Lolla Page’s beautiful new poem from Tent Row ’66 is a love letter to Lake Aloaloa, Council Ring nights and the friendships that have held fast for sixty summers and more. As you read their words about threads unbroken and “The Spirit of Nakanawa,” let it nudge you to reach out to your own Tent Row and make sure you’re registered to come back, sing together and keep those TIES strong at this year’s reunion events.
Sixty summers circle back to one bright place in time— Tent Row ‘66, still standing in the echo of our rhyme.
Pensacola gathers us again, not just to reminisce, but to feel the threads unbroken in every laugh and kiss.
Sixty-five years of friendship— a lifetime, and then some— woven through Lake Aloaloa’s shores where we first became “we,” from “one.”
Amazon fierce, Valkyrie strong, we carried banners high, not just in games or victories, but in the way we tried.
Council Ring beneath the stars, hands joined, voices clear, where stories shaped our younger selves and still draw us back here.
“The Spirit of Nakanawa”— our anthem, bold and true— not just a song we used to sing, but a promise we still do.
Time has weathered, softened, changed, yet something holds us fast— a lake, a song, a circle wide, where present meets the past.
Nakanawa Sponsors Fifth Annual Crossville Character Banquet
A crowd of outstanding young athletes, their coaches, families and banquet sponsors filled the Cumberland County Community Center on the evening of April 11 for the Fifth Annual Character Banquet. The event honors character with college scholarships awarded to nominees from Cumberland County and Stone Memorial High Schools. Camp Nakanawa’s name and directors were prominent on this special evening, an initiative of Pepe and Ann Perron, to promote values we share: team over self, sportsmanship before score, hard work with personal integrity.
Keynote speaker Chris Lofton, University of Tennessee All-American basketball star and recent Hall of Fame inductee was a focus of the festive evening. Tennessee orange was prominent in the room, but Nakanawa provided table runners in sky blue and gold for the CCHS Jets and black and gold for the SMHS Panthers. The Nakanawa office crew extraordinaire including Program Administrator Corie Wilson, Registrar Rene’ Smith, Executive Director Cindy DuBose and David BuBose were vital to set-up and clean-up as they greeted local leaders from the education, business and health care sectors of Crossville. Master of Ceremonies Pepe coordinated introductions and thank-you’s. Cindy DuBose gave the blessing before dinner.
Twenty-three nominees representing all high-school teams submitted essays on character; three athletes from each high school were chosen to receive $500 college scholarships. Their honors extend a different kind of win, $500 to their teams. This year’s cross country, soccer, girls’ flag football, tennis and basketball teams have double victories.
Chris Lofton recounted stories of dedicated practice, clutch-victories, lonely disappointments and challenges to his faith in times of adversity. The grit and work ethic Chris brought to his team delivered great wins and long after the buzzer, his humility and grateful attitude exemplify character-based leadership for which Nakanawa is proud to stand.
Shelly Landau recently returned from CU Boulder, where she recertified with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Wilderness First Aid program. This two‑day course prepared students to assess, treat and make critical decisions for injured or ill people in remote environments—skills that fit hand‑in‑glove with Camp Nakanawa’s long commitment to safe outdoor adventure.
Note Taking
Shelly's studious scribing during the two day event.
NOLS Handouts
Illustrations of specific wraps for injuries while in the wild.
Workshops
First person POV at the National Outdoor Leadership School Wilderness First Aid
Shelly brings this knowledge back to camp to help educate and train her fellow counselors. During counselor training, Shelly and Margaret Matens give “an overview of basic hiking first aid while at Nakanawa,” which reminds everyone that our safety practices are rooted in the real places our girls explore—from trails around the lake and the Dam to nearby Cumberland Cove, “only a 15 minute drive from camp… at the edge of the Cumberland Plateau.” Using slides filled with familiar photos and stories, Shelly walks counselors through the everyday issues we’ve quietly managed for generations: dehydration, sunburn and heat illness, insect stings and ticks, blisters and the occasional sprained ankle.
