2026 Camp Enrollment Information
BIG SPRING RANCH FOR BOYS & HIGH TRAILS RANCH FOR GIRLS
Tuition: $7,400 ($1,500 deposit due upon enrollment)
First Term: Sunday June 7, 2026 - Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Second Term: Saturday July 11, 2026 - Monday, August 10, 2026
SANBORN JUNIOR
Tuition: $3,850 ($750 deposit due upon enrollment)
First Term: June 7 - June 21, 2026
Second Term: June 23 - July 7, 2026
Third Term: July 11 - July 25, 2026
Fourth Term: July 27 - August 10, 2026
SIBLING DISCOUNTS: $100
ENROLL ONLINE AT WWW.SANBORNWESTERNCAMPS.COM
editor’s letter
Dear Friends—
It has been another spectacular fall here at camp! As always, the golden aspen against our brilliant blue sky create a magical atmosphere. We have been happy to share this amazing season with some of our leaf-peeping alums who stayed at our Forget Me Not Ranch during the peak season.
We had another awesome summer and are deep into our fall school program at High Trails Outdoor Education Center. The Nature Place has also been busy providing their world-class leadership and team-building programs.
We hope you enjoy this edition of the Alum News. This year we have heard of quite a few camp mini-reunions both planned and unplanned—it is remarkable how often Sanborn alums seem to find each other in unexpected places.
We are again grateful to Deb Donnelly for contributing another of her beautiful nature essays. And Rob Taylor is back, too, with a fun interview with Mary “Spicer” Garlich, the first program director at High Trails. We always appreciate the contributions of our alums—and appreciation is all you will get because the pay continues to be zero.
We are reporting on quite a few marriages in our Vital Statistics section, but are dismayed about the number of babies reported. Come on, people—get with it! We are a summer camp after all and our future depends on you! We certainly hope that this is just a reporting error and not a national trend.
Forever Sanborn
Several 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.
And finally, just a reminder, that we plan to produce a big newsy Alum News next spring so we are counting on you to send us your updates. And, we’ll issue our traditional warning that if we don’t receive enough legitimate news, we may be forced to make stuff up. (We never promised journalistic integrity.)
Words cannot express how much we value your friendship and support. Have a very happy fall and winter.
Warmest Regards,
Jane Sanborn aka: The Editor jane@sanbornwesterncamps.com
Send us your news! alumnews@sanbornwesterncamps.com
Where Did THAT NAME Come From? Part 2
The site of the current Big Spring Health Center has had several names. When Sandy and Laura bought the land, the original farmhouse was located in front of the BS Barn. Look closely at the photo, and you can see that it was built around a log cabin. They took the best lumber to build their house (now the BS Office) on the hillside above. They used the remaining structure to make two buildings: a washhouse for increasing numbers of campers and an infirmary by adding on to the living room. (The first infirmary had been a closet in their house large enough to hold a bed.)
In the late 80s a new health center was built across the road to the east. The former farmhouse became a welcome center and the meeting place for departing and returning trips.
The building became the place the boys raced down the hill after dinner to see if they got any mail . . . or (gasp!) a care package. It was also, and still is, check-in and check-out on opening and closing days.
One winter Sandy and Laura were traveling on a recruiting trip, and the staff came up with a prank. They acquired some strings of flags and “for sale” signs from a local outfit selling land. When Sandy and Laura returned, it looked like the place was for sale. The name stuck and the building became known as the “Real Estate Office” (aka REO Speedwagon.) The oldest building at camp was replaced by the newest building (at the time), the BS Health Center in 2022.
By the late 90s it was clear that BS needed a bigger recreation building. The first construction project after Sandy and Laura decided to build a camp in the early 50s had been the addition on the barn for the camp store, a mini pool table, and ping pong. Later, Buckaroo Hall (now known as Big Deal Hall) was built for ping pong, movies, and rainy-day activities. However, it didn’t have a stage and wasn’t large enough for both camps. Sandy and Rick had visions for the design of a new building and contacted Chris Shears (BS 60-64, Staff 68), who is a well-known architect, to design the building. Rick always wanted to have a kiva at camp. (A kiva is a Pueblo Indian ceremonial structure for meetings and stories.) Even though that never worked out, Rick wanted “kiva” to be part of name of the building and that’s why it’s called the ARK: Adventure Recreation Kiva.
Heisler Hall at HT is an easy one. The theater/recreation building was named for the Heisler brothers – Henry “Pete” and Bill Heisler. The Heisler “boys” (they were both over 60) lived on their family homestead at the edge of South Park near Schoolmarm Mountain. They built several of the cabins as HT grew during the 60s and 70s. In 1968 they finished the recreation building complete with stage and massive stone fireplace. Campers from both camps are familiar with it because it was large enough for dances and “drama productions.” Pete and Bill were bachelors when they started working here. Eventually Pete and Margaret McCutcheon (HT Cook 70-76) became camp marriage #15 in March 1978, when Pete was 67.
CRYSTAL PALACE
In the last issue of the AlumNews, I had stated that the name of Crystal Place cabin at High Trails “reflects the mining history of Colorado.” However, Jan Sanborn van West told me that Laura wanted to name it Crystal Palace because the rock worked into the fireplace design by the stone mason is shaped like a giant crystal. It is unique among the fireplaces in all the other cabins at High Trails.
Jerry McLain jerry@sanbornwesterncamps.com
prehistoric : pre-1980
definition according to an 8 year old: a time when your grandparents were young; coincides with the age of dinosaurs
SARAH BAUSCH (BS Nurse 75-76) BENSON reports that the annual gathering of 1970’s Big Spring and High Trails staff was held at the Rockies game on Saturday, August 30. The Rockies, who are the worst team in Major League Baseball history, lost, of course, but that did not dampen the group’s spirits. The photo is proof of attendance at The 9th Annual Sanborn Night at the Rockies! Attending the game were KEITH WILLIAMS (BS 64-67, 69; Staff 70-77), CHIP PAGE (BS Staff 75,78,82), ANNE HEWSON (HT Staff 75) Keen, PAT MURPHY (BS Staff 74-75), Deb Northcutt, MARK MUNGER (BS Staff 72, 75-76) and wife Lauren, BOB (BS 65-70; Staff 71-78) and Sue Beall LAYS, BRIAN McCANN (BS Staff 74-75) and his son Blake and BOB (BS Staff 72,74, 76) and SARAH BENSON.
HUGH MANTOOTH (BS Staff 77-78) is “kicking back in Trenton Texas, retired Texas Teacher & basketball coach”. He is doing jujitsu, and weights, going to grandkids ball games, motorcycle camping, and keeping up with 6 dogs and 8 cats. His oldest daughter is an LPC Counselor, and his youngest daughter is a PhD Engineer.
BETSY BRAMWELL (HT 63-68) Staples and JUDY SMITH (HT 65-69; Staff 70, 74-75) Schoedel met up for a mini-Sanborn reunion. They were JCs together in 1969!
Frank and KATHY MILLER (HT 63-64; Staff 65-68) Krogh celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary at Cacapon State Park in West Virginia, a place that reminded them of camp with its hiking, swimming, boating, and dark skies for star viewing. Sons, WHITNEY KROGH(BS 88-90) and WILL KROGH (BS 93) joined them for the celebration as well as daughter-in-law, Karen, and granddaughter, Camille.
It had been 59 years since KATE FRIESEN (HT 62, 64-66; Staff 67-68) and STANCIE SHERLEY (HT 63-65; Staff 66, 68) McClellan last saw each other at camp but they met this fall in Northern Michigan. Is that Herman the Bear in the background?
Three generations of campers met in Florida in January to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Dan and MARY LADD DIXON (HT 62) Cope. From left to right are MATTHEW HOWARD (BS 21, 23, 25), ALEX COPE (BS 95), JENNIFER COPE (HT 90-91, 93-94) Howard, Mary Ladd, EMILY HOWARD (HT 19, 21, 23), ELLIE CANNUCCIARI (HT 23, 25), DAVID HOWARD (BS 21; Staff 25), BENJAMIN CANNUCCIARI (BS 23, 25), ABBY COPE (HT 90, 93, 96) Cannucciari.
dark ages : 1980-1995
MARK (BS Staff 68, 70-71) and JUDY JARRELL (HT Staff 67-71) PALLETT returned to camp last summer to help drop off their granddaughter, EVALYN PALLETT (HT 25) for Sanborn Junior. After long careers as camp directors at Anderson Camps in Colorado and Wildwood Outdoor Education Center in Lacygne, KS, Mark and Judy have retired to Lenexa, KS. It was wonderful to see them again!
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.
We're more than a year out from a fantastic camp reunion in Buena Vista, Colorado, of camp friends ROD LUCERO (BS Staff 83-91) and partner Julian Rodriguez, PAT (BS Staff 83-86) and LIBBY HAMILTON (HT Staff 83-87) MALONE, SHAWN (BS Staff 80, 84-85) and MICHELLE BARNETT (HT Staff 85) REEVES, SUSAN RISSMAN (HT Staff 84-85) and ROBYN RISSMAN (HT 85, 87-93; Staff 95) (Yes, this update was sent by pony express!) In true camp fashion, there was great food, raucous games, a hot springs all-day, camp songs and a dance! 10/10 would recommend! Looking forward to doing it again!
