“As a teacher, Apollo was profound. His lessons were easy to understand, and he drew on the emotional connection that he formed with us to make them stick. In the wake of losing him, we are struck by the effect that he had on us. We know that there are members of the camp family who will also miss Apollo very much and are grateful for him being with us at camp over the last four years.”

“The sympathy I have for every child that looked forward to the 2020 camp season only to watch it slip away too fast and too harshly is not only for them missing out on the friendship building, the firewood gathering, the s’mores eating, the waterskiing, and the belly laughing but also for the chance to tackle challenges and fall down in a place that has been built for just that.”

“Color War is an ideal where people that might otherwise be friends can grapple with divergences in a healthy way, never forfeiting their convictions or dedication to a cause, but also accepting that their adversary is only wearing a different color t-shirt.”

“I didn’t know what would happen in the years to follow, but I must have had a sense that my life was suddenly better. The music was turned up, the time passed easily, and my thoughts of Ann consumed my head and heart on that day and every day since. Here’s to lots more moments like that…including those we will have in Beach Lake with our new family at Chestnut Lake Camp..”

“Let this season of missed memories inform conceptions for our children – and for all of us that continue to have a childish spirit that was shaped at summer camp – to help them to be more resistant and strong as they count down the days to their next summer at camp. Until then, let us appreciate the camp memories that are present now.“

“Seeing the power of Harlam – the intentionality, the scale, the reach, the impact – has opened my mind to things that I could not have imagined before. I’m just a better and more complete human being for having spent this time in the embrace of such a unique and special community.”

“The camp environment is not inherently therapeutic in nature but combined with additional efforts we have been more adept at helping young adults recognize the signs of a concern that needs attention. Often this leads to typical intervention and strategies for typical issues, but on occasion, it has allowed our staff members to make a real difference with more significant challenges.”

“I have learned how to clean the inside of a 100,000-gallon underground reservoir, how to replace a large-amp breaker, how to snake a wastewater line, how to repair a pitched roof, how to stop water from flooding a building (and how to clean up after you’ve failed), how to pour concrete, and how to pull a submersible well pump that’s 300 feet below ground.”

“Counselors will never be perfect, and they won’t always say what a camp director wants them to say. But they are great teachers, and they are eager learners. They have boundless energy, and they can be deeply spiritual. They understand the responsibilities they have in such demanding positions, and they’re simultaneously unaffected by the pressure they could feel from the campers and the parents who expect more and more from them each year.”