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 Sister LouAnne Willette, OP.
Sr. LouAnne was first involved with WeHaKee when camp was in Marinette, WI, and she has been one of camp’s best champions since! Current campers will see her on the tennis courts, and of course in the pool and the lake. Plenty of campers can credit her with improved swimming skills.
In Sister’s own words, more about camp and how it impacts her life today…
My first experience of Camp WeHaKee was as a young Sister just finishing my college work in 1963. Our whole group was sent to the camp in Marinette to help Sister Noel clean the camp and get it ready for the campers. We worked hard in the mornings and played in the waters of Green Bay in the afternoon. In the early 70’s I lived with Sister David, and Sister Marie Karen often came to visit. Their stories got me interested in helping at camp, and in 1973 and 1974 I was a counselor, teaching water skiing and driving the boat. Often on my day off I went over to Isserman and played cards with Sister David. Since 2012 I have been enjoying the camp experience helping out where I can. My favorite camp activities are swimming and tennis.
After years of teaching high school, I transitioned into youth ministry and pastoral work, mostly with Hispanics in Bolivia and the US. I am now retired and am able to do some volunteer work, chiefly teaching English to immigrants. I currently live in Austin, Texas.
As a Dominican Sister I am so glad to see our Dominican values and traditions being lived. It has been great to watch little girls grow into lovely young women. Camp WeHaKee is a wonderful place.
We are lucky to have Sr. LouAnne as a part of our community! Connect with Sister and alumnae like her in our WeHaKee Alumnae Facebook group.