KICHARO “HACHI” INOUE (BS Staff 89-90) visited camp in mid-September while on a trip to unite with old friends in Colorado. He continues to live in Fukuoka, Japan, with his wife and two daughters. He reported that his father, YOSHI INOUE (BS Staff 63) has realized his dream of opening a camp for children in Japan and brought copies of the camp brochure. Although most of the book is written in Japanese, the cover is in English, and you may recognize the mission statements.
ROBYN RISSMAN (HT 85, 87-93; Staff 95) dug this gown out of the costume box at Heisler Hall for the world premiere of the new film Ocean with David Attenborough in London this spring as part of her husband Ian's role as the chief scientist for the National Geographic Society. The film premiered two days before the celebrated naturalist's 99th birthday and highlights the great age of ocean discovery and the vital importance of our oceans, as well as the great risk of their downfall if we don't take immediate action to save them. The event, attended by Sir David Attenborough and His Majesty King Charles, was a celebration of Attenborough's incredible life's work as a documentarian, conservationist and advocate for the natural world as well as a call to action on behalf of the world's oceans.
olden
CATHY GEPSON (HT 8486; Staff 88-91) Burnham was happily surprised to receive an e-mail from KIM KINSEY (HT Staff 89-92) her co-counselor with the JCs. They had not seen each other for 35 years and this set the ball rolling. They reached out to KIM GLENN (HT Staff 90-92) Block and AUDRA LANE (HT 82-84; Staff 9091) Mittelman, the counselors on the other side of the cabin and planned a backpacking trip near Nederland, CO, in mid-July and some hiking outings in Telluride. Unfortunately, Audra was unable to join this time. They had a great time rekindling their friendship—they all grew up to be teachers! They shared some “then and now” photos with us.
LAUREN MILLER (HT 91-92) Edelston dropping her daughter, Maeve, off for Sanborn Junior
definition according to an 8 year old: The time preceding right now-pioneers still churned butter and made candles during this period.
REGGIE CAHALAN (Staff 09-10) Shiverdecker and MEGAN “DEE” SHIVERDECKER (Staff 10) flew to Colorado from Bozeman to meet up with MEGAN CLOVER (Staff 08-10) Carkhuff, KELLY MUEDEKING (HT 03-06, Staff 09-14) Muededonck, and BEA RAEMDONCK (HT 01-05, Staff 08-11) Muededonck to go to a Brandi Carlie concert at Red Rocks. They try to go to a Red Rocks concert together about once a year.
BEN MILLER (BS 06-15; Staff 17-18) asked TAYLOR CROSSEN (HT 09-15; Staff 18-19) to marry him in August on top of High Tor. This engagement unites two long time camp families. Ben’s father, BRUCE MILLER (BS 79-83, Staff 84) and Taylor’s father, BYRON CROSSEN (BS 78-81) not only were in camp at the same time but were even in the same tent.
ANNIKA DAMON and her JC friends from 2024 planned a mini-reunion in early August. SOPHIA MEDLENKA, SARAH CALLAHAN, ADDIE SEIDEL, ABBY KORCH and JENICA BELLE JAMES spent the weekend at the Damon home in Denver and then climbed Mt. Democrat.
Family photo on Opening Day: Asher Garbatini, Payson Garbatini, LUCIA CUSHMAN (HT 93-02; Staff 05-06) Garbatini, AVERY CUSHMAN (HT 91-00; Staff 0304) Hoglund, Harper Hoglund, Baird Hoglund. Not shown: Taft Hoglund who was on a trip at Big Spring and grandmother, LISA RUDOLPH (HT 68-71, Staff 72-78) Cushman who was at home in Williamstown, MA.
ANTONIA LHEVINE (HT 14-19, 21-23) and AUDREY WISSNER (HT 21-23) led 5 of their friends up Lincoln and Cameron in August - they started climbing at 1:30am and got to the top of Cameron before sunrise and the the top of Lincoln for sunrise. The night before they met a group of guys who were unprepared and had planned to start their climb at 7am... the girls set them straight and helped them get to the summits as well. These were Antonia's 14th and 15th successful summits - she just got Bierstadt a couple weeks ago. Their friends said they felt safe every step along the way and wouldn't have wanted to climb their first mountain with anyone else...Antonia’s father, PAUL LHEVINE (BS 81-85, Staff 88) said, “You all taught them well!”
EMILY KATZ (HT 04, 06-07; Staff 10-13) and JULIE CAMPBELL (HT Staff 04-06, 10-12) Bernardo met up at an '80s themed costume wedding in Moab, UT. Camp prepares you for everything!
JENNA HOWARD (HT 05-11; Staff 14, 15, 17) married Stephen Wheeler on September 20 in Larkshpur, CO. Sanborn attendees included (left to right in photo): LIANA HUDSON (HT 05-11; Staff 14-15) Childress, WALT HOWARD (Staff 84-86), SHANNON GARDNER (Staff 14-15) Adams, ALEX OBERG (HT 05-06; Staff 17-19), MIKE POTTS (Staff 93, 07-10, 16-17), CARLIE HOWARD (HT 05-12; Staff 15-16) Glotfelty, GWEN SCHMIDT-ARENALES (HT 06-11; Staff 15-17), JENNA HOWARD (HT 05-11; Staff 14,15,17), Stephen Wheeler, JAMES LEONARD (BS 03), ANNIE MCDEVITT (HT 07-11; Staff 14-17, 21). MIKE POTTS (Staff 93, 07-10, 16-17) painted a fabulous live portrait of the happy couple during cocktail hour.
AsAlums gathered at Sanborn for a fun Fall mini-reunion: SAM CARKHUFF (BS 87-89; Staff 95-02, 07-10), MEGAN CLOVER (HT Staff 08-10) Carkhuff, Boyce and Lyle Carkhuff, PAT PERRY (BS 89-94, 96; Staff 98, 00-03, 05, 1417), CATHERINE "CAT" SCHULZ (HT Staff 15-17) Perry, RICK FRIESEN (BS 96-99; Staff 02-05), Arlo Friesen, Beth Jensen, BRYCE RICHARDSON (BS Staff 97, 99-00, 0203), JULIE FRANZ (HT 62-63, Staff 64-70, 88-89, 00-12) Richardson, Keith Ladzinski, DANA RICHARDSON (HT 8997; Staff 98-00) Ladzinski, Gray Ladzinski, CLAIRE PETTY (HT 90-96, Staff 99-00) Walker, Adam Walker, Everett Walker, JIM THARP (BS 91-92, 94-96; Staff 98), JULIA LEGRAND (HT Staff 00-01, 03-04), LUCA THARP (BS 23)
4-Story Treehouse 2025
promised last spring, our brand new 4-story treehouse was completed before the opening of camp. During staff training, we celebrated our initial Grand Opening with a kazoo band. Then, again, on each Opening Day we had a Grand Opening event at the treehouse hosted by Board members Dan Miller (also the treehouse architect), Cathy Gepson Burnham, and Libby Hamilton Malone so that alums who are also current camp parents could view the new treehouse, and perhaps renew memories of the old treehouse.
The new treehouse is somewhat taller than the old treehouse, posing an even bigger challenge for egg drop contests. Although it is much sturdier (and safer) than the old treehouse, it does sway in the breeze a bit more. One of the most popular features is a cargo net on the third floor.
Most campers were excited about the new treehouse, although a few bemoaned the fact that they had signed all four floors of the old treehouse and now had to start over. At this time, the treehouse remains unpainted, although we are pretty sure the JCs or Outbackers will remedy this situation in the near future. Thank-you again to all the alums and camp families who donated to 4-Story Treehouse 2025!
INTERVIEW with WILL COLEMAN BIG SPRING DIRECTOR
Will’s long history at Big Spring includes three years as a camper/Outbacker from 2014-2016. He was an Assistant Counselor in 2019, a Counselor in 2021, and a Ridge Leader in 2022. Following the summer of 2022, he joined our year-round staff as the Big Spring Program Director. In 2025, he was Associate Director at Big Spring working with SWC Director Ariella Rogge in all aspects of leadership. Will is a Florida native and has a degree in Human Development and Family Science from Florida State University.
What is your favorite thing about being the Big Spring Director?
When I look back to all the Big Spring Directors I have known and how I looked up to them, I am really excited to be a role model and to have the opportunity to facilitate the connection and community that Big Spring is known for.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Although vespers is one of my favorite parts of camp, it is my worst kept secret that when I give a vespers speech I try to relate it to what’s happening that week at camp and I don’t wordsmith the talks. Sometimes it is hard to be meaningful and not repetitive.
What is your favorite camp desert?
Pineapple upside down cake
What are your favorite camp activities?
Vespers, River trips with the Juniors. My favorite long trip is the Colorado Trail 5-day Backpack.
How many mountains have you climbed?
Twenty-two, some with the camp and some on time-off. I especially enjoyed climbing Columbia during the Colorado Trail 5-day. Last summer I did the Pikes Bomber with the outbackers.
