A /U RANCHES NEWS – SPRING 2021
Mountain Memo
A Year-Round Community at the A/U Ranches For many years, the A/U Ranches have provided a space for a few young adults to stay through the winter, bridging the time between the end of the fall season and the start of spring programs and another summer of camp. Usually, it’s a few folks who work or volunteer here on property. This past fall, though, we’ve had a community of twenty staff working a variety of jobs from Leadville to Salida, each with a unique story about what this opportunity has meant to them.
• What’s Inside • 2 Note from the Ranch Director 3 Program Updates 3 Summer Management Team 4 Pullout Camp Poster 6 Rest & Study
6 6 7 7
Your Own Custom Program Picture Quiz 100 Elk Staff Reunion New Hub Construction Update
From Mimi Riley (pictured above, right) I can’t express how grateful I am for the support the A/U Ranches has given me this year. It’s been difficult for me as I finish my sophomore year of college entirely online. This fall, I was living in Boulder and I struggled deeply, feeling isolated, disconnected and unmotivated. In the middle of that struggle, I came back to Buena Vista for a visit, and the A/U Ranches offered me the opportunity to stay. I’ve been able to keep working with the horses here, watching the sunrise while I grain the older ones and wait for water troughs to fill, and riding on sunny days. Even more importantly, however, I’ve found a community. Whether it’s hearing about the incredible work being done in the Leadville schools, commiserating over the logistics of Zoom church, or just kitchen space as everyone cooks dinner, there are so many opportunities to feel connected and to know that I have a network to support me if I need it. Knowing this makes everything easier, from finishing schoolwork to planning ahead for this summer and the year to come, and it has made all the difference in the world.