Camp Scripps is the College鈥檚 signature retreat created by, for, and about its talented alumnae.
By Emily Glory Peters
Every summer since 1994, the College has played host to one of its most beloved campus traditions: Camp Scripps.聽聽as their gift to current and future alums, Camp Scripps is an annual retreat that celebrates and shares the brilliance of the Scripps community.
鈥淚t was started in recognition of our 25-year reunion. They wanted to do a poetry retreat, and thought holding it on campus would be so much fun, as we鈥檇 be able to stay in the dorms,鈥� explains Ann Merrill Westaway 鈥�69, a longterm member of Camp鈥檚 鈥淐reative Caucus鈥� planning commitee and its sanctioned historian. The plan was to hire famous writers to come, she says, until聽聽asked the group a simple question: Why bring in presenters from the outside when there were so many talented women among Scripps alumnae?
Nearly three decades later, Camp continues to embody our alumnae鈥檚 most notable characteristic: an appetite for lifelong learning.
鈥淐amp is for, by, and about alumnae,鈥� says Emily Rankin 鈥�97, one of this year鈥檚 tri-chairs along with Westaway and Devanie Candelaria D贸帽ez 鈥�94. With support from Scripps鈥� Office of Alumnae Engagment, she continues, every event in the program is planned and produced by a Scripps alum, with rare exceptions. Camp鈥檚 other Creative Caucus volunteers are responsible for marketing and building the agenda, from聽writing workshops to yoga lessons to themed costume parties.
This summer鈥檚 program is virtual鈥攁 consequence of the waning pandemic. Still, regardless of what鈥檚 on the Camp docket, there鈥檚 one rule everyone accepts.
鈥淥ur motto is 鈥榚verything possible, nothing required,鈥欌�� says Rankin. In a non-pandemic year, Camp differs from Reunion Weekend by welcoming Campers overnight, with some foregoing workshops to ramble through Claremont haunts recalling (and adding to) Scripps memories. Also unlike Reunion Weekend, Camp draws alumnae from all class years who leave families and commitments at home for a few days of mental refreshment and a chance to learn something new from their peers.
鈥淪ome people may not identify with their class year, or maybe they weren鈥檛 residential for personal reasons. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 so cool about Camp Scripps鈥攊t appeals to everyone,鈥� Rankin adds.
Whether as a workshop presenter or Camp attendee, participation is something both Westaway and Rankin encourage young alumnae to consider. A wider range of Campers, they explain, unearths hidden gems鈥攍ike the addition of burlesque dancing instruction from one alumna鈥攁nd enlivens the entire Camp experience.
鈥淲hat I look forward to the most is connecting with all the amazing, talented Scripps women; not just those I鈥檝e known, but meeting new people from different class years,鈥� says Westaway. 鈥淭hey create an infusion of happiness at Camp: a lot of laughter, a lot of contemplative wonderment.鈥�
Camp鈥檚 intrinsic Scrippsness is also reflected in how it鈥檚 supported. The retreat is priced to break even鈥攏ot make a profit鈥攚ith alumnae-backed funds covering the cost of speakers, supplies, and even 鈥淐amperships鈥� to help their peers attend. As Rankin observes, these are just a few ways Camp allows Scripps alums to support one another.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just alums giving back in the form of workshops or Camperships, but we鈥檝e also created scholarships, offered internships, extended opportunities to work with campus libraries, and more,鈥� says Rankin. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been fascinating over the years to figure out not just how Camp can support Scripps, but how it can support Campers themselves.鈥�
This climate of mutual uplift is something Westaway and Rankin continue to see even in the retreat鈥檚 temporary web format. And while some of Camp鈥檚 traditions can鈥檛 be fully replicated online, its spirit persists.
鈥淭he most sacred thing is the closing brunch鈥攁nd we鈥檝e continued that virtually,鈥� says Rankin. 鈥淗ere people gather to share a word, a short sentiment, about their time at Camp. The words vary from 鈥榬enewal鈥� to 鈥榯ea,鈥� 鈥榝ood鈥� to 鈥榝riends,鈥� but what our alumnae feel at the end is pretty powerful. The importance of sharing that can鈥檛 be minimized.鈥�
Camp Scripps is currently in session every weekend now through July 31, 2021. To view sessions and learn how to register, please click here.