TVRC Fall Wrangler 2023

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rangLer rangLer

Teton Valley Ranch Camp

Fall

Remembering 85 years of Western Adventure

Letterfromthe

Camp Directors

DearFriendsofTetonValleyRanchCamp,

Withtheturningoftheleavesandthewillowsinourpastures,wefeelimmensegratitude ou joinedusincelebratingthisplaceandprogramthatweallholddear.Inthewintertime,theLeadershipTeamoftenlaughsatthe question,“Whatdoyoudoallwinter?”Overthenext9months,theTVRCteamwilltravelandmeetwithourpeersandothercamp professionalstoshareideasandknowledgeonhowtoimprovecampprogramming Wewillinterviewstaffmembersandspeakto numerouscampersandfamilies,andwewilltravelaroundthecountrytomeetwithalumnianddeepenourcommunityrelationships.

Thissummerwehadatotalof122Boysand138Girlsjoinus,alongwitharound110staff Weoperated26PackTripsand42offcampusBackpacks.Wehad27camperscompletetheirtimeasTrailblazers,andhad46Yearlingcampersjoinusfortheirfirstyear.Of our110staff,62%werereturningstaffand/orformercamperswhilethebalance(37%)werefirstyearstaff Asofthiswriting,our2024 seasonisalreadyapproaching47%enrolled,withGirlsTrailblazersalreadyapproachingawaitlist.

Werevisitedourmottoof“It'sourRanch”,butexpandedonthatwiththemesofBraveryandGratitudethissummer Wepersonallysaw significantgrowthinbothourcamperandstaffpopulationsthroughthechallengesandadventuresofoursummerprogram.Itremains cleartousthatnowmorethanevertheyouthoftodayneedtopracticedoinghardthingsandlearninghowtoovercomechallenges;be thatasteephike,adisagreementinacabin,orworkingthroughinclementweather

Wecelebratedour85thsummerthisseasonatthecloseofBoysSeason,withanexpandedsocialhouraftertheRodeo.Wewelcomed over100guests,alongwithBoys’SeasonfamiliesandourTVRCstaff Wekickedoffour85for85campaignwithagenerous$20,000 match,andarehopingtowrapthatupinthecomingmonths.

Ournewestadditiontotheprogramisouron-campYearlingPackTripsitecompletewithwalltents,corrals,andasolarwaterwell Aptlynamed,“GrizzlyGulch”andunderwrittenbyacampfamily,thisareaallowsTVRCtorunon-campPackTripswithYearlingsand expandbarnprogrammingwithadedicatedtrainingandovernightspot.ReportsIhadfromcampersandstaffonthe“GG”tripswere nothingbutpositiveallthewayaround

Onthefacilitiesside,wecompletedmanyoflastyear'sprojectsincludingthepurchaseof30newsaddles,significantwillowremovalin theupperpasture,andexpandingtheTVRCherd.Thesefourhorses(Bingo,Tucker,Grace,andSmokey)areproudlywearingtheTV brandforthefirsttimeinmanyyears!

ThankyouforcelebratingwithusthissummerandforcontinuingtobefriendsandchampionsofTVRC.Whiletheplacemaybe different,weareproudofthe2,300acreranchwecallhome.TheTVRCSpirit,whichwelcomescampersonarrivaldays,hostsrodeosin thearena,andcheersonRoughRidersandWranglersreturningfromtheirceremoniesisaliveandwell

InCampSpirit,

JimandCoraLigori

TVRC: From Here to anywhere

TVRC: From Here to anywhere

ItisoftensaidthatthereismagicinthewayTVRCdraws therightpeopleinsummeraftersummertocreatea communitythatisfoundedonthepursuitofadventure anddoggedindevelopingthepotentialeachindividual bringswiththemtotheRanchpackedinsideplaidshirts anddustyboots.Intheearlyyears,staffmemberslikeJack DavisandPaulPetzoldjoinedinWeenie'sdreamand whiletheywerealreadyknowledgeableandskilledintheir ownrightbeforeTVRC,theyandmanyothersleftTVRC withthemarkofexperienceandwisdomthattheRanch leavesonitspeopleaftersummersspentinthevalley. BothofthesemenleftTVRCandendedupbecoming legendsintheirownrightfromJack'sworkatTriangleX andPaul'sworkinpioneeringAmericanmountaineering andfoundingNOLS.

