The Alum News
Spring 2020 www.sanbornwesterncamps.com
editor’s letter
I
t may seem crazy to send the Alum News now when the world has been thrown into chaos by the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, it is always good to take a break from the daily news and remember happier times just a few months ago (much of the news we are sharing came to us in holiday greetings) and to envision a brighter future. Like everyone else, those of us at camp are sheltering in place, working remotely, and creating contingency plans—which change on a daily basis. Our year-round staff is working hard to keep the spirit of camp alive through our social media posts, so if you would like a virtual tour from the top of B-Bluff or a few ideas for helping your children engage with the natural world during their time away from school, please check us out on Facebook or Instagram. The good news is that the natural world does not seem to be aware of the crisis. Our spring and summer birds are returning, the grass is getting green, and the aspen are showing catkins in preparation for the leaves to come. The deer and elk are still hanging out and the squirrels are becoming more active. It is reassuring that the view from Top of the World is still spectacular and the wind is still blowing through the Ponderosa pines.
One of my favorite quotes at Sunday Rocks has always been this by Reinhold Niebuhr: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” We realize that each of you is facing and meeting your own challenges during this difficult time and wish we could send the strength and serenity of the mountains to all of you. Stay safe and healthy! Best Regards,
Jane Sanborn aka: The Editor jane@sanbornwesterncamps.com
Send us your news!
alumnews@sanbornwesterncamps.com The April 7th Pink Super Moon rising over the northern flanks of Pikes Peak
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Dear Alums,
collected from five creeks and dumped into the Homestake Reservoir through the Missouri Tunnel
OK, who knows what the Tick Track is? And why is it called the Tick Track?
Water travels through the Homestake Tunnel 5 ½ miles under the Continental Divide into Turquoise Lake, then through a pipeline into Twin Lakes, and into the Arkansas River. It is then pumped up over the Mosquito Range by the Otero Pump Station between Granite and Buena Vista and through the Goddard Tunnel over Trout Creek Pass. Gravity carries the water across South Park, through Sanborn land, and into the Colorado Springs water storage system.
Is it a little “white pill” you pop into your mouth to sweeten your breath? Oh no, that’s a Tic Tac. Is it the footprint of a small insect found in the Florissant Fossil Beds from the Eocene period 34 million years ago?
The pipeline enters Sanborn property on the west edge of the Fish Creek land between the Homestead and Four Meadows. It goes under the creek and heads east up the steep slope, over Antelope Ridge, then south of Little Blue and into the valley between High Trails and Sunday Rocks. Water is flowing under the corrals and up the hill at the east end of the High Trails Lake dam (which hadn’t been built yet), across the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, east toward Pikes Peak and into reservoirs on the west slope of the Peak. After the water gets treated, you can turn on a faucet in Colorado Springs and get a drink of water from Mount of the Holy Cross!
Is it the 100-yard-wide swath cut in the trees by a giant atomic tick devouring trees and moving rocks which is very noticeable from west of Fish Creek and along the side of Sunday Rocks to east of the High Trails corral headed toward Pikes Peak? Bingo! Yes it is! At least that’s what Sandy told campers in the 1960s when they asked about the huge scar visible in both directions from Sunday Rocks. It’s part of the Homestake Water Diversion Project. Because Colorado Springs and other cities along the Front Range were growing at a rapid rate, they needed to increase their sources of water. Engineers came up with an ambitious plan to move water from the snowy peaks of the Continental Divide to the reservoirs supplying Colorado Springs. The project starts at the base of 14,011-foot Mount of the Holy Cross in the Sawatch Range on the west side of the Continental Divide west of Leadville. Snowmelt is
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In the early 60s Sandy met with negotiators to arrange the right-of-way across Sanborn land. Sandy insisted that no digging or construction could take place during the camp season. As the last car of campers left on closing day, the construction crews began clearing the right-of-way and digging the massive trench for the pipe. The work through camp was completed before the next summer and so it was quite a shock when campers saw the path of the “atomic tick” for the first time. (continued on page 4)
We had to change several areas to make way for the pipeline.
as it went up and down hills. Once the pipe was placed and connected, one of the crew rode a specially made “go cart” to seal the seams from the inside. In order to make needed repairs and to cope with changing conditions the engineers provided ways to drain sections of the line and to regulate the air flow. These devices are shaped like really fat candy canes.
The Outbackers had recently built an outcamp along Fish Creek that included a hand pump for water, a cooking campfire site, and two platform tents (just like all the tents at Big Spring) for a “permanent” campsite in that valley. Wouldn’t you know it – the pipeline was planned to go right through these two tents and we had to remove them. The hand pump is still there but we never rebuilt the outcamp.
The Tick Track is a familiar landmark for hikers and horseback riders as they camp and explore national forest land between Sunday Rocks and Fish Creek. There is a service road on the right-of-way punctuated by drainage structures and candy canes.
Sunday Rocks was right on the path the surveyors had laid out for the pipelineand the engineers intended to dynamite the giant boulders. Finally Sandy talked them into veering a little to the south and the Rocks were saved.
Next time you hike or ride along or cross the Tick Track (such as at the next big reunion in 2023), realize that there is an underground stream carrying life-giving water from alpine summits to a thirsty city at the edge of the Great Plains – all made possible by the atomic tick!
We had to remove the HT softball field west of Sunday Rocks and the corrals had to be dismantled and rebuilt. The construction of the trench to hold the 48-inch pipe was very interesting. Giant machines dug a huge ditch, put the dirt/rocks back in, and then dug it out again. They put down a bed of gravel and then placed the pipe in the ground. Two types of pipe were used – metal and concrete -- depending on the pressure the pipe would be subjected to
news & updates
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jerry@sanbornwesterncamps.com
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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 GRETCHEN HUND (HT Staff 72-73) lives in Seattle with husband, Ted, a former organic herb farmer. Her two grown children are “off and about”. She retired last year from doing nuclear nonproliferation work and now serves on boards and enjoys travel. GAIL GALVANI (HT Staff 65) West lives in Frisco, TX, and enjoys spending lots of time with her grandchildren. She also serves as vice-president for the local retired teachers unit and is president of the Frisco Chorale.
tending to the travel bug, with which we are thoroughly infested: Spain, Cuba (3 times), South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Haida Gwaii, the Dominican Republic, Montreal and Quebec City, Paris, Morocco, Japan (3 times), etc.” Ken and Robin, who live in Newton, MA, have not, however, made it back to camp, which he remembers fondly, during all their travels. However, their youngest daughter now lives in Denver and is getting married this summer, so Ken has promised to make the camp pilgrimage soon.
