I’ll just say two things straight out:
All of my best friends in the world are camp people.
And most of the important things I know, I learned at camp.
On the friendship front, it’s a common refrain from people who’ve spent weeks, months, years, and summers at places like Kenwood & Evergreen.
How could it not?
Camps across the country have people who’ve left them and taken those friendships out into the world. So many of you reading this probably have someone who comes to mind when you think about K&E this way.
The people you trust. The people who know you better than anyone else.
The people you can call at any time, day or night, because you’ve already spent those weeks, months, years, and summers with them.
Evergreen has been creating friendships like these for generations.
Camp Skills = Life Skills
Sure, I have a full camp story. Started at AGQ in Michigan, then to Frost Valley, went on to lead Dragonfly Forest, and Camp Tall Tree.
Lots of stories. Lots of friends. Same themes.
The listening skills you develop in a cabin full of kids?
Those work in corporate boardrooms.
The way you learn to handle conflict when someone’s a bit annoyed about cleanup duty?
That translates to family dinners when a teen might be upset about something they can’t quite name.
The confidence that comes from rocking at Color War in front of people who are rooting like crazy for you?
Kids carry that into school presentations, first dates, college drop offs, job interviews, promotions, everything really.
My current career is at ForumWithin and I’m a YPO facilitator. I work with executives who need to build trust with their teams and leaders trying to figure out how to support the people around them.
The themes for those settings? They’re all camp things.
Showing up for people is what counts 100%.
Relationships matter as much or more than being right.
Group dynamics change the outcome for better or worse
Different processes and strategies bring different strengths for different people
A summer at camp teaches kids that they can handle those tough things.
These aren’t just nice ideas that work in the woods for a few weeks.
They’re life skills that change how people move through the world.
What I See at K&E
Spending time at Kenwood & Evergreen this summer was instructive in a simple way.
This place is so good at creating the experiences that matter.
I’ve seen camps from a patch of dust and a soccer ball to places with sailing ships most people will never see.
What I noticed at K&E was how the space itself supports the relationships. Lodges with that real camp feel. Common areas that bring people together naturally. Places by the water where campers can have quiet conversations that matter. Activities that work for kids who are already confident and kids who are just finding their courage.
Most importantly? It has authenticity.
That doesn’t happen just by some happy accident.
It’s so clearly the result of decades of thoughtful leadership and people who cared deeply about creating something lasting. Something that retains those green leaves of belonging all year long.
Something Evergreen.
A truly transformational camp experience happens when you have people who truly care about kids and know how to help them grow.
That’s a heck of a foundation.
Camp Friends
Jack wasn’t one of those original Camp Friends (yes, that group deserves capital letters) I mentioned at the start.
But I’ve found you can always add to that group when you find the right people who share the same values.
He’s a friend through the great world of camp who understands all of these things from above.
The chance to join him in this work? That’s exactly the kind of project Camp People say yes to.
This summer, the best conversations are going to happen around campfires. Kids will have space to figure things out for themselves. And girls will leave knowing they can handle anything.
I can’t wait to meet more of you and hear your own Evergreen stories.
I can’t wait to watch your daughters come home with new confidence and connections.
And I can’t wait to hear about your Camp Friends.
I hope to be one to all of you.
Best,
Sylvia
PS: I want to meet all of you!
- Email and let’s set up a time to talk
- Grab a spot on my calendar?
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Jack and I are hosting some parent zooms