From 1983 to 1003, Onaway flourished under Carol Southall’s direction. Carol held fast to the traditions that we treasure, and she focused on the needs of young women in a complex and challenging world. We have been blessed. As alumnae, parents, and friends, we experienced first hand her sensitivity, her flexibility and her vision. We marveled at her ability to communicate with all of us, from the youngest prospective camper to the oldest alumna. She earned our trust and our deepest affection.What are the hallmarks of her directorship? Two areas stand out from all the rest:

Carol has provided opportunities for leadership.

Carol has given her counselors, almost all of them former Onaway campers, a great deal of responsibility. She has made special training available, and has created an atmosphere of confidence and trust. The programs are theirs to lead.

Carol is always available to her counselors, as she is for the campers. She has faith in the competence of young women, and her pride in “her girls” is evident.

Carol has made Onaway a real community.

Carol has worked with the campers and the counselors to help them live together with generosity of spirit. She has helped them to appreciate differences in others and she has opened their eyes to the needs of the natural environment and to the needs of the world. What was a prevailing perspective of privilege has become a commitment to community and service.

Carol has made the alumnae feel connected to Onaway, through the Newsletter, the website, and the Alumnae Weekend.Carol has gained the respect of parents through her insight into the young girls who are put in her care each summer and her loving guidance of them.

Carol made everyone feel that they were important to the Onaway of today and the Onaway of tomorrow.

The Caroline Morgan Southall Endowment Fund

In 2002, The Board of Trustees created The Caroline Morgan Southall Endowment Fund to honor Carol and to benefit Onaway as it moves ahead. The goal was to raise one million dollars, and that goal was met in 2005. Thank you to all of the alumnae, parents and friends who made the campaign such a success.

From Strength to Strength

• Our primary goal was to continue to live up to our Mission Statement: “Camp Onaway provides girls the time, space and guidance to develop the physical and spiritual strengths necessary to meet the challenges of today’s world with honesty,sensitivity, and courage.”
• We wanted to widen the Onaway community, through increasing the funds available for scholarships;
• We wanted to deepen alumnae connections with the camp by means of additional alumnae activities and networking;
• We wanted to increase the amount of money available for counselor training and salaries;
• We wanted to provide greater opportunities for personal growth to campers, OWLES, aides and counselors, by enhancing our new Community Building program and by implementing new programs that present challenge, teach decision-making and develop leadership skills

Thanks to your help, we have been able to make progress in all of these areas.