Camp Mowglis, Letter from the President
Letter from the President Dear Alumni, Family, and Friends of Mowglis, Some years after I’d left the Mowglis staff I was having lunch with my old boss, Mr. William B. Hart. I observed that Mowglis was roughly the same size as the small business I was running, but with two employees and small office it was clearly easier for me to make ends meet. Mr. Hart smiled and told me that Mowglis seldom made money even in Colonel Elwell’s day. The camp stayed open because Mrs. Elwell, a woman of some means, gave him what he needed to balance the books. I was surprised to hear that a successful camp like ours was walking a financial tightrope, but Mr. Hart, a tough old Yankee when it came to managing camp finances, assured me that most private schools and camps were in the same position. Today some things haven’t changed. Our Director, Mr. Bob Bengtson, keeps a tough Yankee eye on every dollar we spend, and we still depend on the generosity of our alumni to close the gap between tuition and expenses. The trustees of the Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation take our role as stewards of the camp’s assets very seriously and work hard to be worthy of each donor’s generosity. This annual report, covering the 2006 fiscal year (11/05-10/06), is part of an ongoing effort to make sure our books and accounting procedures are complete and transparent. If you ever have questions about this please feel free to contact either Mr. Bengtson or myself directly. As you read this, our boys are preparing for another Mowglis summer. New uniforms have been purchased and bathing suits, flashlights, and sleeping bags are being made ready. On June 23rd the boys will arrive at camp. Amid the commotion and excitement of saying good-bye and moving in to their dorm, new and old campers come together and start making those special friendships that make the summer work. The weeks that follow offer experiences that are often challenging and always memorable. The program is varied enough that every boy finds an activity that he will enjoy. Our boys grow and gain confidence throughout the summer, and when they head home they’re ready to move ahead. Together we make this happen, year after year. Good Hunting, Charlie Walbridge