She gives simple but powerful habits—packing water, hats, sunscreen, insect repellent and closed‑toe shoes; drinking before you feel thirsty; and treating every sting with care, including knowing when an epi‑pen and 911 are needed—showing how good planning makes adventure possible. In this way, today’s training echoes the example set in the 1920s by Col. Rice, who first inspired our Bold & Ready outdoor education by leading campers on long trail walks from camp to Cumberland Cove, where they camped out and explored the Plateau. His spirit of preparation, resilience and love for the woods still motivates us every time we lace up our boots and head down the trail with our girls.
Shelly, Margaret and the entire Bold & Ready team continue Nakanawa’s long history of pairing outdoor exploration with thoughtful, up‑to‑date safety. For more than a century we’ve taken girls into the woods, along the trails and out onto the water, always with trained counselors, on‑site nurses and doctors and clear protocols guiding each step. As Shelly says, we are “really looking for some young blood to start taking this on,” and we are still seeking active, enthusiastic Bold & Ready counselors who feel called to carry this legacy forward for the next generation of Nakanawa girls. That legacy continues in our Bold & Ready program, where campers hike to places like Cumberland Cove, play in the waterfalls and learn to love wild spaces—backed by leaders who know that “YOU set the tone” and that true boldness grows best in a carefully tended, safe environment. Wo‑He‑Lo!
The echoes of campers laughing and the sunlight shimmering on Lake Aloaloa carry more than nostalgia for Mariela Moscoso, TR 90. Those echoes carry the voices of three generations of women whose lives were shaped by the same summer magic.
Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mariela’s journey to Nakanawa began long before she was born. “My mother passed on the tradition to me,” she recalls warmly. “And she inherited it from my grandmother. I’m a third-generation Amazon. That connection makes our bond to camp even more special.”
Mariela spent “six unforgettable summers” at Nakanawa. “I loved tennis, horseback riding, and arts and crafts,” she says, smiling at the memory of her hand-made lap desk and her first cross- stitch project. “And Casey’s leadership and Jeep’s fabulous sense of humor made everything magical for me.”
The memories she treasures most are soulful. “Singing under the stars by the campfire, the thrill of riding horses in open fields, and the excitement of getting the yearbook with everyone’s addresses. Those small, perfect moments shaped me.”
Mariela’s path led her to The Catholic University of America, where she earned a BA in Archaeology and a Minor in Art History, followed by a Masters in Arts Education from NYU. Her professional life has been an extension of what Nakanawa taught her — leadership, creativity, and service.
She has spent years uplifting young voices through the arts and engagement in cultural diversity as Executive Director of YEAH! (Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities), as a youth advocate at Monroe Harding, and as a champion for Latino communities with HOLA Indiana. “My love for developing storytelling, culture, and community was fostered at camp,” she reflects. “Art builds confidence, empathy, and connection, the same values I learned at Nakanawa.”
After fifteen years in New York City, Mariela moved to Franklin, Tennessee, in 2017 and now calls Spring Hill home. There, she and her husband are raising their two children, a son in high school and a daughter preparing for her fourth summer at camp, plus two cats who, as Mariela jokes, “rule the household.”
Returning to camp as an adult felt like stepping back into a cherished photograph for Mariela. “I was not able to attend camp as a counselor, but after we moved back to the area, I was overjoyed to stop by and show my family where I spent so many summers; and my favorite return to camp was dropping our daughter off for her first summer.”
Even years later, Mariela keeps in touch with camp friends through reunion chats and old photo swaps. “We may not see each other often, but the bond is still there,” she says. “Those friendships and the lessons behind them last a lifetime.” Between her work, her family, and her love of tennis and gardening, Mariela continues to live out the spirit of Nakanawa. “Camp taught me to find joy in community and confidence in my voice,” she says. “Now I try to pass that same spark to every young person I meet.” For Mariela, the magic of Nakanawa isn’t just a childhood memory, it’s a legacy, stitched carefully into every story she tells, every lesson she teaches, and every song she sings beneath the stars.
