School had a blast supporting CHiP. Working alongside other volunteers, the group split close to five cords of wood for Lincoln County neighbors.
S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
2024 ANNUAL REPORT
BY THE NUMBERS
133
2,900
6
5,300
KEITH ORLANDO BUSINESS DIRECTOR
& CFO
eith Orlando joined KWE in fall 2024, bringing decades of experience in finance and business management. Most recently, Keith was the director of finance and administration at Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. He holds an MBA from Husson University and a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Maine. Keith was drawn to KWE’s extensive wilderness tripping camps, and equally interested in KWE’s year-round mission and incredible opportunities that reach beyond camp, including efforts to combat local food insecurity through the Lincoln County Food Initiative and to address the state’s teacher shortage through The Leadership School. Keith grew up in Camden, Maine and enjoys exploring outdoors, especially skiing, mountain biking and boating. Keith and his wife, Beth, raised their kids Sam and Lucy in Gorham. Keith is impressed by his KWE welcome and team camaraderie.
EMMALINE BRISKE KIEVE
REGISTRAR & COORDINATOR
idcoast Maine native Emmaline Briske joined the KWE team in early 2025. With a background in operations in the financial services industry, she most recently held a project manager role at a local bank. Emmaline, who lives in Damariscotta with her husband Corbin and their son Nolan, holds a bachelor’s degree in international and global studies from the University of Maine at Farmington and a graduate certificate in project management from the Roux Institute at Northeastern University. As Camp Kieve’s new registrar and coordinator, Emmaline is most looking forward to building relationships with campers and their families and being part of this tight-knit community.
Thank You, Richardsons
After more than 40 magical years on Damariscotta Lake, Charlie and Annie retired from Kieve Wavus Education in 2024, returning to Hull, Massachusetts where they grew up together and fell in love.
The Richardsons played every role imaginable at KWE. First arriving to work at the Leadership Decisions Institute in the early 1980s, Charlie became South Glenayr’s perennial head bunk
counselor, a Kieve director, The Leadership School director, and director of education and operations. Annie ran the infirmary, the camp store, fitness classes, and was a camp mom to all.
But the Richardsons are so much more than the sum of these jobs. They embody the essence of KWE. They’re role models, teachers, welcomers, ambassadors, and friends. They shaped this place, changing countless lives for the better, and we are forever thankful. Fond memories and grateful messages have poured in from KWE friends far and wide. Here are reflections from those who know them best.
CJ, LB, Annie, and Charlie at CJ’s wedding to Kiley at Kieve in 2024.
I first met Charlie in the early ’80s. The star running back on the Bates football team also happened to be a tremendously gifted teacher and mentor in our Leadership Decisions Institute and summer camp. Dad was so excited to introduce me to him on one of my trips home from California where I lived after college. After watching Charlie almost single-handedly crush my beloved Colby Mules on the gridiron, he, his folks, my mom and dad, and several others headed to Kieve for an evening of great cheer by the lake. There began a historic 40-year partnership modeling courage, perseverance, and loyalty, nurturing thousands of future leaders, while raising our families across the driveway from one another.
HENRY KENNEDY
Executive Director 1990–2021
Annie has been a close friend of mine since the ’80s when I married Henry. Our husbands spent their careers together, and our children grew up together. We’ve shared so many experiences, mutual trust, support and comfort. Most of all, I’ll always cherish our long walks where we shared advice about raising our kids at this crazy wonderful place. Through highs and lows, Annie is always there for me — and for anyone — with a smile!
BJ KENNEDY
KWE
1990–Present
When Charlie was a young man in the summer of 1985, my family spent our first session at Kieve. I was immediately impressed by Charlie. His energy was boundless, and camp activities revolved around him. He organized staff basketball games during rest hour, fostering camaraderie among the team. I remember him rallying the South Glenayr campers, getting them excited for their long trip to Westcott Point. No matter what Dick Kennedy asked of him, Charlie would take it on — and he always pulled it off with his vocal leadership skills on full display.
CHARLIE HARRINGTON
Former Camp Kieve Director and LDI Director
Henry and Charlie sporting hand painted Nice Ugolotti T-shirts in the ’90s.
