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Dear Camp Jeanne d’Arc community,
I have been thinking about music a lot lately. What summertime shows are playing at the local outdoor venue, what songs my teenagers are into, what do I think of the new Taylor Swift album etc. And every now and then, a camp song will pop into my head. Maybe I’ll start whistling “Oh we’re all out camping in the Adirondacks” or I’ll be on my daily walk and start humming “On the loose to climb a mountain” or I’ll hold my newborn niece and sing softly “Oh evening at Jeanne d’Arc…”
Doesn’t music represent a nice little microcosm for Camp? Even if we are not actively thinking about JDA, the melody of our experiences are always there, right below the surface, waiting for it's time to brighten our day!
In this issue of Blue Sparks, enjoy a spotlight on this summer’s Waterfront Director, results from a facebook poll on evening activity, and an interview with mother/daughter alumnae Livvy Dinneen and Ashley Dinneen Rolls. And if you ever find yourself singing a little camp ditty, let us know, we’d love to know that you are thinking about camp!
All the Best,
Liz Bateman Rambo
Head of Alumnae
PS. Please fill out this Alum Contact Form so that we can build our contact list
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Facebook Poll: Evening Activity! | |
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Day is done, gone the sun, from the lakes, from the hills, from the sky… evening time at camp is a really special time of day. The temperature chills, the sky darkens, and campers feel their legs ache from trekking from the Chalet lawn to the waterfront and back again. Maybe a little crispy from sunburn or soggy from an afternoon shower, campers are beat, but not quite ready to retire for the night.
Enter evening activity! I polled Facebook to see what the alum remember about how we spent the time at the end of a full camp day:
Run Sheepy Run
Ship to Shore
Milk and Cookies with the Owls
Wishing Night
S’mores
Walk to the Bridge
Christmas
Sunday BBQ
Twilight Swim
Capture the Flag
Talent Show
Play Performance
Evening Boating
And, of course, the most popular response: singing by the campfire!
Lots of these activities involved the whole camp coming together. But sometimes, evening activity is a time for the cabins to hang out in their own intimate groups coordinating a skit, writing a cabin song, or enjoying each other and the nighttime nature scene. Any way you slice it, I’d do it over in a heartbeat!
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Alum Spotlight: Livvy Dinneen and Ashley Rolls | |
Imagine it is 1922 and an Irish immigrant and her young adult daughter are touring properties in upstate New York to carry out a dream – a dream of starting a girls summer camp among the beautiful mountains and crystal clear lakes of the Adirondacks. Now imagine you get to call these women your grandmother and your aunt!
I was beyond excited to interview Livvy Dinneen and her daughter Ashley Dinneen Rolls for this Alum Spotlight edition. Livvy is the niece of Camp Jeanne d’Arc founder Ruth Israel McIntryre and the granddaughter of Marie Looby, Ruth’s mother. Ruth, supported by her mother Marie, was a strong woman ahead of her time who had a dream to start Camp Jeanne d’Arc. Their vision was to give girls the chance to interact with nature, form lifelong friendships, and grow into strong women themselves.
Livvy remembers her first year at camp when she was only six years old. Ruth Israel McIntyre (or Colonel to most Jeanne d’Arcers) picked up Livvy on the PA turnpike outside of Philly and embarked on the long drive to Merrill, New York. And as only a six-year old can, Livvy remembers two things about the drive: sharing a grilled cheese and holding her doll out the window to watch the wind blow through her hair!
Livvy started her Camp Jeanne d’Arc journey in 1952 in the Lark cabin with her two best friends Buggy (who happens to be my mother, Alice Scanlan) and Taffy. Livvy’s first memories of camp included creating a fairytale land outside of the Lark cabin. To my delight, she noted the bright imagination of Buggy and Taffy and the pure joy of being with her friends at camp! We also talked about the bus rides from NYC, enjoying time with her McIntyre cousins, nicknames, meals, writing letters to camp friends, reunions, and crying when it was time to go home! “Camp was everything,” Livvy told me. “I lived for summer time.”
