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

• Alumnae Volunteer Work Weekends and Alumnae Volunteer Work Days over the past few years have made a difference in getting camp ready. The accomplishments of the volunteers who showed up in May and June were significant. Several items on the Camp Prep List were addressed—Pavilion re-screening, cabin and kitchen cleaning, gardening (weeding/planting), and opening program areas. After work, all enjoyed time together barbecuing, singing songs around the campfire, and star gazing.
• Alum Laura Henrich joined the GQ Board in 2022. The Board is leveraging the wealth of camping experience she brings to the table. Laura’s history with the organization starts in 1977. Over the years her roles at camp have ranged from Camp Counselor to Camp Director. She has also been an active volunteer during Alum weekends and with the GirlsQUEST@Home Year-Round program.
• Alum Connie Stine, who is also a Girls Quest Board member, and coordinator of the GirlsQUEST@Home Year Round Workshops, stepped down as Camp Director in 2024. The extensive time and effort that Connie has devoted to preparing and executing 4 summer camp sessions (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) has been invaluable. She has dedicated her heart and soul to providing a camp experience that has encouraged girls to explore, learn and grow. The Board sincerely thanks Connie for her commitment to the Camp Director role and GQ, and willingness to volunteer so much of her time to helping the organization meet its mission.
• Alum Jay Green took over as Camp Director in 2024, replacing Connie Stine. Jay has been part of the GVF/GQ family for years, first as a camper, then as a Counselor, and later as a member of the Senior Team under Connie. For years, Jay’s dream has been to become the Camp Director of Camp Oh-Neh-Tah, and that dream has now become a reality. 
• Two years after Camp Oh-Neh-Tah operationally returned in 2019, Alum Claudia Campbell came aboard to serve as the Health Director. Luckily she’s been with us ever since. Claudia has effectively handled camper’s and staff’s daily health needs and has expertly run the Health Center at camp. Everyone at camp is in good hands with Claudia manning the Clinic. By the way, Claudia has also been active with the GirlsQUEST@Home Year-Round program.
• Every Camp Director needs an Assistant Camp Director. In 2024, Alum Whitney Williams volunteered to take on that role. Whitney is no stranger to Camp Oh-Neh-Tah since she’s been a camper, Teen Leader and Counselor. We are thrilled that she decided to add another title to her list and join our Senior Team at camp.
• Sincere thanks go out to Alum Eva Lewandowski, who will be returning to Camp 2025 as our Aquatics Director. Eva has held this position in the past for three camp sessions (2019, 2021, 2022). Actually, Eva was instrumental in setting up the aquatics program for our return to camping in 2019. Her and her team’s efforts on the waterfront have resulted in incident-free swimming and boating activities. Unfortunately, Eva did not join us at Camp 2023 and Camp 2024, but she’s returning for Camp 2025, and we are excited to welcome her back.
• The Teen Leadership Program returned in 2022 and will be active again in 2025. For 2025 this group of young leaders will be led by Alum Jay Green who will be the Teen Leader Advisor as well as the Camp Director. Thanks, Jay for wearing two hats!
• Camp Sojourner (CS), Directed by Alum Alisha Berry, traveled from Philadelphia to Camp Oh-Neh-Tah for a successful week of camping in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Alisha started CS in 2007 and modeled the program on her experience at Camp Oh-Neh-Tah. With this history it was fitting that CS found a temporary home back at Camp Oh-Neh-Tah.
• For 2025, be sure to put these dates on your calendar and plan to return to Camp Oh-Neh-Tah:
  • Alumnae Volunteer Work Weekend—May 16-18 and June 27-29 (Come and roll up your sleeves to help us get camp ready for Camp 2025 and then relax by the campfire after a good day’s work)
  • Camp 2025—July 18-26 (Become a member of our Summer Staff or Volunteer)
  • Alumnae Family Weekend—August 1-3 (Bring the family and join us for a fun weekend at Camp Oh-Neh-Tah. Totally unplug and do nothing, or go swimming in Silver Lake and climb Mt. Zoar again. Bring back memories of your younger years at camp and share stories of experiences that you will never forget. Surprise your kids with tales of what you did at camp when you were their age)
• The Smoke Signals Newsletter for Alumni of the GVF/BAL Camps is still being distributed. Sending major “Thanks” to Connie Stine for her undying commitment to write and distribute this newsletter. If you are interested in receiving a year’s subscription of 4 issues for $10.00, 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/GQ 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!