KEN BOGER (BS Staff 66), “mildly alarmed” by our recent threat to make stuff up if Prehistorics didn’t report their own news, sent us the following: “Since I retired from law practice in 2011, my wife Robin and I have been
Jay and SUSAN UPTEGROVE (HT Staff 64-65) Myrick escaped the brutal Chicago winter in early 2019 and enjoyed a cruise around Australia, the East Indies, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam,
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Cambodia, and other very hot and humid areas. When not traveling to exotic places, Susan and Jay enjoy spending time with their children—ANDY MYRICK (BS 84-88) and EMILY MYRICK (HT 82-87; Staff 91) Densmore and their four grandchildren. BRUCE BENJAMIN (BS 71-74; OLE 75-76), an investigator for the Pitkin County Sheriff ’s Department, reports that he hasn’t been put out to pasture yet—he can still show the younger deputies how to do a few things. Daughter, MARGUERITE (HT 07-08) has been working for the Aspen Ski Company as front-of-house manager at an on-mountain restaurant on Snowmass Mountain.
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DEDE McFAYDEN (HT 65-66, 68) Donahue and husband, Pat, continue to live in Omaha, NE, and love being grandparents to son, PAUL’s (BS 98,01) two children. Paul and his wife Jena live in Lincoln. Daughter Ellen and her husband, Ben, have just moved back to Omaha from Chicago. Pat is still working as an attorney but focusing more on his many interests including music and art. Dede has retired from her long-term job at Stems Flowers and has begun volunteering as a teacher Naturalist at Fontenelle Forest. She also enjoys walks, jazzercize and yoga. Dede and Pat vacationed in London in 2019 and then enjoyed a full-blown Beatles tour in Liverpool. They also love spending time with their family at their cabin in Okoboji, Iowa. RICH BUCHOLZ (BS 62, 64-66; Staff 71) continues to be busy clinically and has shifted his focus to functional neurosurgery. He continues to develop some “new ideas” on the research front and enjoys working in Saint Louis University’s MedLaunch program. Wife, Kathy is still on faculty at Washington University Med School, enjoying being involved in a variety of alcohol research projects, advising fellows and teaching. Both love spending time with their family—they have four grandchildren now—and had a memorable family vacation at the Grand Canyon last year. DARCIE SWENARTON (HT Staff 6568) Peet continues to paint her spectacular landscapes and participated in a variety of shows in 2019, including museum shows in Montana and Texas and two weekends of Art Experience at The Broadmoor Hotel and Art Gallery in Colorado Springs. She and husband, Barrney, spend as much time as possible outdoors—biking, hiking, tennis, skiing, and hiking.
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• ROB (BS 62; Staff 65-68) and CONNIE McWILLIAMS (HT Staff 66-68) FRIESEN celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2019 with their family, who gathered at their cabin near Florissant to celebrate. They traveled to Orcas Island in April and to England in May, and also enjoyed trips to visit their children and grandchildren in Vail, California, and Seattle. Rob, who retired in 2018, continues to look forward to his fishing trips, while Connie creates her beautiful garden each year and many of her handcrafted photo greeting cards. MARY KUDLACEK (HT 66-70; Staff 74) de Souza has been keeping needlepointers in Omaha and surrounding communities happy for 12 years now. Husband, Euclid, continues to grow his medical practice, Adult & Pediatric Urology and Urogynecology. Their four adult children are spread across the US, and they are now enjoying their three grandchildren. TERESA-MARIE RHYNE’s (HT 67-71) book “Applying Color Theory to Digital Media and Visualization” continues to give her many adventures. Last year she traveled to Vancouver, the University of Maryland, and Virginia Tech to give talks on her work. She also continues to spend 3 nights a week ballroom and social dancing. JUDY SMITH (HT 65-69; Staff 70, 74-75) Schoedel had a good year and is back to full strength—walking, swimming, and doing chair yoga. A high point of the year was a visit to Los Angeles to the set of the short film, The Pragmatist, directed by Judy’s friend Peter Basler. Judy and husband, Warren, continue to spend winters in Lake Havasu, AR, and the rest of the year in Buena Vista, CO
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KATE FRIESEN (HT 62, 64-66; Staff 67-68) and husband, Peter Westcott, enjoyed trips to Costa Rica, Hawaii, Croatia and the Netherlands in 2019. They also canoed in the Boundary Waters (and put out a forest fire while they were there) When they are home in Carbondale they keep busy with cowboy singing, music-making, home improvements and community volunteering. Daughter, CLAIRE WESTCOTT (HT 03-05) now works in Denver teaching immigrant and refugee women how to run restaurants, catering businesses and become entrepreneurs at Comal Heritage Food Incubator, a working/teaching nonprofit restaurant in Denver. Son, Tae, became a new homeowner in Snowmass Village. CANDI MORRIS (HT Staff 68) Kelly and husband, Mike, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary all year long with cruises from Barcelona to Rome and another in the British Isles. They also spent a week in Gettysburg, PA, soaking up the history and shared several other adventures close to their home in Blacksburg, VA TRECE RAHEL (HT 68-74; Staff 79) O’Donnell has been living in Denver for almost 40 years and is now in Castle Pines. She runs her own CPA practice and still saves time for outdoor activities including tennis, skiing, hiking, travel and fly fishing. She also runs her own non-profit, Hats That Heal—she donates her own hand made knitted hats to Casting for Recovery, which provides fly fishing retreats for women in breast cancer treatment. Trece and her husband have six grown children in their blended family. Rumor has it that MARK MUNGER (BS Staff 72, 75-76) is retiring this year as a teacher at Aspen Middle School.
