A Fall Family “Thank You” from Louise
Wow! What an incredible fall we have had thus far. I have to express my gratitude to our incredible camp family. It is humbling to see the outpouring of support as you all have made Wayfarer such a priority in your children’s lives. All I can say is thank you! Since the end of the summer, I have loved staying in touch with our community and helping families plan for next year. It has been incredibly rewarding hearing stories of the impact camp has had on your children. Although the off-season has no blobbing or late night cookies and milk, the Wayfarer magic can still be found in the way we all lead our day to day lives.
Visiting our camp families in their hometowns has been my favorite aspect of the fall. From Raleigh, to Jacksonville, Dallas, and DC, the love of Wayfarer is felt all over the country. Seeing the camp connection through banquet awards in bedrooms, letters from camp best-friends pinned up on bulletin boards, and arts-and-crafts bracelets clinging to wrists by a thread proves how camp becomes an ever-present part of our day-to-day lives. It is especially gratifying to hear returning campers share their love for Wayfarer with new friends and families. The most common theme I hear about what makes a summer at Wayfarer so special is the meaningful relationships developed. The magic of camp is found in the people; lasting friendships made with cabin-mates, relationships built with counselors, and new role-model figures found in one another. Having grown up myself at Wayfarer, I understand the profound influence it can have in your life. The impact my summers at camp have had on my personal development, confidence, and relationship building skill-set are unmatched to any other life experience I have had. What a blessing to have the opportunity to play a role in future generations’ transformational experiences at camp.
As we wrap up our fall schedule, I look forward to continuing to meet with returning campers as well as new families and friends. Be on the lookout for updates of where we are headed next. (I am talking to you Florida and the Carolinas!) And as always, if you have any friends or families that may be interested in Wayfarer, please do not hesitate to reach out. I hope to visit with as many of you as possible in the coming months. Take care and Happy Holidays!!
Louise Ellisen
Associate Director
