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 Dr. Karen Judy.
Karen has been involved with WeHaKee in almost every way you can be: camper, counselor, volunteer, and group camper! Karen was also a WeHaKee parent, with her daughter Kate becoming a long-time camper and Leadership Academy participant.
In Karen’s own words, more about camp and how it impacts her life today…
I attended camp as a camper for 3 years from 1976-1978. I was a counselor for 3 years from 1984-1986.
I was the camp doctor for a week as well in the 1990s.I attended Mother Daughter Camp in 2014, then attended Family Camp in 2018.I was on the Board of Directors for 5 years 2014-2020.
I am currently a pediatrician working for Northwestern Medicine in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. One of the moms of one of our patients recognized me as her camp counselor recently, memories of camp abound!
My family includes my husband Michael who had the time of his life at Wehakee family camp for his first sleep over camp experience. My son Tom is 20 and my daughter Kate who is 18 years old attended camp for many years as well. We live in Riverside, Illinois.
Camp WeHaKee instilled in me the love of the outdoors, waterfront activities, canoeing and making life long friends.
It has instilled a confidence in me that I could achieve anything I set my heart on, In fact, I found out that I was accepted to medical school while I was at camp as a counselor and proceeded to jump in the lake with joy and with all of my clothes on.
My favorite memories at camp included canoe overnight trips, the visit from Mary Wehakee, as well as the annual Olympic games. The friends I made and the people that lifted my soul and spirit were the best part of camp- from Dominican Sisters to fellow counselors and campers. Camp Wehakee is an enchanting place for me that fills me with such joy- it is one my Happy places.
My favorite activities at camp were usually on the waterfront including sailing, canoeing and waterskiing. I also loved tennis and even campcraft.
I would highly recommend Camp Wehakee to any young woman or mother of a potential camper as a place where girls can feel empowered, capable and joyous. The experience will make them a better person with greater confidence and compassion for others.
We are lucky to have Karen as a part of our community! Connect with Karen and alumnae like her in our WeHaKee Alumnae Facebook group.
