Hello Camp Jeanne d’Arc Community,
It’s that time of year where campers start thinking about what they need to pack for camp – blue and white tutus, cozy pajamas, wigs, socks, friendship bracelet string … IYKYK! And parents start thinking about labeling clothes, locating the laundry bag, and gathering letter-writing supplies.
At CJDA, we feel the anticipation too! In this edition of Blue Sparks, enjoy an update on program enhancements, this summer’s motor trip, counselor updates, lots of alumnae news, and a new blog post: Has CJDA Gone Corporate?
Enjoy catching up on CJDA and we hope this season of anticipation finds you all well!
Best,
Liz Bateman Rambo
Alumni Workshops, Looking for One More!
Do you have a skill to share with the CJDA camper community? Do you want to come up to Camp this summer? Do you want a little cash?? If the answer is yes to these questions, then we want you! The Camp Jeanne d’Arc Foundation is supporting Camp’s Alumni Workshop program with $250 stipends for approved alum workshops (thank you CJDA Foundation!!).
Alum Leila Molahan is coming back this summer for her second year to conduct an amazing Mindfulness Workshop. Last summer Leila led campers through a three-day workshop developing social-emotional tools through Laughter Yoga, a guided meditation, heart-centered visualization techniques, restorative justice circles, and letter-writing to campers’ future selves.
Leila told us, “It seems I went back to camp to offer a workshop but received so much more in return. It was an incredible few days of reconnection, laughter and the unique spirit of Camp Jeanne D’Arcers. Out of all the words to describe my experience, the best one still seems to be- magical.”
It is not too late to get in on this! We are open to different types of workshops – arts, athletics, sign language, woodworking, pottery, sewing, cooking, yoga, calligraphy, drama … you get the idea!
Who is interested? Email Liz Rambo (liz@campjeannedarc.com) to find out more.
The Beauty of Alumni Sending Daughters to Camp
We had so much fun gathering photos of alumni-at-camp alongside their daughters-at-camp! And besides slight variations in photo quality and perhaps fashion choices, you couldn’t really tell the difference between photos from the 80s/90s and today! The collared blue shirts, camaraderie, chalet lawn, and smiles are the same! Families who have multi-generation campers talk about how special it is to have this common shared experience (check out our blog post about this!). Campers and their alum parents connect about cabin buildings, traditions, songs, pranks, lake temperature, the Camp landscape and so much more! Are you part of a multi-generation camp family? Do you have photos to share? Let us know!
Alum Spotlight: Grace Franco
Camp Jeanne d’Arc Alum Grace Franco and I chatted about the concept of timelessness and comfort zones and Grace’s journey from building a rainy-day fire to becoming the Travel Manager for the White House. And not surprisingly, how Camp had a part in all of this!
Grace grew up in Brooklyn, New York and first attended camp in 2011 in the Parrot cabin. She trekked up to Chateaugay Lake for the next nine summers as a camper, CIT, and counselor. She became a leader (Les Pucelles captain) and received the Lorraine Trophy. As a counselor she taught mountaineering and campcraft.
Grace told me that some of her favorite memories include campfire, banquet, and the empowering experience of being in the Owl cabin. I smiled because those are some of the same favorite memories of mine from the 1990s and probably the same for current campers. Camp has that special quality of timelessness. Without technology or the pressure to achieve or be cutting-edge, Camp Jeanne d’Arc is one of the only places where the experience can remain largely the same across decades.
We discussed the power of getting outside of your comfort zones and trying new things… like building a rainy-day fire. The task seems difficult, almost impossible, and campers often fail on the first attempt. But when campers are finally successful, they walk away knowing that they can do hard things and that most tasks, regardless of how daunting they seem, are figure-out-able.
Grace also talked about learning the basics of diplomacy at Camp – how to interact with and respect those from different backgrounds. Grace remembers a cabinmate from Venezuela whose family was dealing with political unrest at home including severe product shortages. At the end of the summer, the camper packed an extra suitcase filled with toilet paper to bring home. Grace got to see first-hand how global circumstances affect others. The value of building friendships with those who lead different lives is something that became a part of Grace’s strength personally and professionally.
What better lessons to learn when you become the Travel Manager for the White House under the Biden Administration in 2023. Grace held this role for two years and coordinated hundreds of trips across five continents from farms in Minnesota, to Mexican restaurants in Las Vegas, to bustling cities in Angola, to international summits in Brazil. Her ability to be resourceful under pressure, build relationships with stakeholders from all backgrounds, and have confidence in new roles are largely attributed to her time at camp.