Andthe traditiondoesn'tstopthere.Thereisasignthat hangsontheCrow'sNestinourRodeoArenathatsays

"Cautionfutureworldandlocalleadersatplay,"andthat sentimentringstrueasthoseluckyenoughtojointhe ranksofYearlings,RoughRiders,TopHands,Wranglers, andTrailblazersleaveTVRCwithgrit,empathy,andskills toshapetheircommunitiesandlivesintothething

WeenieWilsondreamedofwhenhedecidedthatkids neededaplacelikeTVRC.Infact,manyofouralumni havegoneontomakesignificantcontributionsintheir chosenfields. Fromoutdooreducatorstoentrepreneurs, westernridingprofessionals,environmentalactivists, photographers,andwhateveronecoulddreamoftoput theirmindtowork

InthiseditionoftheWrangler,wewillbeintroducingyou to5suchalumniwhohavetakentalentsthattheylearned orcultivatedatTVRCintotheirprofessionallivesand havebecomeleadersintheirownfields.

BubbaAlbrecht,Give'rFounder

HowoldwereyouwhenyoucametoTVRC?

WhenIfirstcametocampIwas10andIturned11in Augustthatsummer.Mymindwasblown.IloveOhio, butwasluckytobeasaYearlinggrantedpermissiontodo thingsalittledifferentandgoonatonoftripswithTop HandsandRoughRiders

Talkaboutyourtimeatcamp:whatwereyourfavorite parts?

Ithinkitwastheoptions–Ihadthechoicetotrydifferent things.Anditmostlycamedowntothetripsandthe connectionsmadewithdifferentcampersandstaff membersonthosetrips.Flexibilitytogetoutanddoitlike whenIwenttoHollyLakeasaYearlingandcampedon snowandgottolearnwhatglissadingwasallaboutfrom olderfolks.

Whatdidyoulearnwhenyoucamebackasastaff member?

It'stheabilitytolearnasayoungcamperfromolder campers–thesamedynamicappliedtobeingastaff member

Jumpingintothemixandsayingthere'salotthatIdon't know,butthereareatonofpeoplewhodo,sogettingto learnfromthosewhohadbeendoingitforalong time.Over9yearsonstaffasaTripLeaderandCounselor, andthenrunningtheTripsProgramandIn-Camp Program,Ilearnedtheimportanceofaskingtheright questionsandtakingitone stepatatime Iwasintotrips soIsaid,"Wheneveryouneedsomeoneforatrip,Iwould lovetogoonitandbeaTripLeader".

WhataresomelifelessonsyoulearnedatTVRC?

Idescribeittofolksaslikethetype2fun,whenyouare gettingsnowedonoryouaresoakingwetoryougeta curveballtotheoriginalplan–thosewereoftenthemost memorableexperienceswhetherasacamperorstaff member Thebackcountryisthebestclassroomthereis, andIlearnedabouttheresilienceofateamandagroupto cometogetherbothoutthereandatcamp.

Howhavetheselessonsshapedyourlifebeyondthe Ranch?

EverythingIlearnedatTVRCfromtheappreciationand lovefortheoutdoorstotripswithfriends,peers,andkids setthetoneforwhateventuallybecameGive'r

WhatledyoutofoundGive'r?

Give'risCanadianslangandtranslatesroughlyto“Giveit yourall;goforit;getafterit”.Itisnotsurprisingthatthe VenndiagramofTVRCis–ReadytoRide,Grit,and Resilience–thoseareallinthesamefamilyofwords.If youaregoingtodosomething,doitwitheverythingyou got Andit'snotsurprisingtomethatIconnectedwith thisterminCanadaevenwhenIwasyounger.TheGive'r brandexiststoencourage,support,andinspirethat mentalitywhichiswhetheritisridingforthefirsttimeor flyfishingorbarrelracingorteamroping–youleaveitall onthefield,allinthearena,andgiveiteverythingyou’ve gotandthat’showyougrow

WhatadvicewouldyougivetoacamperatTVRCtoday whofindsthatsamesparkofpassionyoudid?

