I must admit, I have never been an intern. In high school I mowed lawns, worked in a golf shop, was a page in the Illinois senate, was a paperboy and had a few other memorable jobs before I went to college. In college, a friend handed me a piece of paper and told me that she thought I would fit in at her camp: Teton Valley Ranch Camp.  Before I came onto the full time team, I had been a counselor, a trip leader and a discovery director. Since 1999, in the summer months, I have never left the ranch. Consequently, I never received the title of intern.  So, I do not know what really happens as an intern, although I have talked with countless folks that have given me the rundown of their varying experiences.

During all my years here, I have seen many friends come and go. Many left because of the commonly held notion that they needed to pursue the internship to get ahead in the job scramble post college. I do not blame those folks, because society has put some value in this experience. But after I have discussed what their summer was like as an intern, I wonder why more value is placed on an internship over working at camp.

When I was 19, I was given a dozen 11-year-old boys to have under my care. Matt Montagne told me that for the next month, I was to be their role model, their friend, their care giver and their parent. I was to remind them to brush their teeth at night and I was to report their progress to their parents. I was to console them when they were homesick and encourage them when they were down. I was to work almost 30 straight days, for 24 hours a day, and I was to be driven not by a big paycheck, but by the goal of making a positive impact on the life of a child.

At 21, I was given the job of taking kids on backpacking trips into the wilderness of Wyoming. During those trips, I had to manage risks, watch the horizon, be the parent and the medical clinic to each child. I had the pleasure of planning the food and the route. I had to motivate these kids up peaks and over trails, get the group to work together and achieve goals, file pre- and post-trip reports on each child and then turn right around after I got back and do it again.  I worked for pennies on the dollar all to make a difference in our campers’ lives.  Looking back, I can’t believe the amount of work experience I received at such a young age.

My story is not unusual. I saw it happen with many of my peers at the ranch and hundreds of staff members that I have employed. I see the growth of our staff members who I know are picking up skills that will make them the best and the brightest in the workforce. At a young age, our staff members are learning true responsibility: how much more real does it get than caring from someone else’s child? They learn planning, presentation skills, critical thinking, team building: if you get a cabin of 12 year old boys to work together to cook dinner and do the dishes, I think you have a good foundation for future team development! Each of these summer camp employees quickly picks up the skills of being a self-starter: how can you not be in such a purpose driven organization? 

I look forward to the day that our society begins to opt for those summer camp professionals who have built their resumes on working long hours, with little pay for such an important purpose.  And it is my hope that businesses will soon realize that one of the great gems of workforce development that our country has is in the summer camp industry.

Until then, I look forward to welcoming the next group of future leaders of America to our camp for staff training in a few weeks!  And after this summer (my last at TVRC), you can bet that when I look at someone’s resume, I will be looking for the work experience at a summer camp.

It is grit that helps our Wranglers reach the peak of Static after a grueling early morning hike.

It is curiosity that helps our Yearlings choose something new, like Lapidary, as they work to complete their adventure group sheets.

It is conscientiousness that reminds our Rough Riders to scrub every last plate in the campsite when it is their turn to do scullery.

It is self-regulation that holds our Top Hands back from the piles of flapjacks and fresh fruit after a long, early morning Breakfast Ride.

And it is optimism that inspires our Trailblazers come back and work at camp, knowing that they can have a positive influence on the next generation of campers.

As we think about the Presidential Inauguration earlier this week, and reflect upon the election process in general, we are always reminded of one particularly special tradition at camp….

The Mayor and Sheriff of TVRC!

The tradition of selecting a mayor and sheriff of camp goes back for decades.  At the end of camp every year, boys and girls campaign for the title.  There are many great parts to this historic camp tradition:

• The speeches are typically whimsical and fantastic, with promises of infinite guzzles and the permanent imprisonment of Black Bart.
• Candidates range in age from Yearling to Trailblazer.  Campers from all adventure groups are eligible for either title.
• In typical camp fashion, candidates often deliver their speeches wearing costumes.
• The inauguration ceremony is a culminating moment where each elected official must take the oath of office – with right hands on the Dubois phone book, they swear to uphold the character of camp as they get an egg cracked on their head and are thrown into Lake Lebato! 
• During the inauguration, all of the different ‘parties’ throughout camp and all of the other candidates come together to celebrate the election of their new leaders.

The crowning moment for the Mayor and Sherriff, is the inauguration speech they give during Final Rodeo’s Final Campfire.  These two elected officials take center stage, in front of campers, staff, families and friends, and reflect publically upon what camp means to them.  Friendship, courage, perseverance, learning, challenge, and appreciation… it is a moment of unity for all present, as two campers charge the entire community to reflect upon the many things which make us proud to be a part of Teton Valley Ranch Camp.

