Sanborn Western Camps Fall Alum News 2020

The Alum News

Fall 2020 www.sanbornwesterncamps.com

Sanborn Alum Work Day July 25, 2020

editor’s letter

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hat a strange year it has been! As many of you know, for the first time in 72 years, we were unable to open camp last summer.

This was an incredibly difficult decision and we were saddened to have to disappoint so many campers and staff when we knew that, after a spring of lockdowns, everyone needed the fun and camaraderie of camp more than ever.

We immediately began to think about what we COULD offer and have included some of those programs in this newsletter. It was a silver lining to be able to see so many of you over the summer as you visited for camping or hiking or to attend our Family Retreat or Alum Work Day. We loved welcoming you to the property (socially distanced, of course!) and are truly grateful that you came.

Our creative and committed staff continue to innovate, and we are happy to be offering a Sanborn Gap Semester for students whose college careers have been disrupted by the pandemic and who are eager for an outdoor experience which combines outdoor skill development with small-group community living. Details of this program are in the following pages.

As we prepare to open camp in 2021—and we ARE preparing to open camp in 2021—we are already looking forward to the fun and adventure of a summer at Big Spring, High Trails, and Sanborn Junior.

Apparently, a lot of you have cleaned out your basements while under Stay at Home orders, and we have appreciated all of the artifacts you have sent our way—from old newsletters to stickers to sweatshirts and photos. We are always happy to receive these because we still do plan to create a camp museum someday. Right now these treasures are safely tucked away in Jerry McLain’s office (which is kind of a mess).

We hope that all of you are managing well during these bizarre times and, as always, we love hearing from you.

So please stay in touch and stay safe!

Two alums, DANA BREITENSTEIN and ROB TAYLOR, have written wonderful articles for this Alum News.

Dana has described her successful quest to climb all 54 of Colorado’s Fourteeners and what she learned along the way. Rob has remembered camp icon Iris Priestly, who ruled the Big Spring kitchen for many years. The Alum News editorial staff is always looking for talented alum authors and is eager to feature your work. We don’t pay anything, of course, so fame and glory will have to be enough for you!

Warmest Regards,

Jane Sanborn aka: The Editor jane@sanbornwesterncamps.com

Send us your updates, news, photos, or stories from camp!

alumnews@sanbornwesterncamps.com

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for the record

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Alums who visit camp after a few years often remark, “It’s just as I remember it! I’m happy that very little has changed – except that the trees are bigger and the rooms are smaller.”

However, there are some changes since you were here and I have put together a few I thought you might enjoy. Part of this is a quiz. Reach back in your memory –- you can see how much you can remember...but the answers are there, too.

The original swimming pool at High Trails was built when HT opened 1962.

It was replaced in 2009 which was made possible by gifts to the Sanborn 60 Capital Campaign and a generous contribution by Jane Porter Burton (HT 74-79, Staff 80-83).

Q: What are the girls doing in the pool?

A: The girls in the HT pool are practicing for the annual synchronized swimming program. Synchronized swimming was a very popular activity in the early years at HT. After the girls practiced throughout the session, it was a tradition that the whole camp gathered around the pool near the end of the term to watch the show.

Q: Where was this picture taken? Eleven Mile Reservoir? High Trails Lake?

A: The canoers are on the ex-Big Spring Pond. When Sandy and Laura developed Big Spring in the late 1940s, they built a pond between the Barn and the entry gate. We actually canoed on the pond, caught fish, built Monkey Bridges (see next page), and played broomball on the ice in the winter.

Gradually the pond began to fill with silt as snowmelt, thunderstorms, and gulley washers carried sediment into the water. Sandy decided that we should dredge the bottom and restore the depth.

Unfortunately, the pond never held water as it did originally.

Through the years it shrank in size, became a wetland with cattails growing and frogs croaking, and eventually disappeared altogether.

It is now a meadow with grasses, wildflowers and ground squirrels.

Maybe it would make a good Schmerltz field.

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There are two challenges to be master of the Monkey Bridge.

One is trying to make it across the pond by walking on the heavy rope and holding onto the side ropes. As you go farther from the support on the shore, the heavy rope loosens or stretches, the walker is unable to keep his balance, and he ends up in the water.

The other challenge is “the duel.” Two guys start at opposite ends of the bridge. The object is to knock the other guy off the bridge by bouncing the main rope. The winner is whoever gets the farthest away from the supports.

The ladies from High Trails also enjoyed coming down to Big Spring to use the Monkey Bridge.

Sometimes, whoever was found guilty in a trial in the Big Spring Lodge was sentenced to walk the Monkey Bridge.

There are 8 significant changes from this early 1960s photo at Big Spring.

How many can you spot? (answers on opposite page)

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1. There is now a porch on the Barn.

2. The hitching rails are now in a circle.

3. The building in the center (currently an indoor climbing wall, formerly “The Depot” nature and geology building, and before that the swimming pool) is now surrounded by an Aspen grove and a towering Spruce tree.

4. The 400+-year-old Douglasfir tree was struck by lightning, died, and was cut down. Only the stump remains.

5. An addition to the Lodge was built in 2019.

6. The Health Center (which we hope to replace soon) is on the slope behind the roof of the barn.

7. A deck and bold red siding are now on the original Infirmary (part of the old farmhouse when Sandy and Laura bought the land in 1947), which is called “the Real Estate Office” – fishing headquarters, bathrooms and mail/package room.

8. The propane tank is gone. The camp now uses natural gas.

TRAVEL TO CAMP Remember when you arrived at the Colorado Springs airport and WALKED to the terminal?

Before air travel was commonplace, campers traveled to camp overnight on trains –- the Missouri Pacific Eagle from St Louis, Kansas City, Wichita, and Hutchinson, KS; the Rock Island Rocket from Chicago and Omaha; and the Texas Zephyr from Dallas.

In 1966 a new terminal was built and more campers arrived by plane – Continental, Braniff, and Frontier Airlines. In the years before passengers entered the terminal on a “jet way” directly from the plane, they actually walked on the ground through the terminal and got on the vans and buses parked at the curb. In the years before security was tight, our baggage crew drove the hay truck next to the plane and loaded the trunks and duffels directly on the truck. We didn’t pick up campers in Denver; shuttle flights brought them on a 20-30 minute connecting flight from Denver to Colorado Springs.

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Q: Is this the entrance to an old mine? Is this camping at SWC before spring tanks and light weight tents?

“PETE’S HUT”

A: An early co-ed program at BS and HT was a back-to-nature activity that included building Pete’s Hut and growing a garden near what is now the High Ropes Course east of The Nature Place.

The hut was built with logs, sheets of bark, dirt-and-straw chinking, and sod. Led by Pete Sebring (BS 63-65, Staff 67-71) and Francie Marbury (HT Staff 70-71) the group learned a great deal about primitive construction and living off the land.

Camp has changed in many ways, but in many ways it hasn’t.

Sure, the trees are taller, but the appreciation for the natural world remains the same. Some of the ponds have dried up, but the creativity and fun that comes from playing frisbee and making up new games (such as Schmerltz) continues. Something else that hasn’t changed are the amazing views from A Bluff, Sunday Rocks and the backside of Little Blue.

Do you have any old photos, stories, camp memorabilia or remember-whens? you would like to share? Send them my way!

Sincerely,

Jerry McLain, Local Historian jerry@sanbornwesterncamps.com

Need Something to Look Forward To These Days?

Save the Date for the NEXT Mega Sanborn Reunion

August 17-20, 2023

(But we’re not taking reservations just yet...more info to come in the future!)

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news & updates

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definition according to an 8 year old: a time when your grandparents were young; coincides with the age of dinosaurs

prehistoric : pre-1974 BETTY LINSEY (HT 69-70) is living in North Carolina with longtime boyfriend, Lew Robertson. Betty retired from teaching 2nd and 4th grades in 2016 and continues to teach swimming as a Red Cross WSI since 1975. She hiked the southern 1000 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 1983 and worked in Antarctica from 8594. She also dabbles in silver jewelry since her introduction to metal smithing at High Trails!