Youarenotabnormalfornotknowingexactlywhatthe pathis.Thattensionanduneasinessofnotknowingisa goodplacetobein.Whateveryoudo–doitwith everythingyou'vegot.So,ifyouaregoingtocleanthe DiningHall,cleanittothebestofyourability

Thethingsyoulearnbydoingwillinformyouand apply toschool,friends,family–allthegoodstuff.Observethe conditionsandusetheinformationandtoolsyouhaveto solvetheproblemyouarefacinginthesafestwaypossible Riskmanagementisnotaboutonebaddecision–itisalot ofbaddecisionsthatbuildup.Goslowandsteadywhen therearethehigheststakes

HowoldwereyouwhenyoucametoTVRC?

Iwas14,andIwasanolderRoughRider

Talkaboutyourtimeatcamp:whatwereyourfavorite parts?

Myfavoritewastheropingcompetitions.Iwasnotas interestedorasgoodattheridingeventsbutropingwasso muchfunandfuntopractice Iwonthearcheryandriflery asaRoughRider,too,anditwasjustbecauseIshowedup alotwhichiskindoffunny.TheRoughRiderAdventure sheethadsomanythingsyouhadtotrytodotogoonthe ride.Ilovedthatatthetimeandasaneducatorstilllove thatidea.Dipyourtoein–ifyoudon’tlikeityoudon’t havetogoback,andIneverwouldhavegottenintomany ofthosethingsifnotforthesheet.OnstaffIwasaTop HandCounselor,andIputemphasisonthegirlsthat wantedtospecializeinhiking.Itwasoneofmyfirstpaid positionsleadingotherpeopleonhikes.

BubbaandextendedfamilyattheRanchin2011

Youwentontoco-foundHMI–whatelementsofyourTVRC experience,ifany,influencedyourpathtoopeningHMI?

Asaneducator,Ireallyenjoythosemomentswhereyou cangetsomeonetoseethattheyarestrongerthanthey thoughttheywereandtheycandomorethanthey thoughttheycould.Helpingpeoplefindtheirstrengthis oneofmypassionsandIexperiencedthatforthefirsttime inahikingcapacityatTVRC. IthinkthatChristopher(myco-founder)andIwereboth leadingextendedwildernessexpeditionsandalsoworking intraditionalclassroomsettingsandwewantedto combinethosetwopassions.Ourschoolyearexperiences didn’thavethecommunityconnectiontotheoutdoors andoursummerworkdidn'thavetheintellectual componentwewerelookingfor.TVRCwasmyfirstforay intooutdoorworkasaneducator TVRCwasandstillisa reallyimportantplaceinmylife;infact,mydadusedto jokethatheregrettedsendingmetocampbecausehelost myhearttothewesternmountains.TVRCmademewant todomorethanjust5weeksofcampandthatiswhyI endedupworkingforDeerHillExpeditionsandNOLS andeventuallyco-foundingHMI

WhyOutdoorEducation?

ThethingIfeelmostpassionateaboutishelpingpeople developtheirownconnectionstothenaturalworld I still workpart-timeforNOLS,andwhenI’maskedwhyIdo that,myansweristhatitisbecausemyinvestmentina WildernessFirstAidcourseforafewdayscanleadto meetingmypersonalmission.Iwantpeopletohave connectionstotheopenspacesbecausepeoplecherish andprotectwhattheyhaveconnectionsto

WhataresomelifelessonsyoulearnedatTVRC?

Howimportantamiddaynapis.Itisalittlebitabout caringforyourselfsothatyoucancontinuetofully engage.Comingtogetherasacommunitythroughrituals likecampfirewhereyouhavesharedexperienceswith peoplearoundyouandtheimportanceofthoseisanother thingIlearned Anditdoesn’tmatterwhattheyare–itwas thesharedexperienceandtheritualof“thisiswhatwedo” thatmattered.Ireallyappreciateritualandpatterninthe sensethatyoucan’talwaysforcequalitybutcreatingspace foritallowsittoemerge.

Howhavetheselessonsshapedyourlifebeyondthe Ranch?

