About William Lawrence
Meet the people who give their time and experience to William Lawrence Camp. Select “View Bio” to read each member’s story.
President
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2025
Served on School Committee in Canton, MA for 4 years and on the Boards of Boston Harbor Island Alliance and Boston Harbor Now.
Morning Password.
Helping to provide a meaningful summer experience to campers and counselors.
Happily married to the former William Lawrence Camp Director’s daughter – Susan Jessup – 37 years and counting.
Vice President
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2018
Was involved with local school organizations (was co-chair of high school PTO for two years) while my kids were in the school system.
The WLCS awards given at Candlelight. These recognitions for willingness, leadership, comradeship and sportsmanship have to do with a person's character rather than their external skills. So much these days is measured by the external and these awards give boys, who may not be recognized for their intrinsic character at home, acknowledgement for who they are deep down, further reinforcing their goodness and ability to lead and have a positive impact on the people around them.
The impact and importance of William Lawrence to my son and husband keeps me engaged with Camp. Also, my own experience going to camp and the belief that overnight summer camp is an important and meaningful experience for kids to have that can build up their confidence, teach them important life lessons (like how to make friends with kids they wouldn't necessarily be friends with at home and how to live with a group of people not in your own family), and help them realize they are stronger and more capable than they realize.
I love plants and gardening. I have a greenhouse that keeps my geraniums in bloom year 'round adding bright color in the depths of winter, the scents of jasmine and citrus blooms spread throughout the house, and the bright orange blooms of my grandmother's clivia remind me of her love of the same.
Treasurer
Member of the Corporation since 2024; Trustee since 2025
Chants in the Dining Hall!
The people! William Lawrence Camp has provided me with lifelong friends and mentors. It is incredibly easy to stay engaged with Camp when it means interacting with such incredible individuals.
Secretary
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2020
Candlelight.
William Lawrence Camp has been one of the most meaningful influences in my son’s life. The value of summer camp feels especially important today. In a world so centered around technology, Camp offers what’s not always easy to find — the chance to build resilience, solve problems independently, learn to compromise and live alongside others, and develop a lasting appreciation for the outdoors. Just as important, Camp offers boys the opportunity to grow in independence and leadership while embracing the values at the heart of William Lawrence Camp — willingness, loyalty, comradeship and sportsmanship.
Trustee
Member of the Corporation since 2024; Trustee since 2026
Chair of the McCall Winter Recreation Forum
Paddling the Androscoggin and all the other fun canoe and hiking trips I was able to go on.
The experience I got through being a camper and a staff member keeps me engaged in William Lawrence Camp even from Idaho. Camp played a massive role in shaping who I am today, and I want to make sure that other campers and staff are able to have a similar William Lawrence Camp experience.
I hold the record for the most vertical feet skied in a day at Wildcat Mountain (130,944 vertical feet, 62 runs).
Trustee
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2016
Adaptive ski coach with Mount Washington Valley Adaptive sports.
Rifle matches against FDL and Camp songs! (I was a camper and CIT at Fleur de Lis Camp.)
The belief that boys need strong bonds and mentorship which happens naturally in an all-boys camp environment.
My son and my nephew were 4th generation campers at William Lawrence Camp.
Trustee
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 1998
Bow Open Spaces
Sailing on the pond.
William Lawrence Camp is a place where boys can step away from the routine and build confidence, independence, and friendships, while having the time of their lives. It is a valuable experience.
Trustee
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2026
Sports teams competing with other camps, shooting rifles vs. Fleur de Lis Camp and losing, great Art McKechnie meals in the dining hall, Coach Larry Carle, great friends, lots of memorable characters with great nicknames.
William Lawrence Camp is a life-changing experience for boys. I sent my sons, and I will send my grandsons.
Married 45 years, 3 adult children, 9 grandchildren, retired high school and youth football and boys' lacrosse official for 23 years.
Trustee
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2026
Member of the Hooksett Lions Club; Service Officer for American Legion Post #37, Hooksett; former Town Councilor; Scout Leader for almost twenty years.
Candlelight vigil.
Camp is the one place where the outside world is just that - outside. At Camp you can go outside of your comfort zone and have fun while engaging in fellowship.
I have been working on restoring the farmhouse on the farm where I grew up in Center Ossipee, NH. The structure was originally built in 1823 and had been used as a school until 1850 when the building was sold and converted to a farmhouse.
Trustee
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2012
Former church trustee; car club member.
Chants in Pratt Hall; Candlelight at session closing.
Connect to nature and brotherhood at a traditional New England summer camp!
Trustee
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 1997
Currently active in local church and president of homeowners association; formerly chaired town finance committee and library board of trustees in Hingham, MA.
Watching sunsets from the Chapel.
I think that summer camp provides a wonderful opportunity for young people to gain independence, learn new skills, appreciate the outdoors, and form lifelong friendships.
I was a competitive water skier in my youth.
Trustee
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2013
The Honor Society. Woodsman membership is the highest honor that one can achieve at William Lawrence Camp. This optional program usually takes several summers to accomplish. Campers must master 18 camp skills and exhibit unquestioned character and good citizenship while demonstrating the four cornerstones of Camp: Willingness, Loyalty, Comradeship, and Sportsmanship. It takes commitment, determination, and resilience to become a Woodsman. These characteristics are essential to the development of accomplished confident young men.
