May Musings: As we look forward to the Service Weekend 2025, many thoughts and plans begin to take shape.
They say April showers bring May flowers… but around here, May brings rakes, paintbrushes, pruners — and an enthusiastic band of volunteers. Service Weekend was a big success! A huge thanks to everyone who came out to help get camp looking sharp. We were especially thrilled to be joined by the reunion crew from TR ’77. Let’s just say: they still know their way around a broom and a good camp story.
Camp is getting itself in tip-top form for the arrival of our campers — and we’ve got more of them than last year! Enrollment is up 6%, which tells us one thing loud and clear: the great outdoors still beats great Wi-Fi. Time spent in nature, screen-free, is something families are truly valuing — and we’re thrilled to be part of that unplugged magic.
We’ve also begun welcoming our international staff, bringing a whole world of energy and new perspectives. Each day, more of our summer team arrives, and every new face makes it feel more real: camp is happening.
I can’t wait until it all comes together with the laughter of campers and counselors! Until then, here’s a chuckle for you:
What did the graham cracker say to the marshmallow at the campfire?
“You make me feel all warm and gooey inside!”
Until next month — keep your sunscreen handy and your bug spray closer.
Campfully yours,
Karen
Paige, Alden, and Emily on Crow’s Nest during sunset.
Almost 65 women – former campers, counselors, and “friends of camp” – came together for a weekend of work and fun to prepare Nakanawa for the upcoming summer sessions. Tent Rows from the 1960s-2010s were represented, creating a wonderful opportunity to make new friends across decades and deepen ties to our Nakanawa sisterhood. We painted, planted, weeded, wood burned and assembled awards and name tags, inspected cabins, and helped prepare and serve meals. A dip in the lake and sunset views over Lake Aloaloa were welcome rewards after a day of work. Thank you to each of our attendees whose service and love of camp made the weekend a success.
Interested in joining us next year?Mark your calendar for May 15-17, 2026 – come on and join the fun!
Claims to fame for Clarksville, Tennessee include The Monkees hit, “The Last Train to Clarksville” (well, sort of), The Leaf Chronicle – the oldest newspaper in Tennessee, being a neighbor to Fort Campbell where Jimi Hendrix was a Paratrooper in the Army from 1961-62, and the hometown for our very own Emily DeLoach Gatlin, (TR 2000). And Emily has a personal/professional connection to Jimi Hendrix closing the loop on all things Clarksville.
Emily credits Hansi Orgain Russell (TR 68) and her daughter, Darby Russell Walden (TR 95) for introducing her to Nakanawa. They were her neighbors growing up and invited Emily to camp slideshows before she was “even old enough to attend camp.”
Emily spent 8 years at Nakanawa as a camper and 3 years as a counselor. She refers to her final summer as a counselor in 2006 as “my Quarter-Life Crisis Summer”. Emily was Head of Tennis that year but also spent those 6 weeks determining what direction her life would take post-college. “I felt like I was floating around in different directions with no idea what to do next or where to land . . . and the only thing I could think to do was return to the place that shaped me and made me who I am.”
During her TR summer in 2000, Emily excelled in and medaled in Riflery. She had “never shot a gun” in her life but a sprained ankle sidelined her from most physical activities so she “really zoned in on riflery.” Emily still has her framed “Target of the Week” hanging in her office to this day. Glee Club was another favorite activity. “It was always a nice break in the middle of the day to sit on the Crow’s Nest and sing camp songs.” Like so many of us, Emily shared “rock meetings hold a special and sacred place in my heart – the moss, the smells, everything . . . I can be outside at just the right time when the wind blows and I’m right back there on the Valkyrie Rock.”