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news & updates
• 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 KIM BEAN (HT 70; Staff 77-79) Higgins and husband, Ted, are excited to have their first grandchild: Molly Pershing Higgins, born July 7, 2019, to son Eddie and his wife, Westy. And they are looking forward to the wedding of daughter Maggie in August. They are also happy to report that daughter, HELEN HIGGINS (HT 04-05, 07; Staff 10, 12-13) has moved back to Kansas City and is now close to home. RODNEY (BS Staff 88-90) and LAURA HITE (HT Staff 91-93) HARGRAVE celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2019 with a week in Kauai. Daughter, Lilly, is a senior at Texas Tech and will graduate this May. Son, Henry, is a freshman at the University of Denver. Rodney and Laura live in Austin where Laura is the Director of the Covenant Presbyterian Church preschool and Rodney writes humorous Christmas letters and other stuff.
penhagen with his partner, Michelle, and son Mateo. Jorgen met up with DAVID BENSON (BS Staff 77-78) in Iceland last summer. LAURA FRIESEN (HT 83-88; Staff 90, 92-94) is living in Denver and stays busy with retail and catering work. Her travels last year included a photography-filled trip to New York City and a visit with Ricky and Nicole in Seattle. STEVE RISSMAN (BS Staff 83-84) and his partner, John, are busy raising 12-year old camper CARTER (BS 1719) along with a herd of horses! Steve is a professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he has created the nation’s only men’s health program.
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SUSAN RISSMAN (HT Staff 84-85) has been singing professionally and running her massage therapy business in Colorado Springs for 32 years. She spends lots of time outdoors enjoying the beauty of Colorado, paddling weekly with her sister, Robyn, doing a little camping and finding-her-wayback hiking, and generally soaking up the beauty of the mountains! She’s profoundly grateful to Sanborn for bringing her to Colorado all those years ago, and for gifting her with lifelong friends like Kim Haney, Amy Denner, Rod Lucero and Pat and Libby Malone. CLAIRE DONOHUE (HT 90-92, 94) continued to travel the world in 2019 for her work with Relief International. She visited Baghdad, Iraq, three times and Bangladesh twice. She also traveled extensively in the US, catching up with friends and family. Her big news is that she bought a house in Hudson, NY, and now has a home base.
DOROTHY “SAM” KINDRED (HT 72-78) Yewer continues her work to raise the funds to send underserved kids to a day camp near her home in Greenwich, CT. She has worked on this for many years, partnering with local youth-serving programs and churches. She also has started a new job in a local book store, the oldest independent bookstore in her area. She works on corporate sales and author events and is really enjoying the challenge. JORGEN FROKIAER (BS Staff 77-78) is Head of the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark. Wife, Berit, also works at Aarhus University, and the couple enjoy spending time with their three children and three grandchildren. Son, DANIEL (BS Staff 08) is living in Co-
late!” Son, CHRIS (BS 12-13, 15) spent a semester in Australia and is now at Austin College—he plans to graduate in 2021. Son, DANIEL (BS 15-17) is thriving at the Colorado School of Mines.
Steve, Carter & John this fall at Big Spring
MIKE (BS Staff 86-88) and JENNY MORTON (HT Staff 86,88) AZBELL moved from Texas to Dillon, CO, in 2019, and are now remodeling their new home. Mike, who retired from Kimberly Clark, and Jenny now “just want to ski, hike, travel and wake up 6
BETSY FRIESEN (HT 85, 87-90; Staff 92-93, 97) McMichael and husband, Malcolm, love the mountain life in Carbondale, CO. Son, Dean, 14, stays busy with Ballet Folklorico and the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra. Baseball is son, Andy’s, 10) main love and he enjoys a variety of other activities. CHRIS SKAN (HT Staff 79-80) has moved from Illinois to Denver and is working at the Crate and Barrel store in Park Meadows Mall.
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EMILY GORDON (HT 93-95) and tar, and Morocco. When not goofing involved with Denver Food Rescue husband, Mike Ferrell, are both doc-Dear Friends offand somewhere else, they are goofing and Denver Kids—she and husband, Family, December 2019 tors in Wynnewood, PA. Daughter, Thinking ofoff at home in Woodland Park, CO. Ian, have a mentee who they started you and counting our blessings at the holidays! Here's what we've been up AVA (HT 14-19) became a teenager to this year: with when he was in 6th grade and he Helen worked at UNHCR and spent a chunk of the year in the US, joining her siblings to in 2019 and earned her black belt support their HELEN 75-78;30Staff dad throughSTEVENS his final days of life.(HT Semih celebrated years of workingis fornow a freshman in high school. and 5500 km of biking this year. We proudly attended Sera‘s graduation and the same month. Son, DEACON (BSUNHCR 82) and her family have moved from last races for Yale, then got busy preparing for our upcoming move to Dar es Salaam! miss Geneva terribly but are looking forward to new African adventures. Kaya 17-20) celebrated his 10th birthday We’ll to Dar Salaam in starts Tanzania. completedGeneva both his first triathlon and es his first 'real job,' and work at the World ADAM SIEGEL (BS 87-90) was Economic Forum next week. After racing this summer in the US, UK and China, Sera and is playing the cello. Eight-year old Husband, Semih Bulbul, celebrated started a master’s program at King’s College London (don’t worry, she’s still rowing).promoted to General Counsel of the See you in Tanzania! EDIE (HT 19) loves dance and art and 30 years of working for United NaNational Parks Conservation Associawith love from Helen, Semih, Kaya and Sera Grayson turned 4 in January. tions High Commissioner for Refution where he works to protect and preserve our national parks for future BETH CABALKA (HT Staff 81-83) generations. Adam reports that he Otten, and husband, Alex, visited owes his love and passion for the outcamp last August-- it was wonderdoors and public lands conservation ful to see them! Beth and Alex live in to his formative days as a Big Spring Bakersfield, CA, and have four grown camper! Adam lives in Washington, children and five grandchildren—with DC with his wife and two daughters. more on the way! ROBYN RISSMAN (HT 85, 87, 89, JANN HARRIS (HT Staff 80-82) Kin92-93; Staff 95) lives with husband ney still loves working in the library Ian Miller and their dog Wilson in near her home in Eagle, CO. She and Denver, where she owns a high-end husband, Kraige, enjoyed a bike and floral studio specializing in mountain barge trip through Eastern Germany weddings! She lives to be outdoors, last year and then explored Berlin and especially on her paddleboard, or The Stevens/Bulbel Family hiked in the Catalonian Pyrenees. sitting around the campfire at 11,000 gees. Helen also worked