KATHY MILLER (HT 63-64; Staff 65-68) Krogh has been finding ways to be happy in this strange time with the help of the

Internet and the “good old US Postal Service”. She took an on-line course through Coursera in the psychology of well-being given free by a Yale professor, Laurie Santos, a key researcher in the field. Her church and book groups, college roommates, and family are meeting via Zoom and FaceTime and she watches Sanborn adventures on Instagram. She has also been writing postcards to secure the census and get out the vote, most recently for Black Voters Matter in Florida. In June, Kathy and husband Frank saw their granddaughter Camille which was the highlight of the year to date.

ROB (BS 62; Staff 65-68) and CONNIE McWILLIAMS (HT Staff 66-68) FRIESEN are “going along with simple pleasures at home and connecting with friends and relatives by Facetime, zoom, and phone.” They enjoy walking in their neighborhood, gardening (well, at least Connie enjoys gardening), and Rob is a jigsaw puzzle fan. They have also been able to spend some time at their cabin in Florissant and were able to see their children and grandchildren later in the summer.

definition according to an 8 year old: a time before you were born, but your parents seem to recall quite clearly-the Florissant Fossil Beds were formed about this time.

dark ages : 1974-1991 MARK “FLOUNDER” MOBLEY (BS 79-80; Staff 86-87) sent this “recipe” for Goobered Eggs, which many of you may remember as the ultimate campout breakfast at Big Spring and High Trails.

“One frying pan medium high. Two slices of bacon; let it cook and then turn. Once cooked, put a slice of bread on top of the bacon (be sure to eat a hole in the center of the slice). Drop an egg in the hole and add a cheese slice. Cover over low heat for five minutes. Enjoy. Calories don’t count.

It’s Sandy appropriate!”

with 6 friends in September. “For a bunch of 50-60 yr old women, we are pretty badass(!), putting in about 70 miles in total with many climbs over 13,000 ft. I also spent several months in Maine this summer with family including Lindsay, Meg, Greer and Hildy (Schott) and Mimi (Scott). Several of us summited Mt Katahdin- a challenging but super fun day.

The girls wrote and performed a “birthday Rap” for Uncle Phil (Scott) as we scrambled over The Knife’s Edge. The Sanborn spirit is strong!”

MASON McKEAN (HT Staff 81) Hoeller hiked for 9 days in Aspen and Telluride

ROB TAYLOR (BS Staff 75-78) moved from South Carolina to Canon City, Colo-

rado, and is enjoying life “by the river”.

He has memories of biking to Canon City with the Florissant Downhill Bike Club.

ERIN KATZMAN (HT 83-89; Staff 93) Loeb learned last spring that the Florida International University president and provost approved her application for a permanent position at FIU College of Law. The Loeb family (husband, Michael, daughter, JAMIE (HT 15-19) and son, MATTHEW (BS16-19) were looking forward to visiting Colorado in July! They planned to hike, bike, raft, etc (6 feet apart, of course)

definition according to an 8 year old: The time preceding right now-pioneers still churned butter and made candles during this period.

olden days: 1992-present EDWIN MESSCHENDORP (BS Staff 1998) has been living in Belgium for more than 20 years and is in a relationship with the Belgian mother of his 16-year-old daughter. He works at the local Chamber of Commerce and as a part-time gardener in the business of his brother-in-law. “We're all blessed with good health and a fun life that we enjoy most of the time and travel a lot: last year Costa Rica, before that multiple trips to Indonesia, Morocco, and so on.”

PETER HOELLER (BS 8-11; Staff 12-15) visited with his family in Maine for a week over the summer. He works for an Indy music marketing/distribution company and lives in Chapel Hill, NC. His roommate is brother, TED HOELLER (BS 10-14), who graduated from Tulane last spring and who also has a job in the Raleigh/Chapel Hill area.

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news & updates

vital statistics

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marriages, births & adoptions, life celebrations births: Brent and MORGAN HENRY (HT Staff 01-06) Anderegg, a daughter, Genevieve Rose, May 17, 2020, in Denver, CO. John and KELLY MULDOON (HT Staff 99) Graham, a daughter, Kaleigh, born July 29, 2020, in Lake Forest, IL. Jason and ELISE LEVY (HT 93-94) Bueker, a son, Hayes, August 27, 2020, in KC, KS. Grandparents: Peter and ALICE ROBINSON (HT 64-65, 68-70; Staff 73) Levy, Leawood, KS Jack and ALEXIS HARRELL (HT Staff 02-07) Magill, a son, John Andrew, born September 8, 2020, in Hillsborough, NC. Phillip and ANGELA SCRUGGS (HT 12-13) Butler, a son, John Charles “Charlie”, September 22, 2020, in Aurora, CO Jenna and RYAN RONNEBAUM (BS Staff 04-06), a daughter, Rylie Anne, September 27, 2020, in Aurora, CO Cyrus and KELLY OBERNDORF (HT 94-97; Staff 02, 04, 06) Mehta, a son, Remy Alder Mehta, September 28, 2020, in Denver, CO

marriages:

Clockwise from top: Genevieve Anderegg; The Magill Family: Alexis, John, Eleanor, Jack & Mary; Cyrus, Kelly & Remy Mehta; Charlie Butler

HANNAH WEINBERG-WOLF (HT 02-08) to Aidan Migani, in New Haven, CT, October 10, 2020 ALLEY WELSH (HT 94-97, 99; Staff 02) to Adam Olshansky, outside of Princeton, NJ, October 24, 2020 JAMES NICOLL (BS Staff 11-13) to Clare Sturla in Bowden, Scottish Borders, United Kingdom, October 31, 2020

Don’t feel left out! Send us news, photos, updates and celebrations to alumnews@sanbornwesterncamps.com

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From L: Aidan & Hannah; Adam and Alley; Clare & James

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in memory

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SUSAN GOETZ BEALL March 5, 1975 - December 30, 2019 Susan Goetz Beall was a wife, designer, daughter, dog mom, outdoor adventurer, Texan-turned-Coloradan and big sister.

Susan was also a High Trails camper during the summers of 1989-1990 and most recently returned to camp in 2018 for the 70th Mega Reunion with her sister, Diana

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Goetz Kane. After attending this summer’s family retreat with her husband, Jeremy, Diana shared a beautiful tribute to her sister. She wrote, “Do you remember your last closing campfire? I do. It was on August 18, 2018 and I spent it with my big sister, best friend, and fellow camper, Susan Goetz Beall. Susan and I enjoyed this closing campfire after spending three glorious days attending Sanborn’s 70th Anniversary and Alumni Reunion. We spent our time remembering; smiling back at our youth and recalling ‘the days gone by’ while making new memories.”

The 2018 Alum Reunion would be Susan’s last experience at camp and the sisters last trip to the mountains together. After nine years battling the rare Budd-Chiari syndrome, which affects the liver and has no known cure, December 2018 found Susan’s health failing and 2019 meant that she spent more time as an inpatient at Univer-

FRED NELSON CAMERON October 20, 1945 -August 24, 2020

California, where he later formed his own software development company.

Fred Cameron was a Big Spring camper from 1959 to 1962 (dishwasher 2nd term, 62), a significant part of his formative years with many fond memories and deep connections to nature. Fred was born in Summit, New Jersey in 1945, and grew up in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. He earned a joint degree in astronomy and physics from The University of Kansas (Go Jayhawks). He began his professional career as a programmer for IBM in New York and eventually transferred to Palo Alto,

His quest for deeper spiritual understanding brought him to a study of both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. Fred was a researcher, an intellect, a visionary writer, and the author of six books. He was a musician and composed the CD music for Memories of Home, using ancient Sumerian tunings dating back some 5000 years.

Fred loved the Colorado mountains.

Fred passed away unexpectedly on August 24th at his home in Washington state after a recent heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Pamela, sons – Scott (BS 85) and Ian

• RAY SANBORN June 11, 1957— September 13, 2020

We were saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Ray Sanborn in September.

Ray was Sandy’s nephew and worked at Big Spring in 1975 and 1976.

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He was the President and CEO of Kama`aina Kids, Hawaii's largest child care organization. He founded the organization in 1987 and grew Kama`aina Kids to include childcare programs in 101 locations serving 10,000 children daily on 4 islands.

The organization presently employs over 1,000 men and women in Hawaii. It has consistently been voted the Honolulu Star Advertiser's "Best Childcare Company" since 2003.

