When Ann and Pepe Perron said yes to leading Camp Nakanawa in 1981, they were both just 30 years old. They went on to guide camp for 41 summers, and generations of Amazons and Valkyries grew up under their care before camp became a non-profit in 2022.
Retirement has not slowed their giving. The Perrons have donated $100,000 to the City of Crossville toward the new playground at Centennial Park, recognized at a check presentation kicking off the project. The playground is designed so children of all abilities can play and families can connect, and the Perrons’ gift joins state and local funding to bring it to life.
A gift that fits who they are
At camp, Ann and Pepe believed every girl deserved the chance to try, to stretch, and to discover what she could do outdoors. That same spirit runs through this gift. A playground where no child is left on the sidelines is a natural extension of the mission they carried for four decades: helping young people build confidence and reach their full potential.
The Perrons have long been woven into the Crossville community beyond camp’s gates. Pepe has held leadership roles with the Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce, the Visitors Bureau, the Sports Council, the Cumberland County Playhouse, and Fair Park Senior Center. Together, Ann and Pepe started the Crossville Character Banquet, which camp has sponsored to celebrate young athletes who put team over self. Earlier this year, the Tennessee Board of Regents honored them with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy for their support of Roane State’s Cumberland campus.
Thank you, Ann and Pepe
Camp Nakanawa has called the Cumberland Plateau home since 1920, and Crossville has been our neighbor every step of the way. We are proud that two members of our camp family are giving back to the town in such a lasting way. Someday soon, local children will run, climb, and laugh on a playground that carries a little bit of Nakanawa’s heart.
Read the full announcement from the City of Crossville on Facebook.