Alumni Spotlight- May 2025

This month’s Alumni Spotlight features Abbe Don and Beth Gordon! Abbe and Beth are longtime, dedicated Chippies. They are the co-founders of the CRC Alumni Association and continue to contribute in immesearable ways to the Chippewa community. They are living proof that the camp bond is for life, and we are grateful for the many ways that Abbe and Beth work to unite Chippies of all ages. We are thrilled that they will both join us at camp this summer for Chippewa’s 80th Alumni Reunion! Read below to learn all about Abbe and Beth’s time at Chippewa as well as what being Chippies means to them!

What years were you at CRC?
Beth: 1971-1980
Abbe: 1971 to 1976

What is your favorite camp memory?
Beth: Canoeing down the Flambeau River as an A-Frame co-counselor with Patti Katz— neither of us had ever touched a paddle before. It was pouring rain, we flipped the canoe, lost all the cabin’s food, soaked our tents, and to top it off, the canoe got wedged between two rocks. No canoe, no food, all soaked— but somehow, still one of my favorite memories.
Abbe: My favorite memories are thinking back on the exhilaration of “firsts:” the first time I successfully double jumped on Fang (a popular horse in the 1970s), the first time I did a “flying dock start” on one ski, the first time I did a back flip on the trampoline without the safety harness. I also loved any campfire that ended with The Chippewa Creed— I loved the sense of connection and belonging as we stood in a circle with our arms crossed, singing words about kindness and knowing oneself before judging others as the “squeeze” was passed around the circle.

What do you love most about being a Chippy?
Beth: 55 years of the best friends ever. We still travel together and act like campers… that never goes away.
Abbe: My mom attended Chippewa in 1950 and I was the first “second generation” camper so for me Chippewa represents tradition, continuity and connecting across generations. I am so fortunate that my mom is still alive and I can share Chippewa memories with her.

How do you stay connected to your Chippy family?
Beth: Once a year vacations together, Dead Shows and CRC Reunions.
Abbe: Texting, phone calls, connecting in person when we are in the same place.

You were the founders of the CRC Alumni Association. Why was creating this Association important to you?
Beth and Abbe: We had been coming to alumni camp for several summers and we noticed three things:

1. People were really happy to be back at camp. We all seemed to share an intense connection to the physical place and to our sense of ourselves as “Chippies.” Kindness pervaded all of our interactions.
2. We were increasingly building connections across generations and across the different Chippewa eras.
3. People seemed interested in making more formal, ongoing connections to build relationships and share stories, to network professionally, and to follow up on or expand the philanthropy connection between alumni camp and Camp for All Kids.

We were at a life stage where it felt extremely important to give back to the people and place that had profoundly shaped who we had become personally and professionally. We also thought the then upcoming 75th anniversary was a great time to connect with people who may have drifted away but would be excited to reconnect.

We were also especially grateful to Cliff, Lisa, Sari and Sophie for continuing CRC traditions while updating camp for the 21st Century. We were especially impressed with the recommendation to read “Strong is the New Pretty.” We felt so welcomed and it felt like “coming home” so we wanted to share that as widely as possible.

We formalized the mission of the Alumni Association as: Connect Chippewa alumni across generations. We articulated a vision to:

1. Connect to friends and Chippewa values to leverage nostalgia for camp
2. Network and grow professionally in order to further their careers
3. Serve the community through philanthropy and volunteer work

We hope a strong alumni community will benefit current campers and parents as well as alumni.

What are you most looking forward to about the CRC 80th Reunion?
Beth: I love the Happy Hour chatting and networking with the alumni, especially getting to share the original ‘tunes’ each song was meant to be sung to.
Abbe: I love being physically at camp: the drive on the dirt road into camp, the Center Fire Circle, being on Dam Lake in any kind of boat, and walking the path to the stables immediately transports me back to the 1970s and I simultaneously experience the carefreeness of childhood and my adult appreciation for the Northwoods. The physical place helps me connect to the best parts of myself. And I love seeing old friends and making new ones. I especially love the opportunity to feel like a kid again.

Any words of wisdom or advice to current Chippies?
Beth: Take it all in…build up confidence, memories and enjoy every minute of time at CRC.
Abbe: Camp will always be a refuge from the academic and social pressures of school and day to day life. Try activities outside your comfort zone. Get to know someone from another city. Try to appreciate the big and small moments— but especially the small moments like the joy of walking around camp with a friend or taking a few minutes to listen to the water lapping against the shore.