Ray was also an advocate for environmental education and a legend in the camping community. He recently served on the national Board of Directors of the American Camping Association and was a

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sity of Colorado Health Anschutz Medical Campus than at home with her beloved husband, Ian, and their rescue Chihuahua, Nugget.

A few short weeks after being approved for a liver and kidney transplant, Susan contracted a sepsis infection and died on December 30, 2019, most likely from a pulmonary embolism. Susan was 45 yearsold, she donated her tissue and corneas in order to give the gift of vision to another life.

To honor Susan’s love for camp and for her desire to provide a camp experience for a child who would otherwise be unable to have this experience, the Goetz/Kane family has created a memorial in her honor to support The Sandy & Laura Sanborn Scholarship Fund. Donations in Susan’s memory can be made online at www.sanbornwesterncamps.com

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(BS 85), step-children – Kari and Drew (BS 85), six grandchildren, and his brother – Roger (BS 59-62). Fred is the first of 3 generations of Cameron men that have attended camp. His granddaughter is scheduled to attend next year.

Remembrances in honor of Fred Cameron are welcomed through:

www.Sanborn WesternCamps.com

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fixture at ACA events. Many of our current staff members know Ray through his ACA work.

He is survived by Tootsie, his wife of 35 years, his daughter, Kailana (HT 06-07) and his son, Ohu (BS 08) A scholarship fund to honor youth sailing has been established in Ray's name.

It combines his love of the ocean and his deep passion to support the lives of young children. Donations can be made by logging in to the Kama`aina Kids website at kamaainakids.com.

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events & happenings

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• phenomena, but there is a place where it happens–whether you’re four or 94–and that place is camp. The families who came here didn’t know each other and many of them were experiencing Sanborn for the first time. And what they found, and what we found, was Camp: that special place

e had a busy spring and never stopped coming up with innovative ways to connect with our camp community. Yet we also knew that blog posts and videos of Vespers couldn’t replace an IRL (In Real Life) experience.

Thus, on July 12th, we welcomed 12 families to The Nature Place for our FIRST EVER Sanborn Summer Family Retreat. Friendships were made and community was built between picnic tables during meals, during socially distanced activities, out on mouantain climbs and mountain bike rides, and on canoeing, rock climbing and river trips.

The Family Retreat represented COEC’s first opportunity to operate since the pandemic began in March 2020. The COEC staff--from The Nature Place, High Trails Outdoor Education Center, and Sanborn--brainstormed, collaborated, moved tables, hung signs, practiced medical screenings, tweaked programming and strategized ways to keep participants healthy and safe while also creating an extraordinary experience for families.

where we “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.” It was awesome… and we had been missing it until the Family Retreat participants arrived.

Family Retreat 2020

We LOVED having the Family Retreat in 2020! It was great being able to try out our new COVID-19 protocols and procedures with supportive, helpful and collaborative friends...but it was more of a reminder to each of us that the pandemic “silver-linings” are always worth noticing, appreciating and celebrating. Will we host more Family Retreats in the future? Maybe, maybe not. We do know there will always be a place for family experiences here in the future... we just don’t know what that will look like yet!

Parents could only sign up for activities if they were accompanied by one or more of their children, and–fortunately for the parents–all of the kids who attended the retreat were excited to do EVERYTHING. Highlights included mountain summits, horseback rides, the Popsicle Hotline at the High Trails pool (and sometimes during fort building activities), great weather at 11-Mile Reservoir and evening activities that included Bingo, a walk-in movie, a legendary Family Photo Scavenger Hunt and a really meaningful Vespers on Boys Old Sunday Rocks.

Yet the very best part of the week wasn’t a specific trip, activity or moment of silly camp fun–it was, in Jim Henson’s words, the recognition that “There’s not a word yet for old friends who’ve just met.” There might not be a word for that

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Alum Work Day 2020

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ur first ever Alum Work Day on July 25 was a lot of fun and very productive. We kept it small due to COVID-19 restraints, but it was mighty! Our main goal was to continue fire mitigation efforts around the camps and we cleaned up dead and downed trees throughout Big Spring, along the south ridge at High Trails, and behind Aspen Lodge at High Trails. Many loads of slash were hauled away and the camps are safer because of everyone’s hard work.

A small, extremely talented crew also finished painting the

Slash haulers included CHRIS SKAN, CAROLYN MOZLEY Beiser, CARY CARDOZO Paul, BEN NORTHCUTT, ANNA GORDON, KELLY MUEDEKING and BEA RAEMDONCK Muededonck, LISA FRIEDRICHS Morton, MARTY FRIEDRICHS Remson, MATTHEW HUFFMAN and daughter SCARLETT, TOM BLICKENSDERFER, SUSAN RISSMAN, and ROBYN RISSMAN.

Sportsplex at The Nature Place. COEC staff had worked on this project for a while but it is one big building! DAN MILLER brought his paint sprayer and worked with some of our staff all day to finish the project.

The day ended with an outdoor barbeque, and the tired crews were able to relax and celebrate their accomplishments. We are incredibly grateful for all of their help. (And, we still have a lot of slash so we promise to do it again in 2021!)

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Camps and Colorado Outdoor Education Center adventures. It is designed for anyone ages 18-25+ who is ready for an intentional experience focusing on empowerment, skill development and personal growth in the outdoors. In this time of social isolation and variable academic modalities, the Sanborn Gap Semester offers a chance to connect with others and to build resilience in a powerful, supportive community.

GapSemester

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e are excited to introduce our newest program: the Sanborn Gap Semester. The Sanborn Gap Semester provides the active, supportive, and healthy learning community that our college-aged students need right now. By building relationships, participating in engaging and challenging ideas and activities, the Sanborn Gap Semester helps participants navigate the current social, emotional and global health challenges, and provides them with the skills and tools to discover their strengths and possibilities

GapSemester

What IS a Gap Program?

anborn

According to the Gap Year Association, quality gap programs:

• Provide clarity and purpose: the student will have

a better grasp on what they want to study and why;

• Improve earning and business potential: deepen

communication and interpersonal skills through

challenging experiences with “real world” applications;

• Improve academic outcomes: such as GPA, time-

to-graduation, and leadership

Gap

emester

Imagine sitting by the fireplace in a mountain lodge, snow lightly falling outside, learning from COEC’s year-round staff, visiting guest speakers and your new, life-long friends. Now imagine climbing red sandstone in Utah, picking a campsite among the yucca as the sun sets in New Mexico, mountain biking between rocky monoliths, or digging a snow pit to analyze the snowpack in the mountains around camp. Can you see yourself or someone you know as part of this picture? We can, too, so apply today!

Welcome to The Sanborn Gap Semester

The Sanborn Gap Semester is a two-month, experiential learning semester that expands upon the classic Sanborn Western

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The Sanborn Gap Semester provides these outcomes and far more by creating a unique, experiential learning and growth community. Our program emphasizes personal responsibility, problem solving, collaboration and competency development through four different expeditionary learning modules in the American Southwest and through on-campus living and learning opportunities in Florissant, Colorado.

Who Is Our Ideal Applicant?

There is no specific “ideal” applicant for our program, but many applicants will be those who are:

• Active and motivated to explore and try new activities

• New or experienced outdoor enthusiasts

• Seeking community, connection and social interaction

• Experiential learners: they love learning by doing

• A minimum age of 18 years old/high school graduate The well-being of all participants relies on individuals’ ability to:

• Adapt personal routines of daily self-care to the

program environment, including medical needs

• Be comfortable with limited connection to home and

outside world for up to two weeks

• Advocate for one’s medical, mental, emotional, and

social needs

• Practice effective communication with instructors and peers

Experiential & Meaningful

When on-site, Sanborn Gap Semester participants live in cozy cabins with internet access and share meals and community living responsibilities.

On-site experiences include:

• Earning certifications (Wilderness First Responder,

Mental Health First Aid, Level 1 Avalanche Training, etc.)

• Learning from engaging speakers, including professors and professionals with a variety of backgrounds and careers

• Preparing for their Capstone Experience with

knowledge acquisition, independent planning and

real-time application When off-site, we’ll travel throughout the American Southwest for four expeditions:

• Rock climbing

• Mountain biking and bike packing

• Backpacking

• Ski touring

If you know someone who may be interested in this program, or are connected to other individuals who are currently working with this age group, please feel free to share this blog post and/or our website link with them.

