Administrator’s Corner
Bev Hesterberg
And we’re back!! Seabeck welcomed us over the bridge for three joyful camps this summer. It warmed my heart to see my Eliot family in person, at our home away from home. You know how you’re always amazed at the growth our youngsters display from year to year? Well, wow! Triple that!! From gawky adolescents into stunning youth and young adults, with inspiring plans for the future and a keen desire to keep Eliot traditions alive. Absolutely breathtaking!
Of course, some things were different. Meals were served buffet style, which allowed campers to choose where to eat: in the dining hall, outside at the amphitheater, or in tables set up in the Eliot Pavilion. For the most part, we stayed masked while meeting indoors, and the July Eliot and August Eliot Friday night dances were held outdoors in the Pavilion, to rousing acclaim. In fact, the outdoor dance may be the most golden of silver linings to come out of the pandemic. Campers overwhelmingly have asked for that to continue.
Our two-year hiatus did come at some cost. Attendance was down due to a variety of factors: new jobs, new babies(!), lingering hesitancy to gather, and the list goes on. This is where you come in….have you signed up for Winter Eliot or a camp next summer? If so, great!! And please consider signing up for a second camp. In the busyness of your lives juggling responsibilities and dodging COVID, did you forget to sign up for a camp? If so, sign up now, we have space at all of our camps. There’s a link to our website at the end of this article, and you’ll have an Eliot camp on your calendar in no time.
Eliot Referral Bonus:
As an extra incentive to increase our enrollment, the Eliot Board is offering a referral bonus for Winter Eliot and our summer 2023 camps. The vast majority of newcomers to Eliot hear about our community from established Elioteers. We want to capitalize on that by offering our current campers a $50 referral bonus for any newcomer who registers for an upcoming Eliot camp (sorry, we aren’t offering this bonus retroactively). After “your” newcomer attends a camp, we’ll put $50/newcomer into your account for a future camp. When you’ve reached out to a newcomer, be sure to let Bev know, and she’ll watch for their registration to come through.
Seabeck Update:
New Pines is fabulous, and guest groups are chomping at the bit to book space in that beautiful building, even selecting mid-week and shoulder season dates for their retreats in order to reserve Pines. These increased bookings will go a long way toward helping Seabeck recover from pandemic-related closures. If you are a member of a nonprofit organization that is planning on holding a retreat, please reach out to Seabeck at seabeck@seabeck.org to book your event there.
Register for Camp:
Registration for our 2023 summer camps and Winter Eliot is online at www.eliotinstitute.org. Click on the big blue button to register, and you're on your way!
See you at camp,
Bev Hesterberg
206-395-8111