Blue Sparks...from the Camp Fire at Jeanne d'Arc    
Celebrating Over 90 Years of Camp Spirit!
Spring
2015
SAVE THESE DATES!

6/13/15 - 6/15/15 ALUMNI VOLUNTEER WORK WEEKEND. MAKE IT FUN! CALL YOUR CAMP FRIENDS

6/26/15 - CAMP OPENS FOR 94TH SEASON!

8/21/15-8/23/15
ALUMNI FAMILY FUN WEEKEND at CAMP. SAVE THE DATE! 
PLAN NOW! BRING THE FAMILY!

Register for Alumni Family Fun Weekend Here

In This Issue
Quick Links
Letter from the Director

Dear JDA Friends -





Happy Spring! After a long winter, it is with great pleasure that we are now enjoying the Spring flowers and trees here in Annapolis. It is also the time when we begin to think about our summers at JDA.

Even though it may have been years since you were at JDA (pulled into the Chalet driveway and smelled the pine scented air,) every summer you probably have the thought, "I wish I could go back to camp, if only for a few days." We've been listening! This summer, we have an Alumni Work Weekend planned for early June before pre-camp training starts, we have a Family Fun Weekend planned  for the weekend after camp closes and, we always welcome alumni to visit during the camp season. Details about each of these alumni opportunities may be found in this newsletter.

I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures and reading the news and social media posts of this last year. I know I love reading about my camp friends and their families, travels and interests. Don't forget to send us your news and pictures to include in our next Blue Sparks.

We have a great bunch of campers, counselors and staff coming to camp this summer, our 94th season! This will be our second summer for our boys' program, Camp Lafayette. We have some new and exciting programs and activities planned for this year but  many of the traditions and the warm and nurturing environment are the same as when you were campers and counselors "back in the day."

The campers of today still gain the self confidence to follow through on their goals, to try new things and to make lifelong friendships. One camper recently wrote a tribute to JDA as a school assignment. Among the many things she said, "the real reason my camp is so near to my heart is because of the people." She said her camp friends have taught her how to be friends with people even if they are far away and how to be kind in difficult situations.

My camp friend, Ana Maria Dzolan Young, former camper, counselor and staff member is returning  this summer as our Head Counselor and Assistant Director. She has been writing a series of blog posts about the power of camp to empower girls and their moms in today's busy world. Her blogs may be found on the home page of our website. Check them out today!

Follow us on Facebook!  Our Facebook name is "Camp Jda" and we post pictures there several times a week during the summer.

My email is jehanne@campjeannedarc.com.

I'd love to hear from you!  

Warmly, 

Jehanne

  

 


JDA Reunions 2014-2015
Every year we are very grateful to the camp families who host our reunions. They open their homes to our current campers, prospective campers and alumni and let us share our stories, fun and excitement for the coming summer.

Camp friendships  are for a lifetime!  Here are some photos from this year's reunions 

Ice Skating Reunion 2014, Chelsea Piers, NYC, November 15, 2014. Jehanne McIntyre Edwards, back row right. We don't identify campers under 18.
Reunion in New Canaan, CT, January 10, 2015 hosted by the wonderful Joyce family! Back row, L to R, (Over 18) Ally Dykes, Charlotte Little, Kate Burkett, Emily Sloan, Grace Reilly, Katie DeSantis. Middle Row: Maggie Joyce. Front Row: Izzy Marx
Reunion in Newtown, CT, January 11, 2015. Erika Brooker Moran on left.
Reunion in Glenside, PA, January 24, 2015 hosted by alum Lizanne McGuinn Christen.
Reunion in Wellesley, MA, January 31, 2015 at the home of the Monaghan family.
Reunion in Dorado, Puerto Rico, February 28, 2015 at the lovely home of  alum Marisol Ferraiuoli Suarez and her husband Nestor Hernandez.
Reunion at the Waldorf, NYC, March 21, 2015. Really great camp friends some of whom have been campers together for six years!
Reunion at the Waldorf, NYC, March 21, 2015. Jehanne in back.
Reunion at the Waldorf, NYC, March 21, 2015. Jehanne with young campers.
Alumni Volunteer Work Weekend 6/13-6/15
Are you free June 13-15? Have you been looking for an excuse to come back to camp? We are looking for some enthusiastic and able bodied Alumni to volunteer their time and muscle to help us with some beautification projects around camp. Spend a beautiful Spring weekend at camp. Work projects from 9am to 4pm each day. Camp activities in the evening, room and board provided. No charge for working volunteers. Bring your roommates, your boyfriend or your husband. We'll put everyone to work!