Throughout our adventures and back at High Trails, participants will learn the natural and human history of each environment we explore and our place in it. Participants in the Sanborn Gap program will spend extensive time challenging themselves, and each other, in a strong community setting that emphasizes the development of healthy and productive communication, resilience and conflict resolution skills.

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Our first session will run from January 17, 2021 until March 24, 2021. Enrollment will be limited to 12 participants. Program tuition: $13,500.

If you have any questions, please contact us via email or phone– we look forward to helping you or someone you know “discover your outdoor self.”

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WHAT WE

Images from a Pandemic

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nlike a soul-shattering, historic event like the Challenger explosion or September 11th, 2001, COVID-19 slipped into our lives last spring with a creeping, seeping insidiousness that is not unlike the discovery of a broken water pipe “somewhere” at High Trails the night before Opening Day.

Somehow we went from Mike and Sarah Adler’s (HTOEC directors) wedding on February 29th to the Last Day of In-Person School in the region on March 13th. Like all of you, we worked from home with our new “co-workers” (spouses, children, pets), discovered a new pandemic lexicon (“Zoom body mullet: business on the top, pajamas on the bottom”), realized that being a “tech-free” camp was limiting and liberating at the same time, and tried to find the silver linings of a time full of non-stop uncertainty and seemingly infinite unknowns.

outdoor education programs and schools across the country. Can’t run a summer camp? Start a “camp”ground and open the property for hiking and backpacking and help design cutting edge program quality development research with the ACA. Lots of extra time in the summer? Tackle giant fire mitigation projects with the help of staff, alums and the maintenance team and run in-house workshops to educate ourselves on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion topics. Clients can’t travel and are cancelling their programs at The Nature Place? Design new programs for Friends of COEC to provide outdoor experiences and employment opportunities for our local, hourly staff.

and value all of our communities-both near and far.

These guiding principles which guided us in making the seemingly impossible decision to not run camp this summer have been incredibly helpful as we have looked to develop new programming, build new relationships, and plan for the (still) uncertain future.

Make no mistake, though, it has been hard on all of us. Yet the glimpses of humor, hope, possibility, respect, creativity, growth, resilience, love, support and belief in the work we do continues to uplift us as individuals and as an organization.

DID LAST SUMMER

And we found them. One silver lining we discovered last spring and throughout the summer was our team’s amazing capacity for creativity, resourcefulness and hard work when confronted with complex problems. Can’t be with people? Do more with social media.

Can’t run a school program? Post cool outdoor resources and nature activities online and be a resource for other

We also defined a set of guiding principles that align with our mission and core values which have helped us make decision after decision during these wacky and wild times.

By focusing on Relationships, Responsibility, Reputation, Reality and Respect we made the commitment to connect with, take care of, understand

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Thank you for believing in us and for being part of our journey this year.

We cannot thank you enough.

MAY JUNE

JULY AUGUST 15

howdy & welcome

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hundreds of health care institutions to begin providing a nationwide series of free, trauma-informed outdoor adventure programs for healthcare professionals on the front lines. They have received significant grants from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation and the VF Corporation as well as many smaller gifts from individuals who applaud and support their work.

n August 21-23, we welcomed an exciting new group to The Nature Place. We partnered with an outstanding organization called First Descents. First Descents, founded in 2001, is newly dedicated to providing adventure-wellness experiences for front line healthcare workers who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was a privilege for COEC and our Sanborn Western Camps year round staff to be able to work with and help support such an amazing group of healthcare heroes.

We are looking forward to partnering with First Descents on many future programs including another Hero Recharge program from Nov. 6-8, 2020.

The Hero Recharge program included hiking, mountain biking, yoga, and rock climbing. The healthcare workers were able to relax and enjoy the beauty of the natural world.

Around the campfire, participants had the opportunity to share and relate as peers working on the frontlines of the most devastating public health crisis of our lifetimes. They were able to process the trauma, grief, and loss associated with their selfless work and focus on much-needed self-care.

First Descents paid the entire cost of the program for participants. They began their work in adventure healing by providing life-changing outdoor adventure for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. In March, as the pandemic exploded, they leveraged their existing partnerships with

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The race started off with a team building challenge familiar to many former HTOEC staff members: the marble pass.

Then, racers took off on their bikes or on foot to find the 31 unique checkpoints spread across our 6,000 acres.

ver heard of the Eco-Challenge? On October 10th, we hosted 75 adventure racers for a 12-hour, overnight mountain biking, hiking and orienteering race that covered over 37 miles on the COEC/Sanborn Western Camps property. It might have been the greatest Find Your Way Back hike of all time!

As the hosts, we made sure Katie and her team had everything they needed, and we were on-call in case of an emergency-but everything went off without a hitch.

In adventure racing, getting lost is a fairly commonplace and expected experience, which is why it is essential that teams work together to take care of each other and keep each other physically safe and mentally strong.

Katie Ferrington is a Colorado local who rcently raced in the Eco-Challenge: Fiji with her team Georgia AR. Katie reached out to us in mid-September asking for a favor: Her race venue in the Red Feather Lakes region in northern Colorado was inacessible due to the horrible wildfires that have ravaged the state this fall and she was trying hard to salvage the experience for the racers.

She needed a venue...ideally, a big one.

By dawn, some of the racers had started to return, and by the race cutoff at 9am, all of the teams were eating breakfast burritos and soaking in the sun (sleeping) in front of the HT lodge. The winner was a solo racer who completed the course in 9 hours and 26 minutes.

The details were worked out quickly in late September and, by late afternoon of the event, the racers began to arrive in the High Trails parking lot. By nightfall, the energy, excitement and nervousness was palpable. With the spooky nature of trying to find your way around to small marked points in the dark, Katie and her husband, Nic, capitalized on some of the creepier spots on the ranch (apparently the checkpoint in the Quicks Homestead scared the pants off of more than a few racers!).

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If it sounds like a fun way to spend a Saturday, we are hosting the race again next year. Visit rockymountainadventureseries.com to learn more about the SWYD Multisport Challenge and about adventure racing in general. We also have a link on our blog with lots of photos from the 2020 race at Sanborn, too!

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essential work

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• outdoors.

We have also united with our former logistics coordinator and year-round staff member, Jalen Bazile, who is an founding member of The Black Foxes. The Black Foxes are an “international collective of unapologetically Black cyclists and outdoors-people that are reclaiming our narratives and roles in the outdoors” Jalen is passionate about COEC and has worked with Martie Jones and Lara Kreuter (The Nature Place directors) and Mark Rutberg (Big Spring director) to host a number of outdoor focused retreats for other Black people this fall.

Along with continued retreats, COEC will host a summit of local, outdoor-focused BIPOC community leaders in January or February 2021. One of the goals of the summit will be to help create a structure and shape for outdoor education and camp programming that focuses on getting people of color into outdoor spaces-specifically our space--because we feel we can build a shared understanding through time and experiences together in the out-of-doors. Yet these goals must not/cannot be ours alone. It is only through humility, curiosity, and our ability to listen hard and deep and long that we will be able to make progress towards truly being an anti-racist organization.

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long with staying connected to our community members this summer and developing new programming, our team took advantage of our extra time and began taking action steps towards helping all of the programs at COEC (Sanborn Camps, The Nature Place, High Trails Outdoor Education Center and the Sanborn Gap Semester) become more inclusive, diverse, anti-racist and equitable.

In a blog post in early July, we identified three main areas of commitment that we believed would help us improve as an organization moving forward:

We know that the outdoor experiences we regularly provide offer our campers and staff the opportunity to challenge themselves in ways that can lead to tremendous personal growth. However, it is important to recognize that the ability to choose to challenge ourselves in these ways is a privilege in and of itself. For many individuals in this country, particularly BIPOC, the everyday challenges that come with living in a society shaped by systemic racism preclude many from being able to enjoy the natural world as freely as those who benefit from white privilege.

1. A commitment to raise our knowledge as a year-

round staff on matters of justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity.

2. A commitment to examine each program’s alignment

with our mission and create a custom action plan to

increase justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity within

each of those programs.

3. A commitment to partner with BIPOC organizations

while exploring ways to better utilize our resources and

educators to uplift those communities with less access.

