Four Generations, One Camp Family

Some families pass down stories. The Beaver–McNeal family passed down Camp Crosley.

What began in 1973 with Tony McNeal becoming Crosley’s first year-round maintenance man has grown into an extraordinary multigenerational legacy. Over the decades, family members have poured their time, talents and hearts into nearly every corner of camp.

Tony’s craftsmanship remains a defining part of Crosley’s physical landscape, from towering tongue-and groove ceilings to thoughtful details chosen with pride. His wife, Marcile, supported camp operations by helping cooks and serving off-season groups. Tony’s brother, Ben, helped winterize the dining hall and kitchen, while their sons contributed renovations to the Chapel, sidewalks, decks, ramps, gazebos and gathering spaces still used today.

The next generations followed suit. Renee Beaver grew up working at camp and never truly left. Her husband, Mike Beaver, carried on Tony’s maintenance work for nearly three decades. Their children and extended family members washed dishes, cleaned cabins, cooked meals, built bunks, taught classes and supported campers in countless ways.

In total, more than four generations of this family have served Crosley, siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and great-nieces and nephews, all stepping in when help was needed, never asking if something was “their job.”

What binds them together is more than shared labor. It’s a shared mindset: paying attention to details, helping without being asked and treating everyone with kindness rooted in Christian values. It’s also a shared sense of joy, whether that comes from well-loved campfire ghost stories, unexpected moments in the kitchen or alumni returning with their own children and grandchildren.

“It’s amazing,” Renee says, “when alumni come up and tell me their parents worked here and said to say hi.”

For the Beaver–McNeal family, Crosley isn’t just a place where memories were made, it’s where lives were shaped, values were formed and generations found purpose. Their story is a powerful reminder that camp isn’t just about summers, it’s about legacy.

A Life Built At Camp Crosley

Renee Beaver - Food Service Director

For Renee Beaver, Camp Crosley has never just been a job, it has always been home.

Renee’s connection to Crosley began in 1973, when her father, Tony McNeal, became the camp’s first year-round maintenance man. At just nine years old, Renee was already part of daily camp life, helping wherever she was needed. By fourteen she was washing dishes and by sixteen she tried her hand as a junior counselor, an experience she laughs about now, admitting she “was horrible at it.” But one thing was clear: Crosley was where she belonged.

Over the years, Renee has worn many hats. She has been a lifeguard, taught canoeing, sailing, water skiing, aerobics and tennis and supported countless programs across camp. Today, she serves as Hospitality Director, a role that perfectly reflects her heart for people. “I don’t even think of it as a job,” Renee says. “It’s just my life.”

Camp Crosley became the center of her family’s world. Her husband, Mike Beaver, began working alongside her father in maintenance in 1982 and later took over the role until his retirement in 2011. After Tony’s passing in 1986, the family’s dedication to camp only deepened. Renee’s daughters were raised learning to wash dishes, cook and help wherever needed, absorbing the values of hard work and service from an early age.

Renee has witnessed incredible change over the decades. She remembers when Crosley was an all-boys camp, open only during the summer and how exciting it was when it became co-ed. She fondly recalls afternoons filled with four square and tetherball, ski shows on the lake, camp songs sung after meals and the presence of weekly chaplains. While facilities have grown and improved, Renee believes the heart of Crosley has always remained the same.

“It’s always the staff,” she says. “Their hard work and willingness to put others first, that’s what makes camp better.”

Though she spends much of her time behind the scenes in the kitchen, Renee hopes campers and staff remember what she quietly pours into Crosley every day: good food, warm smiles and kindness that makes everyone feel like family.

Leaving Her Mark, One Detail at a Time

Heather Beaver - Housekeeping Director

For Heather Beaver, Camp Crosley has always had a way of calling her back.

Though she explored other careers and even worked at other camps, Heather says Crosley never stopped tugging at her heart. Today, she serves as Housekeeping Director, a role she approaches with both pride and creativity. “Seeing your efforts turn into results is a satisfaction I love,” she shares. “I don’t just clean spaces, I get to

improve them.”

Heather’s impact is visible across camp, especially in the Lodge. Taking initiative during the winter months, she removed old carpet, painstakingly sanded adhesive from concrete floors, stained and installed new trim and added decorative fretwork to interior doors. These aren’t just updates, they’re personal investments in the place that shaped her.

Growing up at Crosley meant watching her parents model what dedication truly looks like. “They showed me that actions speak louder than words,” Heather says. “It doesn’t take long to notice who really understands the effort and care it takes to keep this place running.” That lesson has stayed with her, guiding how she works and leads today.

Some of Heather’s fondest memories come from childhood summers at camp, including a mischievous moment shared with her cousin. After camp received cases of damaged Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, the two snuck a pint out of the dining hall, ate it together and tossed the spoons into the lake to hide the evidence. It’s a story she still laughs about, a reminder that camp is made of both hard work and joy.

Working alongside her mom, Renee, comes naturally. “We work really well together,” Heather explains. “We know when to help each other and when not to. We may have a heated argument, but we always get over it quickly.”

Heather feels deeply connected to the legacy left by her grandparents, especially her grandfather, Tony McNeal, whose craftsmanship still surrounds campers today. From tongue-and groove ceilings in the Chapel and Dining Hall to paneling he carefully selected, simply because it was called “Beaver”, his work lives on.

When asked about the future, Heather’s answer is simple and powerful: “My plan is to retire from here.”

To her, being part of the “Crosley family” means joining a legacy, leaving a mark future generations will remember, just as today’s campers remember the families and individuals who built Crosley before them.