Camp director's letter

Dear Jeanne d'Arcers, future Jeanne d'Arcers and Friends,

Founded in 1922 by my grandmother, Camp Jeanne d'Arc has held a special place in the hearts and minds of girls for four generations. A traditional camp for girls from all over the world, Jeanne d'Arc is unique in its emphasis on the individual and what she brings to our community. We offer each girl the opportunity to enjoy activities, make friends and have fun in an unsurpassed setting on beautiful Lake Chateaugay in the Adirondack mountains in upstate New York. Campers enjoy every aspect of childhood growth: activities and skills they can use throughout their lives, friendships they will always cherish and an exposure to and appreciation of the beauty and majesty of the great outdoors.

I am honored to be writing you as Jeanne d'Arc's Director, having taken over responsibility for this wonderful place maintained by my family for over 85 years. I  grew up at Camp, arriving the first time when I was just two weeks old. I was a camper for 11 years and a counselor and staff member for many years thereafter. It was not too long ago, when my daughters, Sandy and Olivia, now 15 and 13,  were very young that I had the opportunity to take some time off from my "real" job to help out at Camp for a few summers.

During those years, I was struck by the wonderful sameness of Camp to when I was a camper in the 1960's and '70's. While the names had changed, the enthusiasm and happy glow on the campers' faces while singing around a campfire on the beach reminded me of when I was a camper. Our counselors and staff, are also developing and exemplifying leadership skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. I know I wouldn't have been as confident in school, sports, practicing law or working for big business without the skills developed at Camp so many summers ago.  Camp is full of opportunities for girls to take responsibility for themselves and others in a non-school setting. Whether it is finally getting the hang of something difficult, making a pin in archery, playing in a tournament, earning the weekly Fleur de Lis in her cabin, participating in the Camper Council, team leadership, trying out for a play, camping out overnight or any one of a myriad of other activities, each camper has the ability to strive for and achieve success.

We value continuity while at the same time welcome new ideas. This summer the girls will enjoy special events like Christmas and Smugglers as well as our traditions of nightly campfire, camp spirit and team games. In recent years we have had great success reinstating the Camper Council where a group of elected campers meet with the Director once a week to talk about things like activities, cabin life and food. We also have incorporated the "Milestones" program in both running and swimming; we believe that running and swimming are fitness activities that girls and women can enjoy for life and wanted to add them as an option outside our regular schedule (just as their mothers and big sisters have to fit them into their busy days.) We now regularly enjoy "Friday Night at the Movies" under the stars, weather permitting, and more "lazy" Saturdays and Special Sundays so the weekends feel more like the weekend.

At this time of the year, we are looking forward to another wonderful "JDA" summer. Please call or email me with your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

/s/Jehanne McIntyre Edwards

Edwards Family: Olivia, Jehanne, Sandy and Michael in Devonport, New Zealand over the 2005-2006 holidays.