Throughout the summer, we held weekly, lunchtime education sessions on a variety of DEI topics, from voting rights to the fallacy of color-blindness to implicit bias and much more. These sessions helped increase our individual awareness and understanding of issues relating to the BIPOC community. We also had a number of conversations with former staff members, alums and educators who provided additional perspectives and ideas to help us take actionable steps forward.

We remain committed to figuring out how we can continue to improve. It is not enough to simply say, “There is much work to be done.” We must commit ourselves to actually doing the work to make our organization a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for every member of our community now and far into the future.

In early October, the entire COEC leadership team participated in a four-day JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) workshop. We discussed how we can--and will--grow and develop each program within the organization to create safer, more inclusive, and more representative spaces. Our goal is for individuals from historically marginalized communities to be able to find and experience the joy of camp, the outdoors, and this beautiful place within the context of their own narrative. It is the understanding and appreciation of this narrative and experience that we, as white people, must continue to work to acknowledge, hear, respect and see, so we can truly advocate for inclusive experiences in the

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alum accomplishments

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High Altitude Life Lessons by Dana Breitenstein

grew up hearing stories of climbing 14ers, as my cousin, Mike Wilfley (BS) climbed them all in the 70's. I remember hearing about the 'knife-edge ridge' on Capitol Peak and wondering how a mountain could possibly have a 'knife-edge' and wanting to be able to see it for myself one day. The vision I had of that ridge was so vivid as a child that it sparked my curiosity and sense of adventure.

The following summer, we had another 5 day backpack trip up La Plata, but there was too much snow to safely cross the ridge so we had to change our route and we were not able to summit. It didn’t matter though. The camaraderie we had and the memories we shared together on that trip were just as amazing as the year we summitted. One of the first lessons you learn as a Sanborn camper is how to enjoy the moment. So we watched the sunrise, swam in high alpine lakes and wore wild flower crowns, creating memories to last a lifetime.

High Altitude Life Lesson #3: The joy is in the moment, not the destination.

It was the summer of 1982, my JC year, when I climbed my first 14er. Our first attempt was on Mount Bross, but we sadly had to turn around because of the weather. Sue Springer could tell that Andrea Barker and I were so disappointed that she offered to take us up another 14er after camp was over. Yes, Sue was so committed to giving us the experience of climbing our first 14er, that she volunteered to take us up Long's Peak during her time off. Long's is not an obvious choice for a first 14er but Sue had confidence in us. More confidence than we likely had in ourselves at the time.

As I look back on that experience, I recognize that it taught me an important lesson: that I was capable of more than I realized.

High Altitude Life Lesson #1: Surround yourself with people who will challenge you more than you might challenge yourself, as you will do things that you did not know you could do, but they did.

The following summer, I was lucky enough to be a trip leader and led an amazing group of campers up eight 14ers. We did the 4 in 1 (Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross) and we also ‘bombed’ Pikes Peak, climbing up the west and down the east. On our 5 day long trip, we climbed Oxford and Belford and then snuck in Harvard just to prove to ourselves (and the Big Spring boys) how amazing High Trails campers are! Why climb just one fourteener together, when you can climb 8!

High Altitude Life Lesson #4: There is no limit to what you can do when you are with your camp friends!

The lessons I learned at camp as a camper, counsellor, and trip leader gave me the skills I needed to navigate the world. Soon after camp, I moved to NYC for my dream job and eventually on to Hong Kong where I met my husband Justin and had two children (Aidan and Brianna Searle). Despite living on the other side of the world for the past 20 years, I managed to keep the 14er dream alive and every time I came back to Colorado to visit family, I would sneak in another peak. It didn't matter to me that my progress climbing them all was slow, as I was enjoying the journey one peak at a time.

High Altitude Life Lesson #5: Accomplishing a big goal is all about enjoying the smaller goals along the way.

As I ticked more and more 14ers off my list, my cousin Mike offered to take me up the infamous 'knife- edge ridge” on Capitol Peak. It was a great family trip with my brother Kurt Breitenstein (BS) and two of Mike's sons (Clint and Link Wilfley BS). Twenty years after first hearing about Capitol Peak and its 'knife-edge', I was finally going to be able to see it for myself. The exposure along the ridge is real but the rock is solid. So solid that the Wilfley boys did a tightrope walk across most of it! My brother Kurt and I had a more sensible approach by straddling the ridge with one leg on either side and scooting across. Thankfully, I was not scared of the steep exposure on either side, but I can tell you what did scare me on that trip: it was the mouse that ran down my shirt when we were camping under the stars the night before!

High Altitude Lesson #6: Zip up your sleeping bag!

Little did Sue know that climbing Long's Peak that summer would be the start of a 38 year quest to climb all the 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado. The next 14er I climbed was La Plata Peak in 1985 and this time I was a counsellor at camp. Mimi McDavid was our fearless leader and I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard in my life as I did on that trip. Has it been scientifically proven yet that everything is funnier at altitude? Well it certainly is when you are with Sanborn Western Camps! There is so much fun and laughter along the way that you hardly notice how much you are challenging yourself and each other.

High Altitude Life Lesson #2: Accomplishing anything is possible if you are with people who make you laugh.

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• As I got older and the remaining peaks on my list got harder, I started to lose confidence in my ability to climb them all. After major ankle surgery, I just didn't think I was strong enough and started to give up the dream. Thankfully, a lifelong friend had more confidence in my abilities than I did, and convinced me that I could still complete my quest. It is thanks to his incredible encouragement, that I booked a trip from Hong Kong to Denver to climb the Maroon Bells. Having grown up hearing stories about the ‘Deadly Bells’, these mountains were always the crux on my list, so I hired a guide and was thrilled to complete the traverse that connects the two spectacular peaks. On the summit, I was elated that I finally climbed the Bells and was extremely grateful to Chris for all his encouragement, as I would not have been there without it.

High Altitude Life Lesson #7: Your friends believe in you, so be sure to believe in yourself!

trip back to Hong Kong and wait for more favorable conditions.

Thankfully, it didn’t take too long for the Colorado sun to melt most of the snow so Greg led us up El Diente Peak and the jagged traverse over to Mount Wilson. Maybe it was just my 54 year old knees, but these two monster mountains were the hardest 14ers I had ever climbed and it took over 17 hours! Over the years, many people have asked me how I climb these 14ers. The answer is simple: "One step at a time". It always amazes me to look back at a mountain I just climbed and to realize that all it took was just one foot in front of the other.

High Altitude Life Lesson #10: With any challenge, the best way forward is “one step at a time”.

After climbing El Diente and Mount Wilson, I could hardly believe I only had one more peak to go – Wilson Peak. Greg asked if I wanted a second 'recovery day' before we climbed my final 14er, but despite being a bit sore from our previous 17-hour day, I was ready to climb and was motivated beyond belief. It made me realize how key motivation is in accomplishing a goal. Tired legs and strong motivation will get you up any mountain, but strong legs and low motivation won't.

High Altitude Life Lesson #11: With any goal in life, being personally motivated is key to achieving it.

With the Maroon Bells completed and with only 5 peaks left, accomplishing my 14er dream was closer than ever. Despite all the Covid chaos, my husband Justin encouraged me to keep my original plan to go to Colorado in September and continue my quest. Chris volunteered to be my climbing partner and he cleared his schedule to climb Challenger and Kit Carson with me. Surprisingly, half way up the first peak, Chris was struggling with bad leg cramps. I assumed he would bounce back to his typical chipper self, but instead, he asked a solo climber who was passing us if he would be willing to climb with me instead. Greg was clearly much faster than me, but Chris explained I had come all the way from Hong Kong and only had a few 14ers left, so he very kindly agreed. It was a stunningly beautiful day and thankfully Greg was happy to slow down and enjoy the view while we climbed together.

High Altitude Life Lesson #8: With any important goal in life, you don’t have to go alone - be sure to ask for help when you need it.

As we winded our way up Wilson Peak, I had tears in my eyes as I reflected back on almost 40 years of climbing memories with family and friends and all the life lessons we learned along the way.

It is no surprise that of the 54 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado, I climbed 36 of them with someone from Sanborn Western Camps!

Summiting my final 14er was truly a dream come true and I am incredibly grateful for everyone who supported me in my journey.

Thank you SWC for giving me, and all the Sanborn campers, the opportunity of a lifetime to challenge ourselves, and each other, and to develop the skills the navigate the world!

