Wavus Camp for Girls Update

January 31, 2006

Wavus Camp for Girls Update

The relatively mild winter weather has been a great help for the construction progress at the Wavus Camp for Girls on Damariscotta Lake. Four new double cabins at Wavus are well underway and will be ready for campers this summer. These cabins are designed for up to 10 girls and 2 counselors on each side. With completion of this phase of work and the combination of other cabin space at Wavus, the camp will accommodate nearly 100 campers and counsel staff. Eric Beckstrom, the camp's architect from Rockport, has designed each cabin to be slightly unique while artfully blending them to fit the lakeside hill.

Also under construction is the director's cabin and infirmary. Other camp improvements include the installation of underground utilities to service all new buildings and brand new tennis courts at the top end of what is known as the "drumlin". The tennis courts will be ready for final surfacing in the spring. There is also an Adventure Course that is 80% complete with both high and low ropes elements, and it is anticipated that final installation of a new "Aqua-Zip" will be in the Spring. Kieve-Wavus Education, Inc. Executive Director Henry Kennedy says, "it is very exciting to be re-building this camp to provide a very similar camping experience for girls as we have had for boys at Kieve since 1926".

At this time there are nearly 100 girls signed up for this summer's camp. Since early October, Henry Kennedy, Suse Wicks, Wavus Camp for Girls Director and Katie Moulton, Wavus Camp for Girls Co-Director have been traveling all around the country (as well as London, England and Bermuda) visiting families, showing slides, and generating excitement for the new camp. The Junior (Introductory) Wavus sessions are filling up nicely, providing the camp with lots of extremely enthusiastic girls and a sound base for future growth. Junior Wavus is a 10-day session for 8 to 10-year-old girls who would like to explore the camp experience before jumping into the regular 3?-week experience. Dates for this summer's 3 ? weeks sessions: June 20 thru July 16, July 18 thru August 13 and intro 10-day sessions: June 29 thru July 8 and July 27 thru August 5.

Suse Wicks is working diligently on all the events and activities for this summer including: woodworking, photography, riflery, environmental discovery, sailing, swimming and the Wavus Medals program. In addition to the in-camp activities, each girl will experience a wilderness trip with their cabin. Trips will include hiking, canoeing, camping, and kayaking in some of the most spectacular and beautiful areas of New England. Suse, Henry, and Katie are signing up some of the best college age counselors in the country. Many girls have been involved in Kieve's girls' or boys' camps over the years. A few of the senior counselors include Aubrey Millert, past Kieve West leader and Boys' Camp Counselor, Hillary Strasburger, past Boys' and Girls' Camp Counselor and Anna Titcomb past Girls Camp Counselor. Maris Wicks, RISD graduate and illustrator will be returning to Wavus to direct the Art Program. RN Mary Ann Brown returns to Wavus as the camp nurse, and Sara Buckley, a long-standing Kieve camper parent will be the Health Care Manager.