at UNHCR feet singing Long Black Veil. She keeps CARRIE BROWN (HT Staff 86,88)part of last year and then returned to in great contact with Katie Friesen Wolf is writing full-time now. She also the states for an extended visit. Son, Reneker and Anita Dasi (Ann) Tharp, advocates for youth and mental health KAYA BULBEL (BS 10) completed which keeps so many of her amazissues in the Vail Valley and teaches his first triathlon and his first “real ing camp memories alive. She credits writing classes locally. Husband, Dan, job” and is now working at the World Sanborn with being among her best remains busy with his law practice and Economic Forum. Daughter, SERA teachers in this life and she has most also sits on a few boards. Son, TYE BULBEL (HT 10-13; Staff 16) graduDEFINITELY grown taller from walk(BS 09) is a junior at St. Andrews, ated from Yale and has now started a ing with the trees. Her camp merch studying economics and playing rugby. master’s program at King’s College in selection is enviable and she proudly Daughter, OLIVIA (HT 11-12, 14-15, London. reps for SWC. 17) finished high school while living in New Zealand and is now studying at JEN SCHOFIELD (HT 85-90; Staff UC-Santa Cruz. ELLIE (HT 07) is tak- 93-95) Law continues to serve as the ing some time away from CU Boulder HR Manager for Vail Mountain while and taught English in Columbia last husband Pete works for the Law Famfall. ily Companies. Daughter Jacqueline is a high school senior and hopes to atRON FISHER (BS Staff 83) and wife, tend college in New England. EMILY Denise, are both happily retired. Their (HT 14-19) is in her freshman year at objective is “to do the least amount of the Vail Mountain School. She continwork for the most amount of money, ues to love playing hockey and soccer. stalk our children, fart around, and avoid choking on pieces of steak or MEAGHAN O’BRIEN (HT 87-88; bratwurst”. Travels last year took them Staff 94, 96-97) McIntyre is Director to South Dakota, Hawaii, Park City, of Inside Sales and Customer Service Robyn and Susan Rissman at Red Rocks Grand Teton, Spain, Portugal, Gibralat Swisslog Healthcare. She is also 7
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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 ERIN TURACK (HT Staff 2000; HTOEC Staff 2000) Cosky and her family continued to settle into their Geneva, IL, home in 2019. Husband, Todd, enjoys flying Medevac helicopters from a nearby base. Daughter, Alexa, is thriving in middle school and daughter, Hanna, 10, is also a great student. Both girls are active in sports. Erin loves her part-time job teaching outdoor education field trips at the Morton Arboretum. JEAN ARMOUR (HT 86, 88-90, 92; Staff 96-97, 99; HTOEC Staff 2000) Lewis and family experienced a year of firsts in 2019. They visited the Galapagos, saw their first blue-footed boobie and swam with the sea lions and sharks. Son, Owen, started high school; Grady started middle school, and Emmett, 2nd grade. They also enjoyed their first summer of surfing on Jackson Lake. Jean and husband, Jason, live in Jackson, WY, with their boys. PAUL DONAHUE (BS 98, 01) is an attorney with Knudsen Berkheimer in Lincoln, NE. Wife, Jena, is Nebraska’s Director for Congressman Adrian Smith. They have two sons: William, 5, and Theo, 2. ELLY BUCHOLZ (HT 97-02; Staff 05) has joined the Division of Plastic Surgery at Loyola Medical School in Chicago. She has a condo in Ukrainian Village and loves being back in Chicago. Her dogs, Ben and Abe, are adapting well to big city life. ETHAN BUCHOLZ (BS 97-02) and his wife, Catherine, had their first child in December—Thomas Zebulon Bucholz “Zeb”. Ethan is finishing his Phd in Flagstaff, AZ, while Catherine works
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for the Grand Canyon Conservancy. A move may be in the future, though, as Ethan searches for a job in forestry science. MOLLY RADIS (HT Nurse 14-15) BLACKBURN and son, Jett, have moved back to the US and will stay with her parents in Maine until JACKSON BLACKBURN (BS and SWC Staff 11-15) finishes the school year in Viet Nam. Jackson will join his family in June and they will travel across the country to home in Oregon. HENRY BAER (BS 06-09) is now an Ensign in the US Navy and is training to be a flight officer at the Navy flight school in Pensacola, Florida. MARIA WILCOX (HT 96-99; Staff 05-07) Sutton got married in 2014 and moved back to Manitou Springs in 2015. She worked for a little bit at a start-up education software company as a implementation consultant while finishing her master’s and clinical rotations to become a board certified behavior analyst. She loved getting to travel (150k miles/year for 4 years! yikes!) and seeing school districts around the country! “However, my heart is really working with kids on a daily basis so I went back to schoolbased support in 2017 and am loving the daily work!” Maria also serves on the board of The Women’s Mountain Bike Association of Colorado Springs, a non-profit organization of women who rides bikes in both organized and grassroots activities in the Pikes Peak Region.
job in Cardiology at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Nicole is in Infectious Diseases. They also traveled to Japan in 2019 and enjoyed camping in the Pacific Northwest. KATIE FRIESEN (HT 88-93; Staff 95, 97-98) Reneker and husband, Ben, continue to enjoy life in Carmel Valley, California. Katie’s business, Carmel Berry Company, continues to grow. Son, Roy,13, is a spelling bee champ and computer whiz while son, Henry, 10, is a musician—he plays the piano, ukulele, bass guitar, drums, and cello. COURTNEY KERCKHOFF (HT Staff 04-06) Westenberg married Jason Westenberg on New Year’s Eve 2018 on a farm in Rainier, Oregon. They live in the San Francisco Bay area and love all that California has to offer: sailing, bicycling, camping, hiking, cold ocean plunges and river adventures.
RICK FRIESEN (BS 96-99; Staff 0205) and wife, Nicole, moved to Denver from Seattle last fall. Rick has taken a Jason & Courtney Westenberg
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MADDIE JENKINS (HT 08-10; Staff 13, 15) completed her first semester of night law school at American University in Washington, DC, while continuing to work full-time at Deloitte. TAD SCHOEDEL (BS 96-01) is still working as an ophthalmologist in Roanoke, VA, and training for a triathlon in Tulsa. HEIDI SCHOEDEL (HT 96-03; Staff 09) is in her third year as coordinator of the yoga studio where she also teaches in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. She also hosts a YouTube channel in which she discusses yoga philosophy in Spanish.
reunions & reconnects
• MANDY SHEETS (HT Staff 00-02) and MEGAN CLOVER (HT Staff 08-10) CARKHUFF are the Principal and Assistant Principal at the same school--Cimarron Elementary in Denver is one lucky school! Not surprisingly, the two administrators have similar philosophies, can think and teach on their feet, and love to have fun with kids. And there’s more—ANNEKA ALLEN (HT Staff 10) Schlagel teaches at the same school.