Why do you think camp is important for today’s boys?
In my own experience, before I came to camp I had a hard time making strong connections with others and camp gave me that ability. I think camp gives kids the chance to create to relationships organically because during their time here they are without their phones and that helps them focus on creating genuine friendships that often last year-after year. Camp also helps give kids the tools to manage social and emotional growth such as collaboration and resilience.
What are you looking forward to this winter?
I’m looking forward to continuing to build my relationships with returning camp families and to create relationships with new camp families. I’m also excited to meet, interview and hire an outstanding 2026 staff and to serve as a mentor for them.
What are you looking forward to in the summer of 2026?
Being able to spend time with the campers and watch them interact within the community. Some of the campers who were Juniors my first summer on the staff will be Outbackers next summer so I feel really connected to them and all the returning campers. And I will love getting to know our new campers.
What would you like to tell our alums?
I’m grateful to all of our alums and love hearing how much this place means to them. It gives me a sense of purpose and I am honored to help carry on Sandy’s and Laura’s mission to create a strong supportive community that creates memories for a lifetime.
vital statistics
marriages, births & adoptions, life celebrations
births:
JARED HARDINGER (BS Staff 11-13) and Carla Geglio, a son, Julian Ransom Hardinger Geglio, April 15, 2025, in Cincinnati, OH
Steven and SARAH UTTERBACK (HT 12-15; Staff 18) Sanders, a son, Michael James Sanders, August 5, 2025, in Texas
marriages:
ALICE WOODS (HT 05-08, 10-11; Staff 14) to Ky Harkey, April 22, 2024, in Austin, TX
MEGHAN RIXEY (HT 09-10; Staff 14-15) to John Luderitz, June 14, 2024, in Stowe, VT
KELLY AHMAN (HT Staff 16-18) to Levi Stone, May 20, 2025, in Lyons, CO
BROOKE PIRKLE (HT Staff 22) to Grant Torgerson, May 30, 2025, in Rockmart, GA
DREW JOHNSON (BS Staff 24) to Erin Carter, July 19, 2025, in Marietta, GA
GWEN SCHMIDT-ARENALES (HT 06-07, 10-11; Staff 15-17) to JAMES LEONARD (BS 03), August 31, 2025, in Durango, CO
SUMMER SANFORD (HT Staff 08) to Karl Rozani September 6, 2025, in Mancos, CO
MARY BOYD (HT Staff 14) to German Schmeda, September 6, 2025, in Pine, CO
HELEN STALKER (HT 09-11) to Ben Schulz, September 7, 2025, in Seattle, WA
KEIKO CARTER (HT Staff 23-24) to JUSTUS SKEESICK (BS Staff 22-24), September 14, 2025, in Columbus, GA
LISSY HODGE (HT03-04, 06, 10) to Brian Junquera, September 20, 2025, in Kansas City, KS
JENNA HOWARD (HT 05-11; Staff 14,15,17) to Stephen Wheeler, September 20, 2025, in Larkspur, CO.
DAVID O'HARA (BS 04-12) to Anna Spencer Erickson, September 27, 2025, in Santa Barbara, CA
JESSIE FOREMAN (HT 08-10, 12-15) to Avery Nava, October 1, 2025, in Denver, CO
CAROLINE TRYBA (HT 03, 05-06, 09; Staff 13) to Graham Patterson, October 4, 2025, in Vail, CO
MADDIE KLINGHOFFER (HT 01-04; Staff 13) to Hugh Hayden, October 4, 2025, in Tahoe, CA
PAIGE CODDINGTON (HT Staff 24) to JT Friesen, October 4, 2025, in Kingsburg, CA
Top to Bottom/Left to Right: Jared, Carla, and Julian Hardinger Geglio; Steven, Sarah, and Michael Sanders; Alice Woods and Ky Harkey; Megan Rixey and John Luderitz; Kelly Ahman and Levi Stone; Brooke Pirkle and Grant Torgerson; Drew Johnson and Erin Carter; Gwen Schmidt-Arenales and James Leonard; Summer Sanford and Karl Rozani; Mary Boyd and German Schmeda
in memoriam:
JOHN TATE (BS 72-74)
August 19, 1956-April 15, 2025
Died climbing Manitou incline
RICHARD LAMM (BS 75)
May 24, 1961-June 6, 2025
Top to bottom/left to right: Helen Stalker and Ben Schulz; Keiko Carter and Justus Skeesick; Jenna Howard and Stephen Wheeler; Lissy Hodge and Brian Junquera; David O'Hara and Anna Spencer Erickson; Jessie Foreman and Avery Nava; Caroline Tryba, Graham Patterson, and daughter Grace Patterson; Maddie Klinghoffer and Hugh Hayden; Paige Coddington and JT Friesen
CHARLIE SCHWEIGHAUSER (BS Staff 56)
June 1, 1936-July 14, 2025
ANN “BING” CROSBY (HT Staff 65-67)
July 8, 1944 – August 26, 2025
GREGORY EARLE (BS Staff 64)
September 25, 1946 – September 4, 2025
MARGY CROSBY (HT Staff 75-78) shared the sad news that her sister, ANN “BING” CROSBY (HT Staff 65-67) passed away in August. Margy reported that Bing moved to Leavenworth, WA, from California 10 years ago because she missed the sound of wind in the pines. “She is buried at the White Eagle Memorial Preserve in Goldendale, Washington, which is part of the Ekone Ranch. The ranch also has a summer camp component, so Ann will be able to hear happy children's voices as she did at High Trails. As I have reflected on her life in the last month, I think her experience at Sanborn Western Camps was more important than I had previously realized. As we drove in for the burial, my breath was taken away as it felt so like "camp" - the green of the ponderosa pines against the deep blue sky, the sound of the wind in those pines, the crunch of dried grass and pine cones underfoot. Now she will be able to listen to the wind in the pines forever.”
the stories of sanborn
Mary "Spicer" Garlich Grannell: Home Away From Home
By ROB TAYLOR (BS Staff 75-78; 83-84)
Arriving at Camp, there are wondrous aspens to welcome you. After surviving Strawberry Shortcut, the road flattens and winds its way through those trees of white bark with black markings made by branches dropped or deer foraging. In the spring, new leaves quake in the breeze. In mid- summer, blessed shade that just calls one to lie underneath for a nap, and in winter leafless white trunks, large and small, await the spring amid a snowy background; a gateway to adventure.
When Mary was asked what her first impression of camp was when she arrived in 1963 she answered, “It was the aspen just before the gate.” How many of us have that same memory of going through that transformative portal to camp? I know I slow a bit to marvel at the feeling of those quaking trees greeting me on the way in or waving farewell with memories on my way out.
Although her first name is Mary, she was universally known by “Spicer” at camp due to her last name, Garlich. She remembers quotes and what people say as the needle on her compass of life’s journeys. One was from Maya Angelo—“People will not remember what you said or what you did. They will remember how you make them feel.” The aspen stand is a good start. I suppose we can thank Sandy and Laura for having the vision to purchase those
480 acres in 1946. Spicer travelled that aspen lined road and so did I and so did you. There are many intermingled roots of generations that have experienced camp.
Rein and Jan Van West introduced me to Spicer one spring day in Salida where she now resides. Not having met her before or worked with her at camp, it’s easy to imagine having known her for years. We spoke the same language, had the same heart for nature and people, passed the same aspen through the gate. How Spicer came to camp is her own and yet her stories are familiar.
Sandy and Laura were on the traveling circuit spreading the word in, of all places, Galesburg, Illinois. Mary, a teacher, had learned about the camp from a student in her class who excitedly said that she would be going to this camp! In the winter of 1963 Spicer interviewed with Sandy and Laura with the qualifications of no camp experience. (But she did fit the criteria of someone out of college who could work with counselors and with Laura.)
Camp life suited Spicer. She worked with the older kids, mountain climbed, and went to school learning to schedule with Jerry McLain who worked his magic keeping accounts of all the kids and their schedules by hand and in his head. His magic is legendary in
HT Staff 1963 - Spicer is second from the right on the bottom row
itself. After the next year of teaching in Galesburg, she was offered a modest raise she couldn’t refuse and returned to camp life. The life had gotten in her blood or is it her spirit suited the life as it does many of us coming back and together year after year. She worked summers at camp until 1969.
Mary says that even if other people fade away, always keep in touch with friends from camp. Just as Mary has given a bit of herself to others, other people have made impressions on her. Climbing Mount Belford with the kids, they came upon false summit after false summit. After cresting one of those false summits, wisdom came from one of the young High Trails hikers, “Well, I guess we just have to keep walking”. Mary laughed and has kept on going ever since.
At camp, Spicer shared a room with Nurse, BETTY ERICKSON (Staff 62-67, 69-70) Mary respected Betty’s yearning to travel and live a remarkable life. Betty had traveled the world including Antarctica and taught Mary how to ski. The two would become lifelong friends. There was a little panic one evening when Mary felt something in her ear. It turned out to be a bug that Betty expertly extracted.