Itiscompletelymylife.Ihavecompletelyembraced outdooreducationandeducationineverycontext.It’snot fairtomyparentsandfamilytogiveallthecreditto TVRCbecausewewerefairlyactiveandoutsideasa family,butcampwascertainlyaformativemoment ThoseweeksatTVRCwerehugelyimportantingetting meonthetrajectorythatIfollowedinmycareer.

WhatadvicewouldyougivetoacamperatTVRCtoday whofindsthatsamesparkofpassionyoudid? Nothingworthwhileiseverfastoreasy.Incremental forwardprogressiswhatgetsyouthere Thelessonyou learnfromaTVRChikeisifyoukeepwalking,yougetto thatbeautifulplace,butifyoustopjustbecauseitishard, youwon’tgetthere.Thesideofthemountainisjustas importantasthetopitselfbecausewithoutthejourneyitis justaprettyview.

Anythingelseyouwouldliketoshare?

Wehaven’ttalkedatallaboutthefun Campisjustso muchfunandatrulyjoyfulplace.Irememberthe incrediblejoyIfeltandinaway,thatisultimatelywhatmy endgoalis–findingthejoyineverything.Finally,TVRC gavemelife-longfriendships,includingthewomanwho wouldultimatelybethemaidofhonoratourwedding

MollyandChristoherBarnes andtheirchildren,PorterandRabbit

LisaPikeSheehy, SeniorEnvironmentalandPhilanthropic AdvisoratPatagonia

HowoldwereyouwhenyoucametoTVRC?

Iwas13,andcameaftermy8thgradeyear.Ididthree summersinarow–IdidRoughRider,skippedTopHand, andthenwasaWranglerandTrailblazer.Mymotherand auntalsoattended,Iwasacounselorforonesummerright aftercollege,andthenservedontheTVRCboardfor severalyears.

Talkaboutyourtimeatcamp:whatwereyourfavorite parts?

Ienjoyedthedaytodayrhythmofbeingincamp.How eachdaywasuniqueandanchoredbythecampfiresevery eveningandturningtofacetherivertosing.AndIloved thecreativitythatcameouteverynightintheskitsand plays Beingoutofcampwasalsoamajorhighlight I lovedanyandalloftheopportunitiesthatwegottogo intothebackcountry,andIparticularlyloved thePack Trips.IalwaysendedupatCrystalCreek.HikingStatic PeakasaWranglerandsignalingcampwasanother pinnaclemomentforme.

WhataresomelifelessonsyoulearnedatTVRC?

Ithinkastorywouldbegreathereandthereweremany, butIdefinitelyknowIleftwiththesevaluesdeeply instilled:resiliency,camaraderie,andthespiritofFun.I’ve drawnonthemallatdifferentpointsofmylife.Resiliency ishugelyimportantasyounavigatelife’supsanddowns. Camptaughtmealotaboutcamaraderie,comingtogether asagroup,andthespiritoffunworkingthrougha challenge.

Howhavetheselessonsshapedyourlifebeyondthe Ranch?

Youneverknowwhatisahead.Lifeisfullofsurprises, bothpersonallyandprofessionally,anddealingwiththese challengeswithcourage,ingenuity,anddeterminationare thingsthatcomefrommytimeatcamp.

WhataboutTVRCmadeyoufallinlovewiththe wilderness?

BecauseIgrewupbackEast,Ihadneverexperiencedwild openspaceslikeIdidinWyoming Gettingintothe backcountrywasreallyalifechangingexperienceforme I fellinlovewiththemagnitudeandthewildnessofitall.

Whatareyourfavoritewildplacesthatyoutraveledto withTVRC?

MyfavoritedaytripswereAmphitheaterLakeandLakeof theCrags Ilovethe10-miledaystogettobeautifullakes, jumpingofftherocksatplaceslikePhelpsLake,andbeing upintheGrosVentreonCrystalCreek.

Canyoutalkaboutmemoriesfrombeingontrail–what didyoulove?

Irememberinadditiontothetalking,joking,and storytellingthatIalsotreasuredthequietwhilehikingor ridingtothinkandreflect Thereisalotoftimespent gettingtoyourdestinationanditprovidesthisbeautiful spaceinyourmindtowrestlewiththoughtsandideas.I alsolovedmakingupsongstosingbackatcampfromthe trip.Intheeveningontrips,Ifondlyremembercounselors readingTheSpelloftheTetonsoutloudtous,whichwas areworkedversionof TheSpelloftheYukonbyRobert Service,beforeturninginforthenight.