The “Hats Off to Karen Hale” campaign has been a joyful outpouring of gratitude, with a sea of hats—caps, visors, cowboy hats, and everything in between—tipped in Karen’s honor. It has been moving to see so many current campers, alumnae, counselors, staff, and families pause and send their love and heartfelt messages to Karen as she steps away after a lifetime of commitment to Camp Nakanawa. Each tribute is unique, but every single one brims with appreciation for Karen’s courage, humor, hospitality, and unwavering dedication.
With well over 25 hat tips pouring in from Tennessee to Texas and far beyond, this campaign is a true reminder of how many lives Karen has touched. Click to see the video tributes and relive the Nakanawa spirit we all share.
With 75 campers, 68 mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and friends, and 28 smiling staff, camp was alive with laughter and fun. Families enjoyed horseback riding, a lively Nature class featuring Toadally Awesome, the toad, Charlie the snake, and baby raccoons, plus camp songs, arts & crafts, and—of course—s’mores! The highlight was a spirited mother–daughter game of Double Trouble that had everyone cheering. New friendships were made, memories were shared, and the camp spirit shone brightly all weekend. Best of all, the weekend sparked 15 registrations for the 2026 camp season!
A big thank-you goes to Blair Mayfield Rissing, Ashley Thomas Smith, and Samantha Lunn for their wonderful planning and leadership. Special thanks to the campers and counselors who gave their time and energy to lead activities and groups—you made the weekend truly unforgettable! And a heartfelt thank-you to Chris and Nicole Deluzain Dezendorf TR ‘89 for cooking such delicious meals that kept everyone fueled and happy.
All attendees reported that they enjoyed MDW, and 100% would recommend MDW to others. Mothers’ comments included enjoying “spending time with my daughter and making new friends. Her favorite was the nature lessons.” Other highlights were “Canoeing and swimming, evening entertainment, time at the Crow’s Nest.” Our staff were just as positive: “This MDW went so smoothly, well paced and with genuine hospitality all around. Keep it just like this one!”
Mother Daughter Weekend 2025 was a great success! Every Senior cabin was in use, and the sunset cookout was picture-perfect. First-timers did not want to go home. Stay tuned next spring for registration details! Mother-Daughter Weekend returns September 18-20, 2026, inviting new and returning families to experience our special camp community.
I think this MDW went so smoothly, well paced and with genuine hospitality all around. Keep it just like this one!
Before you go, we want you to know, it’s been such fun the things we’ve done!
Alongside her warm, personal magic with the campers, unflagging sense of humor, countless cook-outs and splashy back-flip dives, Executive Director Karen Rathgeber Hale has led Nakanwa through a once-in-a-hundred-years period of organizational change, growth and community building.
During her time at the helm, Camp Nakanawa has seen:
– five summers of consecutively rising camper enrollment and retention;
– the resurfacing of the tennis courts and building of dazzling new docks in Junior and Senior Camps;
– the addition of year-round professionals in counselor recruitment, counselor training, media production and equine management;
– consultation with arborists and environmental scientists on healthy maintenance of our forests in an era of destructive storms;
– initial staging of enhanced security including installed emergency radio systems and ongoing security gate design;
– national networking with the American Camping Association and among kindred private camp directors;
– fostering Nakanawa goodwill to strengthen local community relationships.
Thank you, Karen, for your energy, hard work and dedication to all things Nakanawa. Gifts made in your honor are already enriching our campers and programs.
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 NightTR jackets, Emily and Allison DavisEmily, 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 2000Emily and Karen Rathgeber Hale in 2000Emily 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, RobertEmily 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 GrishamEmily’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
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