Pardner Profile: Golden Girls

Every summer at Hole in the Wall, you’ll spot a familiar group of nurses volunteering in the infirmary and hear their laughter echoing throughout Camp. Sue, Noel, Diane and Maryanne, fondly called the Golden Girls around these parts, have been a fixture in the OK Corral since 2011, bringing years of healthcare expertise and plenty of silliness. 

The four, who all have spent decades dedicated to nursing careers, met at Camp. First Sue and Noel, who began volunteering as nurses in 2004. Then in 2007, Diane had her first Camp experience. And in 2011, Maryanne joined in the fun. Their stories and backgrounds are unique, coming from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and even Kansas, but all of them say they leave Hole in the Wall better than when they arrived. 

“Camp makes me a better nurse,” Sue said. “It feeds the soul.” 

Watching the campers grow from year to year is a source of happiness for the group – especially when they find one of their own patients joining them onsite for the week or when one of their former campers comes back as a summer counselor. And seeing what all the campers take from their experiences is inspirational. 

“It’s really heartening to see the kids grow and develop,” Noel said. And Diane added, “Kids with hemophilia learn how to self-inject the factor they need. They buddy up. If one kid is afraid, another will come and help. They all fit in here – no one looks at each other differently.” 

And while the group keeps in touch over the winter and even plans an annual trip to Florida, they can’t wait to get back to Camp each summer to share in the magic. 

“You’re doing good work in a beautiful setting with people who care about you and who you care about,” Maryanne said. “It makes me refreshed and able to face whatever comes my way.” 

Learn more about how you can get involved with the ‘Gang’ as a volunteer here.