Molly Cook, Emily, and Jane Claire Choate Jacobi at Trophy Night
TR jackets, Emily and Allison Davis
Emily, Lauren Russell Stephenson and Elizabeth Seeger
“I think every moment of my TR summer was special,” said Emily, but the three-day canoe trip in 2000 was one for the books. A severe thunderstorm blew through shortly after the campers had gone to bed for the night. “The thunder and lightning were terrifying, and we made a run for the vans.” The stormy weather prevailed through the night. When asked the next morning if they wanted to go back to camp, “there was not a single protest. We came back and got to spend the next two days in our pajamas, had a pizza party at the Big House”, and the rest is TR 2000 history.
TR 2000
Emily and Karen Rathgeber Hale in 2000
Emily receiving the Riflery medal in 2000
TR 2000 is a close-knit group. “Several of us reconnected after our 10-year reunion, and since then we try to take a trip/meet somewhere centralized every year. We’re still using a Marco Polo group video chat we started several years ago during the pandemic to keep up almost daily.” Emily admits, “one of my most cherished possessions is the support system we have built with each other . . . a real-life tangible thing and we’ve run the gamut of life together.”
TR 2000 Reunion in Watercolor, FL
Other camp experiences of note for Emily included being the Wild Woman in the circus as a counselor, and she is “pleased to report she does not have a ketchup aversion.” She was co-head of the Circus that year and honestly feels that role prepared her “later in life for being the author coordinator for the Mississippi Book Festival. Grouping people by personality type, coordinating scheduling – you don’t realize how much things like that come into play as an adult.”
Emily’s career path has been “storied with many editions.” After marrying her husband, Robert, they moved to Tupelo from Oxford. She took a job at a local downtown department store that also housed “a full-fledged independent bookstore.” She soon became manager of the store “scheduling events, staying on top of publishing trends, making connections with authors, publishers and Mississippi readers.” Before long, Emily started a blog called Bookseller Barbie, “a name I was given at a trade show that was probably supposed to be snarky, but I’m a Nakanawa girl and not much phases me.” The blog allowed her to easily share book recommendations with her customers and get noticed by “a quiet group of local publishers.” Offers started pouring in to write for several local magazines, which eventually lead to her being published by USA Today,The Huffington Post, and she even briefly wrote the monthly advice column for Men’s Fitness before the magazine went out of print.
Emily and husband, Robert
Emily’s childhood book of stories. A little foreshadowing!
Emily with Copper
In 2013, Emily met Ole Miss adjunct professor, and SPIN Magazine Editor Bob Guccioni, Jr. Guccioni approached Emily about starting an online travel magazine called WONDERLUST, which was put on hold when she was traveling to New Orleans for a reunion with her TR friends and Guccioni called to ask, “What do you know about Jimi Hendrix? I’m creating a bookazine.” Emily mentioned the connection she and Hendrix both share to Clarksville, Tennessee and Guccioni loved the hook. The short bookazine piece she thought she was writing turned into a full on 8 weeks of research that culminated into a book length magazine titled The Unknown Hendrix, which debuted in August 2015 with an initial print run of 200,000 copies. Emily and Guccioni collaborated on a second bookazine titled The 101 Greatest American Rock Songs and The Stories Behind Them.
Even with several hundred thousand copies of her works in print and viral online articles, Emily believes her lasting legacy is that she is one of the co-founders and first Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Book Festival, which just celebrated its 10th year with a historical marker that was unveiled on the grounds of the State Capitol in Jackson.
Emily’s childhood book of stories. A little foreshadowing!
Emily with author John Grisham
Emily’s second project with Bob Guccioni, Jr.
Admitting that she “operates best when I have a full load,” Emily has not stopped retooling her talents. In March of 2022 she took a job at Mississippi’s #1 real estate firm by volume as the Executive Administrator for one of the firm’s founding partners. “Every single day is different,” she says, “and it’s never the day I expected!” Not a real estate agent herself with no plans to become one, she says “it’s far more fun to be behind the scenes and make sure clients are taken care of as best as possible.”
When Emily is not writing, coordinating, developing, or dreaming up the next best thing, she and her husband enjoy time together walking their two Golden Retrievers Dolly and Copper and “feeding SEC sports teams, ESPN crews, and even a few famous families” from their HoneyBaked Ham franchise in Oxford, Miss, which they purchased in 2023. Regardless of her busy life, Emily finds time to play tennis, pickleball, and mahjong and attends Ole Miss games.
