Owners

Former camper, staff member, camper parent, director and now the new owner, Colleen Hagan Egl is carrying on her love of camp and empowering girls.

Colleen Hagan Egl

Camp Carysbrook is owned by Colleen Hagan Egl who carries on her love of camp and empowering girls.

As the third generation in her family at Camp Carysbrook, Colleen has been a camper, staff member, parent, and alumna. Later she returned to camp as the Director of Camp Carsybrook from 2011-2018. Before serving as Director, Colleen worked as a Product Planner for Sony Digital Communications Europe in Munich Germany; Quality Assurance Specialist at Volvo Penta of the Americas in Chesapeake, Va; and Freelance Translator in Innsbruck, Austria. Colleen also worked extensively with Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey in a variety of roles including Co-Service Unit Manager in Chatham, NJ.

Colleen currently lives in Afton, Virginia with her daughters, Hannah and Lena Egl as well as their three dogs Fletcher, Charlie, and Mabel.

Colleen’s Vision for Camp Carysbrook

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Building on the guiding concepts of the mission and philosophy, the traditions since 1923, and the pioneering spirit of the women before me, I want to create in Camp Carysbrook, a microcosm of the world in which we want to live. I believe that the Camp Carysbrook experience is part of the antidote to the challenges of the modern girl. Juxtaposed to a culture overwhelmed with technology and anxiety, it is my intention that the girls of Carysbrook experience nature unplugged and mentorship by a community of women who share similar values and empower each other by example to find curiosity and connection in their environment, with their peers, and within themselves. I am committed to leveraging individual and combined strengths to overcome differences and foster a community of women that cultivates trust, respect, and belonging.

It is my goal to make the Carysbrook experience for young women accessible to a wide variety of campers and staff from diverse backgrounds of race, religion, culture and socioeconomic status representative of the world in which we live outside of the camp environment. I believe that approached with open-mindedness, our differences have the potential to help us grow as women and learn about ourselves and the world around us. I am proud to develop and nurture an inclusive culture and collaborative spirit. Speaking up and listening to others is not just encouraged here, but expected.

I strive to exceed the expectations of the campers and families we serve as well as our staff and our alumnae. Taking the initiative to find new and innovative solutions to daily challenges and have fun doing it is a hallmark of the staff we hire. We prioritize collaboration and asking for help when you need it. This proactive approach to problem solving requires us to effectively calibrate risk while still thinking creatively and strategically to provide an exceptional overnight camp experience for girls. I am committed to deconstructing the myth that strong, capable women do not thrive together at work, and to lead by example to replace it with the reality of a professional, supportive workplace and community for our campers and staff. Curiosity, collaboration, and creative problem-solving are real life skills that extend beyond the summer.

I believe that the primary outcome of the Carysbrook experience is joyful and fun yet more than a superficial, fleeting moment. It is the exuberance of a hard-earned, complex combination of learning and growing your character at work and play, while overcoming obstacles and challenges inherent to adventure and living off the grid in a rustic environment. This is where we form the memories and friendships that stand the test of time. And it is these formative experiences that help to develop the skills necessary to become self-assured women who thrive with purpose and resilience anywhere in the world. A summer to remember is not just a moment in time but a lasting connection and legacy. 1923-forever.

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Memories and Reflections of Camp Carysbrook

“Camp impacted me by helping with my confidence, gaining new friends and creating memories for the campers that will last a lifetime is something I will never forget.”
First-time international staff member
“I believe that I gained professionally in the aspects of communication and collaboration with others, particularly those who I hadn’t met! Personally I know that i’ve grown more confident in myself, which will hopefully impact positively further in my life.”
First-time international staff member
“I got a lot better with my leadership skills and was able to learn a lot about myself, how I work best and grow in my professional skills.”
Returning staff member (US, former camper)
“Each year she goes to camp she comes back with an affinity for nature. She’s more independent and courteous. We love all that camp has to offer!”
Parent of 4-week returner
“She continues to come back from camp with increased accountability and independence. It’s wonderful to watch her develop her self esteem and confidence in herself. She wrote us 1 letter this summer because she “was busy having so much fun!”
Parent of 3-week returner
“With every summer, she grows to love Carysbrook more and more. We love that she gets to experience being herself with girls of all ages, learning new things, and connecting with nature in a safe and positive environment.”
“I love seeing what she learns each year from camp. She is learning skills that will be useful throughout life. She loves riding so much. She also loves being able to go camping under the stars as well. I can see a change in her attitude since coming back from camp. She seems to helping me more. You all are amazing. I appreciate you calling me to let me know about things that have happened during camp. I think you do a fantastic job.”
Parent of 3-week returner
“She had the BEST time at Camp Carysbrook this year and cannot wait to return next year! Her cabin counselors were amazing. She also tried new activities and made friends which is exactly what we were hoping for :-)”
Parent of 2-week first-timer
“I really appreciate the director’s communication with me and support for my daughter when she was feeling homesick! I’m impressed with how prompt and thorough her emails were despite being, I’m sure, quite busy with the campers.”
Parent of 2-week returner
“She made good friends and loved her counselors. I was so touched to see her counselor get bit emotional when saying goodbye to her and her cabin mates. I wish that I had given her a big hug as I’m so appreciative of their care and love for all these girls. Very, very grateful for them.”
Parent of 2-week returner:
“My daughter loves the fact that she can earn ribbons and awards for doing activities. First thing my daughter mentioned is that she was shy at first but quickly overcame her shyness and could be herself. She wants to go back for 4 weeks because of the friends she made there.”
Parent of 2-week returner
“She loved the variety of activities! Both of us loved the unplugged experience. I believe she really enjoyed the night time experiences where they got to do a variety of fun, special activities. She loved her counselor! I worried that being a new camper at the age of 11 would be tough but she felt very included and made friends in and out of her cabin. She had a wonderful time! She had so much fun and it was truly a very positive experience for her. She was so “camp sick” once she left!”
Parent of 1st year 2-weeker
“Everything was professional and organized. I really appreciated the communication and pictures, especially as a new parent.”
Parent of 1st year 2-weeker
“She feels like she is a part of the Camp Carysbrook family. Carysbrook has helped foster her independent spirit.”
Parent of Returning Camper
“She was crying when I picked her up at the end of her two weeks and said immediately she wants to come back next year!”
Parent of 1st year 2-weeker
“She absolutely LOVED her first camp experience at Carysbrook. Thank you SO much for helping to make this a magical and memorable place and experience for these wonderful young women.”
Parent of 1st year 2-weeker
“She had a wonderful time! She has done a great job with increased independence and has wanted to take on additional tasks and be helpful more often since returning home from camp. She did not have a single complaint or criticism! She does a great job filling us in when she does, so this is a great thing!”
Parent of first-time 1-week camper
“They loved watching their counselor make a fire. Both girls were able to tell me what needed to be done to do it. They loved sleeping in the barn and also the caving!”
Parent of 1-Week Campers
“Both of them loved everything about it – even the showers and toilets. They loved learning where everyone was from and all the activities to choose from.”
Parent of New 1-Week Campers
“I am really impressed with the time that the Carysbrook staff puts into the CIT program – to develop the CITs for a job as a future counselor as well as beneficial general life skills”.
2025 CIT Parent