About a month ago, I graduated with my Executive MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.  The two year journey to get the MBA was both enlightening and unforgettable.  There are countless individuals I need to thank for helping me through.  These people range from my immediate family, to TVRC-EF’s board of directors, to the amazing staff at TVRC… and even to the campers who helped me work through a few of my projects over the past two summers (especially to everyone who helped with the Ramen noodles!).  To all of you, thank you.

When I graduated, my class decided that I should be the one to give the commencement address. I was humbled and honored by the opportunity to speak on behalf of such high quality and highly qualified individuals. I won’t bore you all with the whole speech, but here is an excerpt that I think will resonate with our camp community.

In my mind, the word ‘diploma’ in this speech could be replaced with ‘Rough Rider patch’ or ‘Trailblazer medal,’ etc. Further, when I discuss the journey I went on with my classmates I think you could replace those experiences with the profound lessons that are learned each day at the ranch.

Whether it be graduating from business school, or hiking Static Teton, don’t forget about the journey that got you there when you enjoy the view from the peak.

From Olin School Graduation December 7^th, 2012
Tom Holland

…Well, before we receive the final takeaway in our diploma, I would like to leave us all with one more.

When we receive that certificate it will become the key takeaway for many of us. We will go home and find a nice frame and maybe put it in our den or our office. When we frame that important and valuable memento from this program, it is my hope that it serves to remind us of the way that we embraced the challenge these last 20 months.

It is my hope that this diploma will serve as a reference point to the key lessons from this adventure.  It will serve to help us remember the journey that this was.  When we look at it and remember that lots of ramen tastes really bad, and recall that red elephant exercises made us better with financials; and we understand that the boolwhip effect can happen in any part of any operation; and we are aware that after our performance in statistics class that we all will need to hire a good statistician; and we understand that we will always have an amazing support team in our families; and we appreciate that Royals fans and Cardinals fans are all pretty darn good people; …. Well, then that takeaway will provide us meaning for life.

You see, from my short life experiences, I have found that the takeaway, the lesson, the peak, the gorgeous view, is that much more valuable when you factor in the journey that got you to that moment.

Too often, people yearn for the short cut. For the easy way to make a dollar, the corner to cut or the quickest way to get a diploma. They want the picture from the top of the mountain but they do not want to hike to get there.

Just by choosing this program, we embraced the hike, the slog, the long trail and now as we wrap up and go our separate ways we must continue to opt for the challenge.

Go the extra mile in our business ventures.  Take chances and fail.  Take chances and succeed. When we do, the failures will be the lessons that we remember and that will make those successes all the sweeter. 

And from my expertise, I can assure you that the view from the top of the mountain is sweeter when you have worked to achieve the peak rather than being placed on top… 

Here’s to all the great journeys of TVRC!

 

Thanks to everyone in the TVRC community for a great summer of 2012!  With 135 boy and 135 girl campers, a packed house for our midsummer event, another great TVR-Expedition, and a terrific Family Camp, we had so much fun spending our summer months with all of you.

As we wrap up 2012, we now begin to look forward to the summer of 2013 and all the excitement it will bring.  2013 will be Teton Valley Ranch Camp’s 75^th summer – truly a time to celebrate! Boys’ and girls’ season will operate normally, but between sessions we will host a multitude of events to commemorate the success of camp over the past 75 years.

On Friday, July 12^th we will host Ranch Day on the ranch in Dubois as a way to connect all friends of camp, past and present, with our fantastic property.  Ride a horse, rope the jack, and visit the archery range; all of camp’s program activities will be a part of the celebration!  At the end of the day there will be a barbeque at the ranch, followed by a campfire of the ages for your family to enjoy.  You can even spend the night at camp by renting a cabin or reserving a tent site!

Then on Saturday, July 13^th please join us in Jackson for the 75^th Anniversary Celebration, which will be held at the Snake River Ranch.  This evening will include dinner and an auction, paired with music and dancing as we celebrate the legacy of TVRC.  We would love to see any and all camp alumni, parents, and friends at this spectacular event in Jackson Hole!

You can learn more about the weekend of celebrations on our website at www.tvrcamp.org/75. Help us spread the word!

