The Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

The mission of Camp Mowglis is to develop integrity, empathy, resilience, and leadership in young men through the time-tested and fun outdoor experiential program and community we call The School of The Open.

Dear Mowglis Family,

While the busy days of summer are already upon us and the woods of Hebron are alive with the sounds of camp, I am proud to share this look back at the historic year that got us here. Though this report is reaching your mailbox later than intended, celebrating our community’s shared achievements is no less meaningful. Looking ahead, we plan to share these updates much earlier, aiming for an early 2027 release for our upcoming FY26 report.

Right now, we are witnessing the exact magic your generosity makes possible. Our campers have returned to the mountains, the lake, and the face-to-face connections that define the Mowglis experience. Free from screens and notifications, they are immersing themselves in a sound that is increasingly rare today, kids just being kids.

As the “School of the Open,” we have always believed that the best classroom has no walls. This past fiscal year reminded us why that mission matters now more than ever. Whether mastering a skill in an Industry, working in sync on the crew, or talking quietly on a hike, these moments are where character is built.

This Annual Report celebrates that ongoing impact. Within these pages, you will see the tangible results of your support, from vital camper scholarships to the stewardship of our historic property.

As we march toward our 125th anniversary in 2028, I am struck by how the Mowglis spirit has remained unchanged for over a century. That consistency is only possible because of you. Thank you for ensuring our traditions continue to thrive for the next generation, allowing us to remain a rare place where unplugged friendships are real and the lessons are lifelong.

Good Hunting,

Nick Robbins, Executive Director

Dear Mowglis Family,

This Annual Report celebrates that ongoing impact. Within these pages, you will see the tangible results of your support, from vital camper scholarships to the stewardship of our historic property.

Good Hunting,

Nick Robbins, Executive Director

The Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF MOWGLIS

In 1962, a small group of alumni and former staff came together to form the Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation, purchasing the financially-struggling Camp Mowglis from John C. Adams, then owner and Director. The nine men who served on the original Board of Trustees had attended camp or worked on the staff under Colonel Alcott Farrar Elwell, and had been deeply influenced by him. Under the leadership of J. Tyson Stokes, William MacDonald, and William B. Hart, they worked tirelessly to preserve Mowglis’ ideals and to secure its future. Mowglis today is a fulfillment of their vision. Our enrollment is strong and diverse. We remain true to the founding ideals of Elizabeth Ford Holt. Our program carries forward the mission of the “School of the Open” articulated by Colonel Elwell nearly a century ago. And the Mowglis experience continues to inspire a new generation of campers to strive to be the best version of themselves. In short, the Mowglis Spirit is alive and well. The Foundation’s charter remains unchanged, to provide a steady hand as we look to the future so that Mowglis will continue to guide generations of boys on their journey to becoming young men. This impotant stewardship is a shared responsibility, and it is only made possible through the ongoing investment and dedication of our entire community.

Dear Mowglis Friends & Family,

When I think of 2025, I think of looking up—up at the timbers of Hope-to-Be, Too rising above the shores of Newfound Lake, built from trees that grew right here on our land, manifesting a vision that had existed and grown for decades before.

Alongside continuing to raise and build the character of 104 campers, closing the Waterfront Campaign and raising this magnificent, landmark structure to stand beside our original Hope-to-Be were the great achievements of this year. Thanks to 133 donors and $608,000 in gifts, Buzz Ringe’s forty-year dream is now a reality—a new anchor for our waterfront, built to last for the next century of the Pack.

This building stands for what Mowglis has always stood for—deep roots, shared purpose, and the belief that when we build together, something extraordinary takes shape.

To every member of our community who gave, in so many ways, THANK YOU. We are strong, and ready for what’s next.

Good Hunting,
Kit Jenkins,
President, 2023-2025, Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation

Since 1903, the generosity of the Mowglis Pack has made another magical summer a reality for thousands of young men. Your gift, no matter the size, ensures that tradition continues. Visit www.mowglis.org/giving to make a secure gift online.

To learn more about alternative ways to give, including stock transfers, donor-advised funds, or naming camp in your will, we can easily facilitate any preference. Reach out to Rick Peck, Director of Development, at [email protected] or 603-387-3897.

Book Your Informative Video Call

Current Weather

Last updated: September 6, 2026 12:58 am

Temperature: 59.7°F
Feels Like: 59.7°F
Humidity: 88%
Condition: Partly cloudy
Wind: 2 mph at 13° (NORTH_NORTHEAST); Gusts up to 4 mph
Precipitation Chance: 3% (None)
Air Pressure: 1013.61 mb
Visibility: 10 miles
Cloud Cover: 57%

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The Mow-Trow Gear Exchange: Smart & Sustainable Gear Sharing:

If your son has outgrown Mowglis uniform items (aka Mow-Trow) that are still in good shape, please add them to this spreadsheet. If you’re looking for Mow-Trow or other gear (hiking boots, backpacks, etc.), you can check out this spreadsheet, and if you find what you’re looking for, contact the parent who posted it up and either arrange for shipping (or to pick it up if you live in the same area).

The best way to pay for shipping will be for the family with the items to box them up and bring them to a UPS Store and have the parent receiving the items call the store with their credit card number. That is how we send lost and found items at the end of the summer, and it works quite well. Please note when items have been claimed once they have been. Any unclaimed items can be brought to camp on arrival day or shipped to camp.

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Protect Your Investment: Program Protector Tuition Insurance:

Program Protector, tuition insurance, is now available for purchase during the online registration process.

If purchased, may protect up to the full cost of your son’s session and include various other benefits should the need arise.

To buy this coverage, please go HERE.

Determine if Program Protection Tuition Insurance is right for you by going HERE.

Please be in touch if you have any questions about this program.

PLEASE submit all camper forms by May 15th. There aren’t too many forms; all are important, and most can be completed right online.

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Keeping Campers Safe: Our Tick Management Approach:

How do you manage the threat of ticks?

While we have fewer ticks in NH than in more southern New England states, we still take ticks extremely seriously.

Here are some big-picture ways we protect our campers from ticks:

Our defense starts with staff education – all campers and counselors are taught what, where, and when to look for, and we have the campers do tick checks at least daily and every time they’ve been out in the bushes.
If a tick is found embedded on a camper while at camp, he will go to the nurse for removal and bite-site mapping, and then the tick is saved, and the camper will be monitored daily for any signs of infection.
If there is a parental desire or signs of infection, the tick is sent to a lab for testing.
We have bottles of bug spray throughout camp and on all trips.
We cut back brush to minimize the chance of ticks hopping onto folks as they walk around camp.

Our families know that Mowglis overnight summer camp for boys aged 7-15 is an extraordinary place. This is due in no small part to the wonderful families who have chosen our outdoor leadership camp for their sons. In joining the Mowglis family, you help us pass the torch, carrying on the tradition of summer camp to future generations and other families across the country.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for becoming part of the Camp Mowglis family. Please help us spread the joy of camping. If you know of someone you’d like to invite to join our camping family, please complete our camp referral form so we can reach out.

Thank you – and see you soon!

Nick Robbins, Director