She shared other lessons she’d gleaned like always being prepared. When she asked Rick Sanborn about the fork and spoon in his pocket, his response was, “You never know when you go in the kitchen and find something good to eat. You want to be prepared.”
She loved the dishwashers for their practical humor. A staff member sent back a plate dirty before the meal. The staffer was told that, “If it won’t come off in the dishwasher, it won’t come off in your mouth!”
Laura’s kindness and concern for people earned Mary’s respect and fondness. They’d go on long walks, read Mark Twain and Pooh Bear. Pooh became a favorite character and she continues to dress as “The Pooh” on Halloween. Laura’s sayings posted around the lodge would provide inspiration.
Spicer found self-confidence at camp with projects she was responsible for. She wanted to change how she scheduled the counselors and girls at High Trails and asked Sandy. Sandy responded, “Yeah, go ahead. Hey, if it doesn’t work, don’t do that anymore.” She heard the bell and saw the light bulb in that ‘Ah Ha! moment.” She rewrote the staff handbook in the positive instead of ‘don’t do
that’s”. She later asked Sandy how he knew she could do all this? “Well,” Sandy replied, “You give people the opportunity and they’ll likely come through.” Mary took many of these lessons back to the classroom with her. As for many of us, lessons learned at camp were woven into our lives wherever we are.
It’d been a long summer. Mary chatted with Sandy, likely on a walk or chairs in front of the lodge looking out at The Peak, you know, Sandy’s office. She mentioned that the counselors seemed to think he wasn’t happy with them. In his wisdom and experience with people, he simply replied, “No, they’re not unhappy, they’re tired. It’s been a long summer.” Understanding people, working with, and caring for them is another of life’s lessons.
Another ‘Ah Ha!” moment came after camp ended and Mary along with Betty Erickson and PAT DECOURSEY (HT Staff 63-64, 66-67) Cercos had been sent to Woodland Park on an errand. There was a party going on somewhere and they’d returned to camp either out of duty or just too tired. Sandy asked ‘em, “What’re you ‘old bags’ doing back from the party so early?” After that, The Old Bags was a nickname they carried proudly in their friendship.
Visiting camp, I appreciate the new vans and equipment from bicycles to washrooms. Mary remembered an old army field phone for communication, 1965 vintage. She was warned, “Look for lightning before using the phone!” Laura had learned the hard way.
Once on top of Wilkerson Pass with Bud Wobus, Mary took out her camera for a photo. An oft photographed view especially with today’s cell phones, she noted that the photo just didn’t show what she saw. Bud reminded her, “Some things you just have to keep in your memory.”
Spicer remembers these things. She has her quotes to live by. One she noted was from Sandy at Sunday Rocks, “No person’s spirits were ever hurt by being kind. On the contrary, one good action, …one interest purely for conscience sake will prove an uplift for weak and low spirits far beyond what indulgence or division can do.” “Just look at all of Nature’s beauty around you.”
Mary says she found a home away from home at camp. Maybe, thought I, camp is a little piece or peace of home I carry in my heart wherever I go.
Celebrate the Season with Us
Host your office holiday party at a place that already feels like home! The Nature Place is a great spot to bring your team together and unwind. Our conference center offers a cozy, welcoming space perfect for celebrating the season with your team. Enjoy great food, a relaxed atmosphere, and maybe even a few campfire vibes. Reach out to martie@thenatureplace.net to reserve your date — we’d love to host you!
Photo: Jan and Rein with Spicer
ANNUAL FUND DONOR LIST
We are incredibly grateful to the following alums and camp families who have made generous donations to either our Annual Fund between January 1 and October 8, 2025. We couldn’t do what we do without your help.
MOUNT ANTERO
$50,000 and Above
American Endowment Foundation
Vergi Geurian and Josh Geurian
PIKES PEAK
$20,000—$49,999
Anonymous
In honor of Jane Sanborn
The Daisy Fund
Stalker Family Charitable Fund
Anne and Peter Stalker
In memory of Luke Stalker
Walter Family Foundation
Karl Walter A BLUFF
$10,000--$19,999
F. Martin Brown Fund
The Denver Foundation—Cheeryble Fund
Pam and Bob Troyer
Mia Fisher and William Pollack
In memory of Angela Fisher
Bud Wobus
In memory of Sherry Whitcher Wobus
FISH CREEK
$5,000-$9,999
Allen Family Foundation Fund
Phil, John, and Andy Allen
Aylward Joint Venture
William Comley Estate
The Carney Family Charitable Foundation
Kristian and Colleen Carney Courtney
Annie Garretson
Lolly and John Gepson
Hugh and Arianne O’Kane
In honor of Jerry McLain
Jane McAtee Sanborn
LITTLE BLUE
$2,000-$4,999
Lisa Rudoph Cushman
Steven and Tippi Magid Denenberg
In honor of Barbara Rowley
The Donohue Family Foundation
Claire Donohue
Julie Hardesty Ferman
The Fab Five
Lisa Schneck, Julie Micou Cerf, Kathy Yanuck Wenger, Mary “Bunny” Porter, Kathy Medlock Tuteur
Helen Clay Frick Foundation
Laura Jenney Roe
Peggy Whitcher
SUNDAY ROCKS
$1,000--$1,999
Anonymous
Anonymous
In memory of John Richard Rundle
1911 Trust
John Steward
Sam Carkhuff, Sr
Deb Donnelley
Gregory Euston
In honor of Jerry and Betty McLain
Donald and Marcia Liebich
Kurt and Treacy Liebich
Elizabeth Rundle Marable
Katharine “Kitty” Mann
McCormick Family Charitable Fund
James McCormick
John and Vanessa McGuire
In honor of Barbara Rowley
Robyn Rissman
Lisa Schneck
Bill Schreiber Charitable Trust
In honor of Jim “Herc”Roth
HIGH TOR
$500-$999
Anonymous
Colby Fewster
Jerre and David Fussell
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Jim and Danielle Gallagher
In memory of Richard Lamm
Bobbi Gilbert
In Honor of Barbara Rowley
Jeff Horner
Mariusz Kamieniarz and Klaudia
Kosiak
In honor of Barb Rowley
Gary LaFontaine
In Honor of Barbara Rowley
Carly Liebich
Betty and Jerry McLain
In memory of Kristin McLain
Jason and Karin Mittelstaedt
In honor of Barbara Rowley
The Morris Family
In honor of Barbara Rowley
Scott and Maggie Freehling Phillips
Charitable Trust
Delta Stokes Seward
Bank of America matching fund
Jennifer and Michael Wilcynski
In honor of Barb Rowley
Bud Wobus
In memory of Charlie Schweighauser
B-BLUFF
$250-$499
Susan and James Alvillar
In memory of Richard Lamm
Lewis and Susan Mackin Anderson
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Josiah Barron Ramirez
Carolyn Mozley Beiser
Ethan Billingsley
Jamie Bruesch
Tim and Jenny Ewing
In honor of John and Linda O’Hara
Kip Grosshans
Dr. Byron C. Hulsey
Ariella Randle Rogge
Kathy Ruekberg
In memory of Joe Ruekberg
Andrew Stettner
Lauren Visser
In honor of Barb Rowley
Yvonne Wagner
In honor of Frank Williams
WITCHER ROCKS
David Alvillar
In memory of Richard Lamm
Lindsey Anderson
Peter “Chris” Anderson
Rachel and Steven Bartkowski
Anita Blau
In honor of Paul Lhevine
Amalie Sholem Borchardt
Catherine Carella
Ben Fernandez
Carol Bergevin Fortino
In honor of Tony Bergevin and Kyle
Morgan and
In memory of Alia Bergevin
Bart Gill
Leslie and Paul Goldsmith
In memory of Richard Lamm
Lindsay Coleman Groat
Alex Henry
Jean Herard
Evan Hodgson
Spencer Howe
Antoinette and Raymond Jewell
Inez Johnson
Dale Jordan III
Joe Kelly
Harper Kissee
Elizabeth Kohan
In memory of Richard B. Lamm
Kroger Foundation
Kathy Miller Krogh
David Lamm on behalf of Randy and Marie Fleischman
In memory of Richard Lamm
Mrs. Marty Lamm
In memory of Richard Lamm
Cynthia and Brian Lefebvre
In memory of Richard Lamm
Tracy Lenehan
Alex Levering
Jim Maddox
Gary Mankoff
In memory of Richard Bullock Lamm
Karen McIntire
In memory of Richard Lamm
Jerry and Betty McLain
In memory of Charlie Schweignhauser
Jay and Jane Metcalf
On behalf of Emily and Linnea Metcalf
In memory of Bob Bucholz and Roger Sanborn
Olivia Murphy
Josiah Neal
Greta Ohaus
Laura Paterson
In memory of Richard Bullock Lamm
Kent and Colleen Peppler
In memory of Richard Lamm
Kathy and Craig Phillips
In memory of Richard Lamm
Jack Rissman
Amy Roberts
Sally Roberts
Cheryl and Seth Rundle
Charlie Schlinger
David and Kimberly Silverman
In memory of Richard Lamm
Scott Smith
In memory of Richard Lamm
Elizabeth Stone
In memory of Richard Lamm
Whitney Symington
Judy Vaughan
In memory of William Comley
Susi Weed and Terry Doolittle
Al and Terry Goodger Williams
Donations for the New Treehouse
Anonymous (3)
Kit Armour
Jack Barber
Patrick Bohnen Family
Ben and Steve Bratton
Jamie Bruesch
Molly Tucker Butkus
Barbara Butler and Faith Thomas
Sam Carkhuff
Jessica and Bailey Carswell
Will Coleman
Victoria Cruz
David Cumming
Sarah Chauner Cyphers
Daoust Family
Joe and Pam Donaldson
ABC Washhouse
Like all of our recent washhouse projects, the new ABC Washhouse was completed the day before the campers arrived. It had been a bit awkward for staff who had to use the HKL washhouse during staff training, so they were extremely happy when the shower stalls were complete.