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We’re not sure who will win this round, but we do know that both Megan (left) and Mandy (right) have lots of RPS strategy skills from playing Giants, Elves, Wizards at High Trails.
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At left: High Trails Snowshoeunion (Sarah & Abby Burnham, Hope Brown, Cathy Gepson Burnham, Emily Burnham, Anne Shingler); At right: The Big Spring Staff of 1993, shared by Kyle Luthans (the tall blonde guy in back) who is a professor of Management at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and thinks fondly of his summer at Big Spring; Top: Junip Mehta, daughter of Kelly Oberndorf, knows exactly what she needs to be reading and doing during the shelter-in-place mandates... some light reading and finding lots of ways to explore the natural world with Jane Sanborn and Elizabeth Marable...101 ways, actually.
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vital statistics
marriages, births & adoptions, life celebrations births:
Sarah Kana and SPENCER LACEY (BS Staff 07) a son, Henry Keller Lacey, November 27, 2019, in Birmingham, AL Keith and DANA RICHARDSON (HT 89-97; Staff 98-00) Ladzinski, a son, Gray Douglas, December 8, 2019, in Boulder, CO Grandmother: JULIE FRANZ RICHARDSON (HT 62-63; Staff 64-70, 00-12) Salida, CO Amanda Faye and JASON DANIEL (BS 90-95; Staff 99-01), a son, Rylan Baker, December 30, 2019, in Pflugerville, TX Tom and JOANNE BAUER (HT Staff 10-11) Belt, a son, Harrison Thomas, March 5, 2020, in Manhattan, KS Will and SAM ALLEN (HT 94-02; Staff 05,09) Renner, a son, Harrison Tate, March 3, 2020, in Chicago, IL Grandparents: PHIL (BS 64-71; Staff 72, 77-78) and JULIE TATE ( HT 69-72) ALLEN, Tulsa, OK Katie and GREG MAZMANIAN (HTOEC Staff 13-15; BS Staff 14), a daughter, Brianna Elizabeth, March 15, 2020, in Abington, PA Erica and ETHAN BILLINGSLEY (BS Staff 01-05) a daughter, Laurel Schelly, March 19, 2020, in Ft. Collins, CO Denis and KRISTIN JANIAK (HT Staff 96, 98-99) Goggin , a son, Emmet Andrew Goggin, March 30, 2020, in San Rafael, CA
marriages: JED FOSTER (BS 86-89) and MARA DUBLIN (HT 87, 89) November 29, 2019, in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Camp Marriage #78 MIKE ADLER (BS 14-current) and SARAH KRUMHOLZ (HTOEC 13-current) February 29,2020 in Tabernash, CO. Camp Marriage #79
Don’t feel left out! Send us news, photos, updates and celebrations to alumnews@sanbornwesterncamps.com
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From left: Proud brother Beau & Laurel Billingsley, Pearce & Harrison Renner; From top: Keith, Dana, Gray & Vesper Ladzinski, Gray ‘Lil Bear’ Ladzinski , Jason and Rylan Daniel, Gavin & Emmet Goggin, Harrison Belt
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Mike Adler & Sarah Krumholz February 29, 2020 MIKE ADLER (BS Staff 14-current) and SARAH KRUMHOLZ (HTOEC Staff 13-current) were married at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, CO on February 29, 2020. Though we know they will celebrate their annual anniversaries more than once every four years, it was fitting that these two fun-loving, costume-wearing, dance-party outsdoorspeople, and current directors at COEC, took the ‘leap’ on Leap Day.
tain National Park while James shared stories of their adventures, their generosity, and their shared love of books.
As often happens with Sanborn marriages (this is #79), Mikey and Sarah found themselves working, playing and sharing the same outdoor communities--from Florissant to Crested Butte and back--for many years. And, the years of adventuring with and inspiring others in the outdoors has created quite a community as you can see in the photo above--one that they believe is foundational to who they are as a couple.
Thus it was fitting, that--as the guests walked into the dining room--they were directed to pick up a book “From the Library of The Adlers.” This was a collection of their favorite books from over the years recreated from used bookstores and then given away to their friends and family with a whimsical Peter Pan-esque, Sarah Adler designed bookmark included.
Yet, as officiant JAMES PLUNKETT (BS Staff 15, HTOEC Staff 14-16) said to the assembled guests in the outdoor pavilion, “... however humble Mike and Sarah are about their own roles in their relationship and however right they are about having a truly magnificent community, that community is no accident, it’s something they’ve cultivated together, with intention and care and joy and a lot of hard work.”
Everyone enjoyed dinner and the wonderful, heartfelt toasts from family and friends. There were a few Big Spring chants (“Oh let’s see the bride kiss the groom…(pound, pound)...) and then a rousing rendition of “Chili-Chili” after the cutting of the cake. And, of course, the evening ended with a bluegrass band and dancing...lots and lots and LOTS of dancing.
Guests enjoyed hot cider, coffee, tea and cocoa while snuggled under blankets, taking in valley views of distant Rocky Moun-
Congratulations, Mikey and Sarah!
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in memory
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• invented, Steve’s nickname was ‘The Prophet of Purism’”. Henry Barber, one of the top climbers in the world during the 1970s and a close friend of Steve’s, says “Steve was one of the most visionary climbers I ever climbed with. He put up hard climbs that were ahead of their time by a decade. I was known more for scary on sites, but his climbs compared to mine were futuristic by 20 years harder than anything I did. It took over a decade for Steve’s Psycho Roof in Eldorado Canyon to be repeated.”
Steve Wunsch
January 14, 1947—October 25, 2019 Steve’s friendship with Dave Perry in St. Louis led him to camp in the early sixties. He credits his friendship with Dave and his summers at Big Spring for leading him to the mountains and his interest in serious rock climbing. An obituary article in “Rock and Ice” states that STEVE WUNSCH (BS 61-62; Staff 64, 66) “was one of the best rock climbers in the world in the 1960s and the 1970s, making the first ascent of many cutting edge climbs including ‘Supercrack’ in the Gunks, New York, in 1974, originally graded 5.13 and considered by many the hardest climb in the world at the time. In an era before the concept of sport climbing existed and before advanced equipment had been
After a decade devoted to climbing, Steve married Marcia and had two daughters. He settled down and headed to Wall Street, joining the investment bank, Kidder Peabody. He then left to develop the world’s first computer-automated stock exchange, launching the Arizona Stock Exchange in 1990 to provide more information on pricing to both buyers and sellers, with the goal of creating a fairer trading environment for the small investor. In addition to his climbing and Wall Street work, Steve was an accomplished classical guitarist and an author of several books on stock market structure and regulation. A Princeton University graduate, Steve was known as an industry visionary and thought leader in everything he pursued. He stayed connected to camp throughout his life and had fond memories of his Big Spring days. We hope that our current generation of avid climbers will lift a water bottle to his memory when they are out on the rocks this summer.
