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Hello Camp Jeanne d’Arc Community,
Welcome to another edition of Blue Sparks! I have had so much fun taking on this role of leading the CJDA alum organization. I have reconnected with old cabin-mates, shared memories with legendary JDA alum, and been able to see the inner workings of camp and how Sandy and Randy want to enrich the alum community.
I am excited to discuss two big things coming your way: CJDA Celebrates 100 years and CJDA Saves Woodsheart! In addition, you can read about things the alum are celebrating, the extra activities at camp, and classic camp pranks!
As my kiddos are gearing up for their second season at camp, I can’t help but also feel that very specific and tangible anticipation of rolling along the wooded lanes to Merrill, New York so ready to experience all the joys of camp.
Enjoy!
Liz
PS. Please fill out this Alum Contact Form so that we can build our contact list!
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100 Years Celebration: Gathered Here, Near and Far | |
Reunion /rē yōōnyen/
The act or process of being brought together again as a unified whole.
I love this definition! We reunite! We are brought together again! The “whole” that we represent is Camp Jeanne d’Arc, an amazing shared experience all of us have with each other.
And we get it, Covid has changed us. We all have backlogged vacations and trips that we’d like to reimagine. There are still uncertainties swirling about. But one thing hasn’t changed: Camp Jeanne d’Arc brings joy to campers past and present!
We’d love for you to come back to camp to celebrate 100 years and smell the camp smells, see the camp sights, breathe the camp air, and experience all the nostalgia that being back on camp grounds can give you.
Cabins are going to fill up -- register now to get your first choice! Registration deadline is July 1st so make your plans now!
If you can’t be there in person, you still have an opportunity to come together as a whole camp community. The virtual and satellite reunion options are designed to increase accessibility so that all of us can participate in celebrating 100 years!
Let’s generate some buzz around this event: Register for the in-person or virtual events, submit to the memory book, plan to host a satellite event, engage on social media, talk to your camp friends!
Cheers to 100 years!
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Have you heard the news? Camp Jeanne d’Arc is saving Woodsheart! If you didn’t know, our beloved Woodsheart cabin is in dire need of serious structural stabilization and restoration. Enter Jeanne the Warrior, who is going to lead the mission to save the structure so that the memories we've cherished for 100 years can be cherished for the next 100 years.
This is a $180k project – CJDA owners and directors Sandy and Randy Abbott have committed to $125k, and later this summer we will be calling on the Jeanne d’Arc community to raise the remaining $55k. Let me explain the breakdown.
The project includes:
- Rebuilding Cardinal and Eagle cabins
- Restoring the original Woodsheart building
- Strengthening the building’s foundation
- Restoring and updating Woodsheart exterior
- Updating bathroom facilities
- Restoring historic elements like: floors, beams, windows, mantle, etc
You may be thinking, "this is a privately-operated camp, why are they fundraising?" Thank you for asking. We analyzed this question very carefully. As owners of the camp, Sandy and Randy feel that it is 100% their responsibility to keep the buildings safe and enrollment numbers steady, and are prepared to invest their resources to ensure that this happens. That’s why they are putting $125k into completely rebuilding Cardinal and Eagle cabins and stabilizing the original Woodsheart structure.
But there are some really special parts of Woodsheart that they don’t want to lose (nor do the JDA alumni!) — like the 100-year old mantle, the natural wood beams and railings, the original windows and shutters. Restoring these elements requires significant funds. We are calling on the Camp Jeanne d’Arc community to join Randy, Sandy (and Jeanne the Warrior) to join the mission to Save Woodsheart!
We are planning fun ways to be a part of this project including the opportunity to “Keep a Piece of Woodsheart” to display in your own home.
The Camp Jeanne d’Arc Foundation’s bylaws include receiving donations for this type of restoration project and all donations will be tax deductible.
Stay tuned for more information — Jeanne the Warrior is excited to join this awesome community!
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“Raid the hearth, short-sheet a bed, put a frog on someone’s head…” Let’s talk pranks! What are the classic camp pranks? The most legendary camp pranks? Have you ever been busted for a prank? I’ve culled my sources and this is a (non-comprehensive) list of CJDA pranks:
- Raid the hearth (obviously)
- Steal all the shoes of another cabin
- Raise someone’s uniform up the flagpole
- Relocate the Hearth chairs (breakfast on the Hearth lawn!)