Here's an idea of the projects you could be working on:
  • Painting
  • Cleaning
  • Landscaping
  • Yard Work
  • Organizing
If you are interested please call us at 410-647-7733 or send us an email at info@campjeannedarc.com. 

Alumni Family Fun Weekend 8/21-8/23
By popular request, and similar to our recent 5 year reunions, we are excited to announce an Alumni Family Fun Weekend  for August 21 - August 23. All are welcome! There will be meals in the Hearth,a big campfire each night, activities all day Saturday, a hike, boat rides, water skiing, sailing and much more!

Please sign up by June 15th.  A commitment of 30 adults is required for this event. $300 per adult. $500 family maximum. Cabin requests first come, first served.

Go to our web site and click on the Alumni tab to complete the registration or


Alumni Visits During the Summer
Short daytime visits are always welcome! Please call or email Jehanne ahead of time to so she can set aside time to visit with you.  Overnight visits during the season are limited to certain dates in order not to conflict with camp activities. Overnight visits must be planned in advance.

Summer 2015 at Camp Lafayette!
Summer 2015 will be our second year welcoming boys to camp! There will be up to 18 boys, ages 8 through 14, for 3 weeks.  The boys have a home base at JDA, but spend most of their time at Lafayette. Lafayette Beach is the last undeveloped naturally  sandy beach on beautiful Chateaugay Lake. Camp Lafayette is comprised of approximately 75 acres of wooded, waterfront property.  Centered by a stone fire circle and large granite boulders, the camp site has large canvas tents and open spaces for activities and games.  Breakfast and dinner are served camp-out style at Lafayette and lunches vary depending on the schedule. 
The boys return to JDA every few days for hot showers and meals in the Hearth. They have access to all of the JDA facilities on a separate schedule than the girls.

  

The program allows the  boys to choose their activities at the beginning of each week. Mornings and afternoons include 2 extended activity periods. Activities include swimming, fishing, canoeing, sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and stand up paddle-boarding.  Land sports include soccer, flag-football, kickball, BB's, riflery and archery, hiking, outdoor camping skills, woodworking and other camp crafts. Laser tag and other special events round out their time at Camp Lafayette. 

  

Camp Lafayette Dates & Rates: 2015
July 24 - August 14 
$4,000 ( Space is limited)

410-647-7733

 

 

Alumni News & Notes

From the 50's, 60's and 70's 
Connie Curry ('53-'57) is enjoying her family and friends and her love of ice dancing. She will be competing in a National competition in Salt Lake City this month.

Mary Ann Iraggi Barr ('58-'70)
Lives in Southwest Florida with her husband where she has been selling homes for about 2 1/2 years. She recently moved from a local home builder to Pulte Group in Sarasota, FL. She would love to see her fellow Jeanne d'Arcers if anyone is in her area. 

Mimi Marchev ('60-'62, '63-'68, '70, '74-'76, '90)
credits JDA for sparking her interest in international work.  After 10 years working in Chili and Mexico with World Leaning/SIT Study Abroad, she returned to the Vermont headquarters where she is still working full time in international Legal/HR with staff from 45 countries. She is still singing camp songs with JDA friends! Her son, Andrew, who was at camp with her in 1990 (and picked a blue feather) is now working with the Vermont Natural Resources Council as a legislative intern and looking forward to a career in environmental policy advocacy. Mimi loves to hear news about her camp friends from the 60's and 70's.