HowhasyourexperienceatTVRCinspiredyourcurrent work?

IreturnedtoJacksonHoleaftercollegetoworkasa counseloratTVRCandthentoworkatwhatwasatthe time,theonlyconservationorganizationinJackson,the JacksonHoleConservationAlliance Iwantedtogiveback totheplacethathadgivenmesomuch.Sincethen,Ihave workedforotherenvironmentalnonprofitsallthewayup tomycurrentroleatPatagoniaworkingtosaveourhome planet.

MollyPetersonBarnesandLisaPikeSheehyatTVRC Summer1991

Athreadthroughitall–hasbeenmydesiretogivebackto placesthathaveinspiredmeandtoprotectthemfor futuregenerations

WhatadvicewouldyougivetoacamperatTVRCtoday whofindsthatsamesparkofpassionyoudid?

Justkeeplookingforopportunitiesinyourlifethatalign withyourvaluesandpassions Workformissiondriven organizations.Findthoseenduringplacesthatyoucan drawinspirationfromlikeyourexperienceatTVRCand, andsurroundyourselfwithpeoplewhoinspireyoutonot justgofastbutgofar.

WhataresomelifelessonsyoulearnedatTVRC?

WhendidyoufirstcometoTVRC?

IwasatTVRCintheearly70sasayoungkidenjoyingthe RoughRider,TopHand,andWranglerprograms.

Talkaboutyourtimeatcamp:whatwereyourfavorite parts?

IwasalwaysintooutdoorexperiencesevenbeforeTVRC.

IwenttoasailingandcanoeingcampinMaine,but TVRCwasanotherlevelofexploringmoreskillsetsthatI didnothavewhichwerehorsemanship,horsepacking, backpacking,andclimbingandgivingmewhatIthinkwas myinitialfoundationofmyoutdoorskills Iendedup goingontoNOLS.Incollege,Iwasarecreation managementmajor.Campgavemetheconfidenceand skillsetthatIneededatanearlyagethatIkeptdeveloping tojustgoforit andtopursuemycraftinphotography. FormeitwasthatnucleusthatIthinkIneeded–a beginningofsomethingthatwaslargerwithmyinitial foraysintotheTetons,horsepacking,andalltheexciting thingsthatyoudoattheRanch.OneofthemainthingsI lovedwasthehorsepackingtrips.Wepackedinoffof TogwoteePassandclimbedapeakcalledStairwayto HeavenandIwastheRodeoKingtwoyearsinarow whichwasreallyexciting Manykidsgotocampbutvery fewhaveanexperiencelikeTVRCthatallowsyoutopush yourskillsets.IstillusethoseskillstodaywhenIgoonbig expeditionsandalotofmyworktakesmetochallenging environmentsandallofthatcomesbacktomystartat TetonValleyRanch.

Ithinkoneofthestrongestlifelessonswasdeveloping camaraderie,friendship,andteamwork.Isawearlyonthat itwasanimportantskillsetforlife.Andthatresonatesfor metothisday.AlotoftheworkIdotodayisproduction whichrequiresrelyingonpeopletopullyouthroughlike youwouldrelyonyourcabinmates

WhyPhotography?

Photographyslowlydevelopedfrommycampdays.My mothergavemeaKodakInstamaticX-15,theonesthat havethelittleflashcubes–theywererudimentaryand didn’treallytakegreatphotos,butthatdidn’treallymatter becauseithelpedsetapathofinterestthatIwouldlater developincollege.Itaughtmyselftheinitialartoftaking outdoorphotos,andIwasalreadydoingthatwhenIwas atcamp.Ihavephotosofmethatarepartofmyarchive andinmybookthatarefromTVRC Thatsetmeupfor largerthingsinlifefromtheconfidenceIgainedtotravel throughthewilderness.

Talkaboutstartingoutcapturingyourtimeatcamp, whatimageswereyoudrawntowards?

