Over 200 alumni and friends descended on Camp Dudley in August for our annual summer reunion for the first time in three years. A lot has happened since the last time we met as a Camp Family on the shores of Lake Champlain in the aftermath of a Camp season. One significant development is a new name for our Alumni Association. The Camp Dudley Association (“CDA”) changed its name to the Dudley Kiniya Alumni Association (“DKAA”) in recognition of its service to two camps over the past generation. This change also anticipates our bright future. Of course, a lot has also stayed the same, as you might expect from a place as rooted in tradition as our Camps are.

Our DKAA Reunion weekend began at the Hank Poler Leadership Barn, where #11889 Dwight Poler and #10555 Dave Langston hosted a recognition event for the donors who helped Camp to exceed its $10 million goal for the recently completed Building For the Future Capital Campaign.

Friday night was what you would expect at Reunion — dinner on main campus in front of Beckman Hall and music and fellowship until all hours at Witherbee Hall. Saturday was the big day — hiking in the Adirondacks, golf on the Westport course, and the evening program in Witherbee. We finally got to celebrate our Persons of the Year for 2020 (the Essential Workers of the Pandemic from the Camp Family) and 2021 (#7582 Stu and #8276 Charlie Updike). This year’s recipient of Camp’s highest alumni honor was #8191 Alf Kaemmerlen. The evening closed with a beautiful and spirited hymn sing led by #17883 Kutako Komaheke.

The Camp Kiniya and Camp Dudley Board were out in force, circulating and listening to your thoughts, questions, and ideas. Your energy and insights are critical to the Trustee’s work.

Trustee #25793 Monique Jones closed the weekend with a powerful chapel sermon reminding us there is no place like home. Please take a few minutes and listen to Monique’s message below.

Our community is grateful to the hard work of the “behind the scenes” folks that really made Reunion go! “Yohas” to the Maintenance team for preparing campus and cabins, Dawn Gay for organizing attendees and events, and Anita Johnson for all of her leadership and work in the Kitchen!