Many Minnesota families have cabins.
However, Kaylee is proud that her family’s cabin on Lake Minnetonka’s Big Island dates back more than a century.
“There’s just a lot of history and family life…a lot of memories made,” Kaylee says. “I grew up there. The cabin definitely means a lot to our family, and none of us want to sell in the near future.”
It started modestly as an ice cabin but slowly evolved over the years. By the 1960s, it had transformed into a house—complete with indoor plumbing. Historically, the cabin is the busiest over the Fourth of July holiday when everyone in the family sleeps over and watches fireworks over the lake.
“You’d feel the fireworks off the water,” Kaylee recalls. “It was definitely really fun.”
Kaylee’s family lived twenty minutes from the cabin, so they were fixtures there throughout her childhood. She fondly recalls sitting on her grandpa’s lap as they drove the boat across Lake Minnetonka. Grandpa John took her and others on many adventures, including tubing, water skiing, and sailing. After their activities, they’d roast hot dogs and s’mores over a fire.
“He was the most generous person,” Kaylee says of her grandpa. “Very positive…and he loved the cabin. He always had projects going on, [was] always trying to enhance it. He had ten sets of every tool and a workshop in the basement. He loved to see people enjoy the cabin.”
The boats were slowly upgraded: Row boat, fishing boat, speed boat.
What is Kaylee’s favorite activity? Jet-skiing.
“I love going fast and being aggressive and getting some air,” she says. “It’s just thrilling with the wind blowing in your hair.”
Kaylee is thankful for her new family at Camp Smile, where the culture is encouraging and positive.
“I’m super grateful for the Camp Smile family,” Kaylee says. “We help each other out, and we’re willing to teach. I just feel at home here. I now enjoy coming to work and…the experience that we create for patients.”
More about Kaylee
If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? I enjoy being outdoors. In the summer, I’d love to be at the cabin or go rock climbing. In the winter, I would probably spend it ice skating; but, it would be really fun to go snowmobiling in the Colorado mountains.
What superpower do you wish you had? To be fully energized without the need for sleep.
What is one of your actual superpowers? I am wonderful at encouraging and building others up so that they are better off than they were before we met.
What is your favorite snack? Either ice cream, chocolate, or tiramisu.
Why do you love your job? The positive and friendly people and the encouraging learning environment.
Favorite fluoride flavor? Strawberry
Favorite cartoon or animated movie? How to Train Your Dragon