Spring/Summer 2024 Wrangler by Teton Valley Ranch Camp

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Teton Valley Ranch Camp

Camp Directors Letterfromthe

AswetransitionintoourcampingseasonwithourannualmoveuptotheRanc

86th summerofTVRC Whilemuchhaschangedinthisbeautifulvalleywecallhom ins thesame.TheWyomingWildernesscontinuestobechallengingandbreathtak ur GrandTetonNationalParkpermitsthisyear,aprocesswedoevery10years,andareproudtocontinuemanyofthesame backpackingtripsouralumnienjoyedbeforethesepermitsevenexisted.WearestillrunningourCrystalCreek andJack DavisPackTrips,withtheadditionofaWindRiverPackTripnearDubois,andourveryownon-campsite,GrizzlyGulch. OurweeklyRodeosandChapelsremainahighlightofeachseason.Mostimportantly,whatremainsaretheprinciplesof buildingresilienceandgrit,whilealsofosteringadeeprespectforthenaturalworldaroundus,andmakingmeaningfuland lastingconnectionsandfriendshipsthroughoursharedexperiences.Thesekeystoneshavebeenimportantsincethe beginningofTetonValleyRanchCampandwebelievethat,inthedigitalageouryoutharecurrentlylivingin,thisplaceis moreimportantthanever!

Throughouttheyear,wecontinuetohearfromourcamperparentsandalumni,“Whenwillyouoffersomethingforus?”This summerweareofferingtwoopportunities,oneinJulyandoneinAugust,forcamperparentsandalumnitogoonaTVRC PackTripwiththeCrystalCreekpackstring.Weonlyhaveafewspotsremaining,soifyouareinterested,pleasereachoutto Jimatjligori@tvrcamp.orgsoonaswedoexpectthistosellout.ThealumnipacktripwillendintimetoattendeitherBoys’or Girls’FinalRodeosotheparticipantscanrelivethosemomentswithourcurrentcampers.Pleaseknowthatweloveto connectwithouralumni,soifyoufindyourselfinthearea,don’thesitatetogiveusacall.

WeareproudoftheTVRClegacyandallofthosewhohavebeenpartofstewardingthatlegacythroughthegenerationsto today.Webelieveitisessentialthatwepreservetherichhistoryofthisplace,whichhasbeenanintegralpartofsomany people’slifestories.WeareexcitedtoannouncetheIKnowaPlaceArchivalProject.Thankstoagenerousgrantfroman alumniandadditionalinitialdonations,wearemovingforwardtoarchivephotosanddocuments,aswellascollecting importantmemorabiliatopiecetogetherthestoryofTVRC.Pleasebeonthelookoutforregularupdatesonthisprojectand opportunitiestogetinvolved Inthefall,wewillbelaun nnectwithourcamp communityandshareourTVRCmemoriestogether

DearFriendsofTetonValleyRanchCamp, I

Itcontinuestobeanhonortoservethisamazingorgani ndtheirfamilies.Weare gratefulforourcommunityandallthewaysyousuppo ndstaff,whowillbejoiningus injustafewweeks.

Program: WelcomingOurNewDirectorofAdvancement

WehavetheprivilegeofwelcomingHaleyPreston,ournewDirectorofAdvancement,totheteamthissummer. HaleyisjoiningusforthefirsttimeafterworkinginAdmissionandFinancialAidatanindependentschoolin Maine.Aswechargeaheadtoanotherunforgettablesummer,weareexcitedforyoutogettoknowHaleyasshe joinsusontheRanchinDubois.

What brings you to TVRC?

“Twothingsthatstoodouttomeimmediatelywerethestrengthandcare ofthecommunity.Itisobviousthatcamphasanincredibleimpactonthe livesofyoungpeopleandtofeelthepowerofacommunitythatbelievesso stronglyinensuringcampcontinuesinathoughtfulandintentionalwayis certainlysomethingthatdrewmein.

