Greetings Robin Hood Alumni – It’s hard to believe that 27 years have passed since my first summer as an “official” Robin Hood camper, and the first summer of Robin Hood Sports for Girls. Many of you know that my years at Robin Hood actually began even earlier, as the daughter of a camp doctor I have spent summers in Freedom, NH since I was 2. My brother, Erik, started at Robin Hood when he was 6 and my sister and I at Hiawatha (Robin Hood’s sister camp for many summers) when we were 7.
I have so many fond memories of Robin Hood. In some ways, I feel my experience was unique. I started so young and built relationships with many campers and counselors over the years. I returned summer after summer until I graduated college and needed a real job (but not before I was a Green & White captain, of course!). I continued to return as a judge, and also to visit as my parents continued to keep a vacation home in the area.
When DC and Woody took over as owners/directors, I was thrilled they asked me to come spend 3 summers with them as the Waterfront Director. Many counselors and group leaders during those three years (2003-2005) had been TPJs and Tumblers/Jesters when I was a Group Leader and Green Team Captain. Now, I come back to visit often (bringing my children to see what camp is all about) and some of the current Group Leaders were junior campers when I ran the waterfront. It is the never ending cycle of camp friendships – I was a counselor for many campers whose parents I interacted with when I was a young child at Robin Hood; and I fully expect some of these campers to soon be counselors to my 3 children.
There are lots of camps to choose from, when I think about sending my own children to camp. But for my husband Brad (who was known for visiting on weekends when I ran the waterfront) and I, we can’t imagine sending our children anywhere else. My parents STILL keep a vacation home close-by, we want a camp where our children will be together (we have 2 girls and a boy, including boy/girl twins), and we know they will shine in their own right. Besides, they’ve already experienced Cozy Corner, Pizza Barn, Freedom Old Home Week and so much more!
I am really looking forward to bringing Ellie (6) and Tessa & Drew (2 1/2) to Family Camp/9th week this August, and I hope you’ll consider joining us! We can’t wait for campfires on the beach, island swims, the “magic in the trees” and enjoying the sandy beach on the shores of Lake Ossippee, it’s just the introduction our children need to the true Robin Hood camp experience.
– Jackie (Pelton) Hoglund, RH 1987-1997, 2003-2005
