People of Sanborn: Marge, Sarah, and Taylor
Names: Marge Rhodenbaugh, Sarah Slusher, and Taylor Indrebo Current Roles: Riding Program Development Specialist, Barn Manager, and Riding Program Special Agent, respectively. Tenures at Sanborn:MR: Started in May 2019.SS: Started in 2017.TI: Taylor came to High Trails as a 6th grader in 2000, came back as a high school counselor in 2007, and then worked at HT in the summer from 2011-2014. She returned in February 2020. Fun Facts: MR: You are more likely to die by a vending machine falling on you than by a shark attack. (Not about Marge but a fun fact that she loves.) SS: Her birthday is on St. Patrick’s Day! TI: Was a professional cow shaver for 3 years.
What is your first memory at Sanborn? MR: Although this is technically 40 minutes pre-Sanborn, I vividly remember the first time I drove to Sanborn the morning that I was to start work. I had an Indigo Girls album blasting through the speakers of my car and I was surprised by the view of Pikes Peak from I-24 just after you pass through Woodland Park. I was taken by the proximity to the mountain and the vast size of it. I knew in that moment that I was exactly where I needed to be for that time, and I am reminded of that feeling every time I drive back to the Ranch. I later found out that there is a camp song originally by the Indigo Girls and that only makes that memory sweeter! SS: I grew up riding horses on Sanborn property with my dad. I remember being inspired by its beauty, and vastness. TI: Coming to camp for a school week in 6th grade. Great time bunking with my classmates in Ponderosa, singing songs on Sunday Rocks and hiking out to Witcher’s to do all the cowboy activities.
Camp memory that makes you laugh or smile thinking back on it? MR: During the last night of a long trip I lost my phone somewhere around Four Meadows and decided to leave it in order to get back to the barn. I spent multiple days looking for it by myself and with the help of other staff members. Finally I decided to run a themed all-day and ride out to Four Meadows with the help of campers. Originally, I set the reward price to find my phone at three chits for the person who found it, and one chit for everyone else that was looking. By the end of the day the reward was twenty chits for the person that found it and five for everyone else. The campers decided to link arms and walk the entire length of the upper Northwest corner of the pasture. Although we did not find my phone it was so funny to see campers looking so hard for a piece of plastic in the woods. It also became an inside joke for those girls to tease me about losing my phone in the first place - which they found hilarious and I was more than willing to play along. The ending to this story also brings me joy: a month after camp had ended and during hay season, Maren took a walk into the woods before starting one day and came down the hill not fifteen minutes later with my phone. After many storms of rain over the course of almost five weeks I thought my phone would never work again but low and behold it was just dandy and is still the one I use today! SS: After a long hot day of programming, we had a Spikeball tournament between office staff and wranglers. After many games of back and forth, and as the sun was going down, the wranglers were crowned champions of Spikeball! TI: In 6th grade, on the hike out to Witcher’s for the Cowboys all day, we played as if we were a herd of cows being rounded up and driven out to the ranch. During the cattle drive some of the campers were the cowboys and the rest were the cattle. The cowboys had to keep the rest of us cows on the trail and in line. Chaos broke out quite a few times as all the cows would spontaneously make a break for it and dash in every direction. An extra special hike indeed.
If you could go on any all-day trail ride, where would you go and what theme would it be? MR: I would love to do a music appreciation all-day ride to the Top of the World. Eat some jams and listen to some jams with a great view! TI: Solar system ride, start at the Sun (the Interbarn) and make our way all the way out to Neptune, then explore further into the last frontier. Alien themed costumes as we take a tour of the system. Everyone talks like Marvin the Martian.
Favorite camp cookie? MR: Ginger Snaps!!! They are hands down the best cookie on the entire planet - maybe the universe. SS: I am a chocolate chip girl all the way! TI: I don’t discriminate, all cookies are worth love and ingestion.
What song would you do at karaoke? MR: “If It Makes You Happy” by Sheryl Crow or “Push It” by Salt N Pepa. SS: “I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain. TI: Aquarius.
Favorite camp tradition? MR: Tan and White lunch - the idea of remembrance and respect for Laura Sanborn is something to inspire us and encourage us to do our best in order to influence campers in an uplifting and meaningful way. I also think it is a lot of fun to see everyone dressing up together to do something that can unite us as a High Trails community. SS: My favorite camp tradition is horse pack trips. The opportunity that Sanborn can offer such a unique and meaningful experience to campers is a wonderful outlet for kids to enjoy nature while riding through vast amounts of land. The ability for children to come to camp and experience such an enriching activity is truly meaningful to me. TI: Big fan of Wandering Wranglers and early morning horse round-ups.
