When I reflect on what my favorite time of year might be, I feel very strongly it has to be spring. I am most excited by the changes I note as I walk around the camp property. It seems that some new plant pops up out of the ground each day. Right now, the great patches of bloodwort, golden ragwort, Robin’s plantain, and giant chickweed put smiles on my face. I love seeing the earth come alive. The arrival of spring also means that camp is close. Everything we do culminates in the opening of camp and the camping season. Our first Mother-Daughter Weekend is just three weeks away!
We are excited to share the many things we have done in the off-season. The dining hall expansion is wrapping up. The vista from the dining hall out onto the green is lovely. We added as many windows as possible, and we are so pleased with the results.
We are also very pleased with our new campfire location. The new seating will accommodate all of us quite comfortably, and the view across the lake is lovely. We are very excited to have path lighting to campfire as well as marking the way back to the boathouse. After four years of campfire on the green, we will once again have a special space in which to celebrate our campers’ accomplishments.
As I approach my 41st summer of leading Keystone Camp, I want to celebrate my team. For so many years, I was in the weeds making every decision on every action and program. In the recent past, we have been so fortunate to have such dedicated staff members whose priorities are to make the summer the very best experience we are able for our campers. I told a close friend at lunch this week, “I am not the person managing the day-to-day programmatic decisions at Keystone. I am the big-picture leader.” I am still working to define the role I will assume this summer. The Keystone team is a fabulous group of women! Jazz, Izzy, Catherine, Stacey, Jessica, and Eleanor are experienced, talented, and wise. We have every detail of our operations covered in these folks. I particularly value having both our equestrian program and our medical administration part of our year-round team. This allows us to have a comprehensive view of our entire operation. We make collective decisions that are in the best interest of our staff and campers. We are all in on Keystone.
As I type this blog right now, I am eavesdropping on our year-round team discussing their personal values and their intentions for the summer; how best they are able to serve our organization and the campers. Camp remains a unique opportunity to invest in our girls. We continue to be a place where we help our girls grow to meet the challenges ahead of them in life. We provide our girls a place where they learn that other adults are invested in their success. We stand next to our girls as they meet new challenges, as they learn that failure is a necessary part of growth.
I have had a great privilege to lead Keystone these past 40 summers. Now that I could be the grandmother of many of my campers, I am proud to provide an incredible group of the next generation to lead Keystone Camp. Jazz, Izzy, Catherine, Stacey, Jessica, and Eleanor are working hard as we look forward to opening day of our 108th summer season! We will be so glad to have you with us!
