As I sit by the bank of the Rivanna River today, it’s hard to believe that Camp Friendship is celebrating its 60th anniversary. After spending 30 years within these woods, I’ve watched the seasons change and the trees grow tall. However, the most meaningful growth has been in the thousands of children who have called this place their home-away-from-home.
When my late husband, Chuck Ackenbom, founded this camp in 1966, he envisioned a place where children could come together in peace, to be, and to find a friend. His legacy lies in the belief that a summer camp can be a small model for the world we hope to build: one that is inclusive, diverse, and kind.
Growth, Resilience, and Connection
Over the years, I’ve watched shy children become confident leaders and seen friendships formed in a single week last a lifetime. Camp has a remarkable way of shaping a child’s growth and development.
Away from their usual routines and the comfort of home, children learn to make decisions, solve problems, and adapt to new environments. Through team activities, outdoor adventures, and shared challenges, they build resilience and strengthen their communication skills. Camp sparks creativity and curiosity, giving kids the freedom to explore new interests in a supportive setting.
A Familial Legacy
My sporty and athletic son Tyler surprised me by discovering a love for the arts, especially theatre, during his time here. And my daughter Nika, now an adult, still talks about the staff who encouraged her and the friendships she formed; many of those friends remain her closest confidants today.
Our traditions are the bridge between generations, connecting the campers of 1966 with those in 2026. The stillness around a campfire, the thrill of village competitions, and the familiar songs and activities passed down for decades all weave a timeless community together. When a camper today participates in the same tradition their parent once cherished, it creates a sense of continuity and belonging that is increasingly rare in our modern world.
As the years go by, the Ackenbom family continues to safeguard these traditions, ensuring that the magic of camp endures—so future generations can feel the same wonder, belonging, and possibility that have shaped so many lives. Camp Friendship has always been more than a place; it is a legacy of connection. And as long as there are children eager to explore, grow, and discover who they are, we will be here, preserving the spirit Chuck imagined and carrying it forward for the next sixty years and beyond.
Alina Ackenbom
Camp Friendship Executive Director
With gratitude for the past and hope for the future, Nika wrote a heartfelt poem reflecting on the camp’s sixty years. Her poem captures the spirit of belonging and enduring connection that flows through our grounds.
Sixty Summers
Sixty years ago the gates opened
and the Virginia pines whispered,
enter here to wander,
to be,
and to find a friend.
One wooden cabin became
five villages, stitched together by running feet on dirt paths.
An open field became hundreds of
capture the flag rivalries at dusk,
and a lake took shape,
where the first brave paddles
cut the water each morning.
In sixty years, much has changed in the world–
station wagons to electric cars,
paper maps to google maps,
post cards to Iphones.
But here, some things have remained constant.
The river still flows past the soccer field peacefully,
campers scatter into the dining hall at dawn,
and palomino horses pluck sweet grass from the pastures.
A friendship bracelet is still knotted tight
by the fingers of a lifelong friend.
An arrow still flies from a shaking arm
into its first bullseye,
met by cheers of victory and a proud smile.
And since the gates opened sixty years ago,
each person who has walked through them has carried something outa spark,
a story,
a newfound strength that does not fade in September.
Summers may end,
but what is built here does not.
It lives on within us–
as constant as the river,
as bright as the fire,
as steadfast as the pines–
and it will for sixty more.
Singing,
friendship camp, you will never know what you mean to me.
Poem written by Nika Ackenbom