I volunteer at William Lawrence Camp because I believe traditional overnight camps help develop well-rounded independent young men with strong values and character. William Lawrence's smaller rustic environment fosters tighter personal connections. All summer long, relationships strengthen through shared experiences and hardships that eventually develop into lifelong friendships.
As a young man, I went to a boys' camp in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire for eleven summers, transitioning through the years from a first-time camper to a head counselor. I fondly remember the challenging backpacking and canoe trips, the uniquely fun activities, and the shared challenges I overcame every week with my cabinmates and fellow staff members. 50 years later, I still meet up with my camp "Buddies" near the old property, unfortunately a private residence now, to catch up and reminisce about the best times of our youth. Even though we may only see each other once a year now, it is like yesterday every time we get together. My camp buddies are still my closest friends. Largely because of my time at that rustic overnight boys' camp, I chose the outdoor industry as a lifelong career and New Hampshire as my home. My camp experience is why I sent my two sons to William Lawrence Camp. A summer at camp is a precious lifelong gift. A gift that I hope they can share with their best buddies 50 years from now.
Trustee
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2024
Lead educator for the NY Beef Council; youth sports coach.
I have two favorite memories from Camp. First is the year that I coached the rifle team that beat FDL both sessions. My second favorite memory is my jello eating contest against Louis, who is the only person who has ever beaten me.
Camp is the one place where, growing up, I truly felt that I belonged. I never really felt like I fit in during high school, but at camp I found friendship, acceptance, and a sense of community that had a lasting impact on my life. Many of my closest friendships today were formed during my years at Camp. As an adult, what keeps me engaged is the opportunity to help create that same experience for the next generation. Every child deserves a place where they feel valued, supported, and connected, and Camp has the power to provide that in a truly unique way.
Trustee
Trustee and Member of the Corporation since 2025
Trustee, Pomfret School, Pomfret, CT; Trustee, The Grauer School, Encinitas, CA.
Candlelight Ceremony and FDL rifle match.
The world needs a place for boys to get away from screens, develop without outside pressure, and experience the wonder that William Lawrence can provide. I still have very deep friendships from my time at William Lawrence Camp decades later which I cherish.
I still crush my milk cartons because Art said they take up too much space! (He's right of course.)
Member of the Corporation
Member of the Corporation since 2024
Member of the Corporation
Member of the Corporation since 2026
I always remember the smell and sound of a campfire in the distance while walking in the dark. Sometimes on a camping trip. Sometimes at a council ring. Sometimes on a Sunday evening.
I stay engaged at Camp because I want younger generations to be able to enjoy what I enjoyed. The experience of Camp is a foundation of who I am, and it was only possible because of a long line of people dedicating time to William Lawrence Camp.
Member of the Corporation
Member of the Corporation since 2024
There are too many memories to even narrow it down, but my favorite tradition is chanting in the dining hall, where the Camp's spirit really comes to life, and even a rainy day can have some life injected into it.
The people. I stay engaged with Camp so I can stay connected not just with the people I went to camp with but the community of past and future campers and families who recognize how special a place William Lawrence Camp is.
I play ice hockey, and I know all of the words to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air song. The full song, not just the show intro.
Member of the Corporation
Member of the Corporation since 2026
Password.
It's the realization that my experiences here as a boy - the successes and the challenges - truly shaped the man I am today.
Member of the Corporation
Member of the Corporation since 2026
Waterfront Council Ring.
Camp was such a big influence on my development as a young man that I still think of most things with Camp as my reference frame. From my personal friendships, to teaching, to parenting, everything seems to come back to lessons I learned at Camp.
Like a surprisingly large number of Trustees, my wedding was held at Camp.
Member of the Corporation
Member of the Corporation since 2026
I'm on the conservancy board of my neighborhood park in Brooklyn, and I'm a member of The American Chestnut Foundation, which is attempting to restore this native tree that is nearly extinct.
The atmosphere in the Dining Hall was the best. Chants, songs, jokes - energy crackled through the air, and campers responded to announcements with a wall of noise, no matter how corny or dumb the topic. Results of athletic contests were turned into rousing calls to arms; information on daily activities was passed along via eloquent soliloquies, and even the mundane details of bunk inspection results were revealed with the same flair as opening an envelope at an awards ceremony. And the best part was that everyone bought in - we all cheered or booed with tidal waves of enthusiasm, which kept the flywheel of fun forever in motion. As I said, meals in the Dining Hall were the best.
The friends and personal connections that I made at William Lawrence. I still talk weekly to some of the friends I made during my summers on The Knoll, and I want to ensure the same opportunities for personal growth and lifelong friendships are available to future generations of campers.
I was captain of my ultimate frisbee team in college.
Trustee Emeritus
Trustee Emeritus since 2026 after 17 years as a Trustee and Member of the Corporation
Council Ring.
Camp was the best experience of my younger years.
I belong to the most exclusive society at Camp: counselors who married the Camp nurse. There are only three known couples who have been members of the society.
