Mid-October Update

With everything that is going on in the world right now, it feels both incredibly remarkable–and incredibly privileged and incongruous–that we are able to look outside of the office windows and see the yellow, golds and reds of the aspen trees contrasting beautifully against the deep green of the pines and the brilliant blue of the Colorado sky.

We can feel grateful…and we can also feel so sad about the heartache, conflict, inhumanity, and acts of hate we are reading and hearing about every day. Many people in our world are hurting and divided and afraid. There is such suffering and loss. All of these emotions, confusion and tragedy seem to rise up in a cacophony that bombards us through our devices, from people who we know and don’t know, who may think like us or not, who we are “connected” to–but not always in a substantive, individually authentic way.

This is why camp is so important for kids. It is important to disconnect–if only for a couple of weeks or a month–and discover that some perspectives: the view from the top of a mountain, the sound of wind through a summer Aspen grove from the back of a horse, a sunrise across a deep mountain valley or a sunset watched from the rocks you and your friends “scrambled” up to see–are more expansive, hopeful and optimistic than what we hear about and see on our devices and screens every day. We can learn how to share our strengths and let the strengths of others make us all stronger and hopeful.

Children who attend camp report they are better able to “position” themselves in the world (Spielvogel, Warner & Sibthorp, 2022), which roughly translates to understanding how to work, play and live with others. Sandy and Laura Sanborn founded the camps in the aftermath of World War II with the goal of creating a place where individuals could connect with people from diverse backgrounds and to help them appreciate others’ perspectives and understandings of the world. This goal is embodied in our mission: To live together in the outdoors, building a sense of self, a sense of community, a sense of the earth and a sense of wonder through fun and adventure.

Additionally, college-age students who attended camp as children report being able to adjust more quickly to their college communities and build stronger connections with people who have different values and beliefs because of camp. Similarly, staff members who work at camp are better able to align and define their “adult work values” after living, working and playing in the varied, diverse, supportive, hopeful and meaningful community that is camp. (Spielvogel, Warner & Sibthorp, 2022)

We do not want to minimize the suffering, pain and trauma that is happening in our world today, and we do see the value in having hope. Our hope is that a summer at camp can provide some needed respite and long-term perspectives that may help to alleviate some of these conflicts in the future. We have to hold true to our mission and help our campers and staff find the sort of loving, supportive community that allows them to learn and grow with–and because of–the people around them.

As we move deeper into the fall and closer to the winter, we are sending each of you the love, light and peace of the golden aspen groves; the curious and magical sound of the elk bugling high above Big Spring; the fun and laughter of our High Trails Outdoor Education Center students who keep the singing and costumes alive in the High Trails lodge; and the deep sense of connectedness we feel with you, with our campers and with all of humanity because of our time together at camp.