Charlie and the LDI staff in the ‘80s.
Growing up at the end of West Neck Road next to Charlie and Annie Richardson was a gift. Like their indelible love for each other, their devotion to Kieve Wavus Education and the thousands of people who’ve grown up here is inspiring. Over four decades, Charlie and Annie became fixtures at KWE. They truly lived the mission, empowering people by promoting the values of kindness and respect. I am grateful for the many memories they’ve given me; Annie’s beach days to
Pemaquid with Blair, LB and CJ guarding our french fries from the seagulls, Charlie’s “Oh Henry! Bahhh” announcements and the coy twinkle in his eye when campers asked for clues about where the Oh Henry! bar was hidden, the list goes on. I shared an office with Charlie and learned how to steward KWE. I share a birthday with Annie who showed me how to lead with our Aries passion. Charlie and Annie are dedicated educators, motivating role models, and just plain fun to be around.
SAM KENNEDY KWE President and CEO
I met Charlie and Annie as a 10-year-old North Glenayrian, second session 1998. And I was a homesick, bed-wetting, picky-eating wreck. Despite being a ton of extra work, I remember idolizing Charlie. He was kind, patient, and knew exactly what I needed to hear to persevere. Fast forward 20 years, and Charlie and Annie were there toasting me and Kate at our rehearsal dinner in Pasquaney. If you know me you know I’m an easy roast,
but Charlie brought the house down. What struck me then, and now, is how Charlie recalled it all like it was yesterday. And I was just one of the thousands of kids who Charlie and Annie empowered and cared for over 40 years at KWE. For so many of us Charlie and Annie are, and will always be, larger than life. Their care, trust, and support led me to education and shaped who I am today. Charlie and Annie, thank you for everything.
SAM KAPLAN KWE Executive Director and COO
Charlie, Brian Johnson, and Eliot Heher as head bunk counselors in the ‘80s.
“Kieve” is a Celtic verb that means to “strive in emulation of…” and I can’t think of two better people to emulate than Charlie and Annie Richardson. I’ve been lucky to have them in my life for over 30 years and am a better person because of it. KWE’s power comes from the counselors and educators who teach campers and students. Charlie and Annie set the example for generations of kids and staff, teaching them to always treat others with kindness and respect. Kindness and respect is not just an expression to the Richardsons, but their default setting; it’s innate within them. They both have this uncanny ability to know exactly what to say when you need to hear it. They can make anyone feel included and supported. In my first summer at Kieve as a
camper in 1992, then again as a counselor years later, or even the time I attended Annie’s pilates class as a trustee, they made me feel like I belonged and encouraged me to go outside my comfort zone to do what I thought was impossible. What is so incredible is that I am not unique in this experience, and any of the people who have passed through KWE over the years feel the same way. How two people can have that much heart and empathy and provide that much guidance and support for so many others is beyond me, but they do it naturally and seemingly effortlessly. Thank you, Charlie and Annie, for all you have done for me, my family and the thousands of kids who have passed through KWE. We are so lucky that you came to the end of the West Neck Road all those years ago.
MATT MCKENNA
Kieve Camper 1993–97; Kieve Council 2001–03; KWE Board Member 2012–Present
The lives Charlie and Annie Richardson have touched have forever changed, and the ripple effect of their influence will continue to bless everyone who comes after them. Charlie is, without a doubt, one of the most remarkable leaders I have met. His ability to connect with people on a deeply personal level while simultaneously commanding attention from groups is unparalleled. He inspires loyalty through genuine care and an unshakable moral compass. He has a way of making you want to rise to the occasion — not out of obligation, but out of admiration (and maybe just a tiny bit of fear of disappointing him, even though you know he’d never actually be disappointed). He remembers the smallest details — your favorite sports team, a hard-earned accomplishment,
your cousin’s name — because he understands that it’s these details that make people feel valued. He is a mentor in the truest sense, someone I admire deeply and cherish like a second father. Annie is every bit as extraordinary. A devoted fitness enthusiast, she has counseled and coached me through countless challenges. I fondly remember her step aerobics classes at the crack of dawn in Innisfree — sacrificing her own rest so that we, the counselors, could start our day feeling strong and energized (albeit sometimes only half awake). Annie was a mother figure to so many of us, nurturing, encouraging, and ensuring that we were cared for in ways big and small. If I can even have a fraction of the impact Charlie and Annie have had, I will consider my life a success.