AsIthinkaboutwhereIamprofessionally,somethingI’velearnedabout myselfovertheyears,inboththerolesI’vehadandthroughtherolesI’ve exploredindifferentjobsearches,isthatIhavetobelieveinthemissionof whereIamworking.Thatbeliefinmissionissuchanimportantpartof, notonlyprofessionalenjoyment,butalsotheabilitytobeeffectiveina position.TherewasnodoubtinmymindthatIbelieved inTVRCfrom thefirstmomentandthatfeelingonlycontinuedtogrowthemoreI learned.

HaleyPreston

Iamalsodrawntotheopportunitytosupporttheexperienceofyoungpeopleintheircriticalyears,anobjective uponwhichmuchofmycareerhasbeenfocused.AsconversationscontinuedthroughoutmyinterviewprocessI grewmoreandmoreinspiredbytheTVRCphilosophiesandfoundmyselfwishingIhadknownaboutTVRC growingup.Iamexcitedtojoinanorganizationthathasalongstandinghistoryandtraditionpairedwitha thoughtfulandintentionalprogram.MyhopeistosupportthefutureofTVRCtoensuremanygenerationsof campershavetheopportunitytospendtheirsummerslearningandgrowingintheTetons.”

Did you go to camp growing up? If not, what was your introduction to the camp world before TVRC (if any)?

“Yes,butnotwiththesamestructureorsignificanceofexperienceastheTVRCprogram.Iwoulddoweek-long opportunitieshereandtherewithanumberofsportscampsinthemix.Mymostimpactfulcampexperience camefromgrowingupontheborderoftheCuyahogaValleyNationalParkandattendingaweek-longcampat theCuyahogaValleyEnvironmentalEducationCenter.Ilearnedallaboutthepark’sbiodiversity,theimpactsof itsdifferentecosystems,andcametounderstandmyroleinthenaturalworld.

ThatexperiencewasonethatreallyguidedmetowardstheeducationalopportunitiesIpursuedinthefuture, frommycourseselectionthroughouthighschoolandcollegetospendingasemesteratHighMountain InstituteinColorado.HighMountainInstitutewasacapstoneenvironmentaleducationexperienceforme andledmetofindprofessionalopportunitiesthatincorporatedabalanceofoutdooreducationoroutdoor access.LivinginMaine,Ihavecertainlyhadgreataccess,butlivinginTetonCountyisunparalleledwhenit comestohowthatoutdooraccesscanpositivelyimpactlearningopportunities”

What is it about the intersection of education and the outdoors has you excited to join the Team and dive into the summer camp industry?

“Thereisincrediblevalueandpowerinfacingchallengesinoutdoorsettings,oftenasagroup,whereyouare learninghowtoleadandfollowpairedwithdevelopinganunderstandingofyourresponsibilityasan individualinthenaturalworld. Ithinktohavethoseexperiencesasayoungperson,whetherit becomesthe focalpointofyourlifeornot,equipsyouwithincrediblytransferablelessons.AtTVRCcampersarehaving theseexperienceswhilefeelingthecareandconnectionofthecommunity,allowingforintentional conversationsandgrowthopportunitiesoverthecourseofasummerseason Theintersectionoftheeducation andtheoutdoorsthatTVRCcanprovideisinvaluable,andissomethingIfindinspiring.Ilookforwardto talkingtotheparentwhoisdroppingtheirchildofffortheirfirstsummeratTVRCandthenconnectingfour weekslatertohearaboutthegrowththeyseeintheirchild.ThosearetheconversationsandmomentsIam lookingforwardtothemost.”

What do you want the TVRC community to know about you?