Many of you will recall that there were originally two washhouses for ABC ridge—one for the younger campers and another for the Outbackers at the top of the ridge. The new washhouse serves both groups, although it does have two separate sections. Both sections have an outside entrance for the individual showers which also include changing areas, individual toilet stalls, sinks and lockers where the boys can keep their soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. There is also an ADA bathroom for use by both groups.
We do not have definitive information on whether or not the new washhouse inspired the boys to take more showers, but are hoping to gather this data next summer.
Carrie Smalley Down
Ehrlich Family
In honor of decades of Sanborn memories
Taylor Emanuels
Rich and Sheri Bone Fedorchak
Liz Connelly Fischer
Jessie Foreman
Steve “Vinny” Guilaini
Leah Herring
Ross Heyman
Jessen Family
Sandra Couch Kelly
Kaiti Kinshella
Law/Schofield Family
Paul, Lori, Antonia, and Zoe Lhevine
Grant McKay
Peter McKee
Susan Thurmond McMannama
Chris Mommsen
Teller Muededonck
Hugh OKane Family
Mark Olney
Christopher Nunziato
Joelle Patten
Charlie Rice
Julie Richardson
Robyn Rissman
Sue Rissman
Max Roach
Peter Rosenberg
Nancy Rodkin Rotering and the Rotering Boys
Barb Rowley
Delta Stokes Seward
Bart Smith
Katie Binter Swyers Family
Richard Troia
Fallon Warshauer
Hannah Weinberg-Wolf
Grace Wood
Alum Work Day
April 26, 2025
We are incredibly grateful to the 50 alums who joined us to help get Big Spring and High Trails ready for camp on our annual spring alum work day. It was a great day and we accomplished a tremendous amount.
Gabe Tristain, Hayden Delius, Rendall Fussel, Alex Bonilla, Ethan Miller, Chace Hutchings, and Mikey Rainey were among the former Big Spring staff and campers who showed up to help current staff Will Coleman, Quin Smith, Finn Burns, Jamie Bruesch, and Dan Thatcher fly all the Big Spring tents and put the bed frames in most of them. This is a huge job and the crew worked like a well-oiled machine.
Meanwhile, at High Trails, a dedicated crew of Chris and Amy Trees, Jerre Fussell, Erica Billingsley, Katie Kowalski, and Marybeth Ezaki spent the morning raking pine needles (Laura would have been proud!) with staff Carly Liebich and some of them helped paint Gold Hut during the afternoon.
Unfortunately, prior to the work day one of the tipis at the Tipi Village blew down so staff member Krista White took her crew of volunteers— Carolyn Mozley Beiser, Carrie and Addison Trew, and Krista’s husband, Phil, and his parents (relatives are not immune from being added to crews) to put the tipi back up. (This is not an easy job) After a successful Tipi raising, this flexible crew then joined Carly’s crew to paint Gold Hut.
Painting wizard Dan Miller brought his spray gun and painted the back wall of the Big Spring Ark with the help of Libby and Pat Malone. Bryan and Charlotte Cole Chaney and Will Bright-Frare helped staff Martie Jones and Mike Rodriguez with painting and other projects at The Nature Place. Ethan Billingsley and Brink Messick rode off with wrangler Josiah Neal supposedly to fix fence. Tom Blickensderfer headed to the Big Spring Office to help Jerry clean his office—an ongoing project over multiple years. And Carolyn Tryba, an Interior Decorator, spent much of the day giving Elizabeth excellent advice about how to beautify various camp buildings.
And last but not least, we had three different crews picking up slash to help protect the camp from a potential wildfire. These hard workers were Deb Donnelly and husband, Steve Lenzo, Wally and Emily Lambrecht, Jamie Bailey, Pat and Kaitlyn Bohnen and daughters, Artemis and Indred, Holly Archer, David Fussell, Becky Robinson and husband, Will Lavenberg, Robyn and Susan Rissman and Chris Skan. Staff Ariella Rogge, Callie Donaldson, and Jenny Peck enjoyed working with these crews.
We ended the day with some social time and a barbeque at The Nature Place. Though tired and dirty, everyone seemed to have a good time. A big “Thank-you” to all.
A Walk to Quicks
By Deb Donnelley (HT 73-76)
There is the memory of a thing.
The other day, I was digging through some old photos. I found a single-color snapshot of us on our cabin overnight to Quicks. This is back in the 1970’s. Oddly, what I remember from that hike was the soft, rhythmic clank of my metal canteen bumping against the frame of my backpack. I have hazy memories of coffee cans and candle making, of the heavy iron stove at the homestead and rusty farm tools hung on the barn walls whose former uses remain a puzzle to me. And, I remember a plant with a shocking red-orange color in the field.
At mid-day, on sunny summer days in the high plains, it sometimes feels as though the color range of the landscape has been compressed down to just a handful of colors. The straw and olive shades of the Blue Grama and Buffalo Grass, the steel grey of the tree trunks, the blue-black of shadows beneath the pine green of the Ponderosa and Douglas Fir -all against the impossible blue of the sky. And then, punctuating that flattened meadow palette, there are the scarlet sparks of the Indian Paintbrush.
There is the curious science of a thing,
Indian Paintbrush, sometimes aptly known as prairiefire, is a common wildflower. The Ute name for the plant is Uka-si-ti; changon-nuhu-nup. It belongs to the genus Castilleja (named after a Spanish naturalist named Domingo Castillejo (1744-1793) which includes roughly 200 unique species, over half of which are native to North America. They hybridize frequently which can make identification challenging.
The colors of the mostly perennial Paintbrushes range widely from white to yellow to orange to pink to red to purple. Curiously, the color that draws our eye is not actually the flower of the plant- but rather the upper leaves or bracts. The flowers themselves are quite
small, narrow green shoots hidden within bracts. It’s a favorite stopping spot for many pollinators like the Checkerspot Butterfly, hummingbirds and bees.
The plant is hemi-parasitic, meaning it doesn’t synthesize enough by itself and so is able to pierce the roots of nearby host plants like Lupine, Penstemon, Sagebrush or grasses which provide a portion of its nutrients.
And then there is the quiet awe of a thing
I wonder why, of all the millions of images that have flickered across my brain over a life, why was this particular plant banked? Why does my body still regard the Indian Paintbrush as a small harbinger of joy? I think it’s because, that day, it was the vermillion exclamation point on all the things– the feeling of easy companionship, of curiosity and of “no other place to be” that permeated the skin of a young girl in a line with her cabinmates outside, under a warm sun and a blue sky, with not so heavy a backpack, on a walk to Quicks.
2025 Chips off the Old Block: the second,
third & fourth generations in camp
Harper Acuff, 10 Silviya and JUSTIN
Henry Acuff, 10 ACUFF (BS 88) Englewood, CO
Reese Allen, 13 Rachel and ROBERT “BOBBY” ALLEN (BS 90-92; Staff 2000) Wylie, TX
Grandparents: Diane and JOHN ALLEN (BS 63-68; Staff 70-71) Tulsa, OK
Ellery Andalman, 13 Aaron Andalman and WRENN LEVENBERG (HT 89-90; Staff 96) Berkeley, CA
Connor Anderson, 12 David and KATHRYN HAWKINS (HT 97-00) Anderson, Omaha, NE
Kayang Armour, 13
MOLLY ARMOUR (HT 89-92, 97; Staff 01)- Carter Carbondale, CO
Weiss Band, 11 Hunter and SASHI WEISS (HT Evie Band, 9 90-94) Band New Orleans, LA
Aria Bennett, 12
BLAKE BENNETT (BS Staff 04) Kansas City, MO
Jayden Bentley, 12 ANNA PATTERSON (d) (HT 95Hudson Bentley, 9 97) Basalt, CO
Alice Berger, 9 Grandfather: BART BERGER (BS 60-65; Staff 66) Littleton, CO
Hamilton Biggar, 9 Hamilton and BECCA SMALLEY (HT 92-94, 96-99) Biggar Cleveland Heights, OH
Max Blair, 13 Adam and MARIANNE LeFILS (HT 96) Blair Osteen, FL.