Livvy’s daughter Ashley visited camp as a toddler in 1975 when Livvy was helping out at camp and she became an official camper in 1979. Ashley’s most valued part of her camp experience are the friendships. In fact, when Ashley recently moved to Wilmington, Delaware, the first people she reached out to were friends from JDA with whom she immediately reconnected. There is something special about camp friendships – they are relaxed and genuine and easy to pick back up, no matter how much time has passed.
Our conversation shifted to what changes camp has endured over the years and what they hope remains moving forward. Livvy said that she was happy when hot water was introduced! Bathing in the lake was less than ideal!
Ashley thought about it for a moment. Then she explained that she isn’t so much worried about change, instead she feels an immense sense of gratitude that so many wonderful things about camp have continued.
That hit me. Because isn’t that what it's all about? It's the essence of Camp Jeanne d’Arc that is important – the memories of grilled cheeses and bus rides, young campers playing outside of their cabins, being in nature, adventuring by the lake, exploring the mountains, counting down the days until summer, and keeping in touch with camp friends into adulthood.
And I am grateful too. Grateful to have this shared experience with Livvy and Ashley and so many amazing and strong women!
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Where are this Summer's Counselors Coming From? | |
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My summer camp memories always include a camper or counselor from another country. Maybe I had a swim instructor who spoke with an accent, or an upper camper played a new type of music, or a cabin mate brought some chili-spiced candy I never even heard of (true story and it was delicious!).
Many of my memories of hanging out in my cabins had an international element. This summer, Camp Jeanne d’Arc is excited to welcome counselors from over eleven countries. So far, our staff hails from the following nations:
Argentina
Azerbaijan
Brazil
England
Ireland
Mexico
New Zealand
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Spain
USA (including Puerto Rico)
We can’t wait for this year’s campers and counselors to become a unified camp family!
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Counselor Spotlight: Mary Joyce, Waterfront Director | |
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One of the things I love about camp is the interconnectedness of the camp community. Picture this: It’s 2011 and a sweet nine-year old, Mary Joyce, enjoying her first summer at camp, immersing herself in all things arts – drama, dance, crafts – hears her name being called on Banquet night to receive the Fleur de Lis Award, an award that recognizes kindness and Camp Spirit. Fast forward to this summer when the same kid, only now a responsible adult and trained teacher and lifeguard, will be heading up the waterfront! It's a full circle moment of a young kid recognized for her goodness to a staff member dedicated to ensuring a safe, enriching, and fun experience on Chateaugay Lake! I just love this!
Mary first came to camp after seeing her sister, cousins, and second cousins fall in love with Jeanne d’Arc. She loved the arts and participated in several plays including the Joan of Arc play and the popular production, Grease. Mary also loved swimming, and still does, as she is a current swim instructor and lifeguard at the YMCA.
Mary’s favorite memory of camp is when she pulled a white feather out of the bag and was immediately engulfed by the Les Pucelles team with face paint, hugs, and songs! I totally relate (Go Les!!).
I asked Mary what her biggest takeaway from her camp experience was and without skipping a beat she talked about how she gained the confidence to become a more independent and strong girl. Even today as she explores an advanced degree in education and leadership, she credits CJDA for providing a space for her to find her own space and her own path.
Isn’t that cool? The qualities of confidence and independence she learned as a camper are the same things that are going to support the high-level functioning on the waterfront this summer! It was a pleasure to connect with Mary and, wow, camp sure is lucky to have her!
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Are you an alum and wondering if you are ever welcome to come to camp? Well, I have good news, you are! We love our alumni community and are always looking for ways to have you up at camp. Here are some examples of ways alum can come to camp:
- Alum workshops. This summer we are welcoming Mikayla Kloc, Eliot Frost, and Leila Molahan to camp to present workshops on their fields of expertise. Mikayala will present her work on the history of the land camp sits on. Eliot will share an astronomy presentation. And Leila will be working with campers on mindfulness and meditation.
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Alum work weekend. June 21-23, we will welcome alum, their partners, friends, and their adult children to come up to camp for a weekend of cleaning, hanging curtains, painting, and hanging out! Interested? Reach out to me (liz@campjeannedarc.com)
- Day visits. Are you visiting the Adirondacks this summer and want to pop over for a little tour or a meal in the Hearth? Give us a shout! We would love to have you swing by and see your old stomping ground!
