From Press release:
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — Children from across the country arrived at Camp Kanuga near Hendersonville, NC on June 5, ready to embark on their summer adventures. With 117 campers kicking off the first session of this year’s Camp Kanuga, the campers, parents and staff were bubbling with energy.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the people,” said 14-year-old Will “Hutch” Hutichisson from Charleston, SC. Standing on the porch of the “Foxhole” cabin, this fourth-year Camp Kanuga camper happily greeted other boys as they entered the cabin. “This is my home away from home. You’re always treated well here, no matter what you’re wearing or where you’re from. You become part of the Kanuga spirit. I’ve developed a whole new family here. When you come to Kanuga you have this connection with each other, with nature, and you bring that connection back home with you.”
Katherine and Gregg O’Neal, whose 12-year-old son, Thomas, was returning for his second year, said they were excited for him to have a break from electronics and get into nature. “I like that there’s a focus on the environment. When you come to Camp Kanuga you get to try different things you wouldn’t at home,” explained Mrs. O’Neal. “You also learn to live with other people, which is important.”
Staff flashed smiles and big waves as they directed the line of arriving cars filled with campers and their families onto the campus, while counselors waited eagerly at the cabins to greet their new arrivals. “Today is important because it sets the mood for the whole session. We’re excited to welcome the campers ‘home’ for the summer,” said Mara Egan, a second-year Camp Kanuga counselor. “We want them to know they’ve found a safe place to be themselves while they are here.”
All Camp Kanuga programs concentrate on building independence and self-confidence. The camp also teaches the importance of respect towards others and the world around them.
“Camp is about relationships. All of our programs are designed to help campers build healthy relationships between the campers, staff and God,” said Camp Kanuga Director David Schnitzer. “They’re going to have fun, but they’ll also learn the importance of caring for themselves, each other and for God’s creation.”
Established in 1931, the traditional summer camp is open to boys and girls ages 7–15. It is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), the industry leader in setting standards for camp program quality and youth development education.
Affiliated with the Episcopal Church since 1928, Kanuga is a 1,400-acre camp and conference center in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Hendersonville, N.C. For more information, visit www.kanuga.org or call 828-692-9136.
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