Summer Staff Network With Alumna

As the son of two Thunderbird alumni, my expectations for camp were set pretty high.  The stories of lessons learned, and friendships made were at the forefront of my mind when I decided to be a counselor for the summer of 2016.  As all of you are aware, any summer spent at camp is memorable, but I left for school that August feeling as if I knew what the Thunderbird experience truly embodies — I was wrong.  There’s much more and the last half-year or so opened my eyes to other avenues through which a Thunderbird connection encourages personal development.

In a brief conversation with Kaye Carraway, I expressed interest in spending a summer in D.C. and her mind immediately jumped to a Thunderbird alumna working in the Capital.  Kaye connected me to Brian Boda and during the next few weeks he was more than willing to assist me in crafting my resume and coaching me through the D.C. internship process.

After successfully finding my way to the District I was determined to find Brian and thank him in person for all that he had done.  We met for coffee early one morning, not unlike meeting co-counselors at the boat docks for an early ski run. While Brian accepted my gratitude, he had a bigger concern and posed the question, “What can I do to help you get the most out of this summer?”  That took me by surprise. Helping a young college kid form a resume is one thing but going out of your way to welcome that young, aspiring professional to a new place without asking anything in return speaks volumes to the loyalty and kinship between the Thunderbird network.

Brian introduced me to colleagues and friends of his, opening up his home and hosting me for a Fourth of July celebration filled with great southern food and fellow Carolinians.  He also invited me to his office, offering an opportunity to engage a little more earnestly in a professional manner and discuss important career objectives of my own. In short, the selflessness Brian displayed in hopes of making my experience better is a testament to his own character and that of Thunderbird alumni everywhere.  I’m blessed to call Brian a friend and, in the future, I hope I’m able to give back to our community in a similar way.

Written by Buddy Anderson following Summer, 2018

Buddy receives his Gold Bandana

Buddy Anderson and Brian Boda

New Water Toy to Debut at Camp

This summer, Camp Thunderbird will add a new thrill to the waterfront.  The Nautilus will provide endless combinations of creative play, endurance training, and just plain fun. Spending an afternoon on the Nautilus climbing, sliding and jumping will grow confidence and independence, solidify new friendships, build character, and reward achievement. These are important life-long skills that campers will learn at camp and will use the rest of their lives!

The Nautilus will feature: 

• Two speed slides and one drop slide

• Two climbing walls with 37 total climbing handles; large climbing wall with

easy and difficult climb options

• Inverted climbing wall that offers offers cliff jump feature

• Large upper deck platform that holds 6-8 people

• Lower deck that holds 4-5 people

• Easy-up boarding platform with optional second boarding platform available

Waterfront 2019 News

Summer 2019 will offer challenges for campers of all ages as they engage in waterfront activities.  New as an add-on for the waterfront this year we are doing Jr Lifeguard.  Each enrolled camper will get an opportunity to earn 4 certifications along with the experience of on the job training for their future.  They will have the opportunity to earn the following certifications: YMCA Aquatic Safety Assistant Certification, Basic Life Support(CPR Pro/AED), First Aid and Oxygen Administration certifications.  During their two weeks here they will not just have classroom time and pool training but be able to experience what it takes to work in a pool setting, on the waterfront or even on the water in the boats.  This on the job training can help develop a camper both physically and professionally while giving them a safe environment to grow and discover their best self.
                     
By Kira Cullen

Where Are They Now...Catching up with Emily (Carpenter) Mabry

Ever since I was a little girl, Camp Thunderbird has held such a special place in my heart. Every summer, I looked forward to my favorite two summer camp events - the “Thunder Open” (the session tennis tournament) and the Camp Dance. I loved getting to sign up for my favorite activities and try new things, too - like the high ropes course at the challenge course, horseback riding, archery, and more. Camp Thunderbird instilled in me a confidence that I could do anything I set my mind too - and for that, I am so grateful. After a few years of missing camp due to my competitive tennis summer tournament schedule, I came right back to Thunderbird after my freshman year of college to work as a counselor. Those two summers during college were the most fun, rewarding experiences in the world! Not only did I get to work with children (which
was perfect, since I was studying to be an elementary school teacher), but I also made some of my very best friends!

After I graduated from Clemson University in May of 2016, I moved to Greenville, SC and taught Kindergarten and Pre-K at Meeting Street Academy (a school for under-resourced students in nearby Spartanburg, SC). I truly believe that my experiences working with children of all ages as a counselor, tennis coach, and lifeguard during my time at Camp Thunderbird prepared me for teaching in the public school classroom. I learned how to not only teach my students academically, but how to help them develop character and bring out their unique personalities and strengths. After my first year of teaching, I spent that following summer overseas in Jinja, Uganda working with a Christian ministry that served vulnerable and abandoned women and children. I absolutely fell in love with the people there, and ended up committing to come back after I finished my second year of teaching. Almost immediately after returning from my first trip to Uganda, I ended up meeting the love of my life (and now husband) - Wesley Mabry. We dated throughout that school year and got engaged (7 months after we met!) shortly before I left to go back to Uganda to serve that following summer/fall. I was working in the preschool classrooms with amazing local teachers there and loved getting to be back with my precious students from the previous summer. When I got back from Uganda, I started a little business called “Light to the Lambs” as a way to create and sell artwork and handmade greeting cards while giving half of all profit back to Uganda.

Just a couple of weeks ago, on March 30th, I married my sweet husband and it was the most beautiful day of our lives! Wesley has been my biggest cheerleader from day one - whether it was my decision to go overseas to Uganda, start “Light to the Lambs” to give back, and must recently, to create my own new business - called “Emily Mabry Creative.” Through starting “Light to the Lambs,” not only did I realize how much I loved creating encouraging art and greeting cards for others, but I also discovered my niche and love for social media branding, design, photography and all things creative! And boom...the idea of @emilymabrycreative was born! The dream behind this business is to encourage others to see the beauty and joy of life all around us through photography, branding, design and all things creative. You can find me and learn more about “Emily Mabry Creative” on Instagram and Facebook @emilymabrycreative. As I mentioned earlier, all of this would

not have been possible without the confidence, character lessons, and courage that I learned during my time as both a camper and counselor at Camp Thunderbird. I learned the beauty and joy that life has to offer, and most importantly, that God loves me and has great plans for our lives!