Becca Dilley
Winter 2013 - Featured Alum

What is your hometown?
Madison, WI

Where do you live now?
Minneapolis, MN

Pop or Soda?
I don’t like carbonation, but I call it soda.

What years did you attend PLYC?
Camper – 1992 – 1996
SDP – 1996 – 1998
Staff – 1999
SDP Director - 2000-2001

What tents were you in?
I was a camper and staffer when the new tents were being built, but I think I stayed in all of the old tents, and a few on campfire hill.

What was your favorite tent and why?
I have very fond memories of fox tent, where I lived as a non-counseling SDP director for a summer with Sarene (the PD at the time), her cat Fluffy, and the out-camp staff in between canoe trips.

We were right next to Alford lodge, and I just got to see the daily life of camp roll along outside the screen.

What job did you have as staff member?
For two summers, I was in charge of windsurfing. The first summer, I didn’t know how to windsurf, and so we had to get picked up from the other side of the lake every day, but then I picked up the hang of it.

Favorite song?
"7 daffodils"

Favorite story of something you did at camp?
This is actually really difficult for me, because all of my memories of camp are very emotional and close to me, from the games I played as a camper to totally failed talent show ideas.
 
The best prank I ever pulled was telling all of girls camp that one of their favorite male counselors, James Shephard, was not from England and had been faking his accent all summer. This led to a week-long debate, with campers telling James to stop faking his accent, and ultimately a summer of good-natured shenanigans (I had to sing “god save the queen” to get my ursa minor award, of which he was in charge).

What are you doing now?
I run my own photography business in Minneapolis, specializing in weddings and food photography.

My husband is a food writer, and so we have toured all around the midwest photographing cheesemakers and brewers, and I love photographing weddings. I have been lucky enough to photograph the weddings of several members of the 2% club, too!

What about your camp experience has influenced you the most?
Camp has had a huge influence on my professional life.

I run my own business because camp spoiled me for working for other people. I value the autonomy, the problem solving, and the challenges of running my own business dealing with people all the time.

Here are some of the specific skills camp gave me:
- Thinking of great ideas isn’t enough - you have to do them.

- Thank people, all the time, for things they do.

- Even jobs you love have aspects that are not fun. That is ok.

- Sometimes, your task for the day is daunting, but you just need to tackle it with enthusiasm anyway - Convincing kids to hang out on the muddy A-field in 90 degree weather is always easier when you are smiling.

- Problem solving, anticipating issues, and dealing with conflict are skills that most people have not practiced as long as camp people have.

- Simple solutions are the best.

- You look silliest when you are not dancing during dance time.   

Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello?
My first year of camp, in 1992, I was really pretty shy and kind of a loner.

I would like to thank the folks, particularly in the Craft Shop, who accepted me just the way I was. I felt so included right from the beginning, and even though I make it back to camp infrequently, it still feels like home because I was always included.            

Would you like to share your email addresses?
Sure! becca@beccadilley.com