Camp Director Book Report: The Amazing Generation
Updated March 13, 2026In 2024, psychologist Jonathan Haidt published New York Times #1 Bestseller The Anxious Generation. It sparked book club discussions, TED talks, and a whole new movement advocating for delaying kids’ first smart phones and encouraging freeplay. This book and its conclusions have come up for me while on vacation with college friends, phone calls with camp parents, business meetings with other…
Have you heard our new podcast?
Posted March 4, 2026We are so excited to launch a Camp Ernst podcast this spring! “Amari and Buzz: Talking Camp” features two beloved camp leaders bantering about all their favorite things about Camp Ernst–best cabins, best activities, best camp food, and more. Amari and Buzz are ready to help new camp families get more familiar with the Camp…
FREEZIN’ FOR A REASON
Posted February 16, 2026“Freezin’ for a Reason” –that’s the tagline for this Saturday’s POLAR LEAP event, a fundraiser for camper scholarships hosted by the Camp Ernst Junior Board. I have been mentally preparing for (dreading?) this year’s Polar Leap. My parents love to remind me that I was born during the blizzard of 1977 (when the Ohio River froze…
A confession:
Posted January 22, 2026My favorite TV Show is SURVIVOR. When I admitted that to a colleague recently, he said, “That show’s still on?” Yes, still on, still compelling, lots of old episodes archived for streaming, and season 50 is coming in February! But I didn’t come here to advertise for Jeff Probst. Last week…
Happy New Year!
Updated January 13, 2026We’ve had a great start to the new year! Our property team has a big list ahead of them, and lots of work already done, including: Cabin 1 ready to re-roof Expanded horse pasture Day Camp/Ropes Course area bathroom 50% complete Our registrar (Jeannie) has been processing fee assistance applications and answering lots of camp…
Lost and Found–the blog
Updated January 13, 2026It’s been two weeks since summer 2025 ended. Tihana has been working tirelessly to get through the lost and found and I (Eli) was reminded of this blog entry I wrote eight years ago (feels like yesterday!). Some things have changed: My kids are all grown up so these days, post-summer life means going on…
July 12, 2025
Posted August 22, 2025I appreciate all the concern and well wishes and encouragement as we have navigated the tragic news out of Texas this past week. I have been talking with my camp director colleagues around the country about the challenge of mourning and holding space for the lives lost and trauma experienced at a long-celebrated camp like…
Eli’s Camp Friendship
Updated May 7, 2025I sent a text to my best friend: “H, I am writing a blog about our camp friendship. Want to comment?” Here’s what she wrote: “When I sit down and try to articulate what my camp friendships mean to me now, I’m overwhelmed. I can’t even imagine how the last two thirds of my life…
What’s Sleep Away Camp REALLY About
Updated May 7, 2025Today I got asked to answer these questions for an upcoming magazine article about camp–sharing my answers here, too! (BRING ON SUMMER!) Sleep away camp is a great way for kids to meet friends and build independence – in addition, what is the BIG purpose behind sleep away camps? Overnight camping started in the late…
Building “THE Q”
Updated May 7, 2025At the end of summer 2022, we dedicated “The Q”—a brand new outdoor amphitheater at camp! The gift of this amphitheater actually started before I was born. In the 1960s, the donor (Bill) had been identified by his elementary school principal to receive a scholarship to attend Camp Ernst. He returned for many summers, bringing…