Reviving and Transforming Camp Oh-Neh-Tah

An interview with Miss Connie about re-opening camp in 2019!

Connie's journey to becoming a Camp Director was unexpected. She initially retired from directing in 2015 but was called by the president of the board of Girls Quest, Eileen, in spring 2016. They wanted to bring Camp Oh-Neh-Tah back to life, and Connie agreed to get involved.

Connie dedicated about four weeks to working at the camp, focusing on infrastructure and cleaning up the facilities.In 2018, Connie started rewriting policies necessary for safety and ACA accreditation, later joining the board in November of that year. 

Despite some staffing challenges, they managed to assemble a team of volunteers and staff. Connie's close friend Elena stepped in as the camp's chef, and Eva brought in her family acquaintances to assist in the kitchen. Despite the limited time for staff training, Camp Oh-Neh-Tah restarted with a 10-day session in August 2019!

Most Memorable Moments

Connie's most memorable moment as a Camp Director was in 2023, where besides the staffing challenges, they successfully executed all planned camp activities that had not been possible since 2019 due to various constraints. She credits the success to her senior team and a dedicated camp committee that is wholeheartedly committed to the progress of Camp Oh-Neh-Tah and Girls Quest. This achievement marked their most successful camp session to date, and she emphasized the collective dedication and passion for serving the children in their care.

Biggest Challenges

The biggest challenge Connie faced during her time as a Camp Director was staffing, particularly due to the short contract duration and the difficulty in finding individuals with the right qualifications and dedication. Additionally, the shift towards addressing the mental, emotional, and social health of both staff and campers became increasingly important, with COVID-19 exacerbating these concerns and bringing them to the forefront.

Future of Camp

Connie envisions a future for Camp Oh-Neh-Tah where she hopes to see an expansion of the program, an increase in the number of campers and camper days, possibly through two-week or one-week sessions with a day off in between. She emphasizes the importance of fundraising and sponsorships to support these endeavors and sustain the staff, which is a significant expense. Connie also expresses her desire to introduce new program offerings, potentially including photography and basic life skills, while continuing to promote literacy and creative activities like journaling and poetry writing. She believes that the entire camp environment should serve as a unique classroom for learning, fostering personal growth, and building a strong community.

Advise for the New Camp Director

Connie's advice to the new Camp Director is to give themselves grace, not be afraid to seek help or advice from experienced individuals, including former Camp Oh-Neh-Tah Camp Directors, and to approach challenges with a sense of humor and adaptability, recognizing that what may seem easy in theory can be more complex in practice. She also highlights the positive impact of the year-round program and suggests continuing to focus on enriching campers' lives through various aspects of the program, with the goal of transitioning more activities to in-person interactions in the future.