BecauseIwasyounganddidn’thavelenses ora smatteringofwhatyoureallyneed,alotofthephotos werejustmeandmyfriendsadventuring.Thatledto followingtheworkofexplorersthatwerephotographing ordoingincredibleexpeditionstotheArcticortothe highestmountainintheworld,Everest.Isawthosephotos andthought,“Oh,I’lljustdocumentmyownadventurein Wyoming.”Thatslowlycameintothisprofessionlaterin mylife.I’mstilldoingthatworkfromcommercialswork toactionsportsandportraiture.

Greg ontheAntarcticSphynx,Arctowski Peninsula,Antarctica

GregVonDoersten, Photographer/Author/Filmaker/Arist

Initiallyitstartedoffasdocumentingmyadventures,but asIdevelopedmyskills,Irealized,“Hey,thisishowyou coverastory:youneedtheopeningphoto,thetell-all story,youneedyourdetailsshots,youneedyourlifestyle andportraitsofthepeopleyou’reworkingwith”These momentsallkindofstartedmycareerfromshootingthat Instamatic.

Doyouhaveanyfavoritemomentsthatyoucaptured?

Therewereacouplefunnyones Ialwaysgotakickoutof howcheesythecampportraitswere.Oneofthoseshots is inthebook.Thatwasoneofthedefiningmomentsinmy lifewhenIrealizedIprobablywasn’tgoingtoschoolback East.Thatisn’tme.Iamstokedtobeouthere–outwest. I’mdevelopingmycareerinsomethingthatisoutdoorrelatedbecauseIlovetheoutdoors ThenImanifested that.IgraduatedwithadegreeinRecreationManagement andForestrywithBusinessandalthoughIworkedinthe privateguidingrealm,Ifoundphotographyandswitched gearsanddecidedtopursuethatasafulltimejob.That wasastruggle–itwasn’teasy,andit’smuchmore challengingtodaythanitwasbackthen Itwasbeingatthe rightplaceattherighttimeandhavingtheskill.Alotof thatcamebacktomyearlyyearsatTetonValley.

WhatadvicewouldyougivetoacamperatTVRCtoday whofindsthatsamesparkofpassionyoudid?

Thepointoflifeisthatyouhaveanopportunitytoreally experienceacampthatisveryunique.Therearenotmany likethisintheUnitedStatesanymorewhereyoucanget a broadspectrumofskillsetsinhorsemanship,hiking,and mountaineering;skillsetsandexperiencesthatfora personlikemechangedwhoIwasandliterallysetmeona coursetoliveinthemountainsofWyoming.Ihadalotof friendswhowerecampersthatwentontobesuccessful businessmenandlawyers,andIwentontobeasuccessful artist.Intheend,weallhaveapath,andI’mgladIhadthat opportunitybecauseitreallywasaniconicanddefining momentofmylife.HadInotdoneit,Imightnothave goneandpursuedsomeofthethingsthatIdonow.I wouldreachouttothemandsay,“Hey,thisisan opportunityforyoutobeacamperthatcanmakea differenceintheworldbecauseyourcameraisavoiceand ithaspower.Ifyoureallyputyourmindtoityoucando incrediblethingswithphotographsbecauseeventhough everybodyhasacameraontheirphone,veryfewpeople pursueitbeyondthat.

Youareattherightplace.Youareinoneofthemost beautifulareasoftheworld,sotakethatcameraanduseit totelluniquestoriesthatcancreatechangeintheworld.”

YoucanfindGreg’sworkinhisnewbook,Angleof Repose,whichisthefirstfineartcoffeetablebookbythe legendaryadventure,skiandsnowboardphotographer SetentirelyinJacksonHoleandthesurrounding mountains,thisstory-drivencollectionfeaturessomeof thefinestwintersportsphotographyeverproducedbythe formerSeniorPhotographerforPowder Magazine.Accompanyingthevisualfeastarethematic chaptersdescribingthecraftofcapturingsnowsports photography World-renownedadventurerandAcademy Award-winningfilmdirector,JimmyChin,providesthe foreword.Whetheryou’reablackdiamondskier,anovice snowboarder,orjustanenthusiastofmountainscenery andphotography,thisbookissuretoinspirereaderswith thebeautyofskiinginJacksonHole Intheworldofsnow science,theangleofrepose theangleatwhichsolid granularmaterialwillstarttotumbledownhill isusedto helpjudgeslopestability.Throughhisprefaceand accompanyingchapters,VonDoerstenmasterfullyweaves itasametaphorforlifeasaskierandphotographer.Angle ofReposeistheultimatebucketlistitemforanysnow sportsenthusiast Youcanfindhisbookonlineat:

https://greg-von-doersten-fine-art-store.com

orseemoreofhisworkat:

https://www.gregvondoersten.com

.