What was it that Mitch always said? “Busy girls are happy girls!” Emily, you must be incredibly happy!
Emily sees The Unknown Hendrix on shelves for the first time at her neighborhood Kroger
TR ‘77 (Left to Right): Danna English, Charlotte Robinson, Allison Horan Wiltison , Charlotte Cunningham Burton, Frances Robinson Snipes, Elizabeth Lewis Sankovitch, Kathy Glover Carrington, Pride Forney
“Straight from Heaven TR 77” had a glorious reunion during Service Weekend. They gathered for their 48th anniversary this May as they look ahead to their 50th, which they will celebrate during July Reunion Weekend. This super-organized group has already secured the Garden Inn B&B for July 2027. Highlights for this group were a hike to the dam, walking to Junior on the trail, two beautiful sunsets, exploring all the facility improvements, and spending time in and cleaning the Library (their group service project). Continuing our May Weekend tradition, TR 77 dug through boxes of memorabilia to find remnants of their TR church. They put together a truly meaningful Sunday morning service on the theme of clouds. It was a “heavenly” parting gift for all those who attended Service Weekend. We can’t wait to see them receive gold Carson Crosses in two years.
Changed and Unchanged?
We asked TR 77 what impressed them most that was JUST THE SAME and what NEW CHANGES at camp they found exciting. Here are their replies:
UNCHANGED
At first glance, it looked the same as when I was a camper 55 years ago. In a world where “nothing stays the same,” it is such a blessing.
I love that the old dining room tables (that were built by Carson) are still in use.
The smell of the pine trees, the sound of our voices singing camp songs, the taste of Sunday coffee cake, the touch of hugs from true childhood friends, the peaceful lake. Years of the layers of my life instantly peel away when I am at Nakanawa.
I felt warmly welcomed and inspired by wonderful Nakanawa women.
It was (and still is) a place that inspires trying new things, pushing self to new limits, being creative and embracing deeper friendships. I love that Amazon and Valkyrie traditions remain and positive moral character traits are still taught/expected by all.
The connection between old friends remains unchanged. The experiences we shared at Nakanawa almost 50 years ago formed the bond eternal that still links us.
Camp itself! I love how the minute I drove in it felt so familiar, so comforting. It was a heart touch to be right back where it was when we were there, and yet it’s all in wonderful shape!
CHANGED
The thoughtful approach being taken by the board to ensure Nakanawa’s future for generations of girls yet to come is very exciting. The efforts being made to honor tradition while acknowledging Nakanawa must change to remain relevant will be transformative.
The new thing that blew me away were the waterfronts both in senior and junior camp. The new docks are beautifully done and improved.
The new Stargazing program (revived from the Col. Rice days) is an awesome addition!
The nearly 100 trees that have just been planted all over camp. They are not saplings, but 5 feet tall!
The improvements are stellar and desperately needed. I love the cover on the Riding Ring in Junior.
The improvements to the waterfront and around camp are more functional AND fit into the woodsy style of camp.
The new program I am excited about (Bold and Ready) emphasizes teaching the girls more nature/ camping/ outdoor living skills. Colonel Rice and Mitch would be so pleased!
Spring has arrived, bringing with it daffodils, yellow forsythia, and a much-needed splash of color after winter’s grip. Unfortunately, it also brought some high winds – too strong for kites and a bit too much for a few of our beloved trees. But no worries! Our amazing staff and volunteers have rallied, tidying up and making repairs to keep Nakanawa looking its best. On a brighter note, we’ve got 40 new trees of various species ready to plant at both camps, promising even more beauty and shade for years to come.
This spring, in early March, we were thrilled to welcome Deaton Dock and our brand-new boathouse. This project is a game-changer for the health of our war canoes, providing them with a safe, dry spot all year long. It will also serve as the home for our sail boats and kayaks, making water activities even better for everyone.
