Week 1: Fish, Teeth, and New Beginnings
Hello everyone!
This is John Dugan reporting to you live from my bedroom after a stellar beginning to Week 2. I hope everyone had a fantastic first week at camp.
For those of you who may not know me, allow me to introduce myself. I am the 23-year-old assistant supervisor of the Adventures Program and help in other areas as well. Your children
may know me as just “Dugan” or by my full name, never John. I have no idea why. The origin of said monikers is one of legend. Anyways, whether it be movie night, teen/tween night, beach
games, basketball, sand creations, sandcastle building, sea fleas, paddleboarding, etc., I have done it all.
(Left: Me as a camper receiving an award at KBIA with the legendary Martin Lodish himself standing behind me.
Right: Me in July 2025 handing out awards alongside Emily Gannon. Too
many icons. Right photo taken by Laura Snyder Smith.)
KBIA has been a part of my life since I was four years old. It was where I learned to swim, met some of my closest summer friends, and lived the ultimate dream…a summer on the
beach. My mom went to KBIA. I went to KBIA. My children will go to KBIA. It is in the Dugan blood as it is with so many families.
Two summers ago, our lovely Communications Coordinator Laura Snyder Smith and I had an idea: a weekly highlights blog. So, each week, I set aside some time to touch upon the
happenings of our community. After a hiatus last summer, I am proud to return to my duty reporting on the magic that KBIA has to offer.
Enough chit chat. Let’s get into it.
On Opening Day last Monday, our Assistant Director Tim Beals introduced a new device to his arsenal that just about anyone on campus can hear. That’s right, a megaphone!
Whether it be calling out to CITs hard at work or sharing his thoughts with the world, we can all expect Tim to put the horn to good use. I hear he has a whistle now, too. Watch out, eardrums.
(Tim with his megaphone. Get back to work, everyone! Photo by Laura Snyder Smith.)
The same day, Brooke lost one of her top teeth at camp. A brave camper, she put the tooth in a bag and showed us all how to spit a chiclet like a champion. She told me the Tooth
Fairy was more than fair, too. I am sure the money was put to good use at the Snack Shack.
(Brooke with her tooth! Darcy in the back admiring the feat. Photo by Laura Snyder Smith.)
For the first week, Joey Tomasetti, who has been a close friend of mine since we were young children, helped out in the office alongside Katie, Darcy, and Lorraine. You
may know
him as “Kayak Joey” or “Paddleboard Joey” for his waterfront escapades, but for the first week, he became one of “the office ladies.” A true gentleman.
(Left: Joey receiving an award as a camper. Right: Joey as one of the “office ladies” alongside Katie, Darcy, and Lorraine. Right photo taken by Laura Snyder Smith.)
For KBIA veterans like myself, the return of a certain beverage to the Snack Shack brought tears of joy. That’s right, Izze sparkling juice is back! KBIA alums
Razz Oppenheimer
and Ella Beals showcased the new menu and pricing last week. Bring your money and candy cards, everyone!
(Ella Beals and Razz Oppenheimer showing off the new Snack Shack menus. Come on down! Photo taken by Laura Snyder Smith.)
On Friday, TJ caught his very first fish during a boat trip with Captain Donna! I hear he reeled it in like a pro. Well done, TJ!
(Wesley and TJ with the beast itself! Photo taken by Captain Donna.)
Also on Friday, waterfront directors Jamie LaMent and Nolan Byron hosted an office hour where families were welcome to stop in and ask any questions they had about sailing and
waterfront. Two wonderful people with tremendous pride in their work. Just look at them. Legends!
(Jamie LaMent and Nolan Byron. Just two guys being dudes. Photo taken by Laura Snyder Smith.)
I want to give three special shoutouts to celebrate the opening of camp.
To Brian and Jeff, KBIA’s amazing maintenance crew, we love you guys. I have never known KBIA without Brian, who has seen me grow from a wild child in free swim to a faculty
member alongside him. Jeff might as well be Steve McQueen because he truly is the “King of Cool”. No one pulls off a visor like Jeff. Both men are the reason our pool is clean, our trash and
recycling is taken care of, and our campus is fresh each week. If you see Brian or Jeff, please thank them for all that they do. Two of the kindest, hardest-working men you will ever meet.
And last, but certainly not least, I want to dedicate my weekly reflections this season to the late David “Rocky” Sweetser, who we lost last summer. For those who never met Rocky, he
was the greatest friend, advocate, and personality all rolled into one. When people ask me about my childhood at KBIA, one of the images that always pops into mind is that of Rocky running
the grills at the awards each summer. Always smiling, always there to talk if you needed him. A jolly presence who wished nothing but to give back to a place that had given him so much.
(The man himself, David “Rocky” Sweetser.)
With the recent dedication of our new rowboat, “D Sweets”, it is hard to believe we have started a summer at KBIA without Rocky by our side. I will miss seeing him at the Tommy McNamara Charitable Foundation Wiffle Ball Tournament, sitting on the porch at the Sweetser home, and giving hugs to all who needed one. Rocky, you are loved and missed. We should live every summer to the fullest in honor of the man who gave his heart to the Kennebunks.
Like I always say, there are far too many highlights each week to count. These are just a few that demonstrate the sense of community and summer fun unique to KBIA. Parents, thank your children for being the reason we come to camp. Children, thank your parents for being the reason you are at camp. And eat your veggies. Always.
See you next week, campers!
Best,
Dugan
