Alumni Profile: Nancy Glynn Santos

Nancy Glynn first heard about Agassiz Village from her three older brothers—Alan, Brian, and Rick—who shared their adventures of the camp with her during the early 1970s. The boys had come to Agassiz after expressing unhappiness with another camp they had been attending. Their father began researching alternatives for them. While at a bowling league one night, Mr. Glynn was looking through brochures when he struck up a conversation with Margaret “Dixie” Miller, who told him: “Put them away. My husband runs a camp in Maine.”

Her husband was Dr. Arthur G. Miller, then the Executive Director of Agassiz Village. Mr. Glynn heeded her advice and sent his sons there. “At that time, it was a boys-only camp,” says Nancy. “They loved it and always told me fun stories.”

Nancy had her first chance to see Agassiz in 1974 when she rode with her mother and uncle from their home in Westford, Massachusetts, to the camp to see her brothers on Visitor’s Day. Alan was a camper at the time, and Brian and Rick worked in the kitchen. (Alan would later work as the Head Cook for many years, Brian became the Waterfront Director, and Rick became an Assistant Section Leader.)

Nancy’s first impression of the camp was a mixture of shock and awe: shock because a tornado had recently come through the area and knocked over many of the trees on the campus leaving exposed roots that were taller than she; but awe over the beauty of the property that opened to her as they drove in.

“Even though a storm had just come through, it was spectacular,” she says. “Later that day I saw the dining hall and the lake and asked my mom if I could come to camp, too.”

Agassiz had begun allowing girls to attend in 1973, so Nancy’s request was easy to fulfill. Plus, her mother felt it would be good for her as her father had recently passed away. And so, at the age of nine, Nancy attended the second session in the summer of 1975 and then returned each summer thereafter through 1985. This year, 2025, marks 50 years of dedication to Agassiz, which she considers her second home.

“I made so many friends, and it helped me so much with the passing of my dad,” says Nancy. “I was never so happy after coming to camp, especially the first year after my dad passed. I felt at peace, safe, and excited for my new adventure. My brothers and I all looked up to our Camp Director, Mr. Welch, especially after losing our father. And he took on that role each summer.”

Nancy started at Agassiz as a Pioneer—and proudly proclaims today that she is “A Pioneer for Life”—but over time progressed in the program. When she was 13, Don Welch approached her and with his request that she go through the Adventure Program and then attend the fourth session as a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) for two weeks as a trial.

“I was a CIT for a few summers,” she says. “As a CIT, I worked in the laundry, in the office answering the camp phone, and in the kitchen on the workers' days off, which I loved. It led me to become a chef.”

Nancy also loved working at the waterfront where she taught beginner swimming classes. She had learned to swim at Agassiz and wanted to pay it forward. She also taught the kids how to row a boat for a few years as well.

When you ask her to name her favorite memories, Nancy’s response is typical of all Agassiz alumni: there are just so many favorite memories.

“I enjoyed the Olympic Games, and the ropes course—and how I overcame my fears—and waterskiing,” she says. “And the candy drop! It was something I had never experienced before coming to camp. Seeing a plane fly over and drop candy and then all the campers running to get their share. Some returning campers would bring out blankets because they knew what was about to happen. But, of course, the newbies didn't know it. It was awesome to see the look on everyone’s faces when the plane arrived.”

But what made perhaps the most lasting impact on her was the love shown by her Agassiz community. Over the years, Nancy had several bouts of cancer, one of which caused her to miss one summer due to chemo treatments.

“I was so sad,” she says. “I was determined to return the following summer. I spoke to Mr. Welch, and he told me, ‘Absolutely! We will do what we need to do to help you.’ So, I finished my treatments the following April. I was weak but I was trying. But I knew I wasn't completely able to do all my camp jobs. But whatever I could not do, my co-counselors would cover for me.”

Nancy returned the following summer, energized that she was back to her old self. “I am so grateful for my AV family and memories. This camp has taught me to help others that can't help themselves. Everybody goes through ups and downs in their life, and it definitely takes a village.”

Over the last four decades, Nancy has continued to volunteer and support Agassiz Village in any way she could. A few years ago, she took on the task of reestablishing the library, which is now the Serenity Cabin. “With the help of many people, we do numerous book drives every year to replenish our book supply since we encourage the campers to take home a book or two,” she says.

Nancy also attends Volunteer Weekend each year to help with the cleaning, stocking, and setting up of the library. She is also a committee member for the 90th Anniversary Celebration, helping to fundraise through the 90 for 90 Challenge and organizing the events for Agassiz’s big weekend event.

Besides her swimming lessons, Nancy says that the most important thing she has learned at Agassiz Village is this: “Camp taught me at a young age to work as a team and to help others less fortunate. I learned that there are all different people in this world, and it takes a village to make it work.”