Article
Dear Alumni, Families, and Friends,
Spring is beginning to stir around the Alohas, and with it comes that familiar sense of momentum! Our campuses are waking up, staff planning is beginning in earnest, and our steady behind-the-scenes work is getting ready to burst into bloom, appearing like magic right alongside the deep greens of summer in these Vermont hills.
Springing Forward with Eric Arnold
Just as we welcome the change in seasons, I’d also like to officially welcome our Interim Executive Director, Eric Arnold, to the Alohas. Last month, we shared Eric’s appointment and qualifications via a letter from our Board Chair, Jennifer Mogck (you can find a copy in the links below).
For the last three weeks, Eric and I have been working side by side—along with Senior Director of Programs, Jordan Nobler, and all our camp and program directors—as we prepare for Summer 2026. I cannot imagine a better person to steward Aloha this summer. Eric has stepped in with a depth of experience, steadiness, and an energy that has provided a positive boost as we move from spring planning into execution.
You’ll be hearing more from Eric as we kick off the summer camp season, and he’s also penned a brief introduction you can find on our blog (link below). Eric has proven to be a wonderful colleague in only a short time, and we are truly lucky to have him on board.
Looking Back, Seeing Impact
I’m grateful to so many campers, staff, alumni, and donors whose thoughtfulness, generosity, and compassion make the work of the Aloha Foundation tangible to so many others. How can one possibly measure the impact of this community that cares so tirelessly for our mission and each other?
The 2025 Impact Report shows just a glimpse of what our shared commitment makes possible. Last year, we raised nearly one million dollars in campership support for deserving families while providing unparalleled outdoor experiences to over 7,000 participants in total across all Aloha Foundation programs. The pages of this report reflect the collective work, care, and generosity that made last year possible—from the staff who show up for campers each day to all the supportive alumni and donors who ensure these programs remain strong and accessible.
This report, like this moment, is simply a snapshot. The real impact of the Alohas is found in delivering these meaningful experiences year after year, decade after decade.
Where Past Meets Present
June 30th, 2026, will mark the introduction of something new for the Alohas, our first Aloha Founders Day: A Day of Giving. This day not only recognizes our founders who gave so much to the future of youth and camp, but also encourages each of us to come together as a community to do the same. This date marks the arrival of the first campers at Aloha in 1905. It feels important to connect with this moment, not just as history, but as a source of inspiration for what lies ahead. In doing so, we can more fully grasp the scope of what we might accomplish together.
And, that sense of connection will be physically present August 14 – 16 in Fairlee as we welcome alumni back for Aloha’s 120th and Hive’s 110th anniversary celebration. We’ve been so pleased by the response so far! If you’ve considered joining us and haven’t signed up yet, now is the time!! Our directors and reunion team at the Foundation have been working overtime to create a fun, fantastical event and make it accessible to all those who would like to join.
Lastly, on a personal note, I want to share my admiration for the staff of the Aloha Foundation, with whom I have worked countless hours alongside. We’ve tackled urgent camp matters, planned light-hearted events, enjoyed many meals together, and navigated trying times, both professionally and personally. We’ve spent weekends, overnights, road trips, and more than a few hikes in service of this organization and this community, and I cannot say enough about the dedication they bring to this work.
These staff are the lifeblood of our programs. Each of them plays a vital role in ensuring the Alohas continue year after year. They give us their best, and I have been proud to witness what that commitment has brought to life—to see it flourish, to appreciate its impact, and to understand the care and purpose behind it.
To our community, I have loved interacting with and getting to know each and every one of you. From my time as Ohana Camp Director to becoming the Executive Director of the Aloha Foundation, you have made me smile, cry, and burst out laughing more times than I can count. It has been an honor, and I am grateful to be joining you in a different capacity—as a camp parent, staff alumna, and donor.
I am filled with excitement for my family’s next chapter, and I feel truly fortunate that my connection to this community will continue, giving me the chance to applaud and marvel at all the good work yet to be built upon this enduring and wonderful foundation.
In the spirit of Aloha,
Vanessa
Vanessa Riegler
Executive Director
The Aloha Foundation
Check out the links below for more behind the scenes topics that stoke our campfires!
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