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making a difference
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• river monitoring; protect critical natural areas; influence regulations and policy; and support environmentally friendly economic development. The Nature Conservancy featured an article on the Clinch Valley Program in its December, 2019, Magazine. “The Clinch, Powell and Holston rivers run nearly parallel courses through the remote mountains and valleys of southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. These last free-flowing tributaries of the Tennessee River system harbor the nation’s highest concentrations of globally rare and imperiled fish and freshwater mussels. They are truly a global hotspot for biodiversity.” Brad and The Nature Conservancy have been part of the movement to create a Clinch River State Park within Virginia’s state park system. They are also currently spearheading an initiative to improve agricultural practices and water quality on farms spanning five counties in southwestern Virginia and Tennessee.
The Clinch Valley Program BRAD KREPS (BS Staff 95-98) is the director of the Nature Conservancy’s Clinch Valley Program, focused on the preservation and protection of 2,200 square miles of mountains and valleys in southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee. Brad works with public and private partners to reduce the impact of mining on the Clinch Valley’s land and water, demonstrate sustainable forestry and agriculture; conduct
We applaud Brad’s efforts to protect this stunningly beautiful area.
KEYA GILL LUI (HT 89-91) Guimaraes has written a book celebrating the work of the NGO Kids4Peace, that has chapters both in the continental US and also in Israel/Palestine to encourage dialogue and friendship between observant Jewish, Muslim and Christian children. The project came about because one of K4P’s funders approached Keya to consult on the organization’s communication strategy, and she suggested an original book. Keya worked with the organization for a year, traveling with them to their summer camps in North Carolina and Washington DC, as well as to their school-year programs in Jerusalem. “The text, photographs and design are mine, but the vision and the interviews belong most definitely to these inspirational young people, who give me hope for a future of peace and progress.” “Raising Generation Peace” is beautiful and inspirational. To find out more about Keya’s book and Kids4Peace go to https://k4p.org/book/
Raising Generation Peace
Portraits of Youth Leading Change and Bridging Divides
Keya lives in Hawaii with her family. Her son, Kai, attends Big Spring, and loves camp as much as Keya did.
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awards & accolades
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very February members of the year-round Sanborn team travel to the American Camp Association National Conference to network with thousands of camp professionals from across the world and attend youth development and educational sessions ranging on topics from staff training to insurance and from program development to menu planning. The National Conference is also a time for camp professionals to be recognized for their contributions to “Camping” in various forms. We are proud to announce that this year in San Diego, Elizabeth Marable and Ariella Rogge received the J. Wendell and Ruth T. Howe Golden Quill Award for their article “Where Are Their Adult Pants? Tools, Catchphrases, and Understanding for Choosing Today’s Staff Members” published in Camping Magazine (January/February 2019). This annual award is presented to the author(s) of a quality article that promotes a better understanding of the camp/outdoor education/youth development field, including current practices, critical issues, and research. In their words… “The inspiration for this article came out of our desire to help staff realize they can do this job--even though it can be really, really hard. We also realized it was important for us to understand-- generationally-- what our staff need from us as coaches, mentors, and employers to do this work and to feel good about the work they are doing. We wanted them to understand they can do, and are already doing, hard things more often than
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they think. In addition, we want them to understand their capacity for dealing with uncertainty and discomfort is much higher than they might imagine. By providing a common language for our staff to discuss their challenges and successes at camp, we hoped to increase their sense of connection and support while also committing ourselves to our role as active, engaged coaches who are invested in the professional and personal development of each of our staff members. We also wanted to acknowledge and celebrate all of the different hats (pants) they will wear as staff members during a summer camp season. “ Many of you have experienced what it is like to be camp counselors and the many “pants” the role requires: jeans for horseback riding, rain pants for hiking in the rain, board shorts for tubing, flowery bell bottoms for the decades themed Saturday night dance, and many more. Even though most of you have found that one or two pairs of adult pants that fit you just right—maybe a pair of pressed khakis or dress slacks--you still have some fun fringed pants in the back of your closet. As mentors, leaders, managers and executives in your fields we hope Ariella and Elizabeth’s article will help you better understand the coaching and support needs of today’s emerging adult generation...and allow everyone to succeed and grow together. If you have not had a chance to check out the article you can find it on our blog or at acacamps.org. Congratulations!
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anborn Western Camps and COEC were honored last fall for their work in preserving the history of Teller and Park Counties by the Teller Historic and Environmental Coalition. At an awards banquet in October we were presented with the Breit Award which honors the memory of the late Dee Breitenfeld one of the founders of the organization and life-long advocate of preserving the history of upper Ute Pass. Representing COEC at the banquet were Mike and Maren MacDonald, Jerry and Betty McLain, Jessie Spehar, Jim Larsen and Kristie Haines.
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From the beginning, Sandy and Laura always had reverence for our heritage. As they acquired additional land such as the Witcher Ranch and the Quick Homestead, they preserved and restored the historic features. In our education programs we teach through history as the kids “become” prospectors, Ute Indians, homesteaders, woodsmen, mountineers, and cowboys to learn concepts in natural science and history. In addition to Witchers and Quicks many favorite places on the property have a basis in history: the restored frontier sawmill, Tie Cabin, the Tipi Village, crystal and fossil digging sites, and the Interbarn.