Grandmother: SUSIE STROUD (HT 71-72) LeFils Deltona, FL
Artemis Bohnen, 13 KAITLYN (Staff 25) and PATRICK
Indrid Bohnen, 16 BOHNEN (BS 97-99, 02, 04-07; Staff 08) Colorado Springs, CO
Fiona Bosch, 14 Kirstin and NICK BOSCH (BS 94, 96-97) Glenside, PA
Oliver Bradley, 11 Taylor and ALICE JACKSON (HT Davison Bradley, 9 97-98) Bradley Fort Worth, TX
Melissa Bretag, 11 NIKKI (SWC Staff 14-current) and VID (SWC Staff 15-16) BRETAG Florissant, CO
Stefan Brock-Utne, 15 JENNIFER ROBILLARD (HT 85, Charlotte Brock-Utne, 13 87-89) Brock-Utne, Dallas, TX
Pierce Buhayar, 11 Sarah and ANDREW BUHAYAR (BS Staff 99) Seattle, WA
Katey Bullin, 12 CALLIE WIGINTON (HT 01) Bullin Stockton, AL
Oliver Burnette, 15 Grandmother: JAN WELLS (HT Nora Burnette, 11 65-66) Hooker Spring Hill, TN
Auden Butkus, 9 Grant and MOLLY TUCKER (HT 99-00; Staff 2004) Butkus Houston, TX; Grandparents: BOB (BS Staff 73,79) and TERRY SPRINGGATE (BS Nurse 79) TUCKER Prairie Village, KS
Benjamin Cannucciari, 15 ABBY COPE (90, 93, 96) Ellie Cannucciari, 12 Cannucciari Brooklyn, NY Grandmother: MARY LADD DIXON (HT 62) Cope Boca Raton, FL
Landon Capriotti-Tharp, 8 Nina Capriotti and CHARLEY THARP (BS 98-00; Staff 06) Denver, CO
Griffin Carlton, 11 Lance and LYNN HOFFMAN (HT 86-89) Carlton Kansas City, MO
Bailey Carswell, 11 Dane and JESSICA O’NEIL (HT Staff 02) Carswell Abington, PA
Piper Clarke, 15 Lucas and LINDSAY HODGSON
Charlotte Clarke, 14 (HT 87-88) Clarke Denver, CO
Theo Clarke, 10
Peyton Clay, 14 Jordan and KATIE McKEE (HT 96-97) Clay Wynnewood, PA
Gigi Cole, 14 MADELINE McCUE (HT 90-92) Santa Fe, NM
Chloe Colla, 9 Carrie and GEOFF COLLA (BS
Juliet Colla, 12 94-95, 97) Hanover, NH
Owen Cooper, 16 STEVE (BS Staff 95,99) and JENNY SMITH (HT Staff 99)
COOPER Greenwood Village, CO
Vaughn Copaken, 11 Ellen and JAMIE COPAKEN (BS 84-86, 88; Staff 94) Mission Hills,KS
Townes Cope, 14 Katie Wilkes and DYLAN COPE
Maisy Cope, 10 (BS 90-98; Staff 01) Tulsa, OK
Levon Cope, 10
Mikey Coppel Villarreal, 9 Mayra Maria Villarreal and MIGUEL COPPEL (BS 2002) Culiacan, Mexico
Matthew Costanzo, 12 Grandfather: ANDY SMITH (BS
Gigi Costanzo, 10 58-60; Staff 65-66) Innsbrook, Frankie Costanzo, 8 MO
Roxie Coughlin, 13 Curtis Coughlin and KATIE
Josie Coughlin, 9 CHATFIELD (HT 86-87) Aurora, CO
Lillian Coyne, 10 JULIE COYNE (HT 82-84) Montclair, NJ
Carter Crawford, 10 Beth and JOHN CRAWFORD (BS
Caitlin Crawford, 8 96) Maple Valley, WA
MJ Cruz, 13
MEGAN COLEMAN (HT 95-97) Prospect Heights, IL
Lucy Daoust, 15 Mark and ELIZABETH
Phoebe Daoust, 12 DUBINSKY (HT 92-96; Staff 98) Daoust Orinda, CA
Solomon Denenberg, 13 Steve and TIPPI MAGID (HT 76-83; Staff 86-89) Denenberg Omaha, NE
Henry Densmore, 14 John and EMILY MYRICK (82-87; Staff 91) Densmore Whitefish Bay, WI; Grandparents: Jay and SUSAN UPTEGROVE (64-65) Myrick Jacksonville, FL
Kylie Diamond, 16 ALEXIS BAIZER (HT 90-96) Diamond Lafayette, CO
Skye Doane, 9 Elena Konovalova and JEREMY DOANE (BS 87-89) Austin, TX
Avery Donelson, 11 Noah and KATIE ROSLONIEC (HT Staff 2003) Donelson Grand Rapids, MI
Gibson Donnelly, 12 Kevin and LAURA DOUTHAT (HT 85-88. 91) Donnelly Prairie Village, KS
David Dorris, 13 Grandparents: Sue and GEORGE DORRIS III (BS 54-55) St. Louis, MO
Jacob Down, 13 Jacob and CARRIE SMALLEY
Tommy Down, 11 (HT 89-97; Staff 98) Down
Liddy Down, 7 Carbondale, CO
Maeve Edelston, 9 Andrew and LAUREN MILLER (HT 91-92) Edelston Glencoe, IL
Elshu Engelman, 11 Liz and SCOTT ENGELMAN (BS 78) Oak Creek, CO
Gigi Euston, 11 Angie and GEOFF EUSTON (BS 82-84) Chicago, IL
Grandfather: GREG EUSTON, SR (BS 55-57; Staff 59-60) Jacksonville, FL
Charley Ferguson, 11 CATHY WEAR (HT 91-94, 96-97) Kansas City, MO
Deacon Ferrell, 15 Mike Ferrell and EMILY
Edie Ferrell, 13 GORDON (HT 93-95)
Grayson Ferrell, 9 Wynnewood, PA
Henry Fischer, 11
Hayes Funk, 10
Woody and LIZ CONNELLY (HT 90-95; Staff 98-99) Fischer Pasadena, CA
Emily and ANDY FUNK (BS 9092) Kansas City, MO
Graham Gallagher, 8 C.C. and CAMERON
Henry Gallagher, 11 GALLAGHER ((BS 94-95) Colorado Springs, CO
Asher Garbatini, 9 Todd and LUCIA CUSHMAN
Payson Garbatini, 9 (HT 93-99, 01-02; Staff 05-06) Garbatini Williamstown, MA
Grandparents: Michael and LISA RUDOLPH (HT 68-71; Staff 72-78) Cushman Williamstown, MA
James Garber, 9 Jennifer Wargo and HAVEN
Kai Garber, 13 GARBER (HT Staff 03) Houston, Scout Garber, 14 TX
Emma Garner, 12
Tyler and LAUREN DACHELET (HT 89-92) Garner Kenilworth, IL
Milo Geurian, 13 Sara and JOSH GEURIAN (BS 99; Chloe Geurian, 15 Staff 99-01) Colwich, KS
Jack Giddens, 13
David and MAGGIE DOOLEY (HT 94-96) Giddens Dallas, TX
Peter Goldsmith, 13 John and KATE MONTGOMERY (HT 89-91) Goldsmith New Providence, NJ
Elsie Golom, 8 Blake Golom and MEGHAN STACK (HT 91-96, 98) Denver, CO
Riley Green, 10
Warren and JESSICA HARVEY (HT 91-92) Green Denver, CO
Eric Grip, 11 Havard and DANA STIEFBOLDRICHARDSON (HT 91-92) Grip La Crescenta, CA
Kael Gross, 10
Grandfather: LEO GROSS (BS Staff 68) Denver, CO
Kai Guimaraes, 14 Roberto and KEYA GILL LUI (HT 89-91) Guimaraes Kapaa, HI
Margot Guinan, 9 John and ALEXIS GRANT (HT 94, 95, 97) Guinan Washington, DC
Grandparents: Carla and PAT GRANT (BS fifties) Denver, CO
Lisette Harris, 15
Frankie Hauth, 14
Cora Hazlehurst, 14
Richard and DEBBE COWELL (HT Staff 82-83) Harris Naperville, IL
Jennifer and CHRIS HAUTH (BS Staff 96-97, 99, 00-02) Bend, OR
Rachel Katz and SAM HAZLEHURST (BS 87-90, 93) Waterville, ME
Alice Hellebusch, 14 Louis and MEREDITH SILVERBERG (HT 92-95) Hellebusch Glencoe, IL
Harper Hoglund, 13 Ben and AVERY CUSHMAN
Taft Hoglund, 12 (HT 91-00; Staff 03-04) Hoglund
Baird Hoglund, 9 Manchester, NH
Grandparents: Michael and LISA RUDOLPH (HT 68-71; Staff 7278) Cushman
Teddy Holland, 10
Jessica and TED HOLLAND (BS 88-89) Locust Valley, NY
Ben Holderness, 10 Chelsey Stockment and JACK HOLDERNESS (BS 88-91)
Scarlett Houghton, 13
Houston, TX
Peter and EMILY ZECHER (HT
Vivien Houghton, 11 89-94) Houghton Pottersville, NJ
Matthew Howard, 16
Scarlett Huffman, 15
JEN COPE (90-91, 93-94) Howard Hockessin, DE
Grandmother: MARY LADD
DIXON (HT 62) Cope Boca Raton, FL
Heather and MATTHEW
