Alumnae Spotlight-SISTERS Katie Miller Warechowski and Kallie Miller McGill
SISTERS Kallie and Katie are among the many Skyline sisters at camp. I had the opportunity to spend time with them recently and I must say their love for Skyline is strong. Read more about them and please make sure your Skyline information is correct so you can stay in touch with your Skyline “sisters”. (Click the link below.)
LIFE UPDATES
Katie: I am from Marietta, GA and I was a Ranger at Camp Skyline from 1988 to 1995 (I think). Now, I am a small business owner in the health and wellness space where my husband and I own a personal training studio and a massage studio. I am an avid tennis player and love going out to eat and watching movies!
Kallie: I live in Dallas, GA, and I have been married to my husband, Jacob, for 14 years. We have 2 sons, Gideon and Bailey, along with our 2 dogs- Herbert and Winston. I am the practice manager for Anchor Periodontics in Marietta, GA. In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with family, reading good books and going camper-ing (as I call it).
What makes Skyline special to you?
Katie: EVERYTHING! There’s just this indescribable feeling when you step foot on camp. For me it brings me peace and a sense of childhood that as adults, we forget sometimes. I was lucky enough to have a very good, fun filled childhood but I will say, Camp is definitely my favorite memory. Every summer, packing up my trunk and driving the very long 1-hour (haha) trip up the mountain to Mentone…the excitement was just so profound for me and I still get to feel that same excitement when I attend Mother Daughter or Alumnae weekends with my sister.
Kallie: Camp Skyline is special for many reasons. That smell…I’m not sure what it is, but the moment you step out of your car and onto campus, you are instantly flooded with memories. For me, these memories start at the beginnning…Waiting in that loooong line to get checked in, picking up my cabin assignment and blue shorts (Go Rangers!), choosing my bunk, and having a bit of free time to explore. All of this I did with my sister, Katie. I can’t think about camp without thinking about my sister. As a little girl and the youngest of 4 children, the idea of leaving my parents for 2 weeks was daunting. But luckily my sister was by my side, and camp was always a place that felt like home. The memories that Katie and I formed each summer are ones I will never forget. And although we were in different cabins, and even across the river from each other at one point, I think Camp Skyline helped to encourage and strengthen our relationship. I always looked up to and admired her, and she has always been my best friend. So being able to have those 2 weeks together was extremely special. Now, as adults, we get the extremely rare and special opportunity to come back for events like Mother/Daughter (as Sister/Sister since neither of us have daughters) and Alumni Weekend. Th excitement that I felt every year is the exact same feeling I get now as a 42-year-old woman.
What is your favorite camp memory?
Katie: This is too hard to choose! Can I name a few? Obviously, on of my favorite memories is of my favorite activities including gymnastics, ropes, canoeing and computers (remember when computers was an activity…when no one had a computer and you had to go to camp to play on one?!?!) I LOVED meals in the dining all… all the songs and games you played while eating…taking turns cleaning the table, followed by rest period where you’d whisper with your cabin mates even though there was not supposed to be any talking. Lastly, I loved the evening activities but my favorites were the talent show and the counselor hunt night!
Kallie: For me, my memories are mostly of the daily activities. Looking back, I realize that I often picked a lot of the same ones… I ALWAYS chose the ropes course (my all-time favorite), archery, arts and crafts, and riflery. Katie and I usually tried to choose some of the same activities to do at the same time, so that was always a lot of fun!! We were also blessed to have our mom as the camp nurse for several years, so I always enjoyed going to see her in my free time and riding on the tire swing that was right outside of the infirmary. I also remember the Laney Dance. My brother went to Laney while my sister and I were at Skyline. So, it was always fun to see him from across that huge gym (that’s NOT so huge after all haha!). I loved the Belly Deli and there was nothing like camp food, especially the donuts! As an adult I never put ice in my orange juice or milk, but when I was at camp, I loved it that way because that was how it was served.
What life skills did you learn at camp?
Katie: So many! Independence…being away from home and family and having to meet new people. Friendship…immediately immersing yourself among people who have one very strong thing in common with you (camp) and then learning that they have so much more in common too. Structure…having to wake up at a certain time and make it to your activities on time; that is such an important lesson to learn at such a young age and I believe it has helped me be as structured and organized as I am today!
Kallie: Camp Skyline taught me how to be kind, gracious, and patient with others. It taught me to forgive others as God forgives us. It taught me how to look at this wonderful planet that God has given us and to see the beauty in everything (even the bugs…yuck!). It taught me that hard work pays off, and that being hot and tired is not a bad thing. It also taught me the correct way to hold and shoot a gun :)
How has Skyline’s mission statement, “Enriching young girls in God, relationships and self”, impacted your life?
Katie: I have to say that this answer is much the same as my previous answer. But in addition, Camp Skyline is not just a place to go do activities, play and make friends. They teach and lead their campers to be loving, responsible, creative young ladies. The “vibe” at camp is one that encourages the campers to be themselves and to be welcoming of others. I am so grateful for the experience I had at camp and I’m lucky enough to be able to visit camp as an adult from time to time. Thank you Camp Skyline for all you do.
Kallie: At the time I did not realize the impact of being immersed in a Christian environment. It was not until I was an adult and looked back on those times that I realized how it helped form me into the woman I am today. Camp taught me about the Fruits of the Spirit and of God’s unconditional love…Of His mercy and grace. It taught me how to be a good friend, daughter, mother and wife, being patient and forgiving. It has taught me how to enrich my own children’s life through prayer and actions. Camp gave me a roadmap to Him, and He has given me a roadmap to life and how to lead others to Him.
