Ellie Thompson Pennell, Hive Director Jenn Merritt, Communications Director
“Camp
is more important than ever.”
Way back in those early camp days, the Gulicks most likely made that statement every summer through the First and Second World Wars, through the Great Depression, the turbulent 60s and until their retirement. The Trustees of the Foundation at its very beginning in 1968 clearly believed it as well, as they struggled to keep the dream alive. But camp at this moment in our history feels especially critical for children and young people in ways that are, if not completely new, certainly deeper than ever before. We knew about the significance of camp intrinsically and observed it anecdotally working with nearly 1,000 campers and their families. As further evidence, we heard the same sentiment echoed by industry leaders in the American Camp Association (ACA), camp parents, and school partners.
When children around the world transitioned from sharing physical space and in-person relationships to “attending” school via Zoom, camp offered, quite literally, a breath of fresh air. It promised kids (and concerned parents) what was needed most: the chance to form authentic bonds with others in a community curated just for them, away from technology, immersed in the natural world.
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There’s so much to learn on the ropes course. Here Hivers challenge themselves and practice teamwork by supporting their peers with encouragement and patience.
Message from Vanessa Riegler
StrongerTogether
From the Executive Director
Dear Aloha Family,
This has been an incredible year for collaboration and community at the Alohas. I see it shine through our staff and across our programs, our alumni, and our campers. I hope you see it too, as you read through this Reveille
In early October, I attended the International Camping Congress (ICC) in Tarragona, Spain, about an hour south of Barcelona. There, I connected with camping professionals from 33 countries. The theme of the conference this year was Come Together to Rise Higher (or Fem Pinya in Catalan) and, while I found the message related directly to our work at the Aloha Foundation, what made the biggest impression on me was how the phrase echoed the daring Catalan tradition of castells. Dating back to the 18th century, castells (literally “castles”) are human towers built by communities of people coming together with a common purpose: to lift and help each other, and ultimately young children, reach their highest potential.
Today, castells are a community and cultural event. One evening during my stay in Spain, I was able to watch the local Tarragona castell team practice. First, they wrapped around in a tight circle to create a stable base, then more individuals stepped up to create the next tier. Layer by layer, they built the structure, until finally, the youngest child climbed to the very top. It was breathtaking—the epitome of teamwork, strength, balance, and doing more together than you could ever do on your own.
All of this sings Aloha to me. While we are not forming actual towers through our camps and programs, we support and lift each other up every day, as we strive to become our best selves. This process often requires us to be courageous, to push beyond our comfort zone. Whether we are leaning on each other to work through the intense weather of summer 2023, gearing up to welcome our 100th school group of the year at Hulbert, or delving into strategic planning, we achieve more together than we ever could as individuals and we do it through the strength and trust we find in community.
We continue to grow the meaningful experiences we offer our campers, school groups, families, and staff by reaching more people and diving deeper for those
who return. Our impact on every individual is a result of the communities we build, with authentic relationships, opportunities to be challenged, and moments to reflect and celebrate.
The next International Camping Congress will be in three years, and I am already dreaming of what I will learn and all we at Aloha will have learned together by then. So here’s to Aloha’s own special castells of community and purpose!
Vanessa Mendillo Riegler Executive Director vriegler@alohafoundation.org
Winter 2024 Reveille: Jenn Merritt, Director of Communications; Holly Fisher, Designer; Evy Huppert, 2023 Director of Photography and Camp Photographers. Email jmerritt@alohafoundation.org with story ideas, suggestions, or feedback. Thank you!
SUCCESS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Student leaders from the John S. Martinez School in New Haven, CT participated in Hulbert’s three-day Success Leadership Conference this past spring. During their visit, they learned, brainstormed, and started planning their community projects. The second phase of the program is for the student leaders to educate and engage the rest of the school in planning a Community Day together.
John S. Martinez School Community Day
November 13, 2023
“The day was incredible and I could not be prouder. Your program not only inspired our students, but inspired me as an administrator to lead our staff in this incredible mission. Thank you so much again for hosting John S. Martinez!”
— Lauren Sepulveda, Assistant Principal
Outcomes by Grade:
K: Students hosted Music Haven and made thank you notes for their donors. Some of our students in music haven played music for our Kindergarten students.
1: Students held a seed drive that collected 200 packets of seeds for Gather New Haven, a non-profit that focuses on showing families how to raise their own fruits and vegetables.