Grace’s journey, from building rainy-day fires at Camp Jeanne d’Arc to coordinating White House travel, illustrates the impact of Camp experiences. Her story underscores the timelessness of Camp’s lessons: resilience, adaptability, and the importance of building genuine connections.
Thank you Grace!
Do you know an alum with a cool story? Nominate someone here!
This Summer’s Motor Trip: Ausable Chasm!
Each summer CJDA plans a motor trip – a chance for campers to leave Camp property and explore a surrounding attraction, city, or experience. This summer campers will be visiting Ausable Chasm for a hike over natural stone bridges and walkways through gorges and cliffs followed by a raft tour through the narrow and deep Ausable Chasm and across thrilling rapids. We can’t wait for campers to experience this gem of the Adirondacks!
Has Camp Jeanne d’Arc Gone Corporate?
For one hundred years, Camp Jeanne d’Arc was a small, family-run business nestled in the Adirondack mountains that catered to families from all over the world with a high level of personal customer service and a family-like atmosphere. And now … well, it’s actually not much different.
Yes, in 2023 Camp Jeanne d’Arc was purchased by Canyonlands Camps, a group that also owns a handful of other camps. But the small-by-design culture and focus on the growth of campers that was so worthwhile before the transition, still whole-heartedly exists.
Read on for an in-depth analysis of the shift from being a family-owned operation to being part of a partnership of summer camps.
Staff and Counselor Update
We are super excited to share with you some of the fun facts about our counselor group for the summer of 2025! We pride ourselves on our counselor retention rate, which not only signifies satisfaction but the institutional knowledge and experience makes for a smooth and robust camp session! And we love our diverse representation of countries and regions!
Did you know:
- More than half our counselors are returners or former campers
- 20% of our counselors are coming for their third summer
- Seven different countries are represented
- US counselors are coming from New York, Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, and Massachusetts
Family-Informed Program Enhancements
We asked, they answered, and we listened! Our post-camp family survey dug deep into the camper experience. We wanted to know – is this how families wanted their kids to spend their time? What did they want more of? Less of? What brings campers back each summer? Camp leadership considered all that families had to say and this summer we have a few enhancements to Camp:
- More free time. Life for young people is already hyper-structured. The last thing kids want is to be overstructured at Camp. This summer, we are building in controlled and supervised opportunities in the afternoons for campers to interact with campers from other cabins and enjoy the basketball courts, gather by the swings, play tetherball, listen to music, and chill!
- The Owl Experience. Our older campers want more! More adventure, more skill-building, more leadership opportunities. Enter the Owl Experience where the Owls will plan, execute and enjoy an overnight at Mt. Marcy and delve deeper into service opportunities.
- More cabin time. Building friendships and spending time with cabinmates was a high source of satisfaction for campers. These relationships often last a lifetime. Our counselors and staff will dedicate more time to build and solidify cabin bonding.
Summer Camp Benefits Parents too!
A summer session at Camp Jeanne d’Arc might be transformative for your child. The friends she will make, the skills she will learn, and the independence and confidence she will gain will lead to a boost in confidence and personal growth. But let’s not forget about the parents. Overnight summer camp can benefit parents too. How?
The Gift of Time
- Time to Explore Your Passions
- Time to Take Inventory on Values
- Time to Clean Your House
- Time to Focus on Others
- Time to Get Work Done
We hear so much about self-care these days. It really is important to connect with the activities and relationships that energize you. While the kids are at camp, parents can benefit too! The parents who are proactive about creating this time find that they are reinvigorated in ways they didn‘t realize they needed. And when the kids hop off the bus from camp, they will be welcomed by a better version of Mom and Dad!
Oasis Day Camp
We love highlighting other camps that share our values! Oasis is a fellow Canyonlands Camp, a day camp, with campuses in Long Island, Central Park NYC, and Dobbs Ferry. They offer all kinds of activities including basketball, soccer, flag football, swimming, nature/adventure, painting, theater and crafts. Older campers travel to theme parks, museums, Broadway shows and sporting events! Oasis Day Camp is committed to engaging activities, emotional development, resilience, and personal growth! If you know someone looking for high quality day camp options, check them out!