- Launch your favorite counselor’s clothes to the top of Falcon roof
- Hang the head table from the rafters
- Smuggle a 7-foot Joan of Arc statue into the Chalet
Whether you scored marshmallows for days or inconvenienced your favorite counselor (“Where are my clothes!”), pranks were a true act of rebellion. But that's the thing with pranks – they celebrate kids being independent, being a little mischievous, making mistakes and figuring out how to make it right, but most of all, having FUN!
Now, please, someone find that 7-foot statue!!
[Updated photo]
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Richard James Carrión with big sisters and JDA campers Amelia and Celeste Carrión | Noel Furst with big brothers Colin and Miles | The Ohio State University Masters graduate Maeve Clinton! | |
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Welcome to a new segment in Blue Sparks: Reasons to Celebrate. We love hearing about all things alum – a new job or accomplishment, new babies, marriages, trips, reunions with old camp friends, etc. So, we made a form for that! Here are some bits of alum news to celebrate!
Caroline McConnie
Caroline is excited that her daughters Amelia and Celeste Carrión are returning to camp for their second summer. The three of them now share so many special camp memories. Also, on April 24th they welcomed into the family a baby boy - Richard James - who is hoping to receive many letters from his sisters this summer!
Rosie Doyle
Rosie and her husband Andrew so happy to welcome their third child, a girl (and hopefully future Jeanne d’Arc-er) Noel Regina Furst! Noel joins brothers Colin (3) and Miles (almost 2) to the family. While Andrew and Colin got to see camp in 2020, Rosie can’t wait to show the whole family Camp Jeanne d’Arc some day!
Meave Clinton
Maeve received her Masters Degree from The Ohio State University in Social Work. She will be working as a Community Based Therapist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Congrats Maeve!
If you would like to share something in your life worth celebrating, please fill out this form and we’ll feature you on the next Blue Sparks!
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Abbotts Move to Plattsburgh! | |
“Driver, let’s move, so we can groove!” Did somebody say move?? It’s true, Randy and Sandy are moving east and planting roots in Plattsburgh, New York this fall. In order to be closer to camp (and avoid those pesky flight cancellations!), the Abbotts are taking the leap to the North Country full-time.
They want to closely monitor the Woodsheart Project and be more available to camp needs in the off-season. And even though they’ll have to bundle up a little more than they do in California, they will still be among beautiful mountains and lakes. And, as we all know, “when we pass Plattsburgh at last, then it cannot be far, we can’t wait to see the gate, Jeanne d’Arc here we are!”
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Were you a water skier or a rider? Neither? Both? (Lucky you!). The extra activities were so special at camp. I was a water skier and I loved being part of the little camp subgroup that honed this specialized skill. I have vivid memories of doing a double ski session on Upper Lake on a drizzly day as I was awarded a few extra attempts to master skiers' salute or try getting up on one ski.
The riders seemed to have their own unique relationships with the horses and that bond grew over the camp session until some of the riders were almost as sad to leave their horses as they were their cabin mates. And I know a few riders who still have their ribbons from the camp horse show, one of the best and longest-standing camp traditions.
Thank you Randy and Sandy for keeping these awesome activities alive and thriving!
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It. Was. So. Much. Fun! We had an intimate and hilarious night at our inaugural Colonel’s Club gathering! Picture this: camp alum who spent time at JDA in each of the following decades: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s were all present at a casual and nostalgia-filled evening. We talked about camp memories, camp connections, and the friendships that have lasted decades.
The highlight: Alice Bateman had visited camp a while back and led a guest activity - Latin Dance. Wouldn’t you know, fellow Colonel’s Club attendee Ali Thompson took Alice’s dance class! And to this day, Ali and her sister do those same moves together!! Thanks for coming everyone! So fun!
If you are interested in hosting a Colonel’s Club in your area, let me know and I can help you set it up and find people to participate!
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Have you enjoyed this edition of Blue Sparks? Do you want to be kept in the loop regarding CJDA happenings? Please complete this google form so that we can better keep in touch. Also, it would be awesome if you can encourage your buddies from camp to complete the form too!!
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