2/3 Bilingual: Students held a book drive for New Haven Reads that collected over 16 boxes of books and reading materials. New Haven Reads came to read to our 2nd and 3rd grade bilingual students.
3: Students made friendship bracelets for Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a non-profit that provides students with illnesses a place to have fun and make friends.
4: Students worked on a script for a bilingual information newscast for Solar Youth. The nonprofit organization will be meeting with them today to go over the talking points needed in the video for their social media. Students are also making poems to go on their website.
5: Students made bilingual fliers for Urban Community Alliance’s upcoming event
6: Students developed an actual petition for Save the Sound to protect the bio retention garden. Students then wrote letters to leaders in our community to make a change.
7: Students raised $405 to help veterans for Operation Warrior Horse/Healing Hoofbeats of CT. The goal was for $219 for a picnic table for the farm, where veterans participate in equine therapy. Student council will be holding a meeting with the non-profit to plan for the money which exceeded the goal.
8: Students held a winter wear drive and collected over 20 boxes of coats and winter clothing for IRIS, a non-profit, which helps newcomers with basic needs upon coming to our country.
Interested in bringing a group to Hulbert? We’d love to discuss the possibilities with you!
Contact:
Ross Cannon, Hulbert Program Director ross_cannon@alohafoundation.org
100 YEARS of LANAKILA
Just 48 hours after Closing Day at the residential camps in August, a group of 400 alumni, family members, and friends arrived in Fairlee to celebrate Lanakila’s 100th Reunion. And what an occasion it was! Here are just a few of the highlights…
LANAKILA 100 TH REUNION COMMEMORATIVE POSTERS
Four Lanakila artists Derek Baker, Kenny Medina, John Purcell, and Rachel Steyer —were asked to create commemorative posters in honor of the 100th Reunion. Each showcasing the artist’s unique talent and style, the posters were sold at the Reunion and are available on the Aloha Foundation website.
(Left to Right) by John Purcell, Kenny Medina, Rachel Steyer, and Derek Baker,
GOLDEN CHEVRON
Excerpt from the presentation of Lanakila’s highest award, given to Don McIntosh
“Don, you epitomize someone who takes responsibility for their actions and their effect on others. You bring your best to whatever you do, and you encourage others to do the same in humorous and insightful ways. You once gave a Chapel talk on ‘Attitude,’ a talk that left a mark on everyone who heard it. You told us many years ago that no matter what happened in our lives, the thing we always had control of was our attitude. And we knew you were telling the truth because we saw you live that way every day of your life.”
Lanakila’s Main House Renovation Project
The Lanakila Reunion was an opportunity to gather in celebration of friendship and community hallmarks of the Lanakila experience that are nurtured and fed perhaps nowhere more directly than in the camp’s dining room in the Main House.
Lanakila’s growth has resulted in 270 diners sitting at each meal, instead of about 240 in the 1980s. The dining room is not only more crowded, but the noise level has increased significantly.
In honor of Lanakila’s 100th Reunion, 180 donors contributed $236,161 to date toward the renovation of the dining hall, including the extension of the Old Stage dining area, refurbishment of the Counselor space, updates to the Costume Room and Rental Clothing area, and finally (but not to be underestimated) improvements to the restroom facilities.
DUCKS OF DISTINCTION
Honoring
Lanakila alumni for their contributions
JUSTIN BUCKINGHAM
Presented by Brian Maggiotto
Lanakila’s magic is all around us. We see it, we feel it, and at least twice today we’ve tasted it!! For over 14 years, Justin “Bucky” Buckingham was our chef, coming back each summer to warm our hearts and fill our bellies. Whether we were up at Winships, out on the athletics field for the final night of Ameden League, or back in our units for a Thursday night dinner, Bucky was always working with us to make sure no one went to bed hungry and that with every bite, new memories were made.
For most of us, a recipe means a tablespoon of this, a cup of that, 350 in the oven for 30 minutes, and voila… a meal! But it takes a true maestro to incorporate a piece of themselves into every recipe and to build a personal connection between themselves, the food, and the 275 Vikings who depended on them every day to find the healthy balance in life while keeping us happy along the way.
WALTER LOVE
presented by Ross Cannon
Over 60 campers and now generations of families call Lanakila home because of Walter’s efforts. The long phone conversations to ease worried families, the help arranging camp supplies & describing what a “trunk” is to new families. The orchestration of transportation to the NYC bus and visiting weekend. All while having unflappable trust in Lanakila, that once we get them to camp “they’ll be good.” We all share many connections here as Lanakilans they can be from sharing a tent or cabin, being in the same Bridge, or even the same family. But, across all those different areas we share that baseline of trust. We trust each other to be there in the fun and the tough times. We trust each other to tell the truth. And we trust one another to keep this place going to create the “boys that will be men tomorrow” and this is just one of the ways that Walter has come to earn this duck of distinction today.