“Mybackgroundisprimarilyineducationwithworkinindependentschoolsandafewyearscoachinglacrosse andfieldhockeyatthecollegelevel.TheconstantinmycareeristhatIhavesoughtexperiencesthatfocuson creatingopportunitiesandopeningdoorsforyoungpeoplewhoarelearning,growing,andfiguringthingsout.I wouldsaythatIampassionateaboutcreatingandleaningintogrowthopportunitiesforothers.Iwasgratefulto growupinindependentschoolcommunities,allofwhichhadaprofoundimpactonwhoIamtoday.Itwasmy gratitudeforthoseexperiencesthatsetmeonmycareertrajectory,ofwhichthisroleatTVRCisaverynatural progression.Ifeelaresponsibilitytogiveback,andtheDirectorofAdvancementroleisonewhereIfeelIcanbe connectedtothecommunityandsupportTVRC’sfutureinameaningfulway.

MygoalinthemonthsaheadistohaveconversationsandhearasmanyTVRCstoriesasIcan allowingmeto bestarticulatehowTVRChaschangedthelivesofitscampersandfamilies.Iamexcitedtoconnectwiththose associatedwithcamp,includingthosewhowehaven’theardfromrecently,andsharewherecampisnowwhile alsohighlightingtheroletheycanplayinsupportingTVRCmovingforward.Iwelcometheopportunityto scheduleaconversationwithanyonewhoiseagertoconnect!Personally,Iampassionateaboutbeingoutdoors andlovehiking,skiing,andplayinggolf.Sharingthoseactivitieswithfriendsandfamilyiswhatfillsmycup.To havemanyofthesepassionsintersectwithworkissomethingthatisexcitingtome.Ihavesomepersonal connectionstothewest,withtwosisterslivinginBoulder,CO,andtotheJacksonarea,spendingpartsof summersandholidaysatmygrandparentshouseinWilson.IgrewupdreamingoflivinginTetonCounty,which Iamsureisacommondreamformanykids,especiallyformerTVRCcampers.Iamgratefultohaveacareer opportunitythatalignswithmyprofessionalgoals,allowsmetomovetoJackson,andmostimportantly introducesmetoacaringcommunity.Iamexcitedtobeatcampthissummertoexperiencethemanytraditions IhaveheardaboutandseethemagicofTVRCinaction.”

Program: SeasonalStaffSpotlights

Eachsummerseason,wewelcomemorethana100summerstafftotheRanchtosupportouroperationsand createlife-changingexperiencesforourcampers.Wewouldliketotakeamomenttohighlightandcelebratea fewofourreturningstaffersandshowcasetheimpressiveworktheydowhentheyarenotwithusonthe Ranch.WeaskedeachoftheseindividualshowtheirexperiencesonstaffatTVRChavesupportedtheir pursuitsawayfromtheranch.

Hannah

King:

Head Pack-trip Leader- Fourth Season

HannahKing

Undergraduate:UniversityofNorthCarolina-ChapelHill

Major:Chemistry

“IamcurrentlyinmythirdyearofVeterinarySchoolatNorth CarolinaState.”

Hannah’s Comments:

“MyexperiencesworkingatTVRChaveallowedmetogrowmypersonal skillsandworkingtraitsthatarenottaughtintheclassroom.Inschool,we focusontheanimalscienceneededtobeasuccessfulveterinarian,butat TVRCIhavelearnedtoworkhard,beadaptableinchangingenvironments, haveflexibility,andworkwithallsortsofdifferentpeople.Byspendingmy summersatTVRCIcantakeastepawayfromthetextbooksandfocuson thoseessentialsoftskills.”

Jake Billington: Co-Head of Barn - Third Season

“ComingfromWrexham,Wales,Ididnothaveatraditional Universityexperience. AwayfromtheRanch,Iwork breakinghorsesinNewJerseyandFloridaforacontractor thatprovideshorsesfortheU.S.OlympicTeam.”

