News from Camp: July 22, 2018

by Mike MacDonald on July 22

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Today has been a very nice and traditional sort of Sunday at camp. The morning was relaxed and gave everyone a chance to get things cleaned up and put together ahead of another great week at camp. Final trip planning and organizing was on the schedule for many of those on trips this week, and games and activities all around camp were fun for everyone else. The Juniors got out on trail rides, and everyone is looking forward to get out for vespers tonight.

Tomorrow kicks off a big week for our 8th and 9th graders as the SOLE (Sanborn Outdoor Leadership Experience) and CORE (Community OutReach Experience) trips begin. These 5-day adventures blend hard and soft skill development with a service component. During the week, trips focused on mountain climbing, horsemanship, rock climbing and mountain biking, will join our partner groups including CFI (Colorado Fourteeners Initiative) and CUSP (Coalition for the Upper South Platte) to do service on Mount Elbert, in Missouri Gulch and on Forest Service lands near camp.

The Outbackers and JCs will also head out for their special trips this week. The JCs leave on Monday for go to the Great Sand Dunes National Park before meeting the Outbackers at our property in the shadow of Mount Antero. They will then set off on an exciting half-day raft trip down the Arkansas River together on Wednesday. The Outbackers will start their week with some on the ranch service and some time at the ropes course, before meeting the JCs and then heading to the Sand Dunes themselves.

We have a lot of other great trips and adventures planned for the week, too. Both camps are excited for many 2-day, overnight and all-day trips including mountain climbs of Mt. Princeton, Huron Peak, Mt. Ouray and Mt. Quandary. Cowboy camps and horseback 2-days are on the schedule along with Lord of the Rings, Wildlife, Gourmet, Tipi Village and Fishing overnights. The Juniors will go out for their final overnights of the session as well as other fun alldays, arts and crafts, hikes and closing activities. We will be sad to say goodbye to them on Friday but are confident this final week of camp will be fun and memorable. More Overnights and Alldays will fill out the week as we head over to the South Platte River for tubing, 11-Mile Reservoir for canoeing and all across the ranch when the boys embark on their Unit Alldays on Wednesday.

Our photographers continued to capture wonderful new photos from all across camp during the past week. They will be available for viewing early Monday morning through the CampInTouch portal.

We are looking forward to another great week!

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Mike MacDonald
About Mike MacDonald

Mike came to Big Spring in 1991 and, after working in a variety of roles from counselor to Program Director, became the Director of Big Spring in 1999. In October 2017, he was appointed Executive Director by the COEC Board of Trustees. Mike has a BS from Centre College and a Master’s Degree in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University Seattle. He has also been active in the American Camp Association, including serving two terms as President of the Rocky Mountain Region. He is married to Maren MacDonald, who directs the riding program at camp, and they are raising their three children at camp.