GregattheKellyRanch

JoshTishman,NRHAPro

WhendidyoufirstcometoTVRC?

IcameasaRoughRiderat12or13yearsold.

Talkaboutyourtimeatcamp:whatwereyourfavorite parts?

Thebarnexperienceandtheridingandthataspectofthe Ranch.IrememberthatIspentmostofmytimeinor aroundthebarnanddoingthatsideoftheactivities.I lovedbeinginthearenaanddoingthestufftherearound thebarn.Thewholeexperiencewasanintroductioninto thewesternwayoflife

Youstartedridingbeforecamp.Didridingatcamp shapeyourtrajectorytowardsreining?

I’vebeenridinghorsesmywholelife.Igrewuponthe EastCoastridingEnglishandjumpingandgotintothe westernsideofhorsesandranchingatmyparent’sranch inColorado.TVRCdefinitelyshowedmethatIlikedthe westernlifeofhorsesandranchingandIdoalittlemoreof theshowaspectnow.Itreallysteeredmeawayfrommy Englishbackground.

HowdidyousettleonReining?

Aftergoingtocampandgettingintowestern-styleriding,I decidedtogotoschoolandstudyEquineScience,andmy schoolhadashowteamthatthecoachconvincedmetobe

Istartedlookingintoitandfellinlovewithitanddecided thatiswhatIwantedtodoinlife.Ithasbeengreatanditis acompetitionbutitisalsotrainingandhigh-dollar,highstressscenarios.LastyearIqualifiedandshowedatThe RunForAMillion.ItisawayoflifeandlifestylethatI love.

WhataresomelifelessonsthatyoulearnedatTVRC?

IntheindustrythatI’min,itisallaboutateam atmosphere Iworkedforacoupledifferentpeoplefor eightyearsandjuststartedmyownbusiness.InReigning, it’snotjustyou,andyouhavetohaveawholeteam behindyou.Youworkwithothersanddoittogether,and thosearelessonsIalsolearnedatTVRC.

WhatadvicewouldyougivetoacamperatTVRCtoday whofindsthatsamesparkofpassionyoudid?

Don’tbeafraidifyouareinterestedtodiverightintoit.I wasalittlebitofarebelatcampbecauseIputmyfoot downandwenttothebarneveryday.Ithinkother elementsofcampareimportantthough,too.WhenIwas younger,Iwasnotafanoftheideaofcampatfirst,butI endedupcomingbackformultipleyearsasacamperand workingonstaffforayearincollege.Don’tbeafraidto focusonthepartofcampyouloveandaredrawnto

Youcanshareyouralumnistoriesandphotoswith campbyemailingthemtoPaigeat: pnielsen@tvrcamp.org orbymailingthemtotheJacksonOfficeat:

News from the pony express

Information Update

Ifyouhaven'tupdatedyouraddressorcontactinfowithus recently,pleasefilloutouralumni informationupdateform usingtheQRcodeonthispageorbyvisitingorwebsiteat: https://www.tvrcamp.org/alumni-contact-updates

Wrangler, December 1959

JackDavis,OrvalTaylor,andtwohelpersfromTetonValley RanchonthemorningofNovember2nd,drivingtheentire herdofTVhorsesandmules Theystarteduptowardsthe passleadingoverthecontinentaldivideintheupperregions oftheGrosVentreRiver.Thefirstnighttheycampedatthe CowCreekTVCorralswheresomanyofthe"JimBridger" PackTripshavecamped.Theweatherwasthreatening,but notparticularlybad.Soonthestormscame,thesnowstarted topileup,andthethermometerdroppedwithathud

Youprobablyreadabouttheearlysnowfallsintheregion, Jack,Orval,andtheothershadarealbattlewiththe elements.Itwastenbelowzero.Theyweresocoldthatthey couldhardlytightenthecinchesoftheirsaddles.The blowinganddriftingsnowmadevisibilityverydifficult The trailhadtobebrokenbytheleadhorseandtheothers,about twohundredinall,hadtocomealonginasinglefile.The windseemedtocuttheriderstothebone,buttherewasno turningback.Aftercrossingthecontinentaldivide,they headeddownintotheGreenRiverCanyon.Theythought thattheywouldgetintomorefavorableweather,butthe temperaturejustcontinuedtodropandthesnowkept coming. TheyfinallygotintotheregionoftheKendall RangerStationwhereJackhadgonebytrunkandhadthe campready.