Since Greg was looking for a new job in Colorado, I said I would try and help him network in Denver, so the day after the climb I googled him to find him on LinkedIn. Imagine my surprise when I found his adventure website and discovered that he had climbed 6 out of 7 of the highest summits in the world, including Everest, and had rowed across the Atlantic solo! So not only was he incredibly generous to climb with me, he was also extremely humble having never mentioned a word about any of his huge accomplishments.

High Altitude Life Lesson #9: Don't boast about your climbing experience until you find out if they have climbed Everest first!

Greg very kindly offered to be my climbing partner for my final 3 peaks, but unfortunately a freak storm dumped 18 inches of snow in the high country, and I had to delay my

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the stories of sanborn

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IRIS by Rob Taylor

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early feeding the motley crew of young folks. Set free from college and the normal world of lower elevations, we were now free to ramble and roam the high country guiding young minds and bodies in the ways of the Rocky Mountain natural world. She fed our bodies and our hearts.

he squeaking slamming screen door was as welcome as a heartbeat for appetite inducing aromas of chicken soup or curried rice wafting from the kitchen, hum of conversation, a clatter of plates and platters served by Able waiters,—and a greeting by Iris. Iris made the lodge a home with her motherly love, her discipline to those in need of guidance, her irreverent insurrections, and humor.

Arriving at Camp before the summer session began to do the work preparing to open for the summer campers was a golden time at the lodge with Iris. The five dollars a day was enough to draw our workforce, Iris’s meals assured our presence, and just being there was a fine compensation. High Trails Lodge was the gathering place for staff early arrivals.

Coming from the rural environs of South Carolina, Iris’s curry was the first I ever tasted.

“What’s that?”

“Curry.”

A puzzled country look.

“Oh, it’s a little of this and a little of that. It’s spicy!”

During pre-camp meals, Iris chasing misplaced staff from her kitchen with a spatula was favorite mealtime entertainment. You wanted to help Iris. She worked hard and started

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Lucky to be among the few Iris allowed to wash dishes, pots, and pans after a meal, the benefit of her wisdom and humor began early for me in purposefully extended camp experiences. The heat of the stovetop and steam from the dishwashing machine was made even warmer with the feeling of belonging.

I was scrubbing a heavy baking dish when a smattering of green peas flew past my head. Remaining conscientious, I turned back to my work. More peas. Peas zipped by my head, peas fell in my dish water. I ceased my scrubbing and retreated from the kitchen, wisely staying out of the battle of flying green peas between Iris and Sandy that began with one or the other obviously slipping a spoon catapult of green peas leftover from the meal across the kitchen toward the other. Peas in Iris’s hair, peas on Sandy’s shoulder, peas on the table, and peas on the floor, and in my pocket. I retreated as far as the door, along with other kitchen staff, and watched the battle intensify with laughter and clanging as Iris and Sandy reached for the bowl of peas. Until— Until a call from the lodge rings out,”Sandy! There’s a guy from the health department here to see ya!”

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• Eyes wide, we sprang into action with brooms and rags to collect the round green ammunition from floor, prep table, and pots. Iris took the bowl of leftover peas. Sandy?

After a good long week of horse trips, feeling all mountain high and wearing dust from the trail and the perfume of horse sweat; the first place I went after brushing down the horses and putting them to pasture was to the lodge to say hello to Iris before dinner with my saddle bags thrown over my shoulder.

Sandy took my place scrubbing the baking dish that I had been concentrating on as he vigorously kept scrubbing head down to his work.

“You little shit! You go take a shower and get clean then come back for dinner!” and she’d give me a hug anyway. At least that’s how I remember it.

When the official came in with suit and clip board, Iris asked, “Who’re ya lookin’ for?”

“Sandy Sanborn.”

On the aspen covered grassy slope of Thirty-nine Mile Mountain, the last day of a five- day horse trip, Iris and Cheryl would send a couple of loaves of Rip n’ Tear to have for breakfast. Rip n’ Tear was like a loaf of cinnamon rolls put together with baked globs of dough that could be pulled apart and eaten easily by hand and ended with licking the icing and cinnamon off each finger. Saved for the last day of a long horse trip breakfast, Rip n’ Tear speeded up breaking camp for the ride over Saddle Mountain back to the barn.

Sandy looks over from his dishwater at the sink and says in a low voice,” Yeah, uh, I dunno, I think he went out the back there somewhere maybe Big Spring or something. I’m jus’ the maintenance man ‘round here. Yeah, ya might catch him.”

Sure enough, he followed the imaginary Sandy out the back door. The rest of us, at Iris’s direction, cleaned up the littered battlefield of green peas. Sandy fetched the man back and sure enough, we passed the health inspection with flying colors. Not taking oneself too seriously gets the pots scrubbed, and green peas feed the funny bone that nourishes one’s soul as well as the body.

That loaf of Rip n’ Tear held more than a sweet Rocky Mountain breakfast. Carried in the saddle bags for five days, it was a sweet reminder that Iris thought of you while you were away. A sweet reminder that a wrangler knew was in his or her saddle bag the whole trip. Whether up with the sun hobbling horses for their breakfast or picking the way along an aspen covered slope with eager young riders, looking forward to that sweet Rip n’ Tear on the last morning was the call of Iris saying, “Have a good trip and bring ‘em home safe, boys!”

My first summer driving to Colorado from South Carolina, Leonard Williams and I had no idea what to expect at Sanborn Western Camps. I’d worked summers roofing houses and mixing cement for brick masons and we figured we could do anything for a summer. We’d picked up George McRae in North Carolina who was a Camp veteran. Washing dishes with Iris taught me that she respected hard work and a healthy dose of a fun, spirited life.

After a ride, the first place I went from the barn was to see Iris at the Big Spring Lodge. She was a mother, teacher, counselor, judge and jury, comedian, and, yes, cook at Camp. She cooked with recipes that nourished our body, mind, and spirit. Her recipes held a zest for life and the spirit of all outdoors. Returning from a trip, I’d look for Iris standing at that squeaky screen door in her white apron and a wave of her hand.

Her meals were delicious and welcome after days of staining logs, setting up tents, cleaning swimming pools, and bringing horses in from pasture to prepare for our campers.

During the summer, Iris knew when I was tired, had been to The Thunderbird celebrating a night off, which High Trails sweetheart made my heart go pitter pat, and when I’d been heartbroken. She kept a tin of thick sweet sugar cane syrup in the pantry that my Mom had mailed for me to eat with biscuits and remind me of home.

When I’m lucky enough to return to Camp after all these years, I still cut my eye up to the Big Spring Lodge to look for Iris. I imagine her standing there with a wave. I always feel her loving spirit and zest for life and I smile wherever I roam.

“Got biscuits tonight. Get your syrup.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iris Priestly worked as a cook, comedian and mom to everybody in both the camps and for the outdoor education program for 30 years. She would have turned 100 on February 1, 2021.

“Call your Mom. She needs to hear from you!” and pointed me to the phone in the kitchen.

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giving thanks

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hank-you, thank-you, thank-you to the many alums, camp families and friends who have contributed so generously to COEC since January. A large percentage of the gifts listed were the result of a letter authored by CHRIS SHEARS (BS 60-64; Staff 68) who recognized the serious financial impact of our inability to operate camp last summer and created the COVID Bridge Fund to help us cover some of our ongoing operational expenses. The response to his letter was heart-warming and beyond helpful. In addition, a significant portion of our camp families donated all or part of the deposits they had paid for camp in 2020 rather than accepting the refunds we had offered. These lists also include those friends who donated either to the Sandy and Laura Scholarship Fund, the Program Excellence Fund or other traditional annual giving options. We have been overwhelmed by your generosity and are confident that we will celebrate many more years of successful camp programs thanks to all of you.

