Girls Quest Alumnae

Re-engage

Since 1936, Girls Quest and Girl’s Vacation Fund, has evolved to serve the needs of new generations of girls. Although parts of the program have changed, the basics have stayed the same. Whether you attended Camp in 1956 or 2006, you share a common experience that unites you with thousands of Girls Quest or Girl’s Vacation Fund Alumnae.

We invite Alumnae to re-engage with Girls Quest and regularly visit this Alumnae page for insights into what’s happening in the Alumnae community. Also help us re-establish our Alumnae Database, by taking a moment to share your contact info below under Join Our Alumnae List.

News and Events

• The 2020 Annual Alumnae Family Weekend, was held July 31-August 1. A good time was had by all. Alumnae, family and friends renewed old friendships, enjoyed the beauty of Camp, went swimming in the lake and/or revisited Mt. Zoar. There was plenty of good food, great conversation and laughter. Everyone had a chance to unplug and escape from the hustle and bustle of their everyday existence made more complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dusted off memories of past camping days, brought back thoughts of a simpler, care free, mask free time. 
• Alum Connie Stine, who is also a Girls Quest Board member and our Camp Director, has worked tirelessly, as always, to 1) bring us another year of engaging GirlsQUEST@Home Year-Round Workshops, 2) drive significant Camp improvement initiatives along with the President of Girls Quest, Eileen Murphy, and 3) ensure all the necessary safety protocols are in place to bring girls back for Camp 2022. She’s taking every step required to make sure Camp 2022 is as successful as Camp 2019 and Camp 2021.
• Sincere thanks go out to the Alums who helped Connie Stine rollout GirlsQUEST@Home and GirlsQUEST@Home Year-Round—Claudia Campbell, Lauren Constanio, Sarah Godlewski, Laura Henrich, Shanny Herrera, Selina Herrara-Nichols, Vicki Hopper, Eva Lewandowski, Stephani Lopez, and Leandra Stewart.
• Two Alums have stepped up again to take on critical roles with Camp 2022. As in 2021, Stephani Lopez will be our Assistant Camp Director and Shanny Herrera will take on the job of being our Recruiter/Registrar. Both did a great job in 2021, so we have every confidence that they will do a super job with Camp 2022.
• The Teen Leadership Program returned in 2022 and this group of young leaders is led by Alum Aja Peoples who is the Teen Leader Advisor. Thanks Aja!
• For 2022, be sure to put these dates on your calendar and plan to return to Camp Oh-Neh-Tah:
  • Alumnae Volunteer Work Weekend—May 21-22 (Come and roll up your sleeves to help us get camp ready for Camp 2022 and then relax by the campfire after a good day’s work)
  • Alumnae Volunteer Work Day—June 18 (If you can’t volunteer for a weekend, give us a day)
  • Camp 2022—July 15-27 (Become a member of our Summer Staff or Volunteer)
• The Smoke Signals Newsletter for Alumni of the GVF/BAL Camps is still being distributed. If you are interested in receiving a year’s subscription of 4 issues for $5.00, please contact Constance Stine at crs1653@gmail.com.

After GVF, Peggy moved on to college and later became a caring nursery school teacher before joining the Home Depot/Expo Design Center family. After a successful 22-year career at Home Depot/Expo, she retired to spend quality time with her husband, two children and young granddaughter. Peggy also volunteers her time to worthy causes.

Post Peggy’s active camping days, she stayed engaged with GVF over the years. She has participated in Alumnae Volunteer Work Weekends and Alumnae Weekends. She has also leveraged her relationships with Home Depot/Expo and a fraternal organization of skilled craftsmen called “The Independent Order of Odd Fellows” (her husband is a member), to work on a variety of important projects at Camp. She’s been instrumental in getting volunteers to build a small barn, fix roofs, replace windows and wood decking, paint the waterfront deck and complete plumbing and electrical work. Peggy said, “I’ve been able to work small miracles by tapping vendors and people I’ve worked with to get involved with GVF. Fortunately I’m not afraid to ask.” And Peggy has worked small miracles with skilled professionals as well as with family and friends who have travelled to Camp to take on basic cleaning tasks that were critical to maintaining Camp.

Peggy’s drive to ensure that young girls get an opportunity to enjoy Camp like she did, and her willingness and ability to bring needed resources to Camp in order to help GQ offer safe camping sessions, makes her an invaluable Alumnae. One that we are thrilled to Spotlight!