Dear TLC Families,
I am writing from our winter office because I haven’t yet been able to bear the thought of going up to camp and not being able to welcome each of you as you get off the bus on Opening Day. Every summer after we get settled in, I look forward to reading the Story of Tripp Lake Camp. It is a story that began in 1911 when campers and staff arrived at the small Poland, Maine train station and then took horse and buggy the rest of the way to what came to be called the Promised Land. How bold in the early 1900s of two sisters, Cyd and Eva, to have a vision that resonates as strongly today as it did over one hundred years ago. Though we face the pain of being apart this summer, the Spirit of Tripp Lake is alive and well. The bonds that have connected the generations are as strong as ever.
When I started as a camper at Tripp, I loved basketball, softball, and tennis. It was at Tripp that I was first exposed to lacrosse and field hockey, and where I developed a passion for swimming, sailing and art. I even discovered that I enjoyed ODL (outdoor living skills)! I never would have learned to pitch a tent, make food over a campfire, or enjoy exploring the outdoors if I hadn’t had the experience with my Tripp Lake sisters. Over the years, many TLC alums have shared how their college orientation included an overnight camping trip for incoming freshman. Many of these TLC campers, who never expected to use their outdoor skills after leaving camp, felt so empowered by their ability and confidence to help their new college friends.
I often think how this is exactly what we want for our children – to empower them to try new things, to gain confidence, to develop skills they can share with others, and to be kind and respectful to everyone. What better feeling is there as a parent than to know our children are becoming more independent and making lifelong friends while they are away at camp? These friendships forged at TLC during the good times will help us to persevere during this difficult time. While we won’t be together this summer in the “Tripp Lake bubble,” we’ll still have each other to lean on in the coming weeks and months.
We will remain in touch throughout the summer with virtual events to help you, our campers, stay connected. This will include Zooms for each age group, as well as posts on social media that will go live every Tuesday! The majority of the Zooms will be hosted towards the end of the week, and we will be sending out an email to our current families with more details. In the meantime, we hope you’ll be able to join us for our Opening Zoom – traditional songs ‘around the flagpole’ – on Thursday, July 2nd, at 7:00pm. Of course, we will send out reminders ahead of time. Stacy and I will also send out periodic blogs to remain in touch!
Please know you all remain in my heart during this time. Finally, to my 1AB 2020 TLC 
daughters, I thank you for all your years of leadership, friendship, and love for each other and for Tripp Lake Camp. It has been a joy to watch you grow up over these many years. Your legacy will be forever intertwined with the Spirit of Tripp Lake, and you will ALWAYS have a home in the Promised Land!
All my TLC love,
Leslie