TOP of the WORLD $25,000 and above

Dave & Cathy Gepson Burnham Adelaide C. Ward Foundation Steve & Jan Chandler Randle

A BLUFF $10,000 – 24,999

Ford & Christine Maurer Chris & Betsy Shears Gary & Mary Bracken Swanson Renaissance Charitable Foundation In memory of Sandy and Laura

FISH CREEK $5,000 – 9,999

Anonymous In memory of Sandy Bruce & Jane Porter Burton Tom & Sharon Koch J.F. Maddox Foundation Sarah Utterback Randy Brown, Susan Brown McCoy & Marianne Brown Rooney Yoshi Inoue Bill & Edee Miller

Andrew & Lena Jessen Christian Keesee Amy & Evan Land Dan & Ashley Mansour Miller Gary Mostow Lisa & Greg Mullen Leslie Riss Raemdonck & Family Jim “Herc” Roth J. D. & Grace Stanley Stephanie Taylor Tryba In honor of Jane Sanborn Tom Weed

SUNDAY ROCKS $1,000 – 1,999

Anonymous - 3 Jenny Bajaj Benevity Community Impact Fund Landers Carnal Phil Cromack Graham Bensinger Jon & Lissa Blaschke John & Pamela Blythe Ken & Robin Boger Patrick Bohnen John & Brenda Bridson Harlan & Erica Atkeson Carere Amy & Peter Charles Elizabeth & Brian Carroll Byron Crossen Mark & Liz Dubinsky Daoust John & Emily Myrick Densmore Sue & George Dorris, III Andrew & Katie Dowd Tim & Beth Rusling Emanuels Emanuels Family Foundation Jeff Farhy & Mette Deluran Colby Fewster Fewster Family Trust Regina & Heinz Gaub Tom Gilbertson Chris & Suzanne Gepson Hagen AbbVie Employment Engagement Fund Anne & Tun Jie Nick Lefferts & Anne Hansen Jason & Jean Armour Lewis Paul Lhevine Betsy Longenecker

Amy Davis Lunne Mike & Maren McDowell MacDonald Lindsey & Chris Mann Dave & Megan Martucci Randy & Mary Ritchie Miller Mike & Christina Moyer Trey & Kathie Parsons Sarah Zwinger Roberts In honor of Sandy & Laura and Ann Zwinger Laura Jenney Roe Nancy Rodkin Rotering Jane McAtee Sanborn Jeff Schlueter Annie Wells Shank Laura & Kyle Shannon Skipping Bear Foundation In honor of Reggie & Dee Shiverdecker Ryan & Tricia Zoch Smith Delta Stokes Seward Jim & Stacey Schaffert Street Alex & Rosa Wernher Keith Williams In honor of the Entire COEC Staff Tim Wirth & Anne Stuhldreher Yasutake & Akiko Inoue Yanase Ron & Karen Cutler Zirger

giving thanks LITTLE BLUE $2,000 – 4,999

John Allen In respect for all wranglers past and future Jim & Rebecca Kucker Callahan Ramona & Andrew Chauner Phil Cromack Claire Donohue Donohue Family Foundation Eben Eck John K. Feldman Trust The Helen Clay Frick Foundation Laura Jenney Roe Trip Friendly Annie Garretson John & Lolly Gepson Emily Gordon & Mike Ferrell Rich Hamilton James & Carolyn Mollett Humpherson

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HIGH TOR $500 – 999

Phil & Julie Tate Allen Rajendra & Kacie Sanborn Awasthi Bruce & Megan Mueller Barry In memory of Max Barry Derek & Angie Bennett W. B. Bart Berger Tom Blickensderfer Rachel Lyons & Kevin Bostick Amy Moore & Geoff Bratton Thomas & Patsy Brown Scott Campbell In memory of Sandy, my dad Bill and their time in the 10th Sam, Megan, & Lyle Carkhuff Jordan & Katy McKee Clay Lucy, John, & Sarah Covington Parker and Dylan Craddock Lisa Rudolph Cushman

gratitude Janice DeMocker Sarah & Sean Doyle Susan Ehrlich Doyle Stacy & James Ehrlich Pryse Elam Taylor Emanuels Betty Erickson Eric Exelbert & Jessie Boyer Marybeth Ezaki Julie Hardesty Ferman Oliver Fisher Monica McDougall Flegg Susan Henson Flury In memory of Mary Shelton Fitzpatrick Heather & J. Louis Fouts Elizabeth “Liz” Young Furse In honor of my 4 amazing children David & Jerrelynne Fussell Virginia “Ginnie” Gillispie Mary Garlich Grannell Amy Gutmann Martina & Chris Hagen Kristin Bleakley Hamilton In honor of Mike Mac, Jane & Carlotta Chris & Jennifer Hauth Ollie “Budge” & Lindsay Hickel Jacqueline & Elliott Hillback Mark & Deanna Womack Hollon Adam & Dorothy Jones Jeremy & Diana Goetz Kane In memory of Susan Goetz Beall and Dr. Dudley Goetz David & Kathy Kinser Mindy & Brad Lamprich Ann Fitzgerald Larrabee In memory of Pat & Shirley Fitzgerald Jennifer & Coupar Lester Andrew & Christy Linn Susannah & Mark Livingston Jeff Lukas In memory of Tina Naugle Marie Polumbus Lyons Kerri & Jason Mallory Pat & Libby Hamilton Malone Kristen & Josh Martino Anne Mathews On behalf of Charles and Chris Nunziato James & Lindsey McCormick Sage McCotter & Randy Hulett Lindsey McGee Jerry & Betty Ballman McLain In memory of Kristin McLain Melinda & Alex Mehfar Laura Leitch Miller In honor of Jane Sanborn and Sue Springer Trummer

Maureen Missner In memory of Sandy and Laura Zach Mortensen Bea & Kelly Muededonck Jay & Susan Uptegrove Myrick In memory of Hank Janes Paul Nelson Tiffany & Matthew Parker Darcy Swenarton Peet Marisa Perkins Phil Pringle Robyn Rissman Bob Roth Kristin & Lee Ryder Warren & Judy Smith Schoedel Jonathan & Lisa Marks Schwarz Bob Schweighauser Charlie Schweighauser Eric & Leigh Ann Moss Sherburn Nancy Shiffler In memory of Sandy and Laura Tiffany Draper Siegel Jessie Spehar In honor of 2020 Summer Staff Diana LeMaire Squibb (Devens) Pete & Whitney Stadler Ellie Jensen & Jeffrey Stine John & Ardell Stoner Stupp Bros. Bridge & Iron Co. Foundation Family of Will and Henry Stupp Madeleyne Rincon Feria & David Thomson Andrew & Michelle Tidey Lindsay Flury Tucker Chris & Ashley Allen Tulp Ben & Adelize Tutt Chad Vose Evan Williams Bud Wobus In memory of Sherry Whitcher Wobus Lee Stratton Yancey Dorothy “Sam” Kindred Yewer In memory of Molly Kindred

B BLUFF $250 – 499

Anonymous In honor of Kasper van Wijk and Rick Sanborn Anne Albright Melissa McDougall Althoff Davis Ammons Barbara Barnes Bruce E. Benjamin

Barbara Butler In honor of Faith Thomas Tony Delf Greg Elder Mr. & Mrs. Taras Filenko Nicole Gibson Dr. & Mrs. Coleman Herrod Tanna Shaw Hoopingarner Brad & Wendy How Brian Hunt Michael & Debbie Huttner Jessica Thurmond Jurgensen Brian & Tracy Lenehan Alice Robinson Levy Kimberly & Paul Loar Mike Mahoney Danaria Farris McCoy Andrea McCrady Simon McGee Peter & Katie McKee Edwin Messchendorp In honor of Kasper van Wijk and Rick Sanborn Lisa Brown Miranda In honor of Tom Weed Mark “Flounder” Mobley In honor of a “5 minute job” Sandy Bliss Nelson Megan Otero Elaine Paul Pat & Cat Perry Ginger Petroff & Ken Cunningham Helen Stevens and Kate Stevens Quaker Hill Foundation Ardie Reed Susan Rissman Mike & Megan Pertz Schellinger Bill Schreiber In honor of Jim “Herc” Roth Anne & Hill Slothower Jim & Caroline Tharp Alexandra Tilsley Sarah & Chris Miller-McLemore Ulizio In honor of the COEC Leadership Staff Andy Weed