Astheytraveledsouth,conditionsbecamebetter.On Tuesday,November10th,themenwithallofthehorses arrivedattheCurrentCreekRanch Thehorseshadbeenwell caredalongthetrailandlookedtobeingreatshape Themen weretiredandeagertogettheirfeetunderthetableafterthe ruggedtrip.

Wheneversomeonesaysthatthey"surely wouldliketomakethathorsedrive,"the questionisusuallyasked,"Areyou ?"sure

FreyjaHaldanewithphotosofhergreatgrandmother, ElsieFrickatTVRC

The Foundation

Thankstodonorslikeyou,fourhorsesnowweartheTV brandliketheherdthatJackDavisbroughtacrossthepassin 1959.Yourgiftshelptofundcrucialinitiativeslikeourherd expansionandinturn,helptoteachnewgenerationsof campersthesameintegrallessonsofgrit,resilience,bravery, andgratitude

Aswelookaheadto2024,weareplanning major infrastructureupdatestosupportstaffing,ourBackcountry TripsProgram,andtheoverallRanchFacility.Yoursupport willhelpuscontinuetoimprove ourprogramwithprojects thatinclude:

FinishingtherebuildofEagles’Restwhichwillexpand staffhousingtohelpfillcriticalseasonalmanagement positions.

Buildingacommercial-gradelaundryfacility.

RenovatingtheDiningHallBasementtohouseour BackcountryTripHeadquarters

Thisisjustasmallsliceofwhatyourdonationssupport, andwehopethatyouwilljoinustocontinuetomake projectsliketheseareality Youcangivebymailoronline at: https://www.tvrcamp.org/foundation/giving-totvrc/donation-form.

85k for 85 85k for 85

Thisyearisextrasweetbecausewemarked85yearsof westernadventureandRidingfortheBrand.Aswecelebrate thismilestone,wewanttosharewithyouallanupdateonthe stateofTVRC

Forsomanyreasons,our85thSummerwastrulyourbest seasonyet WehadafullyenrolledRanchforbothBoys’and Girls’Seasonsandarealreadyseeingrecordenrollmentsfor nextyear.Additionally,beforethesnowsetinlastfall,we brokegroundonanewon-campPackTripsite,Grizzly Gulch,whichisnestledbetweenBreakfastRideandWrangler Ridgeandwillserveourcommunityinstafftrainingsand barnovernightprogramswhileallowingustoexploremoreof theRanchwecallhome.ThissitewasusedbyYearlingsthis summerduringbothseasonsandallowedustocreateanew PackTripprogramforouryoungestparticipants.Inthis program,Yearlingslearned thenecessaryskillstotackle othertripsinthefutureandgotaninsidelookat howaPack Tripisrun

Inconjunctionwithour85thanniversary,weareworking to raise$85,000forour85thyear.85kfor85isachancetogive toaprojectatcampthatyouareinterestedinortoapartof campthatwasimportanttoyouasacamper Youcangiveto theAnnualFundandhelpfundinfrastructureprojectsonthe RanchoryoucangivetotheScholarshipFundandhelpsend anadditionalRoughRidertocampnextyear!Youcaneven givetoafavoriteprogramareaortotheTripsDepartment. Aspartofthiscampaign,agenerousdonorsteppedforward withachallengegranttomatchourfirst$20,000raiseddollar fordollar.Withyourhelp,we’veraised$54,000sofar,and we ’renotstoppinguntilwereachthesummit!

ContactPaigeNielsen,CommunicationsandFundraising Director,atpnielsen@tvrcamp.orgifyouhaveanyquestions aboutgivingtotheseprojectsorTVRCingeneral.