Jake’s Comments:

“InmyfirstyearatTVRCIlearnedaboutTheCodeofthe West.Twocodesinparticular,TakePrideinyourWork andDoWhathastobeDone,resonatedwithmeandare onesIincorporateintomydailylife. TVRChasbeengreat atteachingmethatnojobisbeneathyouand,insteadoftryingtogetoutofit,youwillaccomplishmoreifyou choosetogetintoit.Additionally,thecommunitythatyoubuildatTVRCgivesyouacompletelydifferent perspectiveonthecommunitiesyoubuildawayfromtheRanch.Forme,ithaschangedmyperspectivein termsofwhoIsurroundmyselfwithandtheimpactIhopetohaveonthepeopleIconnectwith.”

JakeBillington

Program: SeasonalStaffHighlights

melina Slinn: Logistics Manager - Third Season

Undergraduate:St.LawrenceUniversity

Major:Neuroscience

Minors:PublicHealth,Math

“AwayfromtheRanch,IamaBehavioralTherapistfor NeurodiverseChildren,specificallyearlyinterventionforchildren ontheautismspectrum.”

Melina’s Comments:

“TVRCteacheskidsthatoneofthemostvaluablelearning experiencesissteppingoutsideyourcomfortzoneand celebratesboththesuccessandfailuresthatcomewiththat.A quoteIuseinpracticeandatTVRCis,“Don’tdoforakidwhat theycanalmostdothemselves”.Iworkwithkidsone-on-oneas abehavioraltherapist.Thegoalistogivethemthetoolsthey

MelinaSlinn

Billy Gooch: Barn Staff - Fourth Season on Staff, 2019 Trailblazer

Undergraduate:UniversityofColorado

Major:MediaProduction

“IwillbeginmysophomoreyearattheUniversityof Coloradointhefall.”

Billy’s Comments:

BillyGooch needtohandlesituationsintherealworld,whichisexactlywhatTVRCdoeswiththeircampers.Itiscool toseetheparallelsinthework,fromaTrailblazerrunningtheirownbackpackingtriptoseeingastudentI workwithduringtheyearbeabletoregulatetheiremotionsandtheenvironmentaroundthem.”

“WhatisspecialaboutworkingatTVRCisthatitprovides anopportunityforyoungemployeestoassume responsibilitybeyondwhattheywouldonotherranchesor inotherprofessions.WorkingontheBarnStaffhasallowed

metolearnthelogisticsthatgointothebarnprogramandworkwithmanydifferenttypesofpeopleonthe staffandascampers.Whilethestakesfeelreallyhighthetruthisthatcamphasourbacksandwillsupport usifwemakeamistake.Workinghere,nomatterwhatprogram,allowsstaffmemberstobuildconfidence andgainprofessionalexperienceinahighstressbutlowstakesenvironment.”

Program: SeasonalStaffHighlights

Walker Bryant: Boys Season Counselor- Third Season

Undergraduate:UniversityofGeorgia

Major:ManagementInformationSystems

Minor:ComputerScience,LawJurisprudenceandTheState

“IntheFall,IambeginningmyMasterofScienceinBusiness AnalyticsatUGA”

Walker’s Comments:

“AsastaffmemberatTVRC,Ihavegainedsignificant leadershipexperienceworkingwithsomanydifferent individualsfromcamperstootherstaffmembers.Iamaware thatIamresponsibleforsettingagoodexampleandhopethat Iamshowingcamperswheretheycanbeintheirlife.Knowing thatmyexampleshowsthroughtotheyoungergeneration makesmeworkhardertoshowcamperstheycandoanything theysettheirmindto,eveniftheyfailattimes.

AtTVRC,wetalkaboutmeetingpeoplewheretheyare.Itisanessentialpartofsupportingcampersintheir experienceand,awayfromtheRanch,hashelpedmetofindcommongroundwithindividualswhenwe havediverseperspectives.”