KEITH KEELER
Presented by Jason Knowles
Keith is perhaps best known for sponsoring the July 4th fireworks display at Lanakila for 25 years. Keith’s dedication to this process wasn’t just because he’s the Viking who most loves to blow things up, his thinking ran far deeper. Keith understands the importance of special events. He was drawn by the marvel of campers and counselors in witnessing the display and the bonding over the beauty and celebration of the moment. He believed in and wanted to share some magic with this community. Though it’s now 27 years since he was on staff, Keith has remained known to the many staff that have continued to serve. He remains connected and appreciative of everything Lanakila has to offer, and he continues to be an advocate and mentor to many Lanakilans around the country as he lives his life through the values he learned here.
PHYLLIS SHEA
Presented by Tommy Dickie
For the role of Camp Nurse, you can’t find a better blend of warmth & compassion and no-nonsense honesty and as a result, we all felt at once safe with her around, and amused by her spirit and sense of humor. She truly knew how to roll with the punches, and how to keep things light as she did so. With Phyllis at the helm, kids wanted to get sick.
Phyllis brought a passion to the community, a love for music, storytelling and communal experiences that helped shape Lanakila into the place it is today. Yes she mentored numerous Health House counselors into a battalion of magical camp nurses, but she also shaped the lives of us all by providing a glowing example of how to make a community a better place one interaction at a time. Phyllis was always there with a gentle touch and a loving ear for hundreds of boys who needed anything from stitches to just someone to talk to, somehow making the Health House a place where special moments happened too.
ROBBIE PENNOYER
Presented by Alex Lipoff
To describe Robbie as simply a tennis counselor, or as Brookside Unit Head, or as a Head of Music, or as an engaged alumnus, or as a generous benefactor, all falls short as an encompassing statement. The reason why, of course, is that for Robbie, it has never been about “what he’s doing.” For him, it has always been “who he’s being” while he’s doing it. And every one of us here, whether we know it explicitly or not, is a lucky recipient of the special, one-of-a-kind genius Robbie has given to this place.
Robbie, thank you for your leadership. You have taught us that the best leaders have an ability to expertly communicate their vision and then trust the rest of us to help carry it out. Robbie, thank you for your teaching. You taught us that rather than teaching skills to others, we can use skills to teach others profound lessons about themselves. And Robbie, thank you for your music. You have taught us that each one of us has a place in the band, so to speak, and that a camp song, at its best, can connect each of us to our most aspirational selves as well as to a tradition of people who have loved this place beyond measure.
News
Births
Jeremy Cutler (Lanakila Assistant Director) and Liza Cohen (former Aloha counselor and current co-head of Lanakila Retirement Village) welcomed Ernie James Read Cutler on September 9, 2023. Big sister Carrie is excited to introduce Ernie to Lake Morey!
Whitney Roller Moore (former Hive camper) & John H. Moore IV welcomed a baby boy, John Harlan Moore V, on April 18, 2023.
Weddings
Audrey Lucille Hehir was born July 1, 2023 to Kathleen Horn Hehir (former Aloha counselor) and Will Hehir. Kathleen hopes that Audrey and her three-year-old sister Emilia Rose Hehir will be Hive & Aloha campers one day!
Kye Ameden (former Aloha camper/counselor) and Erik Skarin were married at Emerson Chapel at Lanakila on May 27. Many camp alumni attended the wedding, as a notable portion of Kye’s family have spent summers at camp. The song “C-A-M-P” was even sung loudly by camp alumni at one point during the reception! Guests from camp included Win, Sally, Tao, and Phil Ameden; Phyllis Shea, Lauren Sivin, Anne Rickard, Cooper Kerr, Lindsey Carter, Brooke Maddock, Alexis Pratt, Mira Records, Val Elefante, LeeAnn Kerr, Liz Egg-Krings, Cate Axtman, Julia Hall, Katie Abbott, Drew Krasnavage, and Nate, Trevor, and Owen Gold
Ginna Oates (former Hive and Aloha camper/counselor) and her husband Tyler Oates welcomed Joan Beatrice Allen (“Bea”) on August 25, 2023. Bea is already dressed and ready to be a Hiver!