HUFFMAN (BS 85; Staff 89-93,1416) Colorado Springs, CO
Forrest Hughes, 10 Ryan and YELENA BRACHMAN
Sage Hughes, 8 (HT 91-93, Staff 01) Hughes Lyons, CO
Caroline Ingham, 11
Joni Kayne, 12
Garret Keim, 13
Don and EMILY EDWARDS (HT 91) Ingham New York, NY
CARRIE FEIBEL (HT 84-88) Silver Spring, MD
Ronna and DAVID KEIM (BS 8586; Staff 94, 96) Kalispell, MT
Seba Klepacki, 11 Jacek and DIANE DELF (96-97; Staff 05) Klepacki Centennial, CO
Grandparents: Jody and TONY DELF (BS 61-65) Wildwood, MO
Alden Krcmarik, 10 ANN PROUTY (HT Staff 2005)
Elliott Krcmarik, 8 Denver, CO
Sophia LeFils, 14
Heather and GREG LeFILS (BS 96) Deltona, FL
Grandmother: SUSIE STROUD (HT 71-72) LeFils Deltona, FL
Emmett Lewis, 12 Jason and JEAN ARMOUR (HT 86,88-90, 92; Staff 96-97, 99) Lewis Jackson, WY
Zoe Lhevine, 15 PAUL LHEVINE (BS 81-85; Staff 88) Denver, CO
Aria Little, 16 Amanda and CARTER LITTLE
Nicholas Little, 13 (BS 90-91; Staff 95) Nashville, TN
Vivian Love-Dowling, 9 Henry Dowling and RYANN LOVE (HT 89-91) Denver, CO
Paulo Matson, 16 Wendy and SHANE MATSON (BS 86-90; Staff 91, 93-94, 96) Tulsa, OK
Miles McGee, 12 Matt and MARLYS THEDINGER (HT Staff 05) McGee Mission Hills KS
Ella McGowan, 13 RYAN (BS Staff 00-12) and Maia McGowan, 11 ASHLEY NORD (HT 93-97; Staff 04-12) McGOWAN Highlands Ranch, CO
Lochlan McGuire, 13 Cooper and ALLIE SIMPSON (HT 97-99) McGuire Bowen Island, BC, Canada; Grandfather: IRV SIMPSON (BS 70) Oceanside, CA
Hunter McKay, 10 Christin and GRANT McKAY (BS 96,99; Staff 99-01, 06) Denver, CO
Owen McPhillips, 10 Devin McPhillips and CLAIRE
Margot McPhillips, 7 BUCHOLZ (HT 94-03) Sierra Madre, CA
Grandparents: Marybeth Ezaki and BOB BUCHOLZ (d) (BS 56, 62; Staff 66)
Hawkins Mead, 11
Henry Mitchell, 10
Grandfather: STEVE MEAD (BS 64) Brookline, MA
Lauren and LUKE MITCHELL (BS 88-91, 93-94) New York City, NY
Bea Montgomery, 8 Marcus and KATE WILLIAMS (HT 97-02, 04) Montgomery Tulsa, OK; Grandparents: Bob and BLAIR LEWIS (HT 74-77) Williams Tulsa, OK
Jake Nelson, 8 Adam and AVERY SIMPSON (HT 96-97, 99-00) Nelson Aspen, CO; Grandparents: Ann and DICK SIMPSON (BS 66-69) Dallas, TX
Elsie Nichols, 12 Matthew and CATHERINE
Izzie Nichols, 10 CALLAHAN (HT 92-93) Nichols San Francisco, CA
Ruby Nolan, 13 James and CASEY RENNIGER (HT Staff 03) Nolan Tampa, FL
Hugh O’Kane, 15
Arianne and HUGH O’KANE (9091; Staff 97-98) Oyster Bay, NY
Grace Oldfield, 14 Todd and VICKY McNEILL (HT 84-86, 88) Oldfield Franklin, TN
Violet Oliveira, 11 Roberto and ADELE
MELANDER-DAYTON (HT 9498) Oliveira Santa Fe, NM
Patrick Olney, 13 Tambi and MARK OLNEY (BS 85Brooke Olney, 11 87) Dallas, TX
Charley Olney, 11
Evalyn Pallett, 10
Grandparents: MARK (BS Staff 68, 70-71) and JUDY JARRELL (HT Staff 67-71) PALLETT Lenexa, KS
Lucas Perry, 13 Katie and PHIL PERRY (BS 88-94; Jacob Perry, 11 Staff 95-96, 99, 00, 03) Golden, CO
Grandparents: REIN (Staff 76-78, 00-02) and JAN SANBORN (HT 62-68; Staff 76-02) VAN WEST Ridgway, CO; Grandparents: Nancy and DAVID PERRY (BS 60-62; Staff 66-85) Montrose, CO
Great-Grandparents: SANDY(d) and LAURA(d) SANBORN
Avery Pesendian, 9 Grandparents: Susan and TERRY MacQUIDDY (BS 61) Wellington, CO
Rees Petro-Gelman, 11 Corbin Petro and JESSICA GELMAN (HT 85-86; Staff 95) Wellesley, MA
Fisher Pfaelzer, 16 JUSTIN PFAELZER (BS 84-86) Clearwater, FL; Grandfather: DAVE PFAELZER (d) (BS 54-55)
Charlie Pidot, 14 Emily and PHILIP “FLIP” PIDOT
Henry Pidot, 9 (BS 88-9, 92) Locust Valley, NY
Andres Prieto, 9 Valerie von Wobeser and JAVIER Nico Prieto, 12 PRIETO (BS 91-92, 95) Lexington, MA
Maria Quinones, 8 Georgia and ALEX QUINONES (BS 94-97, 01-02) St. Louis, MO
Austin Rasch, 14 Grandparents: Kathy and RICH BUCHOLZ (BS 62, 64-66; Staff 71) St. Louis, MO
Nolan Redmond, 14
Jennifer and HAYES REDMOND (BS 83-84) Parker, CO
Lena Remer, 11 Ben and JULIANA DOYLE (HT Ellie Remer, 9 88-89) Remer Highlands Ranch, CO; Grandparents: Michael and JILL DYE (HT 62-63; Staff 68-69) Doyle
Henry Reneker, 15 Ben and KATIE FRIESEN (HT8893: Staff 95, 97-98) Reneker Carmel Valley, CA; Grandparents: ROB (BS 62; Staff 65-68) and CONNIE McWILLIAMS (HT Staff 66-68) FRIESEN Denver, CO
Georgia Richardson, 16 Mark and ALICE ZECHER (HT 89-90; Staff 96) Richardson Jakarta, Indonesia
Will Richter, 16 Anne and KURT RICHTER (BS Charlotte Richter, 14 78-80) Washington, DC
Cerys Rickard, 15
Luke and MEGAN SHELLMAN (HT 85-90; Staff 99) Rickard Durango, CO
Amelia Rieger, 11 Bethany and TOM RIEGER (BS 83-84) Parker, CO
Grandfather: DAVID RIEGER (BS Staff 60) Denver, CO
Luna Robbins, 9 Josh and KAYLEE ACUFF (HT 91, 94, 96) Robbins Littleton, CO
Bridget Robinson, 11 Hanley and JEFF ROBINSON (BS Maggie Robinson, 10 Staff 98-00) Anchorage, AK
Jack Rosemeyer, 8 Josh and MOLLY GRABER (HT Nora Rosemeyer, 10 91-96) Rosemeyer Highland Park, IL
Beau Ryan, 14 Autumn and HAYDEN RYAN (BS 93-95) Tulsa, OK
Isabelle Salfi, 11 Frank and SARAH SHENTON
Michael Salfi, 11 (HT 93-95, 98-99) Salfi Caldwell, NJ
Theodora Schmidt, 11 Marina and DAVID SCHMIDT
Elena Schmidt, 9 (BS 96-98; Staff 01, 04-05) St. Louis, MO
Aiden Schmit, 9 Chad and KIRSTEN BOTTCHER (HT 90-91) Schmit Aspen, CO
Eleanor Schofield, 11 Katie and DOUG SCHOFIELD
John Schofield, 8 (BS 90-93) Edwards, CO
Penelope Schofield, 9 LEVI SCHOFIELD (BS 88, 90-91) Cave Creek, AZ
Carter Schutt, 11 Katie and CHRIS SCHUTT (BS 94-96, 98, 01) Bozeman, MT
Breanna Searle, 16 Justin Searle and DANA BREITENSTEIN (HT 78-82; Staff 85-86, 88-89) Denver, CO
Grandparents: Karla and PETE BREITENSTEIN (BS 51-54) Denver, CO
Charlotte Seward, 9 Chris and DELTA STOKES (87-89, 91) Seward St. Louis, MO
Thatcher Shannon, 13 Laura and KYLE SHANNON (BS Fuller Shannon, 16 89; Staff 93) Tulsa, OK
Jack Siegfried, 14 Luke and ADRIENNE HART (HT 87, Staff 93) Siegfried San Mateo, CA
Asha Simmons, 10 Ian and LIESEL PRITZKER (HT 95) Simmons Concord, MA
Babette Slothower, 10 AMY SLOTHOWER (HT 81-84; Staff 92) Denver, CO
Grandparents: Mary Slothower and JOHN SLOTHOWER (d) (BS 5758)
Landon Slusher, 15 SARAH BLOOM (SWC Staff Tristan Slusher, 13 18-current) Florissant, CO
Millie Smalley, 11 Ursula and RANDALL SMALLEY
Randall Smalley, 8 (BS 90-94, 96-98) Phoenix, AZ