LYNLEY CIOROBEA
Kieve Council 1997–2001; Kieve Parent 2016–18; KWE Board Member 2016–Present
Thanks to our 2024 donors!
WE COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL for your investment, which shapes the KWE experience for campers, families, students, educators, and community members. Your generosity propels us forward so we can do more for all those who grow in character, strength, and resilience due to their Kieve Wavus education.
In 2024, nearly 700 alumni, families, and friends gave to the Annual Fund, making an immediate impact on our greatest priorities.
INDIVIDUALS
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ORGANIZATIONS
A.C. and Penney Hubbard Foundation, Inc.
Acorn Hill Foundation
Anonymous (2)
Applied Materials
Ayco Charitable Foundation
Bank of America Matching
Gifts Program
The Bee Cause Project Inc.
Bridge Investment Group
Bright Funds
Caterpillar Foundation
Chalmers Insurance
Cheney Insurance Agency
Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust
The Community Foundation
Martin - St Lucie
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Damariscotta Hardware, Inc.
Deutsche Bank
Erickson Senior Living, LLC
Ernst & Young Foundation
Fidelity Charitable
First Federal Savings & Loan Association
Gilead
Goldman Sachs Gives
Griffin-Cole Fund
Grilljam, LLC
The Haynes Family Foundation
Holladay Property Serv Midwest Inc
Horizon Foundation, Inc.
Howard P. Calhoun
Family Foundation
J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund
John G. Chipura Foundation
KKR
Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty
Louis L. Doe Home Center Inc.
Maine Community Foundation
Maine Summer Camps
MFS Gives
Morgan Stanley Gift
New York Community Trust
The Page & Otto Marx, Jr. Foundation
Paul Liebman Family Foundation
The Philadelphia Foundation
The Princeton Area
Community Foundation
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
The Reny Charitable Foundation
Rosie Curtis Architect LLC
Schwab Charitable
Seacoast Catering
Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund
T. Rowe Price Charitable
Tee It Up FORE a Veteran
Texas Instruments
The Tulgey Wood Foundation, Inc.
Vanguard Charitable
Viking Lumber
W.P. Carey
William Ewing Foundation
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.
etsy and Roger Hall have had an affinity for Maine and the outdoors for as long as they can remember. So when the Los Angeles-based couple started looking for a camp for their then-10-year-old son Griffin, Maine was at the top of the list. After polling family and friends for recommendations, one camp kept coming up — Kieve.
The couple was impressed by Kieve Wavus Education’s tripping program and the emphasis on fun as opposed to competition when it comes to sports and activities. They were also glad to learn the organization was home to Wavus, a camp their daughter Caroline could attend.
“It was really fabulous to offer Caroline and Griffin something completely different than Los Angeles,” Betsy says. “And to meet a different community of people, to see a different part of the world — in a place that’s as unbelievably beautiful as Maine.”
The Halls saw a difference in both their children almost immediately. They came back to school not only physically stronger, but with a strong sense of self and meaningful friendships.
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 reading the donor story 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.
“When they come back after those five weeks, they just feel so bulletproof. Their self-confidence has exploded,” says Roger, citing the sense of empowerment campers must feel after tripping. “The connection and the interconnectivity of nature and leadership and family is how KWE fosters growth in such beautifully powerful ways.”
And while both kids were usually too exhausted at pickup to immediately share all the tales of their summer, stories from their time in the woods and on the water with their cabinmates would carry conversations around the dinner table all year long.
Caroline (Wavus 2008–16; Kieve Council 2018; Wavus Council 2019) and Griffin (Kieve 2008–13; Kieve Council 2016–17) thrived as campers and counselors and they still get outside as much as they can. After spending the year in New Zealand, Caroline is returning to Wavus this summer as an assistant tripping director. Griffin, who lives in Denver, goes camping and hiking all the time.
