It is always fascinating to watch the changes that take place once camp closes. As I walk the dogs in the afternoon through the back trails on the property, the delicate ferns are beginning to die back, leaves are beginning to fall from the trees, and the deer have eaten the leaves from the hostas. Mornings this week have dropped into the 50’s and the daytime temperatures are running nearly 10 degrees cooler than the last week of camp. Fall is coming!
I often like to remind myself that, “The only constant in life is change.” This statement has been attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitis of Ephesus. He believed that change was central to the universe and that nothing remains still.
I think we can all agree that change happens daily in our lives. So many times, when I feel like things could not be going better for camp, we seem to get hit with a change. Our challenge is in how we respond to the change. Without change, Keystone would become stagnate. It is imperative that camp stay dynamic, responding to the interests and needs of today. Change allows us to take a new look at something, to consider a new way of doing things, to consider a new way of thinking. Change is a necessary part of Keystone and the summer camp industry.
I have always tried to frame change as an opportunity, particularly when it involves having really amazing folks move on from their positions at Keystone. As hard as it is to lose someone who does a fantastic job, I cannot help but be happy for them and the new opportunity ahead of them in their own life.
After 8 years at Keystone, Jazz Whyatt has returned to the field of public education and is teaching first grade in the Wake County, North Carolina school system. Jazz has long had a goal of becoming a school principal, and we are excited for her as she takes the steps to realizing her dream. I know Jazz will be an incredible educator, and the children lucky enough to experience her classroom will realize their potential thanks to Jazz’s commitment to them.
It is hard to put into words the tremendous impact Jazz had on the Keystone community. When asked to describe her, I usually start out by saying that she is one of the most beautiful people, inside and out, who I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Jazz is wise beyond her years, and I valued our working relationship and our friendship. Jazz was a tremendous role model for our staff and our campers. She did a great job of keeping us moving forward as a team, and we will miss her. We refuse to say goodbye to her, as we know Jazz will be back someday for a visit, or perhaps when she has her own children and sends them to camp.
We are very excited to add Allison Hillstrom to our year-round staff. Allison has just completed her first summer at Keystone as our Adventure Program Director. She is from Howell, Michigan, and is a 2023 graduate of Northern Michigan University with a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership. She is very excited to move to Brevard full-time in mid-September so that she can begin to expand our trips program. Allison will be working on plans to convert one of the houses on the property into our outdoor education center. With a garden area and grassy lawn around the center, it will be a much better location for our camp crafts program.
Catherine, Izzy, Stacey, Jessica, Nurse Eleanor, and I will hold down the fort until Allison’s arrival. We will all gather in late September to work on our strategic planning for 2025. You will be hearing from us as we put shape to the 109th season of Keystone Camp for Girls!