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howdy & welcome
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In January, Matthew “Matty” Cook, joined the year-round team at Sanborn Western Camps as a transitional co-director with Mark Rutberg and Mike Adler. At the end of the 2020 summer, Mike Adler will be shifting his focus to the High Trails Outdoor Education Center program, with his wife and current HTOEC director, Sarah.
full-time and spent the next 14 years as the Camp Director. In 2015, looking for adventure, we moved out west as I had been hired as the Executive Director at a Ranch Camp in Jackson, Wyoming. I spent 5 years at Teton Valley Ranch Camp. During that time, I met and became close friends with the Sanborn Team through the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Camp Association. When I got a call in December about a possible opening we decided that Colorado was our next home, and that working at Sanborn was an extraordinary opportunity to learn and to serve. Q Were there other jobs along the way that you enjoyed? A: Absolutely! I’ve built houses, driven a limo, waited tables, worked as a line cook at Chili’s and 3 other restaurants. I was a baker for 3 years while finishing my undergrad degree. During grad school, and for 2 years after, I worked with homeless Veterans in Phoenix at the VA hospital. I worked doing therapy with kids and families in a private practice during that time as well. There were also some outof-the-ordinary jobs along the way too. I taught martial arts for kids and adults, did a birthday party dressed as Barney the Dinosaur, and spent 2 years as a “Actor/Combatant/ Stuntman” with the Hanlon-Lees International Action Theater. I played “Sir Matthew Earl of Stafford” and performed armored jousts and horseback combat shows at renaissance festivals in Arizona and Pennsylvania. This is where I learned to ride horses, and where I also learned that it’d be a really good idea to finish college!
Q: Can we start with a little bit about your personal history and family life? A: Absolutely! I was born in Rhode Island and grew up all over New England…but mostly in the woods and mountains. I’m the youngest of four boys, so I know how to take a punch. My Bride, Marcia, and I met in high school and started dating the week I graduated. We married 5 years later and that was 27 years ago. We have three adventureloving kids…Scarlette (16y/o), Genevieve (14y/o), and Thatcher (10y/o). We love hiking, biking, and paddling anything that floats. Our home is most often filled with music and the smell of bread, cookies, and recently roasting broccoli and cauliflower. All things that make us very happy!
Q: Favorite Campfire song? A: To lead, “In a Cabin in the Woods”. To sing along with others, “One Voice” by the Wailin’ Jennys. Q: Favorite Camp Food? A: Anything cooked over a fire…especially a pot of cowboy bacon! Q: Dogs or cats? Answer: My sweet Golden Retriever, Emmy.
Q: You’ve been in the camping business for a long time. How did your camping career start, and where have you been before arriving at Sanborn in January? A: Back in 1991, a good friend told me he was going to work for Paul Newman at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a camp for children and families dealing with serious childhood illness. He said, “You should work there too, you’d be perfect for that.
Q: Favorite Camp activity? A: Conversational star gazing. Welcome to Sanborn, Matty! We are excited to have Sir Matthew Earl of Stafford on the team!
I was hired as a counselor the next summer and spent 7 out of the next 9 summers working at Hole in the Wall. During that time, I finished a BS in Psychology and a master’s in social work. In 2001 I went to work at Hole in the Wall
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giving thanks
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nnual Fund donations are incredibly important and have an immensely positive impact on our programs. The majority of the scholarships we give each year come from the Sandy and Laura Scholarship Fund which is supported by annual giving. And, we are able to move forward on program-enhancing improvements like this year’s Sport Court at High Trails through the Program Excellence Fund. We are grateful to the following people who have made donations to our Annual Fund from November 1, 2019 through March 15, 2020.
A-BLUFF $10,000 – 19,999
SUNDAY ROCKS $1,000 – 1,999
Benson Family Foundation Kiersa Benson and Erik Benson Toby Biolchini In honor of Jerry McLain Cathy Canter Jennings In memory of Frank Canter
FISHCREEK $5,000 – 9,999
Anonymous F. Martin Brown Trust Randy Brown, Susan Brown McCoy & Marianne Brown Rooney Foster Family Private Foundation Mark & Nancy Foster In honor of Geoff, Ellie, and Courtney Foster The T. Lloyd Kelly Foundation Jennifer Hull J.F. Maddox Foundation Sarah Utterback
Anonymous Peter & Toshia Ezaki Barnett In memory of Bob Bucholz George E. Brown, III Pat & Catherine Coleman Phil Cromack Emanuels Family Foundation Tim & Beth Rusling Emanuels Faegre Baker Daniels Foundation In honor of Jeff Roberts Josh Feldman Fleming Family Foundation Eric Fleming Edwin S. “Trip” Friendly Annie Garretson In memory of Sandy & Laura In honor of Jane Sanborn The Lewis Foundation Hal Lewis, Blair Lewis Williams and Families Ruth Berkow McArdle James & Lindsey McCormick Bill & Jackie McDowell Mike & Carolyn Schiele Murray Laura & Beau Pierce Ted & Wendy Ramsey Bill & Karen Schaphorst Constance Morton Seay Margaret W. Whitcher In memory of Sherry Whitcher Wobus Nancy M. Wirth
HIGH TOR $500 – 999
Anonymous (3) Alexandra Bailliere & Allan Treadwell In memory of Sandy and Laura Esther Berkow The Coburn Family Fund Jared Coburn & Agnieszka Przeszlowska John & Janice DeMocker Ned Denney In memory of Sam Jenkins Susan & Tom Eschenroeder Jeremy Feinstein & Stefani Pashman Peter F. Gerrity and Lucy D. Gerrity Pete & Mary Glasser Jen & Cap Grossman Deanna Womack Hollon Jeff & Tanna Shaw Hoopingarner Jessica Thurmond Jurgensen Amy Davis Lunne In memory of Susan K. Davis Eliser Lisa & Greg Mullen Ben Northcutt Darcie Swenarton Peet In memory of Sherry Whitcher Wobus Steve & Kristin Mueller Pillsbury In memory of Max Barry Jim “Herc” Roth Bud Wobus In memory of Sherry Whitcher Wobus
giving thanks LITTLE BLUE $2,000 – 4,999
Colleen & Peter Bowler Family Foundation In honor of Marybeth Ezaki John & Lolly Gepson Bush & Jamie Helzburg Hank and Pat Hemingway Dorothy Rinier The Rosso Family Foundation John Rosso and Sarah Rosso McCaughey In memory of Abbey L. Rosso, PhD Chris Shears Terry & Allison Talbot TWC Foundation Jennifer & Marley “Bucky” Hodgson
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.