WalkerBryant

News from the pony express

Milestone Updates

CrispinMuzzyNichols DanielNichols

LeslieMuzzyWalter JimWalter

Joe“JB”Billings Journeysofa

in memoriam

Itiswithgreatsadnessthatwesharethenewsofthepassing of and Lucy,an‘88 Trailblazer,isrememberedbyhercabin-matesasafierce friend DickwasaformerCamperParent,pastBoard Member,andanardentchampionofTVRC. LucyWest Richard“Dick”Niner

PureNaturalist

and weremarried onFebruary10,2024inMexico. and welcomedtheir secondchild,GrayCallahanWalteronMarch5,2023. publishedhisfirstbook, onApril15th.

Ifyouhaven'tupdatedyouraddressorcontactinformationwithusrecently,pleasefilloutour alumni informationupdateformusingtheQRcodeonthispageorbyvisitingourwebsiteat: https://www.tvrcamp.org/alumni-contact-updates Update your Information

Wrangler Flashback: Winter 1989

Wellit’supandoutearly,it’sthebreakofdawn.Rollout ofbedandpullmycowboybootson.Icansmellthose flapjackscooking,hearthesizzleinthepan.Oh,boy, we ’regoingonTheBreakfastRide.

Anewadditiontotheridingactivitieslastsummerwas thepopularBreakfastRide.Thecreakofthesaddle leatherandthemistybreathingofthehorsesintheearly morninglightisunforgettable Howaboutwatchinga spectacularTetonsunrisewhileriding–whatathrill! Earlymorningisagreattimetoseewildlife,too.

Acheery“hooowah!”greetsyouasyouapproachthe breakfastcamp.Juiceandhotchocolatearereadywith baconandastackoftastypancakes.Thewonderful smellsreallygetthetastebudshopping Sotieyour horseup,andcomeonoverbythecracklingfiretofill uponagoodheartybreakfast.

Aleisurelyridebacktothebarncapsoffagreat morning.Itishardtodescribethegoodfeelingonegets frombeingupearlytoseethedawnofanewday.

ApproachingtheCowboyKitchen,BreakfastRide2023 Priorto1989,BreakfastRides werenotpartoftheregular rotationofactivitiesforcampers butreservedforspecialtimesand specificagegroups.

The Foundation

TherebuildofEagles’Rest,astaffcabin, is completeandcannowhouseuptotwelvestaff membersin fourrooms,upfromhousingatotalof fivestaffmembersinthepreviousstructure.This winterwealsoaddedthreemorehorsestothe TVRCherd:Daisy,a12year-oldmare;Reba,a4 year-oldmare;andBigRed,a9year-oldgeldingthat standsat16.3hands.ElsewherearoundtheRanch, yourgiftsaremakingadifference,too,withmajor repairstothehoodventsystemintheKitchen currentlyinprocessandtheinstallationofanew convectionoven.

Thiswinterwealsowrappedupour85kfor85 campaignthroughtheTVRCxSilverOak Fundraiserwithagrandtotalof $86,780raised. Thankyoutoeveryonewhocontributedtothis effort–yourcontinuedsupportmakeseverythingwe dopossible.

TVRC Archive Project

WeareexcitedtolaunchtheIKnowaPlace ArchivalProjectthisfall.Thisprojectincludes collecting,safelyarchiving,andshowcasingour importantdocuments,photos,andmorefromour pastsowecanbettertellthestoriesofourhistory. Pleasebeonthelookoutforthelaunchofour Alumniwebpagethisfalltofollowthisprojectand learnhowtogetinvolved.Ifyoudon’talready, followusonFacebookandInstagramand subscribetoourYoutube.Pleaseshareyour memorieswithus–written,photographed,or otherwise.

Ifyouareinterestedinsupportingourongoing worktomaintaintheRanchFacilityandkeep TVRCaccessibleforyearstocome,youcancontact PaigeNielsen(pnielsen@tvrcamp.org)orHaley Preston(hpreston@tvrcamp.org)andgiveonline at:

https://www.tvrcamp.org/foundation/givingto-tvrc/donation-form.