Weekly Update: June 30th, 2024

How do we know what is a “big deal” and what is “not a big deal”? We aren’t talking about “influencers” or “big name” people–we are talking about actions, decisions and behaviors that help shape individuals and build communities.

During staff training, all of our staff have discussions about what is a “big deal” or “not a big deal” to each of them. They talk about individual attitudes about tidy spaces, bedtimes, boundaries and more–and they try and find either common ground or, at least, middle ground so everyone can practice flexibility, collaboration and compromise.

This happens in every single aspect of every single day at camp.

As a permitted Outfitter Guide on the National Forest and other public lands, we are required to submit (months in advance) our itineraries for every trip we lead off property. These plans have detailed maps of campsites, routes up mountains, staff to camper ratios, dates of travel and so much more. But, like all of our “best laid plans,” plans change or things go sideways or something just goes wrong.

On the Tuesday morning Mount Silverheels drop off for the High Trails long trips, a camper said, “What if something goes wrong on this trip?” One of the trip leaders, Melinda Barman, started laughing lightheartedly and said, “Oh, I can promise you, something will DEFINITELY go wrong on this trip!”

And we know things go wrong on ALL of the trips. Sometimes the spaghetti doesn’t get cooked enough. Sometimes weather rolls in and we can’t make the summit. Sometimes people throw up. Sometimes we don’t have quite enough snacks. Sometimes things are harder than we thought they would be. Sometimes people are too tired. Sometimes we forget the spatula. Sometimes we get lost. Sometimes the spring tanks are dry. Sometimes the horses are too stubborn. Sometimes we read the map wrong. Sometimes we make mistakes.

Last week was, most likely, filled with more “mistakes” than we can imagine–yet none of the mistakes, missteps or doubts impacted the overall success of the trip experience at High Trails or Big Spring. High Trails campers rode every mile, paddled every cove and summited every peak they planned to reach. We had 9 year olds glissading down snowfields off of 14,000’ mountains, we had 16 year old JCs cheering on near peers as paddling arms grew fatigued going against the wind, we had brand new Sanborn Junior campers sleeping in tents for the first time during a thunderstorm, we had Big Spring campers on their Star Wars overnight KNOWING the Force was with them, and everyone came back beaming about their adventures and accomplishments and telling tales of the challenges and adversity they overcame.

On the High Trails Buffalo Peaks long trip this week, campers had a very long, very steep first day. They didn’t initially make it to the campsite. They found a decent campsite, set up camp, ate dinner and got a little rest. Their itinerary had them summitting West Buffalo Peak the next morning. In hopes of making the summit, they rose early in the morning, packed up camp, and hiked to their original campsite…and they realized they didn’t have it in them, nor did they have the time, to complete the climb that day. So they texted us…and we said, “Great! Why don’t you try to climb tomorrow?” After a full day of R&R, all of the girls summitted on Day Three–then packed up camp–and moved to their final campsite to get back on schedule…a HUGE day and a HUGE accomplishment for those individuals.

Sometimes it feels like we are living in a world where everything (and every mistake) is a “big deal.” We don’t see it that way. We think children who see adults working together respectfully and in service of others will find they are more likely to do hard things because they are not as fearful of failure…because, as we all know, things “will go wrong.”

It is so hard to believe this is our last full week of the session. Big Spring has been planning, packing and preparing to leave on their long trips tomorrow and Tuesday–they are SO STOKED for their 3, 4 and 5 day mountain, horse and canoe adventures. The boys have been packing their backpacks, checking tents, looking at maps and will have an early breakfast tomorrow to set them up for travel and weather success. High Trails is looking forward to Cabinside All Days tomorrow and the JC Dinner tomorrow evening, plus a number of final overnight and all day trips, including more horseback two days, the Pikes Peak Bomber and–everyone’s favorite–Miss Sanborn competition. Our Sanborn Junior 2 campers will have a River All Day, a trip to the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, another overnight trip and more horseback riding this week. The days will be jam-packed–but they will still go too fast.

So we will make each and every day we have left with your campers a “big deal” to us and to them–these moments, accomplishments, friendships and fun will stay with them long after this summer. We are so glad they are here.