Charlie and Tia Whinery
Charlie Whinery's summers at Kieve as a camper and counselor were among the most formative in his life. From lifelong friendships to hiring KWE alumni on his team in investment management, the connection remains strong. But since their kids started at Wavus and Kieve, Charlie and his wife Tia say KWE's role in their lives has become even more significant.
"It's rare to have the space and time to be a kid, to be independent, to figure out who you are without being micromanaged by societal pressures and demanding schedules," says Tia. Both parents see that camp's framework - from the challenging wilderness trips to the playful singing at mealtime or the camaraderie shared when trying something new - fosters so much growth in their kids. For their campers, summer's three and a half weeks on Damariscotta Lake are the most anticipated of the year.
"KWE has maintained its core values while evolving to always best serve its community, be that at the summer camps or the year-round programs." says Charlie. The couple decided to include KWE in their will to help enable it to always continue to stay true to its focus: empowering youth to get outside and offline, connect to the wilderness and each other, and become the best versions of themselves so they can positively contribute to society and the environment.
