08/14/2026
End of a summer! Dear Camp Families, Friends and Supporters,
As another summer comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we have shared over the past several weeks. It seems like week 1 was just yesterday and we were getting off the buses to find John wearing a crazy wig. Now, we are packing away our beach stuff, cleaning up camp, and well,still watching John wear a costume or two, but also we are saying goodbye until next summer.
This season brought us everything a New England summer can offer—hot, sunny days at the beach, refreshing swims, rainy afternoons filled with laughter, muddy sneakers, games, canoe rides, fishing adventures, and countless memories that will last far longer than the tan lines.
While the activities are what fill our days, they are not what make camp truly special. What makes camp extraordinary is watching your children grow.
Over the course of the summer, we watched campers become more confident and more independent. We saw campers who were nervous on the first day, run off the bus with gusto on the last. We watched friendships blossom, fears be conquered, and smiles grow a little bigger each week. Some campers caught their very first fish. Others rode in a canoe for the first time or discovered they were much braver than they ever imagined. They learned what they enjoy, what challenges them, and sometimes even what they don't like—and those lessons are just as valuable.
As a Catholic camp, we believe that every child is wonderfully made in God's image, blessed with unique gifts and talents just waiting to be discovered. Whether your child found peace while quietly fishing, joy splashing in the water with friends, or confidence helping a younger camper, we pray they experienced God's love through the beauty of His creation, the kindness of others, and the simple gift of belonging.
For me personally, this summer has been especially bittersweet. There is a very real possibility that this was the last summer both of my own children attended camp together. They came here as tiny campers, barely tall enough to carry their own backpacks, and over the past seventeen years I have watched them grow into young adults. Looking back, those years passed in what feels like the blink of an eye. Cue the tears!
As they prepare for college and the exciting adventures ahead, I hope they carry a little piece of camp with them. I hope they remember the importance of kindness, serving others, working hard, trying something new, laughing often, and finding joy in the simple moments. More importantly, I hope they remember that they are deeply loved—by their family, by this camp community, and by God.
If I have learned anything during these seventeen summers, it is that childhood moves far too quickly. There are scraped knees that heal, wet towels that eventually dry, endless questions that someday become quiet conversations, and little hands that one day no longer reach for yours. Treasure these days, even the messy ones.(Sorry about all the sand in their backpacks.) The memories you are making now will become some of your family's greatest gifts.
Thank you for trusting us with your children. It is a privilege we never take for granted. Thank you for sharing their laughter, their stories, their triumphs, and even their challenges. Each camper has left a mark on our hearts, and each family has helped make our camp community the special place it is.
As this new school year begins, we pray that God watches over your family, blesses your children with courage and wisdom, and fills your home with peace and joy. May He continue to guide them as they grow into the remarkable people He created them to be.
I would like to thank all those who donated to us this year, from our Wish List, through the Appeal or just the goodness of your heart, we appreciated it so much.
Have a wonderful school year. We hope to see many familiar faces back at camp next summer, ready for another season of adventure, friendship, faith, and unforgettable memories.
God is good.
With gratitude and many blessings,
Michelle Ficocelli
Camp Director
