Where Girls Grow Bold: The Power of the Three C’s

We’re so excited to welcome a guest blogger this month—our very own Katy C. or better known as “Katy with a Y”! Heading into her fourth summer at Wico, Katy brings incredible heart, energy, and experience to our community. A 2024 graduate of Assumption University with a degree in Human Services, she’s been working as an Education Assistant in a high school in Massachusetts during this school year. This summer, we’re thrilled to have her return as a Head Counselor!

In her blog post, Where Girls Grow Bold: The Power of the Three C’s, Katy shares her love and passion for camp, and her unwavering dedication to helping both campers and staff grow and thrive. We’re so proud to have leaders like Katy helping to shape the Wico experience—and grateful she’s shared her voice with us here.

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When I first came across Camp Wicosuta in 2022, I was fresh out of my second year of college, anxiously job hunting in early June, and stumbled across a posting that mentioned spending the summer outdoors in New Hampshire, right on Newfound Lake. That in itself seemed like a dream. But what truly caught my attention—and has kept me coming back for four summers now—was the camp’s mission, specifically the Three C’s: Confidence, Competence, and Community.

I still remember my first interview with Liz Pruzinsky. She asked me, “Why Wico?” and while I gave the honest answer (yes, I needed a job), I also told her how genuinely drawn I was to Wico’s commitment to these Three C’s. I had no idea then just how deeply this mission would shape not only my campers but me as well. Over the past three summers, I’ve watched girls walk into camp unsure, nervous, or hesitant—and walk out a few weeks later taller, stronger, and more themselves than ever before. Whether they spend one summer at Wico or grow through the years from Oski to Totem, the impact is lasting. They leave camp forever changed—more confident, more capable, and more connected.

Confidence: Embracing Risks and Finding Strength

At Wico, confidence starts with showing up. For many campers, just choosing to go to sleepaway camp is the first step outside their comfort zone—and that’s a big deal. But from that moment on, camp is filled with opportunities to take risks in a supportive, uplifting environment.

Whether trying out a new sport in landsports, stepping onto the stage for a talent show, or simply sharing ideas with a group, our campers are constantly encouraged to be brave. Some try archery or basketball for the first time. Others audition for the camp play or perform a goofy skit with their best friend. Whatever the moment, the message is the same: you are safe to try, to fail, and to try again.

Our staff are trained during orientation to create emotionally and physically safe spaces for campers to take these risks. They cheer them on, pick them up after a stumble, and celebrate every small win. And what grows from that is real, lasting confidence—confidence that doesn’t end with camp. It shows up when they try out for their school team, present a project in class, or apply for a leadership role. That spark starts here.

Competence: Building Skills and Independence

Every day at Wico is a chance to learn something new—skills you can see in action and others you can only feel. Whether they’re in the art barn, outdoor adventure, the gym, or the lake, our campers are building tangible skills. They’re learning how to swim, make friendship bracelets, build fires, cartwheel, pitch tents, and more. In Upper Camp, they get to build their own schedules and take more ownership of their experience. In Lower Camp, they sample everything, discovering new passions along the way.

But the learning doesn’t stop at activities. Campers also develop intangible skills that are just as important: independence, empathy, adaptability, and leadership. They learn how to live with bunkmates, make decisions without relying on parents, and adjust to new routines. They practice kindness and support, learning how to be good friends and community members.

Leadership is cultivated intentionally at Wico, with opportunities woven into every camper’s experience. Our Big Sister, Little Sister program pairs returning campers with new ones, creating built-in mentorship and connection from day one. As campers grow, so do their responsibilities: our 8th grade campers, known as Zunis, step into meaningful leadership roles by learning about Project Morry—a nonprofit Wico supports each summer—and sharing their knowledge with the entire camp during our Project Morry Day fundraising event, where they serve as cheerleaders, coaches, and announcers. They also lead the planning of the end-of-year banquet, choosing the theme, menu, and decorations, which gives them a chance to collaborate, create, and celebrate with the whole community. Our oldest campers—the Totems—take on even larger leadership roles in their final summer at Wico, inspiring younger campers and leading the way with their energy, spirit, and sense of responsibility. They play a major role in leading weekly campfires, organizing events like Wico Challenge Cup (first session), Color War (second session), and other camp-wide favorites like Gold Rush and Monster Mash. Through these experiences, whether they’re captaining a team or helping a bunkmate tie their first friendship bracelet, our campers are becoming competent, thoughtful, capable individuals. 

Community: Leaning on Each Other and Lifting Each Other Up

Anyone who’s spent time at Wico knows the community is something truly special. You feel it the moment you arrive—woven into our traditions, our daily routines, and the energy that fills the dining hall at mealtime. Campers form deep, genuine friendships rooted in shared experience. Whether walking to meals, cleaning their bunks, or hyping each other up during Color War, these connections are real and lasting. Through collaboration, communication, and everyday teamwork, campers learn how to be there for each other—and how to let others be there for them. 

Our traditions, from Spirit Night to themed dinners to campfire songs, create a sense of unity and pride. Special events and group challenges bring the entire camp together and reinforce that everyone plays a role in building our community.

Wico is also a space where individuality is celebrated. Each camper is seen for who she is and encouraged to be her truest, most unapologetic self. Whether she’s the loudest voice in the room or a quiet leader, her presence matters. We empower each other by recognizing each other’s strengths—and lifting one another up when it’s needed most.

In a world that often tells girls to shrink themselves, Wico gives them the opposite message: Take up space. Be fearless. Be you, and find people who uplift and celebrate you for exactly who you are. 

Raising Our Voices, Together

As I head into my fourth summer at Wico, I’m reminded daily of the power of the Three C’s—not just in the lives of our campers, but in my own. I’ve grown into a stronger, more confident leader, and someone who deeply believes in the importance of community and girl-centered empowerment.

At Camp Wicosuta, we’re helping raise a generation of girls who know they belong, who face challenges head-on, and who carry themselves with confidence, strength, and authenticity—wherever they go. What an incredible privilege it is to witness their growth and have such a meaningful hand in their journey.