While enrollment is looking fantastic, we still have a few spots available. We didn’t fill our new session, so we’ve offered those already enrolled a spot in our original two-week session. We’re excited for next year’s session, with word spreading earlier than ever!
We recently attended the Tri-State Camping Conference – the largest of its kind in the world – and walked away more inspired than ever. Camps across the globe share our commitment to enhancing security and ensuring our staff is trained to handle any situation. Nakanawa is rolling out a multi-phase plan based on expert recommendations, and security is our top priority as we head into counselor training and the summer season.
I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful season of spring!
There’s a brand-new addition floating on the waters of Lake Aloaloa — and she’s a big one! Welcome Camp Nakanawa’s new boathouse.
Earlier this month, five full semi trailers rolled into Junior Camp, packed tight with aluminum frames, floats, and materials for what would soon become our brand-new boathouse. Thanks to the expert work of Deaton’s Waterfront Services, each piece was carefully unloaded, transported down to the water’s edge, and assembled right here at camp.
The process was no small feat. After building the main frame of the boathouse on the water, the Deaton’s crew did something extraordinary — they floated the entire structure from Junior Camp across the lake to Senior Camp, where it was secured and attached to shore. Floating a building across Lake Aloaloa is no everyday event, but with clear skies, teamwork, and a whole lot of determination, the new boathouse found its home.
This beautiful new structure will soon be the heart of our waterfront activities — housing the iconic war canoes, nimble kayaks, and majestic sailboats that campers use throughout the summer. With improved docks, more space, and a strong, modern frame, the new boathouse will serve generations of Nakanawa girls to come. You can see Casey approves!
Deaton’s Waterfront Services will return in just a few weeks to complete the final stages of construction. Once the finishing touches are in place, this floating boathouse will be ready to launch a whole new chapter of lakefront fun.
The water is calling, the sun is shining, and the new boathouse is almost ready to welcome our campers back to their home on the lake. We can’t wait for you to see it in person this summer!
“I love people, I love nature, and I love to help – if that’s not Nakanawanian, I don’t know what is.” Say hello to Margaret Van Clief! If you know Margaret, you know this statement is MORE than true. And if you don’t, allow us the privilege of introducing her to you.
Margaret grew up in Charlottesville, VA, and since 2008 has resided in Cape Charles on Virginia’s Eastern Shore where she now lives with her mom, “just a block away from the Chesapeake Bay. We have fun, and it’s a gift to be able to help her and spend time with her”, she shared. She feels fortunate to be living just across the Bay from her sister and best friend, Courtney, who was also a Nakanawa girl and has fond memories of Camp Nakanawa. Margaret’s father is a “short three hours away” in Charlottesville, and she sees him often. Family has always been and remains extremely important to her.
As a 5-year camper, from 1990-95, Margaret says her favorite activities included rock meetings, pep rallies (especially prior to Varsity Soccer as Valkyrie Head Cheerleader), war canoe races, making bunkie gifts and spending time with friends in cabins, on the lake, and on the trails around Camp Nakanawa.
Margaret described certain Camp feels beautifully when she said, “the sensory experience of walking the trail to Valkyrie Rock – the sounds and fragrance of the forest, the rocks and roots beneath our feet, our arms linked and hearts beating as one.” A true standout for Margaret was Valkyrie Vespers. “I would love to call out a particular year or experience, but it truly is the spirit of all my Valkyrie Vespers combined that is in my heart.”
