WeHaKee Featured Alumna: Aimee Nelson
At WeHaKee Camp for Girls, we are so proud of the fact that our campers and staff come from all over the world to create a community together in Winter, WI. We are even prouder and always impressed by what those WeHaKee women do in their own communities, and how their time at camp brings a little bit of WeHaKee wisdom out into the rest of the world!
A couple of times a month, we would like to feature a WeHaKee Alumna so you can share in the pride and joy of your camp community!
Our Featured WeHaKee Woman is Aimee Nelson.
Aimee became a WeHaKee staff member in the 90’s, and was an immediate fit for camp leadership. Since her first years as counselor, she has impacted many campers and continues to do so today by sitting on the Advisory Board. We are lucky to have her perspective as a former staff member, parent, and educator.
In Aimee’s own words, more about camp and how it impacts her life today…
Approximately, what years did you attend camp and in what capacities? (What is your “camp connection?”)
I attended camp from 1993-1996. I was a counselor in 93 & 94, and was program director from 95-96. I have been on the Advisory Board since 2010, and have been a camp parent from 2012-2019, and my daughter was a counselor in 2021. I attended Mother-Daughter camp with my daughter in 2019, and with both my Mother and Daughter in 2021.
What are you doing now? Work, family, where do you live?
My family & I live have lived in Waunakee, WI since 2004. My daughter is a freshman at University of Minnesota studying Political Science & Spanish, and my son is a senior in high school with plans to play tennis at UW-Whitewater next year. I currently work as a Math Instructor at Edgewood College in Madison, and my husband is a Finance VP for Pacific Cycle.
How has your WeHaKee experience impacted your life?
WeHaKee truly shaped my college experience! I entered college as an Engineering major, but after spending my first college summer at WeHaKee, I realized that I wanted to go into Education and spend my life working with others. I learned so much from my co-counselors from all around the world and from the Dominical Sisters. The campers truly brought me joy each and every day at camp, and I’ve taken that love of working with others into my career as an educator.
What are some of your favorite memories of WeHaKee?
Watching my gymnastics classes perform on Showcase Days, 4th of July celebrations for Sister Arturo’s birthday, seeing the magic of Mary WeHaKee through the eyes of a 7-year old camper, Watching Willy Welch perform “Playing Right Field” in Lauerwood, sitting at a campfire with both my daughter and my mom
What were your favorite activities at WeHaKee?
I loved teaching gymnastics in Lauerwood and spending my off-time doing gymnastics with some fellow counselors.
What would you say to a camper thinking about going to WeHaKee for the first time?
WeHaKee is truly one of those wonderful places on earth where you can be your true authentic self and discover all of the amazing things about yourself that make you so special. You can do this with the love and support of the entire WeHaKee community cheering you on!
What you would want current WeHaKee campers to know?
You are part of an awesome community and will be for a lifetime! When I first arrived at camp in 1993 as a counselor, I had no idea that almost 30 years later I’d still get chills when I look at a full moon and think of Mary WeHaKee singing from her canoe in Hunter Lake.
We are lucky to have Aimee as a part of our community! Connect with Aimee and alumnae like her in our WeHaKee Alumnae Facebook group.
