Give a Flip for Dunkleys Gymnastics

Dunkley’s Gymnastics Camp isn’t just a place for kids in the summer, it’s a community of people that build friendships that last a lifetime. For those of you who were campers yourselves, you know what we mean; camp has always existed as an escape from the worries and troubles of regular life, and for some of us was the one place that never seemed to change.  We got older, maybe moved to new schools, or found a new sport, but camp was always there waiting for us, like a second home. So many of our favorite childhood memories are of solving riddles with Dan on the boat, learning to water ski, watching Ruth laugh so hard she cries when special visitors interrupted lecture-demo, slip ‘n slide, seeing the counselors all dressed up for a last-minute skit on Thursday night, getting so scared of red cabin (which hasn’t been red for more than 20 years) that we all slept in the same bunk, Dance Night with Ruth out on the grass, being disappointed we were too young for the PG-13 movie, but instead realizing that bowling with Dan is so much better than any movie could ever be!  For kids, camp may only last a week or two (or eight), but however long or short those experiences were, we were better for them.  We may not have realized at the time how camp shaped us into the adults we’ve become, but none of us would be the same without it. We learned how to tolerate differences (sharing a cabin with 5 other teenage girls isn’t always easy!), make new friends, that it’s okay to make mistakes because we learn from them, we got to become leaders and learned to work as part of a team.  Those of us who came as counselors, or the handyman, or the cook realized as young adults that the magic of camp doesn’t go away when we grow up.   And the opportunity to be a part of something so special is unique, and we will never take it for granted.

But nothing can compare to that feeling of walking down the hill for the first time at the beginning of the summer and realizing we were coming home.  It didn’t matter if we were 8 years old and still terrified of overnight camp, or 13 and so excited to see our friends we forgot our parents were still waiting at the car, or 21 and thrilled to put off worrying about finding a real job for a few more weeks, or 40, nervous about our own child’s first summer of camp, but confident that it will be incredible.  Because no matter how far apart we lived, or how different our lives were, when we were at camp we were part of a family.  And that family wouldn’t have been possible without first Mr. Dunkley, and now Ruth and Dan, who are two of the most amazingly kind, generous and supportive people in the world.  

Camp has opened at the end of June for the past 48 summers. This summer is different, and for the first time there won’t be any campers coming down the driveway.  We won’t be there for pancakes on Monday morning, or pizza on Thursday night.  There won’t be tubing or skiing, or sailing.  No campfire with s’mores and Ruth leading the camp song.  We won’t get to stay up after lights out talking with our friends, or plans for dress-up dinner.  We won’t hear Ruth and Dan make us all cry on Friday at 3:00, telling parents all about how wonderful their kids were at camp this week.  And while we are all so sad to not be together this summer, we appreciate that Ruth, Dan, Katie, and Jen were more concerned about the safety and health of their staff and campers than with their family’s business. So we’re asking that anyone who has the means donate whatever they can to help ensure that next summer is different!  For once WE want to give back to Ruth and Dan and their family, because our lives are better for having been part of theirs.  If you’re new to camp, or were hoping that this summer would be your first one, we can’t wait to meet you!  There truly is no other place on earth like it, and we know you’ll fall in love with it too. And the very best part of camp?  It’s that it isn’t just a place, and it’s not limited to a few weeks in the summer.  Camp is a family that has always been and will always be there for us; it would be so nice if we could be there for them.
Oh.. we almost forgot...   This is a surprise so please share with your friends but do not publicly post.