Margaret presenting to high school students “in the field.”Margaret in South Bay near Wreck Island, helping out with the world’s largest seagrass restoration project.Margaret and biology students from Chincoteague HS leave the village of Wachapreague, bound for Parramore Island.Margaret with bilingual interns at TNC’s Summer Picnic 2024.Emily Wheat Maynard and Margaret Van Clief reunite at The Shanty on Cape Charles Harbor in June 2019.We’ll have our reunion!TR ’95 at the Centennial.Margaret and Mary Shearer Baker as counselors, Circa 1997.Nakanawa girls & Van WilDHearts in Evansville, IN. (October 2019) Wendy Igleheart Walker, Margaret Van Clief, and Diane Foster Igleheart
These cherished moments evoke memories for Margaret, accurately describing the spiritual feeling of being outdoors at night, sharing the magic of Camp with friends who felt like family, especially members of the Igleheart and Reed families, whom she credits for introducing her to Nakanawa. Diane Foster Igleheart was a camper, as were her daughters and granddaughters, and was “one of my grandmother’s best friends.” Freddy Wilhelm, Brook Reed’s grandmother, was also best friends with ‘Aunt Diane’ and ‘Grammie’. Margaret refers to her contemporaries and fellow campers in this fabulous group of women as the “Van WilDHeart frousins” and treasures their “bond which is strengthened further by also being Nakanawa sisters.” Although Margaret’s mother and grandmother never attended Camp, she knows they would have been “excellent Nakanawa girls.”
Her passion for nature helped her land her “dream job” as the Community Engagement Specialist for The Nature Conservancy’s Virginia Coast Reserve. “I work to connect people of all ages with the benefits of nature . . . whether that is catching butterflies in our pollinator meadow with kiddos from our county schools’ summer migrant youth program or facilitating community discussions in coastal villages endeavoring to adapt and increase resilience in the face of climate change.” Always an adventurer, Margaret has also held jobs as a kayak guide, a field organizer, a marine field technician, “and a house cleaner, to name a few!”
On January 20th of this year, Margaret was presented with the 2025 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award from the Northampton County, VA. branch of the NAACP, “for dedicated service, effort, and support for the many activities that foster unity and equality on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.” Alongside three other women whom she “admires very much”, Margaret was “immensely humbled and proud” to receive this honor.
In addition, Margaret recently received a Community School Partnership Award from Northampton County Public Schools in recognition of her ongoing work with The Nature Conservancy and the local school district.
When not working and contributing to her community, Margaret loves “to sit on a good back porch with friends, talking and laughing,” or “sitting alone by my fire pit, listening to music and poking at the coals for about four hours straight.” She is currently learning Spanish and enjoys volunteering to support community non-profits which are dear to her heart.
Margaret returns to Camp Nakanawa “every chance” she can get and remembers Centennial Weekend as a really “special visit.” She also shared, “while there are plenty of weird things about social media, being able to keep in touch with Camp friends is wonderful, even if we don’t all talk frequently. I love keeping up with my sisters online!”
We join you in that love of connection, Margaret and have loved getting to know you!
On every level, Mary Miles Loveless is a generous and impactful communicator. She makes connections with her “great big Nakanawa smile,” her contagious laugh and her memorable stories. Mary’s narrative ability connected with readers, too, in her professional life as a journalist for both Ducks Unlimited and Memphis Magazine.
From Fifth Grader to Lifelong Friendships
As a fifth grader on the Memphis bus to Camp Nakanawa in 1965, Mary was surrounded by girls from home but found herself in a cabin far away from familiar faces. We know how this story turns out – with many new, lifelong friends. One of Camp’s gifts, she says, is the opportunity for small but significant successes such as expanding friendships, passing milestones in canoeing and overcoming a touch of homesickness.
Canoeing Milestones: A Family Tradition
Those canoeing milestones were no small matter. Mary and her daughters proved to be proficient with paddles as both campers and counselors. The Lovelesses have their own green, wooden Old Town canoe which survived the voyage to Omena, Michigan, atop foam pool noodles on the roof of an old Suburban. One chilly, windy Michigan afternoon on the lake, the Coast Guard patrol boat followed Mary canoeing in a headwind before a storm. “I see that J-stroke!” the officer called. He too had learned the J-stroke at summer camp.