Do me a favor, come back!!
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Camp Jeanne d’Arc’s best marketing tool is our word of mouth. Nothing sells camp better than an enthusiastic JDA alum or camp parent telling ALL the stories! We’d like to give a major shout out to some of this summer’s super fans. These families referred new camp families to the 2024 season. THANK YOU!!
Patricia Blanco
Katie Feola
Adriana Haigler
Carrie Parker
Cecilia Orvananos Quintana
Aui Vega
We can’t wait to welcome our new friends to the JDA community. Are you interested In referring a friend? Reach out to Randy Abbott for more information on how to connect a friend to camp.
PS. Did you refer a family and are not on this list? Let us know! We want to properly recognize you!
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CJDA directors Randy and Sandy get asked the same set of questions pretty often: How should my daughter prepare for camp? What should she pack? What do I need to know as a first time camper parent? What if my child has dietary needs? What if she gets hurt or sick? How do you deal with homesickness?
In one of our most recent blog posts, the Camp Jeanne d’Arc blog thoughtfully and thoroughly tries to answer these questions. The article is titled: “Dear First Time Camp Parent.” Here is a clip from the blog:
“Dear First Time Camp Parent, I bet you can count the number of days you’ve been away from your daughter on one hand. Maybe two. And now you are staring down weeks of time and distance between you and the person that matters most to you. Yeah, it’s hard. I am about to send my daughters off to Camp Jeanne d’Arc for their fourth summer, and it's still hard. Here are some things to remember about how first-time camper parents can prepare for the transition to camp:
Worried about Homesickness? Pep talk time. I know they might roll their eyes or complain that you are being “cringe” but do it anyway. Give them a pep talk before camp begins. Let them know that the first few days might be tough, but by pushing past their comfort zone they will grow emotionally, make lifelong friends, and experience a summer they will remember forever."
Check out the entire blog post and more here. And if you ever come across a family interested in camp, but has questions, feel free to pass it along!
https://campjeannedarc.com/blog/
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Interpreting Your Letter Home from Camp | |
Finally! I received a letter home from my daughter at camp. It had been five whole days away from her and I had been starving for information – What cabin is she in? Did she make a friend? What activity is she enjoying? Is she happy?
Did the letter tell me everything? Well, yes and no. It was pretty short and not super detailed, but as a four-year camp mom, I can interpret what I was reading.
Letter: “Hi Mom! I’m having so much fun at camp.”
Interpretation: Mom, you don’t need to worry about me. I am feeling safe and happy.
Letter: “Smugglers is happening! Nicky is a Smuggler!! She was kinda sad bc she wanted to be with the rest of us, but now she's excited.”
Interpretation: The traditions that I love are alive and well. My friendships are strong and we are excited to finally be able to enjoy Smugglers as upper campers.
Letter: “The best meal I’ve had was probably breakfast.”
Interpretation: Mom, the food is fine. I am eating but I actually don’t care that much about it. I am more interested in making memories with my friends and excelling in my activities than what I am eating.
Letter: “I am going on Carry’s overnight.”
Interpretation: I am really getting into mountaineering and excited for any and all opportunities to dive into this activity.
Letter: “I have done some canoeing lately and I really like it.”
Interpretation: I am trying new things and even though it's outside my comfort zone, I am totally rocking it!
Letter: “Please send me some gum.”
Interpretation: I know gum is not allowed, but it would be really cool if you could hide ten sticks of gum between the magazine pages so that I can share with my cabin mates!
Letter: “PS Our cabin is working on a camp-themed game of Clue.”
Interpretation: I am feeling confident and have some really cool ideas to share with my camp community. Camp gives me the chance to have my own voice and make an impact. This experience is making me a strong, more confident person and I am grateful. Thank you mom!
Another way to see what campers are really up to is to follow along on Camp Jeanne d’Arc’s Instagram account. You will definitely get more information than a letter home, you can bank on it!
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Connect with Camp Jeanne d'Arc! | | |
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Come see what we're up to on social media!!
Not on social media? We want to hear from you! Send me a note with what you've been up to!
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