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B BLUFF $250 – 499
Scott Campbell Lucy & John Covington Taylor Emanuels Brian & Shannah Frambes Rick Gydesen Jim & Heather Hauswirth Ellen & Joe Horan John & Jodi Kinser Mike Lawrence In memory of Ward Lawrence Steve, Betsey & Elizabeth Madden Peter & Katie McKee Elizabeth Johnston Parker Dave & Nancy Perry In memory of Steve Wunsch Doug & Kay Seessel Rawlings Robyn Rissman Jeff Schlueter John & Chris Spehar In honor of Carlotta Avery Rick & Raye Wilson In memory of Matthew Dale Wilson Nicholas & Hannah Wirth WITCHER ROCKS Anonymous (2) Amazon Smile Benevity Community Impact Fund Landers Carnal, Jr. Carolyn Mozley Beiser In honor of Jane Sanborn Jean Carlson Benket Tom Blickensderfer Su Chae & Kurt Breitenstein Ann Bushyhead Landers Carnal, Jr. Joe Coates Rebecca Friendly Coccari
Margy Crosby Victoria Bowles Cruz In honor of Hunter Cruz Margot Salmela Dorion Michael Eber Martha Hartzel Fosdick In memory of Mike Fosdick Charlie “Chuck” & Betsy Friedrichs Elizabeth (Liz) Young Furse In honor of her children Mary Garlich Grannell Dick & Marlene Griffith Scott Griffith Richard Hankin Rachel & Brad Hauck In honor of “Dadad” Adele Hause Jeff Horner Gretchen Hund Jeremy Iloulian In honor of Mike MacDonald Susan Berkow Joanis In honor of Esther & Robert Berkow Jennifer Ball Jones Barry Schultz King Katrina Klaus Kathy Miller Krogh Jack Kussmaul Frank & Suds Kyger In honor of Jane Sanborn Bert & Dolly Lager In memory of Peter Bruch Diana Zeigler LaViolette Laura Glass Lees In honor of Claudia & Jim Glass Larry Lehman In honor of Jerry McLain Alex Levering Jason & Jean Armour Lewis In honor of Carlotta Avery
Linda & Duane Linderman In memory of Joe Ruekberg Terry & Susan MacQuiddy The Andy Manale Family Francie Marbury Georgina Bliss Marshall In honor of Jane Sanborn Andrea McCrady Phil & Melinda Wells McKnight In memory of Kristin McLain and Sherry Whitcher Wobus Jonathan & Jane Metcalf On behalf of Emily and Linnea Metcalf In memory of Bob Bucholz and Roger Sanborn John Nix Courtney Nunns In memory of William Gugliuzza Rachel & Bob Perlmutter Jenn Marmalick Peterson Laura & Bob Reardon Karl & Marty Friedrichs Remsen Ben & Katie Friesen Reneker In honor of Carlotta Avery Charlie & Muffy Rice Kurt Richter Nita Jo Rush Adam & Rachel Siegel Colleen & Joe Simpson Chris Skan Andy Smith Jim Stevens In memory of Sandy & Laura Brenda Stockdale The Vernon Family Andy Weed Pam Green Wheeler David S. Williams In memory of Sandy and Laura Mary Mac Zeigler In memory of Kristin McLain
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 soon!) 17
from the blog
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ull into the barn parking lot. Walk into the barn. Take down the feed buckets. Soak the grain and beet pulp. Pull the horses. Muck. Throw hay in Olin Gulch and Fish Creek. This is what an average Monday morning has looked like for me - rain or snow, sunshine or freezing temperatures - for the past several months at camp. As one of the members of the year-round riding program team, getting to be at the barn each week to be around the horses and work with the other riding program staff has been one of the best parts of the winter. And, even as the current COVID-19 situation has continued to develop and our schedules and workplaces have been upended, this part of my week has stayed the same, and for that I am very grateful. I’ve found myself thinking about routine a lot lately, and particularly about the ways in which routines can provide a sense of comfort and stability
in uncertain times. As people around the country and the world have had to adjust to their new realities of quarantining and social distancing, many have found themselves somewhat
• unmoored without the ability to stick to their daily or weekly routines. For some this might actually feel somewhat liberating - a break from the ordinary! A chance to get away from the repetition of long commutes in rush hour traffic and the tedium of sitting
Routine is a ground to stand on, a wall to retreat to; we cannot draw on our boots without bracing ourselves against it. Henry David Thoreau
at an office desk all day! Indeed, there is much to be said for shaking the habitual and getting a chance to switch things up. But there is also, I believe, great value in the kind of structure that routines can provide for us. At camp during the summer, no two days ever really look the same. Any given day, campers and staff set out for various activities and trips, and none of these will be exactly the same. Part of the amazing thing about being at camp is having the ability to be spontaneous and enjoy experiences that are unique and out of the ordinary. But, at the end of the day, what grounds all these adventures is in large part the routines we return to. At the end of every week each camp hikes to their special spot for Vespers, where the members of the community get together to sing songs, take in the
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views, share stories, and recharge for the upcoming week. Moments like these, the things that we return to over and over, offer us the stability we need to get back out there for new challenges and adventures. Over the past few weeks here in Florissant, as we’ve begun to feel the effects of the pandemic more and more, things look significantly different than they did several weeks ago. Rather than heading into the Big Spring Office each morning, we’ve been working from our respective homes, plugging away in preparation for the summer. With these changes, having routines to come back to, like working at the barn each Monday morning, has provided me with a sense of normalcy in contrast to the craziness of the world right now. For myself in particular, taking care of animals who rely on us each day and are blissfully unaware of what’s going in the outside world has provided me with some perspective, as well as a reminder that animals and the natural world remain consistent throughout these times in all that they have to offer us. Again, none of this is to say that we should live our lives solely based on routines and tightly constructed loops. In these unusual times we can and should challenge ourselves to use the time we have to try things that we don’t (or tell ourselves we don’t) usually have time to do. Pick up a new instrument. Write a poem. Explore somewhere new if you can (while properly social distancing, of course). What I mean to say is that having some sort of routine and consistency, especially when so much in the wider world is uncertain and beyond our control, can be grounding and give us the peace of mind to live our best lives. -Charles Nunziato-
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Nothing is simple and alone The breathing mountains, the living stones Each blade of grass, the clouds, the rain, Each star, the beasts, the birds, And the invisible spirits of the air. We are all one, Indivisible, Nothing that any of us does but affects us all. -Closing, SWC Vespers Quote by Frank Waters 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 Spring 2020 PO Box 167 Florissant, CO 80816 www.sanbornwesterncamps.com