Keeping the Fire Alive: Legendary TR ‘71 Reunions
The Loveless lake home serves as a connection, too, as headquarters for camp reunions. “TR ‘71 reunions,” Mary says, “are legend.” A close, dedicated Tent Row, 1971 has weathered storms together, supported Nakanawa and kept the fire embers warm with their legacy nieces, daughters and granddaughters. We look forward to welcoming Mary Miles Loveless and daughters Lucy, Kate and Mary to our fine boathouse in 2025 – 60 years after that first bus ride to Nakanawa!
Amazons, Valkyries and friends came together for a weekend of work and fun during Service Weekend. This annual event provides alumnae an opportunity to help prepare camp for the upcoming summer sessions while making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. This year’s event also included several groups like Tent Row ‘74 who celebrated their 50th reunion!
https://youtu.be/ISuP7YzRGSs?si=LofYjbK67oQEhkZN
Alumnae and Staff enjoyed a weekend of cleaning and prepping for the 2024 Camp season!
The weather report wasn’t promising, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of those in attendance. Karen welcomed us all for “Happy Am I Hour” and dinner at The Big House. As the group gathered later in the Wigwam, a hearty rendition of “Mr. Sun” was sung with fingers crossed for better weather for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday was wet and overcast, but Nakanawa spirit and singing did the trick as the sun eventually came out! Ties were tied, medals and name tags were created, and gardens were replanted and pruned. Clearing the basement of the Council House, cabin checks, repainting table tennis tables and more kept attendees busy all morning. We also wrote welcome notes to our 2024 counselors — a special project to help our staff kick-off this summer on a high note.
After lunch, Rest Hour, and some final project work, we enjoyed a beautiful evening on the Crow’s Nest for another “Happy Am I Hour” and a cookout dinner. We recognized attendees celebrating their five-year Service Weekend anniversary and honored our 50th reunion group. A spectacular sunset was the perfect end to the day.
Sunday’s weather was perfect. Following breakfast, we enjoyed church on the Crow’s Nest, led by Tent Row ‘74. We wrapped up projects and attendees started to head home, savoring memories of a weekend spent at a special place where everyone’s contributions were celebrated and appreciated. We thank each person who took time out of their busy schedules to spend the weekend with us. Save the date for the third Weweekend in May 2025. We’ll see you at Camp!
You can tell a Nakanawa girl by charm, style — and now, you’ll be able to tell with brand new leather goods and accessories! Camp Nakanawa is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Satchel, a renowned handbag brand founded in 2006 by designer and Camp alumna Elizabeth Seeger (TR 2000).
Based in Savannah, GA, Satchel features a wide variety of custom bags and leather goods, ranging from totes and clutches to crossbody bags and wallets. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted with an attention to detail that reflects the passion, dedication, and artistry of the team that creates them. Learn more about Elizabeth (a three-time Arts & Crafts medalist!) and her Satchel crew here.
The beauty of these products is even more unique with The Camp Nakanawa Collection – created exclusively for our community. Best of all, Satchel has generously pledged to donate 20% of all sales back to Camp!
Here’s what to do:
Select your style. Choose from a range of leather products in Amazon Red or Valkyrie Blue. Or, if you’re looking for something more neutral and natural, select from Sycamore Tan, Meadowview Green, or Medal Winner Metallic Platinum. Whether you’re drawn to a spacious tote, an elegant clutch, or a practical crossbody, acquiring a Satchel bag means owning a piece of art that tells a story – about you, and about the heart of Nakanawa.
Place your order by November 17 to guarantee production and holiday delivery time. When you make a purchase, you’re not only acquiring a beautiful, handcrafted item made in Savannah, Georgia, but also contributing to Camp Nakanawa’s mission.
Spread the word about this new way to support Camp Nakanawa on social media! Share a photo of your custom #CampNakSatchel accessories and tag @SatchelSavannah on Instagram, Facebook, and We can’t wait to see these exclusive Camp Nakanawa pieces out and about!
This partnership helps us connect with our Camp Nakanawa community. and enables us to continue providing unforgettable experiences for generations of campers to come.
We are deeply grateful for Elizabeth’s dedication and the generous support from Satchel.