Bode Smolev, 12 Candace Berretta and DAVID Floyd Smolev, 9 SMOLEV (BS 90-96) Colorado Springs, CO
Emi Snyder, 10 Shizuka and KURT SNYDER (BS Erika Snyder, 12 86) Hampden, ME
Thomas Stadler, 16 Grandfather: PAT BROOKS (BS 56) Hutchinson, KS
Emma Stadlmann, 15 SAMANTHA SPAETH (HT 85-86, 88) Stadlmann. Bend, OR
Evie Stahl, 8 Andrew and MEREDITH HUBBELL (HT 94, 98-01) Stahl Des Moines, IA
Cooper Stettner, 12 Andrew and SARAH MARTIN (HT 89-94) Stettner Denver, CO
Andrew Stillmock, 8 Mike and PATRICIA HAWKINS
Caroline Stillmock, 8 (HT 98-99) Stillmock Omaha, NE
Oliver Stine, 13 Jeffrey Stine and ELLIE JENSEN
Iris Stine, 10 (HT 96; Staff 00) Denver, CO
Charles Supino, 9
Emily and PHILLIP SUPINO (BS 91-92, 94-97; Staff 02) Aspen, CO
Lily Sutherland, 12 Boonthariga and WILLIAM “QUENT” SUTHERLAND (BS 83-84, 86-87) Gladstone, MO
William Sutter, 11 Chris Sutter and COURTNEY
Andrew Sutter, 9 SMALLEY (HT 89-96) Sutter Shaker Heights, OH
Sammy Swyers, 8 Chris and KATIE BINTER (HT 94-95; Staff 98, 02-03) Swyers Wichita, KS
Gussie Tarrasch, 11 Grandmother: LOUISE HORAN
Bronson Tarrasch, 14 (HT 63-64) Noland St. Louis, MO
Bailey Templin, 11 Walt and KATE ANDERSON (HT Max Templin, 10 94-96) Templin Athens, GA
Bradley Thedinger, 14 Janet and SEATON THEDINGER
Jackson Thedinger, 12 (BS 91-93; Staff 00-01, 03) Golden, CO
Eloise Thompson, 14 Molly Fiden and MATT CLARK (BS 81-82) Dallas, TX
Tate Tulp, 13 Chris and ASHLEY ALLEN (HT Davis Tulp, 11 93-00) Tulp Denver, CO
Daisy Tulp, 10 Grandparents: PHIL (BS 64-71; Knox Tulp, 8 Staff 72, 77-78) and JULIE TATE (HT 69-72) ALLEN Tulsa, OK
Sequoia Van Zyl, 11 Arno and MADELEINE ROSSELL (HT 94-95; Staff 99, 02-03) Van Zyl University City, MO
Mia Vilgiate, 15 Nico and ASHLEY ZUZACK (HT 90) Vilgiate Eden, UT
Grandmother: JANET FRANZ (HT 62-65) Salida, CO
Begona Villar Teres, 14 Begona Teres and JUAN PABLO VILLAR (BS 91, 93) Puebla, Mexico
Elliot Watson, 10 BYRON WATSON (BS 79-81) Greenwood Village, CO
Jaxon Werner, 10 Monica Glass and ZACH
Zoey Werner,11 WERNER (BS 89-90) Encino, CA
Cody James Westover, 15 JIM (BS Staff 92, 94, 97) and Thomas Westover, 13 SARA MATSON (HT 90-93; Staff 95-96, 98) WESTOVER Salt Lake City, Utah
Dublin Wifley, 13 Brooke and LINK WILFLEY (BS 89-91) Englewood, CO
Grandfather: MIKE WILFLEY (BS 56, 60; Staff 61) Englewood, CO
Sloane Wilfley, 10 Katie and JACK WILFLEY (BS 84Reese Wilfley, 8 85, 88) Golden, CO
Grandfather: MIKE WILFLEY (BS 56, 60; Staff 61) Englewood, CO
Knox Williams, 13 Victoria and FRANK WILLIAMS (BS 81-86; Staff 87-92, 95) Greenwich, CO
Leighton Wolens, 16 Jeoffrey and DEVYN POLLACK (HT 83-85) Wolens Houston, TX
Jasper Wolferman, 15 Zoe Knight and STUART WOLFERMAN (BS 86, 88; Staff 94) Hastings-on-Hudson,
Henry Wolferman, 13 NY Grandparents: FRED (BS 56) and KRISTIE CARLSON (HT 63-64) WOLFERMAN
Ava Wright, 14
Elliana Zeavy, 14
Kansas City, MO
Taylor and JESSE WRIGHT (BS 00-02) Olympia, WA
Grandmother: ANNE WELLS (HT 67-70, 72-3; Staff 76) Gifford Leavenworth, KS
Neal and AMY TREES (HT 81-84; Staff 87) Zeavy Seattle, WA
2025 Staff Chips off the Old Block:
Ben Althoff David and MELISSA
McDOUGALL (HT Staff 82-83) Althoff, Phoenix, AZ
Jamie Bruesch CAROLINE SANBORN (HT 84-89; Staff 02-04) Bruesch Kona, HI CHRIGL BRUESCH (Staff 02-04) Malix Switzerland; Grandparents: RICK
SANBORN (Staff 68-70, 7576, 77-02) Kona, HI JANE SANBORN (Staff 67-Current) Florissant, CO
Great-Grandparents: SANDY(d) and LAURA (d) SANBORN
Baylen Burgett BEN BURGETT (BS 89-94, Staff 99-01) Littleton, CO
Will Coleman Rachel and RANDY COLEMAN (BS 80-81) Plantation, FL
Carter Edwards Grandfather: CHARLIE SWEET (BS Staff 67-70, 72) Lakewood Ranch, FL
Wheeler Ehrlich Stacy and JAMES EHRLICH (BS 77-79) Austin, TX
Jacob Farhy Mette Deleuran and JEFF FARHY (BS 81-83) Radnor, PA
Colby Fewster Wendy and BRANDON FEWSTER (d) (BS 76,78)
David Howard JEN COPE (90-91, 93-94) Howard Hockessin, DE
Grandmother: MARY LADD DIXON (HT 62) Cope Boca Raton, FL
Kennedi North CARMELITA JACOBS (HT Staff 0001) Okemos, MI
Whitney Pruitt Brian and LYNN ROBINSON (HT 8285) Pruitt Cumming, GA
Madelyn Redmond Jennifer and HAYES REDMOND (BS 83-84) Parker, CO
Roe Dave and LAURA JENNEY (HT 7983, Staff 88) Roe Bozeman, MT
Ariella Randle Rogge Steve and JAN CHANDLER (HT 64-66) Randle Wichita, KS
Margo Schellinger Mike and MEGAN PERTZ (HT 86,88; Staff 94) Schellinger Piedmont, SC
Dan Thatcher ANDREW “DREW” THATCHER (BS 80-82, 84; Staff 88) Colorado Springs, CO
Sebastian Villar Begona Teres and JUAN PABLO VILLAR (BS 91, 93) Puebla, Mexico
Do you know any outstanding collegeaged students who love being in the outdoors and would be caring, responsible role models for our campers? If so, please direct them to the “Employment” navigation link on our website: www.sanbornwesterncamps.com Thank you for helping us continue to find the best staff members in the country!
Liza
The Sanborn Alum News
Fall 2025
PO Box 167
Florissant, CO 80816
www.sanbornwesterncamps.com
Please help us keep your contact info upto-date by scanning the QR code! We need your current email address!
Sanborn Sweets
Now you can experience the smell of warm snickerdoodles right in your own kitchen, or make the rip and tear bread you remember from those early morning mountain climbs! Bernetta “Bernie” Miller, our current baker, has compiled classic camp cookie, bread, cake and other dessert recipes from over seven decades into our first ever Sanborn Cookbook and it will be ready just in time for the holidays. You will be glad to know that Bernie, in addition to sharing the original recipes scaled for 500 hungry campers and staff, has also thoughtfully translated them into family size portions just for you.
The cookbook costs $45, and proceeds from its sale will go to the Sanborn Scholarship Fund. As a bonus, everyone who buys a cookbook will be entered into a drawing for the Sanborn Quarterly Cookie Club. The lucky winner will receive a box of Bernie’s cookies 4 times during the year.
Use the QR code to pre-order your first edition (we’re pretty sure there will be others) and we will mail it to you on December 1!