The family’s experience with Kieve and Wavus was so powerfully transformative that they bought a house in South Bristol, Maine and now live there six months out of the year.
Becoming Paddle & Pines members, and giving back to the organization and community that gave their family so much, was a no-brainer, according to Betsy, who added that KWE is now part of their children’s DNA and that the family feels strongly that the organization, along with future campers and their families, need to be supported.
“We have a whole new embracing community that we adore, and one of the small ways we can continue that is by putting KWE in our will. It’s just a remarkably caring and thoughtful group of educators that have created this spectacular community, and it has changed our life,” Roger says.
B
BETSY AND ROGER HALL
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 or scan the QR code.
WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS TO OUR BOARD
avus parent Lisa Brown was honored to join the Board of Trustees after seeing firsthand the positive impact camp has had on her eldest daughter Gates (11).
“KWE is really remarkable,” Lisa says. “The minute you step onto either campus, you can feel the magic. And I really want to help give back and ensure that this magic continues for generations of campers to come.”
Lisa, who lives in Salisbury, Conn., serves as chief of staff to the head of school at The Hotchkiss School, an independent boarding school for students in grades 9 through 12 in Lakeville, Conn. Lisa grew up in Long Island and went to the Green Vale School before attending boarding school at St. Andrews in Delaware. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Middlebury College in Vermont.
Lisa’s husband Charles was a camper from 1990–93 and a counselor for several years following. Many family
and friend connections have kept the Browns close to the organization over the years including Lisa’s nephew, Michael Pilkington, who was a camper from Junior Kieve through Maine Trails and then a counselor for many years after. Their daughter Gates began her Wavus journey in 2022. Their other two daughters, Charley (8) and Barrett (6), are excited to follow in their older sister’s footsteps, with Charley set to attend Junior Wavus this summer.
As a trustee, Lisa is excited to keep the positive camp experiences coming for her children and beyond. Lisa has seen the benefit of having a diverse learning community at Hotchkiss and is encouraged by KWE’s efforts to make its programs accessible to all children.
Chris Block credits Kieve Wavus Education with shaping who he is today and how he views the world, which is why he jumped at the chance to give back as a member of the Board of Trustees.
“It’s important that as an institution evolves, it retains its core essence,” Chris says. “There are a lot of people on this Board who have been around a long time, and they know what makes Kieve Wavus special and that it’s so important to preserve.”
As a child, Chris learned about Kieve through family friends. By the time he was 9, he was on a plane headed to Maine for the summer. Chris felt right at home, and returned every summer as a camper and eventually as a counselor. Now as both a Kieve and Wavus parent, Chris enjoys having an excuse to visit every year and getting the opportunity to reconnect with the KWE community, as well as relive his camp experiences through the eyes of his children — Sander (15) and Annabelle (13).
“It’s wonderful that campers today, including my own kids, are having virtually the exact same tripping
CHRIS BLOCK
LISA BROWN
experience I did almost 40 years ago. Tripping is really where campers grow so much. They learn how to push their own limits and boundaries and learn that they can do hard things,” Chris says.
Chris and his wife Catherine were both born and raised in Miami, where they currently reside with their children. Chris is the chief operating officer at Dominion Builders, a commercial construction firm in Miami. He holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology from Duke University and architecture from the University of Miami, as well as an MBA from Duke.
Chris is looking forward to learning more about the impact of KWE beyond the summer months and offering his professional expertise and knowledge in whatever way he can, especially when it comes to new facilities.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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
TRUSTEES EARN THEIR PADDLES
In November, KWE leadership honored five trustees who completed their terms on the Board — John Geismar (25 years), Bill Knowlton (14 years), Morgan Churchman (21 years), Cliff Muller (13 years), and Pam Jensen (10 years). We are forever grateful for the decades of knowledge and guidance each of these trustees has provided. Thank you for your service to KWE, its programs, and its people.
We’ll miss you!