WITCHER ROCKS

Anonymous Amazon Smile John & Jeni Anderson Linda Arms In memory of Bob Arms Dr. & Mrs. John Birknes

appreciation

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Xanni Brown Emma Phaelzer Bryan Jenna Buffaloe Dr. & Mrs. Jeremy Burd Rosita & Matthew Byers Landers Carnal Benevity Community Impact Fund Mike Christy In memory of Steve Wunsch Cindy Cowherd Jessica Vargas Crofts Ann “Bing” Crosby In memory of Hank Janes Elizabeth Williamson Dann Michelle DeMey Emily Dubin Kitty Elkins In memory of Courtney Kyte Margaret Fisher In honor of Oliver Fisher Caroline Burke Fitzpatrick Terry Flynn In honor of Jane Sanborn The Chelsea Neidenthal Fritts Family Kip Grosshans Melanie Hancock In honor of Maren MacDonald Heather & Chris Helle

Leah Herring Heidi Kane In memory of Susan Goetz Beall Danyle & Jamie Lester Carter & Amanda Little Erica & Aaron Massey Tina Moschetti McNew Jane & Jay Metcalf On behalf of Emily and Linnea Metcalf In memory of Bob Bucholz and Roger Sanborn Bonnie & Mark Miller-McLemore In honor of Chris & Sarah Ulizio Renee Miller In honor of Jane Sanborn and Annie Garretson Kate Williams Montgomery Kristin Muhlner Maya Ovrutsky Kathy Perkins Stacey & Eric Rohrer Nancy Rothermel Carolyn Rundle Lindsay McKean Scott Ryan Sheftel Reggie Cahalan Shiverdecker In honor of “Tweety” the truck

Nancy Moorman Silverforb In memory of Sandy & Laura Chris Skan Bobbie & Dick Spearel Ian Stafford Helen Stevens In memory of Sam Jenkins Kate Stevens Lynda & Todd Swan John Sweeney In honor of Little Blue Lynn Taylor In honor of Samantha Taylor Ann Tharp Jim Tharp Betsy Tucker In honor of Betty & Jerry McLain and Jane Sanborn In memory of Kristin McLain Liz & Frank Walker Uli Welsch Jennifer White In memory of Susan Goetz Beall Big Al & Terry Goodger Williams Lindsay Williams Bill Wilson Myles Woerner

• Sanborn Tomorrow Capital Campaign We are incredibly grateful to the following alums who have made generous donations since January 1, 2020, honoring their ongoing pledges to the Sanborn Tomorrow Capital Campaign. We realize that other pledges will be received between now and the end of the year and will recognize those in next spring’s edition of the Alum News. Many, many of you have donated or fulfilled your pledges to the Capital Campaign. Thank-you.

Denali Club $500,000--$999,999

Mia Fisher & William Pollack In Memory of Angela Fisher

Ken Wallace

Mt. Massive Club $100,000--$149,999

Kilimanjaro Club $250,000--$499,999 John & Linda Ward O’Hara

Mt. Elbert Club $150,000--$249,999 The Allen Family Foundation In memory of Robert W. Allen

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Anonymous

La Plata Club $50,000--$99,999 Anonymous John H. Harmon, Jr. and Jane H. Harmon Foundation Dave and Cathy Gepson Burnham Roger and Lauren Cameron

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Mt. Antero Club $20,000-$49,999 Hank and Pat Hazelton Hemingway Mr. and Mrs. Hugh O’Kane In honor of Jerry McLain

Quandary Peak Club $10,000--$19,999 Steve and Katy Smith Abbott Lisa Rudolph Cushman Family In memory of Sandy and Laura

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“The Fab Five” Julie Micou Cerf, Mary “Bunny” Porter, Lisa Schneck, Kathy Medlock Tuteur, Kathy Yanuck Wenger Mike and Maren McDowell MacDonald Jane McAtee Sanborn Bud Wobus In memory of Sherry Whitcher Wobus

Matt and Ariella Randle Rogge In honor of Jane Sanborn Harris and Virginia Malmo White In honor of Jane Sanborn

Mt. Belford Club $2,500--$4,999

Anne Shingler John & Nancy Shingler In honor of Anne Shingler

Mt. Princeton Club $5,000--$9,999

Jake, Olivia, Noah & Zoe Colley Rob and Connie McWilliams Friesen Levi & Elizabeth Rundle Marable Gary Mostow

Mt. Oxford Club $1,000--$2,499

Anonymous Taylor and Martie Adams Jones

Kitty Bliss, Mimi and Maggie James In honor of Alice Robinson Levy The Delf Family Mr. and Mrs. N. Timothy Ewing Oliver Fisher Melanie Hancock Mark Rutberg

Pikes Peak Club $500--$999

Katherine “Kitty” Mann In honor of Jane Sanborn Peggy Seessel

Additional Donor Gary Missner

Forever Sanborn

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everal contributors have chosen to make a gift through beneficiary designation in their wills, IRAs, 401k (or similar) plans or life insurance policies. If you have done so or desire to do so, please let us know so that we can make you a member of Forever Sanborn, a group of donors who have made COEC a part of their estate planning.

making a difference

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ALICE ROBINSON (HT 64-65, 68-70) Levy and husband, Peter live in Kansas City where they are “beyond happy” to be near their children and grandchildren.

ERIC LEVY (BS 93-94) has two little girls—Haddie, 5, and Grace, 3. ELISE LEVY (HT 93-94) Bueker has a daughter Olivia, 4, and a new baby, Hayes. During the quarantine, Alice wrote a clever little book called “Camp Quarantine” for her grandchildren who loved it. It is about Bruno Bear who wakes up from hibernation and finds he is in quarantine. It’s for ages 3-7.

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• When quarantine was “supposed to be over”, Alice wrote a second book called “Out of the Woods” where Bruno is allowed out of the house but still has to deal with many rules and restrictions. Both books are available on Amazon and Alice is giving all of her royalties to Feeding America. (Editor note: These books are incredibly fun—kids will love the story and the photos of Bruno) L to R: Cover of Camp Quarantine; Bruno and Alice’s grandaughter, Olivia. According to Alice, Bruno loves children and would like to be considered for a summer camp counselor position in the post-COVID future.

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reunions & reconnects

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Dana Breitenstein was not the only High Trails lady to finish climbing all of Colorado’s 14ers this fall (story, page 18)...HANNAH FLINK (HT 01; Staff 12-15) also finished her 14er quest with a Maroon Peak summit on September 21st. She said, “Sanborn is where this goal started!” Hmmmm...seems like a theme...CONGRATULATIONS, Hannah!

Big Spring Warriors in Glacier National Park: DAVID KEIM (BS 85-86; Staff 94, 96) and sons, CARSON (BS 17-19) and ISAAC (BS 18-19) on top of Dragon’s Tail on the Continental Divide with Clements Peak on left and Reynolds Peak on the right.

The Silverstone/Miller family hosted a 2019 Kinnikinnik East High Trails reunion this summer during what would have been ‘the last weekend’ of the second session. The Durkin family made sure the girls had a “camp store” experience. Along with some serious singing, Abby Durkin and Ava Farrell from PA, Grace Tinsman from Kansas City, and Hadley Kidder (Aspen), Sabrina Johnson (Denver) and Estella Miller (Denver) all enjoyed time outside together and are looking forward to camp in 2021!

Dan and KATHY MEDLOCK Tuteur and LISA SCHNECK and husband, Dan Bledsoe backpacked to North Bottlegate over the summer. “We can’t go as far or carry as much weight, but we can enjoy getting out in nature every bit as much, if not more.”

Many alums and their families and extended families took advantage of the opportunity to hike and camp on the property together in 2020--and it reminded TRIP FRIENDLY (BS 67-73)to share his and his daughter, REBECCA’s (HT 98-02), August 2018 summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro photos with us. He shared in his email, “Our love of mountain climbing started at Sanborn!”

KELLY MUEDEKING and BEA RAEMDONCK MUEDEDONCK helped coordinate many SWC mini-reunions at camp this summer. Above: Kelly, Bea, CLARA TROYER, GRACIE GILBERT; Left: DEE SHIVERDECKER, MEGAN CLOVER CARKHUFF, Kelly and Bea (REGGIE CAHALAN SHIVERDECKER, photographer)

Group photo on the summit; Trip Friendly and Rebecca Friendly Coccari on the summit of Kilimanjaro

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Colorado Outdoor Education Center Sanborn Western Camps is part of Colorado Outdoor Education Center, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

The Sanborn Alum News Fall 2020 PO Box 167 Florissant, CO 80816 www.sanbornwesterncamps.com

Sanborn Family Retreat July 12-18, 2020