A Snowy and Cold Month - More and More Daylight - New Swallows Fire Place!
Hello from a cold and snowy Wohelo! We heard on the news that Sebago Lake has frozen over for the first time in six years. It’s been fun to play with the Copernicus Browser to look at satellite images of winter on Sebago Lake. We’ve had a good amount of snow, but that hasn’t stopped the projects or fun around camp. We’re excited for the clocks to change next Sunday when the sun will set at 6:45 pm – summer is getting closer!
Spread the Word - Spots Remaining for 2025!
A summer at Wohelo is more than just fun—it’s a life-changing experience filled with adventure, growth, and lifelong friendships. Encourage friends, family, and your community to register or request information for this summer. Let them know how camp builds confidence, fosters independence, and creates bonds that last a lifetime. Share your stories, post on social media, and remind everyone why a summer at Wohelo is an experience they won’t want to miss!
Don’t hesitate to contact us at wohelo@wohelo.com if you have any questions. We’re excited for another fantastic summer!
Meet a Counselor - Annika
This month we’re excited for you to get to know Annika (camper ’16-’21, TG ’22, staff ’23-’25). Annika is a sophomore at Bowdoin College, and we were lucky enough to catch up with her during our staff winter weekend. Read on to learn more about Annika and why she’s so special to Wohelo.
1. What are you up to these days?
I am currently a sophomore at Bowdoin College where I am a mathematics major and chemistry minor. This semester I started working as a Peer Health Educator with my school’s Office of Gender Violence Prevention and Health Education. I am also a member of the Bowdoin Rowing Team and love getting to spend my mornings watching the sunrise on the river during our practices.
2. What’s your role at camp and why do you like being a counselor?
This upcoming summer, I will be the Co-Director of Sailing. I love getting to teach sailing because of the wide breadth of technical skills, but mostly for the chance to support the growth of confidence in our sailors throughout the summer. To me, sailing at Wohelo is all about empowerment which is why I love it so much! More broadly, I find the role of a counselor to be so fulfilling because of the relationships I get to build with the campers and my fellow staff. A summer at camp is a unique opportunity to build a community away from technology and the pressures of the outside world. As a result, the bonds I have made with others have been especially meaningful and long-lasting.
I find joy in the nightly conversations I have with my cabin about the happenings of each day, sailing in boats with campers as they learn to skipper for the first time, and working with the dedicated staff who all share a deep love of camp. Wohelo has been the place where I can be my most joyous and authentic self and as a counselor, I encourage my campers to do the same.
3. Can you share a favorite memory from camp?
Some of my favorite memories from camp have been sailing on the Sabre Scow (one of our big sailboats, lovingly named “Karine” after the longtime former director of sailing at Little Wohelo). I first sailed on the Scow as a Little Camper as part of a Wednesday sign-up activity. I remember the distinct hum of the daggerboards as the hull accelerated and the joy of sitting on the bow, feeling the splash of the waves and wind against my face. That sense of joy I felt sparked my interest and, later, my love of sailing. Many years later, at fifteen, I spent part of my Able trip on the Scow as we sailed around Frye’s Island. I remember we each took turns to skipper, practicing navigation, and tying complicated knots. By that point, when I was sailing I felt empowered, like I could take on the world. Jumping forward to this past summer, I had the joy of teaching campers how to sail the Scow in Ordinary class. Passing on my love for the Scow to younger campers has been incredibly rewarding, as I get to see them experience the same excitement, I first felt during my first summer at Wohelo.
4. What are you looking forward to this summer?
10 “bucket list” goals for my 10th summer
1. 100 mile card for lap swimming
2. Learn everyone in camp’s name by the end of the first week
3. Make it on the Wohelo Instagram
4. Run the Casco Days Road Race
5. DJ the dance with Timanous
6. Read 10 books
7. Take a minute to watch the sunset over the lake every night
8. Bring back windsurfing, photography, and all camp lip-sync videos
9. Swan dive off the high tower
10. Make even more amazing memories on the shores of Sebago!
5. What elements from Wohelo have helped you in life?
I firmly believe that the foundation of my self-esteem was formed during my summers at Wohelo. In my experience, my confidence has felt fluid and often fleeting: ebbing and flowing as I transitioned through different phases of my life. I found a community at Wohelo that celebrated my triumphs and empowered me to stand tall in the face of challenge. For me, Wohelo fostered a reserve of confidence that I can draw upon throughout the year. More specifically, my summers at camp taught me to find my voice.
As a kid, I had always been shy and preferred to listen rather than speak up. During one of my first summers at Little Camp, I remember my counselors and I set a goal to make an announcement in the dining hall. While I had been working on speaking up when with my peers, addressing the entire camp felt like a lofty challenge. So to prepare, I worked on thinking through exactly what I would say, word for word. Then one day at lunch, I mustered up the courage and raised my hand to give my announcement. From that moment on, I slowly but surely began to use my voice, both at camp and beyond. Now, I feel comfortable teaching lessons on the waterfront, giving a speech in front of an audience, contributing to discussions in my seminar-style classes, and advocating for myself when I need help. I can even give a lunchtime announcement without skipping a beat! Wohelo provided me with a nurturing environment where I could develop the confidence to use my voice in meaningful ways.
6. Anything else you want folks to know?
Wohelo is truly the most special place. I am honored to be a part of such a supportive, driven, and joyful community. Looking forward to Summer 2025!
TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO REGISTER!
Camp is back in session! Pack up your red swimsuit and uniform—dust off your Frog Pin and Bug Paddle. Join fellow former Wohelo campers and counselors for a weekend back at camp to rekindle old friendships, enjoy activities, and make new memories. Go to our Wohelobration page for more information. To register, please click the button below.
