Winter Eliot 2023-2024 reverie

Winter Eliot was a super way to say goodbye to 2023 and to welcome in 2024.  The 128 campers were welcomed by our wonderful Deans Eva Perjes and Gavin Grandish, and their trusty mascot Canuck the Crow, who set a gentle tone for our time together. They assembled a great team to serve as staff. Camp ran so smoothly, we had to pinch ourselves.  We were especially thankful that Covid did not enter the Seabeck campus.  Most people got into the spirit of Eva and Gavin’s theme of birds, which started showing up everywhere (even Bawdy Limericks, the Talent Show, and Drew’s quilt). 

Our morning speakers, Rev. Anne Barker and Liz James of the UU Hysterical Society, got us thinking, discussing, and laughing with their topic “Changing Our Stories: a humour centered approach to the power of story and the possibilities of change.”   While it is always up to the individual speaker to do so, Liz and Anne really took part in the life of the camp.

It was a real delight for me to present the Heart and Hand award to Nancy Panitch, who is no stranger at any of our four camps – she attends them all and has served on staff at many.  You have to ask her what the reaction of her family was when she told them about the award.

Bev Hesterberg had the last of her four retirement parties with one more song, one more tiara, more tributes and good wishes for a happy retirement.  We have been so fortunate to have had such an amazing Registrar.  Bev’s legacy will be remembered every time we pass by the two beautiful bike stands on the Seabeck campus.

—Lynn Sabourin – Board Representative