ALUMNI UPDATES
1 Camp Kieve Director Caddy Brooks, Ben Hauber (Kieve 1999–05; KW West Camper 2007; Kieve Council 2007–11), Paige Brooks (Kieve Health Center 2023–24), and Bo Hawkes (Kieve 2011–14; Kieve CIT 2015; Kieve Council 2016–19; 2021; TLS Educator 2023) heliski in Canada for New Year’s Eve.
2 Kelly Nelson (Kieve Council 2015–17; Kieve Health Center Director 2024) completed the West Line Winder ultramarathon in Buena Vista, Colorado in September 2024. Her family used the Kieve flag so she could find them at the halfway crew meetup point!
3 A Kieve Wavus crew attends Will Hackett’s (Kieve 1999–04; Kieve Council 2007–13; Kieve Assistant Tripping Director 2014–16; TLS Educator 2011–17) wedding to Emily Hanna on Dec. 28, 2024.
4 KWE President and CEO Sam Kennedy and Mac King (Kieve 1996–02; KW West Camper 2003; Kieve Council 2005–08) hike in Austria’s Karwendel Range in fall 2024 to celebrate James McKenna’s (Kieve 1993, 1998; Kieve Council 2004–05, 2007) 40th birthday.
5 Erin Haselkorn celebrates her 40th with Lisa Grever Roberts (Kieve Council 2003–06; Kieve Parent 2024), Maggie Schmid, Jenny Ireland (Kieve Council 2002–06), Erin and Adam (Kieve Council 2002–04; 2006) Haselkorn, David (Kieve 1994–00; Kieve Council 2002–04; 2006–07) and Liz Ernst, Chris (Kieve 1995–00; Kieve Council 2002–04) and Rebecca Brown.
6 Wavus Registrar & Coordinator Joy Bengtson Giffen, Marne Carr (Wavus 2024–25), and Sarah Giffen Carr (Wavus Parent 2024–25), ski Baxter State Park’s Abol to Kidney Pond in March.
7 Charlie Burke (Kieve 2014–19; 2021; Kieve Council 2023), Tommy Burton (Kieve 2013–19; 2021), Garrett Hall (Kieve 2013–14; 2017–19; 2021) and Nelson Lamb (Kieve 2014–19; 2021) have a cabin reunion in London.
FUTURE CAMPERS
1 Associate TLS Director, Wilderness Tripping Coordinator, and Associate Wavus Camp Director Hannah Lovejoy and David Berndtson (Kieve Council 2015–16; TLS Educator 2014–16; Wavus Council 2018) welcomed future camper Harriet “Hattie” Law Lovejoy Berndtson on September 9, 2024! Wavus 2033!
2 Blair (Girl’s Science 1997–2000; KW West 2005–06; Girl’s Camp Council 2005; Wavus Council 2009; Kieve Council 2007–10) and Cody Smith welcomed future camper Harriet “Hattie” Smith on October 9, 2024! Wavus 2033!
3 Amaury Dujardin (Kieve 2001–08; KW West Camper 2009; Kieve Council 2011–13) and Carly Reed (Wavus Council 2010) welcomed future camper Remy Reed Dujardin on November 9, 2024! Kieve 2033!
4 Aaron (Kieve Camper 2001–06; KW West 2007; Kieve Council 2009, 2013; TLS 2012–13) and Lizzie Kaplan welcomed future camper Margaret “Maggie” Kaplan on January 6, 2025! Wavus 2033!
ROADTRIP ROUNDUP
KWE has been busy hitting the road and reconnecting with our community across the country. Over the last six months, we’ve traveled to Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, South Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and we don’t plan to stop there.
Keep an eye out for 2025 events near you!
Nobleboro, ME 04555
207-563-5172
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Wavus Education’s Centennial Celebration!
AUGUST 28–30, 2026
Load up the station wagon, strap down the canoes, break out your party hats, and get ready for a celebration that’s 100 years in the making. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for events across the country throughout 2025 and 2026. If you can’t come to us, odds are we’ll be coming somewhere close to you!
Complete the survey to guide our planning.
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Please help us update our educator network so we can show the effectiveness of teacher education at KWE.
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