Camp Key Wedowee: How One Family Creates Life Long Memories with Summer Fun and Adventures

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Story by Allison Key

“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” -Proverbs 17:22a

When I was growing up, my Maw Maw Jean ensured we had “Grandkids Day” at her house every single week. Without fail, during the school year and during the summer, she picked up each of her grandchildren (there were five of us at the time) all on the same day to spend time together with her and with each other. It was just something that was important to her because she grew up with her cousins and they were her lifelong friends. In fact, until recently, she and her siblings and their first cousins would gather monthly at Cracker Barrel to share a meal, fellowship, and pray together. They are all in their 80’s and 90’s!  

Because of Maw Maw Jean’s intentionality in making sure us cousins grew up knowing each other and playing together, those cousins continue to be some of my best friends! And those memories are some of my favorites! We didn’t do anything special or go anywhere fancy by the world’s standards, but playing at her house, learning to make homemade fudge (eaten on Saltine crackers, of course!), fighting over whose turn it was to sit in the front seat on the way to Paw Paw’s shop, wearing her costume jewelry, and napping in her hammock in the backyard were formative memories that forever shaped us and bonded us.

When we had our own children, I wanted the same thing for them–lifelong, built-in friendships with their cousins. And on top of that, I wanted them to have a place they could always gather together with friends and family, no matter how old they were, how far away they moved, or how many children of their own they had–a place that held safe, warm, fun memories that would help shape who they become. As I have written here before, Lake Wedowee has always been a place that I could come to in the most joyful or sorrowful times in my life. The lake holds many tears, both happy and sad, and many memories of our lives that keep us coming back year after year.

All of these sentiments and memories together led to the creation of “Camp Key Wedowee” several years ago. As our children were getting older and more independent, growing out of the toddler stages and into the place where core memories are really made, we wanted to do something that would keep them coming back even as they grew into adulthood, even when they had their own families! Camp Key Wedowee is just a fun name for a designated few days in the summer when our kids, their cousins, and their best friends come to the lake, forgetting all “responsibilities”, and have a fun, adventurous, summer camp experience.  

We have hosted from eight to eighteen pre-teens for Camp, and we always include some special learning adventure. From visiting SIFAT for a tour of the world, to trending games like the tortilla slap and traditional games like “Capture the Flag”, to walking tacos and movie nights, we fill a few days with fun experiences that bring these kids together and bond them for life. Some of my personal favorite memories so far are Bible Trivia challenges, boy versus girl skits, mystery dinner theater, music genre themed evenings with meals and outfits to match, karaoke at Lynnie Bo’s, and, perhaps my very favorite thing, a personal guided tour of the R.L. Harris dam that included going into the bottom of the dam! You haven’t experienced Lake Wedowee until you’ve stood atop the dam and in the bottom of it! (Thank you, Alabama Power, for that AMAZING experience!)  

It does not take much in the way of money, and you really do not have to worry about “putting on the dog” when you are hosting children and teens. What it does take is an open home, an open mind, and a willing spirit. What you sacrifice in a clean house for a weekend, you gain in memories that last a lifetime! There really is so much to learn from our kids…and they are listening to you more than you realize. If I could challenge any family living on the lake this summer to do one thing, it would be to invite your kids friends, invite your families, invite the neighbors or your youth group, and just have fun. Be a kid for a weekend! Have “Family Olympics” with three-legged races, water balloon fights, hide-and-seek challenges, or a movie night. Put all the kids in charge of dinners (you’ll be surprised how talented they are!) or just hang out without devices, without expectations, without judgments. Let the memories make themselves as you lean into this sacred time together.

As an adult with two children and five nieces and nephews of my own, I realize now the commitment Maw Maw Jean made to making sure we were together for entire afternoons, evenings, and days every single week during our childhood years. She valued relationships, bonds, and memories well before we could appreciate them for ourselves. She was intentional in giving us a gift that would last well beyond her lifetime, perhaps for generations to come. And what a gift it was….one that I hope we are giving to the children in our lives as well. Because it is invaluable! Don’t waste another summer stressing about your vacation or checklists for an “ideal summer”--there is nothing on the planet that is better than time with people you love, popsicles on a hot summer day, and laughter over shared memories in the backyard! Slow it down, keep it simple, and enjoy each day and each other!

— Dr. Allison Key

Side Note: It is estimated that one in ten children will be the victim of sexual abuse by the time they reach 18 years old. Make sure you are doing your part to keep the children that you love safe! Learn more or host a group training session by visiting one of these websites:
https://www.alabamacacs.org/signs-symptoms/safety-tips.html
https://www.twincedars.org/program/darkness-to-light/
https://georgiacenterforchildadvocacy.org/what-we-do/prevention/trainings/child-sexual-abuse-prevention/csa101.html

Originally posted by Lake Wedowee Life Magazine via Locable