Annika Oravecz (former Lanakila counselor) and Austin Evans (former Lanakila camper/counselor) celebrated their marriage in Provence, France on the weekend of August 19 surrounded by family and friends. The two met and started their relationship at camp during summer of 2017. They were legally married on March 23 in Finland, where they currently live together.
and
and
In Memoriam
Deborah “Debby” Shaw Link (former Hive and Aloha camper and former Aloha counselor), lifelong supporter of the Aloha Foundation, died on April 21. Debby was the daughter of Helen Shaw. Her camp experiences shaped every aspect of her life. She valued simplicity, friendship, adventure, a love of nature and song, and the living, dynamic spirit of Aloha. Debby shared her love of Hive and Aloha with her daughters, Helen Link Egger, Katherine Link White, and the late Jennifer Link and found joy in her grandchildren: Rebecca Egger, Sasha Egger, Leo Egger, Oliver Egger, and Maggie and James White
or
line
CONNECTED
STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR FAVORITE ALOHA PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS ALL YEAR LONG STAY
The Dancing Green — the lakefront space behind the Comb at Hive — is a cherished spot for Sunday assembly
quiet reflection, unit gatherings
games, family picnics,
all-camp photos. The maple trees that
the water’s edge are a foliage masterpiece in the fall.
Debby as a camper at Hive — she’s the one knitting with her foot on the rail.
(From left to right) Helen Spencer, Chippy Wolf, Debby Link, and Susan Hirshman at Hive’s 95th Reunion in 2009.
Aloha Means…
Amanda Lancaster, Aloha Foundation Intern Arlynn Polletta, Director of Equity, Inclusion & Outreach
The Hawaiian word Aloha embodies so much more than a simple greeting or a single-word translation. The literal meaning is “the presence of breath” or “the breath of life.” It comes from “Alo,” meaning presence and “ha,” meaning breath. Aloha is a way of living and treating each other with care and respect the idea of loving our own beings first and then extending that love to others.
Puna Dawson, an internationally known cultural ambassador and respected Hawaiian elder, spent some time at our camps this summer sharing the spirit of Aloha and the wisdom and traditions of Hawaii. Her visit to Vermont in August was full of meaningful community connections.
Connecting During Camp Assembly | In an assembly Puna led at Aloha, she taught campers and counselors about the depth of meaning of Aloha in Hawaiian culture. She talked about it as not just a word, but as a way of living, being in community, and uniting with others and the natural world. For many at camp, this was their favorite assembly of the summer.
Learning Through Dance and Music | Puna’s teaching went beyond sharing these meaningful messages. She also guided campers and counselors at Aloha and Hive in learning the hula, linking the dance movements with the meaning of Aloha and explaining how the dance can help form our understanding of it.
At Hive, Puna and her students taught campers about Ili’ili stones and searched a stream together for the smooth, egg-shaped stones that would serve as percussion to accompany the arm movements of the hula. She also taught the younger campers the letters of the alphabet with a movement-based song that was enthralling for the children.
In the Performing Arts department at Aloha, many of us were moved to tears when campers sang the Vermont state song, These Green Hills, for Puna. It was a beautiful moment of interconnection and cultural exchange.
Appreciating the Name Boards | Puna’s curiosity and respect for Aloha Camp’s traditions were apparent when she visited the name boards in the Hale, which date back generations. She delighted in learning about how they have been used to connect and inspire campers for decades. Like the concept of Aloha, the name boards represent a mutual regard and affection for each person and relationship in the collective.
Sharing Meals | The Hive visit ended with lunch in the camp dining hall, where Puna and her students were each able to sit at a table with campers. The group was also able to spend some time on the Ohana campus and enjoy group dinners in the Main Lodge with Vanessa, Arlynn, and Foundation staff. It was an opportunity to come together and share stories, creating bonds that will last far longer than the visit itself.
Continuing the Partnership | In a message to Aloha staff following her visit, Puna wrote, “The spirit of Aloha is alive and well there at the lake sites in the beautiful forests of the Aloha camps. The gift to all of the Abenaki elders and the Halau is priceless! Mahalo a nui loa for sharing the children and families of the Aloha Foundation with all of us. We look forward to the conversations and the continued relationship of appreciation, trust, and gratitude.”
We are grateful to Puna and her students for their visit and excited about what comes next! In 2025 or as soon as the timing is right our hope is to visit Hawaii and build a lasting partnership that supports Hawaiian campers and counselors in coming to the Alohas.
