Meet Julie Benson-VanEenenaam. I live on Chicago's NW Side and started at camp in the late '80s as a camper and then went on through the leadership program. I spent about a decade at camp. My favorite place is always on the waterfront. You could find me lifeguarding, teaching swim lessons, or sailing. Currently, I am teaching yoga in Chicago anywhere from local studios, downtown corporate America, and the top of the Hancock. I also work in life sciences. I have a 15-year-old son and an 13-year-old daughter who both love spending time at Camp Edwards. My favorite thing I learned from camp is how to adapt better in life. Camp taught me that it was up to me if I wanted to have a good time or not. I had to figure out how to take care of myself and my immediate needs. Camp helped me become a leader as an adult. Invisible leadership is my favorite kind of leadership.

My favorite camp songs are Vespers and Jet Plane 

Why did she join the board? My main goal was to help get more involvement from NBZ people from the early '90s and earlier. I’ve found that some people really want to feel a part of camp but don’t always know where to start. My hope is that the “older” generations always know that camp is theirs too!"

What do you hope that the board can do for future purple earners? My hope is always that future purple earners realize just what an honor it is to earn their purple neckerchief. That they become a part of a much bigger collective and that their impact at camp and then globally can take them anywhere in life. It’s truly a gift.

Morgan Conneely

Currently lives in Chicago, IL, and works as a 7th- grade reading and social studies teacher at Fuller School of Excellence. I attended camp for 13 summers, my last summer I was Unit Director and I think the year was 2017. My all-time favorite memories from camp revolve around color war, campfires, 5:30s, and 4DG. I also have the fondest memories of decorating the dining hall for theme days and making up skits minutes before flagpole to have a semi-cohesive theme week. My favorite camp song is Bungalow and Vespers. I joined the board because I wanted to ensure that campers for years to come benefitted from a strong honors program that followed the traditions we hold so close to our hearts. My hope is also just that, I hope that campers cherish the traditions and continue to use the honors program in their real lives. The most important thing I learned from camp is that being true to yourself will take you the farthest and that there really is nothing better than having camp friends.

Megan Hahn 

Megan attended camp from 1984-1994 as both a camper and counselor, earning her purple in 1988. Her favorite camp memory is "1992 - Medieval Times Day. We ate whole roast chickens with no utensils for dinner, there was a king and queen, my husband, Jason Hahn was the court jester roaming around Mickelwright playing guitar during dinner, there was a jousting fight on the inflatable tubes in the red section for the hand of the princess and a post-dinner Faire on the courts. It was so much fun". She currently lives in Madison, WI as a high school math teacher. A personal goal of hers that she has achieved since earning her purple is being of service to others. 

Kent Wedemeyer

Kent has been going and working at camp since 1982. He has done just about every job from JL, ACL, CL, packouts, waterfront, all the way to trips counselor. His favorite memory at camp is putting in the docks at project 600. Kent currently works and lives in Madison, WI as a teacher. He enjoys using all of his camp traits to work with students including positive language, keeping calm, and goal setting. 

Zach Myers

I currently live in Chicago, IL in the Lincoln Park area. I attended camp for thirteen summers. I was a counselor and JL counselor. I am currently working in sales for Pure Storage. A fun memory for me was creating theme weeks and learning to improv my way to make things fun and successful. My favorite camp song is "Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe." I joined the board to stay connected to camp throughout my adult life and to help our honors system stay successful. My hope for future purple earners is to try and find a mentor as soon as possible to help you make challenging goals while at camp and outside camp. 

Briana Hoey

I currently live in Big Sky, Montana. In the winter I work at Big Sky Resort with the ski school where I oversee programming for kids 6 and under. During the summer I help operate a day camp with the local community center. I attended camp for 2 years and then joined staff from 2015-2019. I was a cabin counselor for 2 years, was the JL counselor in 2017, a UD in 2018, and was Program Director in 2019. Some of my favorite memories at camp were all the weeks spent in Sequoia, chilly mornings at flagpole, guarding the Buck Island Swim, LMD's, all time spent on the waterfront, filling up water balloons for 8 hours in the PO, my purple ceremony with Toby and Elliott, time off at Lindey's, EIF with Jody, selling ice cream off of the golf cart, and getting ready for honors night with the youth girls. My favorite camp song is either Vespers, Jet Plane, or 60s Party. I joined the board because I wanted to help keep camp a place for kids to learn and explore bravely, as well help keep alumni connected for years and years, because camp friends are truly the best friends.

Sloan McHugh

Currently lives in Buffalo Grove, IL, and works in International Education for Harper College. I was a camper from 2006-2011, LIT/JL 2012-13, Cabin staff 2014,2015,2016, Pack out coordinator 2017, school year program staff 2017-2020. It’s so hard to pick a favorite memory there are too many great ones! I think my first staff training was very memorable. The excitement to get our first group of campers fueled us to learn how to be the best counselors for our campers. We spent a lot of time bonding as a team. We spent a lot of time singing and dancing in the lodge, laughing, and watching the famous Beulah sunsets. My  favorite camp song is "Rolling Over The Billows." I joined the board to keep the tradition of honors alive for all the campers to come. I hope the board can show future purple earners that the honors program can continue throughout your life and long after you leave camp.