Mary Hunt ('69 - '74)  continues her work with WATER (Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual.) She remains a big fan of JDA and wishes all of us a great summer on Chateaugay.

Janet Garrow ('74-'76)
is living in Bellevue, Washington. In November, she was re-elected to her 5th consecutive term as judge. Her daughter, Katie, is graduating from high school, Forest Ridge School for the Sacred Heart, this June, and is looking at colleges on the East Coast.

 

 From the 80's and 90's

Courtney Kingston ('82-'88) and her husband, Andy, and their three daughters were visited by Jen McQuaid ('83-'86)and her husband at their home in Chile last year. Courtney and her family operate the Kingston Family Vineyards in Casablanca, Chile. Go online to kingstonvineyards.com to find out more. 
Ana Maria Dzolan Young
('92, counselor '96-'98, staff '05 to present)
is moving to Shrewsbury, Massachusetts with her husband, Lance, sons Brennan('14-present) and Liam, and daughter, Sofia('14-present) after 9 years in the Saratoga Springs, New York area. Lance has accepted an exciting new engineering position with CoorsTek. Ana Maria will be joining us again this summer as a senior staff member. Brennan will return to Camp Lafayette and Sofia will be a full season camper. Liam is very excited to be a camper one day and feels, though he is only four, he could do most of the stuff the "big" boys do.

Lance Young, Brennan Young, Liam Young, Sofia Young

From the 2000's 
Charlotte Little
is on the Dean's List at Loyola University in Maryland. 

JDA on Social Media
  (Only people over the age of 18 tagged in photos)  
 
Stay connected with JDA all year long through Social Media!

On Twitter: CJDA1922
On Facebook: Camp Jeanne d'Arc and Camp JDA

Claudia Costanzo says "Camp was also a big part of my life!"

  

Joanne Rubino Cesiro says "My camp memories, I will cherish them forever!"

 

Colleen Kottenbach says "I was very rough around the edges and I was sent to camp to learn to be a lady! God help us...I did learn to get along better with people and loved the people I met at JDA and loved the outdoor activity we participated in, on the Adirondacks hills and lake."

 

Barbara Leahy Brooker 

says "I have absolutely wonderful memories of my summer camp experiences. From the horrible homesickness I experienced in the first few days ( crying into my spaghetti ), to the terrific shoe- string catch I made in center field playing softball, and the 2:30 am fire watch, deep in the woods, when I heard my first screech owl. Seems like it was yesterday."  

  

Stacie Battaglia: I'm hoping to visit Jd'A this summer. I was hoping to see if Betsy Clark OHaire and Meg Picotte MacClarence, and Justine Cunningham Franklin could drive up with me...but, I haven't contacted them yet. Well, I guess I just did! Would you like to drive up with me....any of you?

 

Maureen Sbordone "I have a one year old jack russell. he would love to go but i don't think anyone else would want him...."

  

Elizabeth Connelly (My favorite camp memory) "When Jane Coyne was the spy during Smugglers and led all the Owls to 3rd clearing where we all made s'mores, drank soda and had a blast. Super clever way of taking us all out of the search."

 

Jane Coyne "Omg that was a long time ago! Great memories, great times great friends xxx"

  

Lois Peterson Mariano All of us in the Hearth watching the very first landing on the moon (7/20/69)!

 
Did You Receive Your JDA Vest Yet?
Several alumni and JDA Torch Bearers have earned a "sweet" one-of-a-kind JDA fleece vest. These alums, moms and camp friends have referred new campers to JDA or held reunions in their homes this year:
Claudia Walter
Meg Joyce
Erika Moran
Lizanne Christen
Alison Monoghan
Marisol Ferraiuoli
Maria Pearl
Michele Murray Sloan
Livvy Dinneen
Ana Maria Dzolan Young
Ann Murphy Spring
Maria Fernanda Leon
Georgiana Colon
Geraldine Colon

If you know of another Alum who would enjoy our newsletter and may not be on our list, please forward this to them and send us their email address.

 

Don't forget to send in your news for our Fall 2015 edition of Blue Sparks.