Half-Full Farewell
A Camper Letter to His Cabinmates
Letters from camp are the best, aren’t they? Often real keepers, too.
When Gael, a Woodsider at Lanakila, was preparing to return home to Texas in July after his first-ever three-week session, he penned this sweet goodbye to his cabin mates.
Thankfully, Gael didn’t end up leaving at the half! A spot opened up and he (and sister Sienna at Hive) received great news: they could stay for the WHOLE summer! The trunks were unpacked and two extra-happy kids settled in for three more weeks of fun, community, and growth at camp.
Gael’s parents shared this letter with us, having seen the impact a summer at camp can have on a child. “It shows how much of a difference you’ve made in young people’s lives.”
Hello. Good evening/afternoon. I have come here to say goodbye. Now, to start. This cabin was wonderful. We may have had our differences, but in the end, we are a family. I love you all. I will miss you guys. These have been the best 3 weeks of my life. I mean that literally. From the skills I learned, to the friends I made. I am so glad you were all in my cabin, and I’d love to see you all out of camp. Perhaps a trip to Denver or Cincinnati? Who knows? But in conclusion, I love you all. Thank you. This journey has been wonderful and I look forward to seeing you all again. Maybe not the same unit, but the same family. Goodbye. Thank you.
“ YA GOTTA HAVE A GINNY TO SHOW YOU THE WAY!” *
Nancy Linkroum Pennell
Former Aloha Camp Director, Hive alumna and former Hive counselor
It was 1982 and I was the new Aloha Camp Director when someone suggested to me that I contact Ginny Stevens to be Head of the Waterfront. That advice was among the very best I was given in those early years because for the next 25 summers Ginny and I worked together and I could not have imagined a summer without her.
She really did it all at the Alohas she recruited campers in the winter, chaperoned the summer train from NYC to Fairlee, was a swimming counselor and Aloha Hive Director, waterfront head and office manager at Aloha, and so very much more.
The waterfront was her favorite summer home. She loved teaching and she knew her stuff. When she transitioned to the office, she still found her way to the swim docks to teach a worried beginner to overcome her fear of the water and learn to swim. No question that it brought her more joy than reconciling petty cash and preparing office mailings. Still, in the office she found numerous ways to stay engaged with campers and staff and help them with whatever they needed. Just don’t you dare walk off with her pencils!
There was not a Unit Party or special event for which Ginny didn’t dress. I can picture her playing Mother Gulick on Old Aloha Day, dressing up as mothers against hippies for a ’60s party, sliding down Club Hill on the slip ‘n slide, dressing in an old Aloha swimsuit for a
* Some of you might remember this ditty from the Aloha Songbook. One line read, “You can go a-swimming or a-diving each day, but you’ve gotta have a (Head of Swimming) to show you the way!” Ginny’s name held that place for many years!
Gael (center) with his Woodside counselors and cabin family at Lanakila in summer 2023.
2024 DATES
Hulbert Outdoor Center
Family Camps
New Year’s 2023: Dec. 27-Jan. 1
Summer 2024: August 18-24
School Vacation Camps
February Vacation 1: 19-23, 2024
February Vacation 2: 27-29, 2024
April Vacation: 8-12, 2024
School & Leadership Programs, Facility Rentals & Retreats: Sept-June
Ohana Family Camp
Memorial Day Family Camp: May 24-27
Military Families: June 23-27
2nd: June 29-July 6
3rd: July 6-13
4th: July 13-20
5th: July 20-27
6th: July 27-August 3
7th: August 3-10
8th: August 10-17
9th: August 17-22
Facility Rentals & Retreats: May-Oct
Residential Camps
Aloha, Hive & Lanakila
Full: June 28-August 14
1st: June 28-July 21
Visiting Weekend: July 20 & 21
2nd: July 23-August 14
Club & Bridge: June 24-August 14
Horizons Day Camp
1st: July 1-12
2nd: July 15-26
3rd: July 29-August 9
4th: August 12-16
1st Yr. Apprentice: July 15-26 OR July 29-August 9
2nd Yr. Apprentice: July 15-August 9
Horizonites unite! It’s the beginning of another great day at Horizons Day Camp on Lake Fairlee. Horizons offers a unique experience in the Upper Valley — our exceptional staff focus on the same integral Aloha values of community building in simple, fun, and expansive ways. Many children retain their camp friendships across grades and clubs in local schools through the academic year, and pick up right where they left off when summer rolls around again.