This fall, we are also excited to announce that enrollment for all of our programs has gone digital.  As we continue to maintain environmental stewardship as a keystone value, and after 74 years of hard copy applications and enrollment paperwork, we identified our camper and staff application process as an opportunity to reduce our waste.  Consequently, this year we committed ourselves to ‘go online’ and save the paper we previously used for these processes.  We hope that our parents and staff will value the new service, and we appreciate your understanding as we make this big switch!

Finally, we want to thank everybody for the financial support we received towards our other ‘green’ initiative this year: the construction of our new Discovery Cabin. The final touches of the building were being put in by the end of girls’ season, and the solar panels will be attached this fall.  We look forward to all the environmental education that will occur in this building for years to come, and thank you again for your support.

The management team is back in the Jackson office now, so feel free to contact us any time with questions, or just to stay in touch!

Here’s to a great 2012 season, and to TVRC’s 75^th summer fast approaching!!!!

For many, the peak is the destination.  To overcome adversity, climb the rock and enjoy the views on top, marks the culmination of a wonderful trip. 

For those of us at TVRC, the big lesson we teach in hiking is that the peak is just another step in a grand journey. For some that journey is Static backpack, Jackson Peak backpack, the Lake of the Crags hike or Darwin backpack.  But for many of us, the analogy of hiking is that of being on life’s grand journey.

Here at TVRC, we do not just teach the hard skills of putting one step in front of the other, of packing your backpack correctly or waterproofing your boots.  Here, we put a special emphasis on the journey that each of us is on.  It’s about looking at the map and identifying the day’s destination.  It’s about knowing where you have come from and knowing where you are going.  It’s about understanding how to handle the sun, the rain and how to smile with your friends on your journey up and down the mountain.

As previously stated, we find that life is analogous with the hike. With ups and downs, peaks and valleys, solo trips and trips with cabin mates, we hope our campers are taught not only how to excel at hiking, but also to excel in life’s grand journey as well.  It is our belief that too much of our lives today are spent in the hike looking down at our feet, just trying to put one foot in front of the other.  The TVRC camper is taught that putting one foot in front of the other means that so much will be missed along the journey.  Consequently, we teach our campers to hike with a goal, recognize the trail you have been on and take time to enjoy the people and scenery around you.

Here’s to all the great trails (and journeys) all of us are on!

Think of wrangling fifty head of horses as the rising sun glints off of dew soaked willows.  Imagine racing around barrels during your first ever rodeo with a crowd of campers and counselors cheering you on.  Dream of riding over the “edge of world” on horseback as your pack string sets off into the Teton Wilderness on your first JD pack trip.

These experiences will be your reality at Teton Valley Ranch Camp, where horseback riding has remained at the core of camp’s curriculum since 1939.

The relationship between a rider and a horse is a magical thing.  Not only is it a technical skill which very few people possess these days.  But it can also serve as a means for eliciting many of the character traits which we hope our campers learn at camp (e.g. patience, focus, empathy). 

Moreover, learning to ride is a critical part of our western heritage.  While some might find passion in lapidary, riflery, or fly fishing, the common experience that unites every single camper at TVRC is that of working with horses.

The very first activity campers will take part in when they arrive each summer is The Barn Show, which will begin their adventure with our horses.  At The Barn Show, campers will become acquainted with our barn team and all the activities in which they might be able to participate.  In the following days, they will each take part in First Degree, our introduction to horses and the practices we at TVRC use in and around the barn.  As the summer progresses, campers will have the opportunity to sign up for trail rides, play games in the pasture, practice rodeo events at gymkhana, and participate in horsemanship.  Their experience of western riding will culminate with a multi-day pack trip into some of Wyoming’s most amazing wilderness areas.

If campers have never been around a horse before, we will take time to gradually acquaint them with our equine friends and how to ride them safely.  If campers have ridden for their entire lives, we will help them to improve their skills and broaden their experience.  As campers progress through our program summer after summer, and as their comfort and intimacy with horses grow, new responsibilities and challenges are posed to further increase their proficiency and knowledge.

All of this education starts with the barn team and extends throughout our entire staff, who will look to every moment a child is on or near a horse as a teachable one.  The final goal for our horseback riding program is that each camper will sit tall in the saddle with confidence.  We at TVRC truly believe that the old adage rings true for all of our campers…

‘A camper who sits tall in the saddle, walks a little taller too.’

There are many times that I am guilty of not practicing what I preach. Unfortunately, this is even true when it comes to two core lessons we hope to impart on our campers and staff: appreciation and gratitude.

I know we all have found that things can get going pretty fast in our jam-packed year-round lives with school and work and various other obligations. Our busy schedules have us rushing from one thing to the next, until it seems like we even have to pencil in our bedtimes! While it is a great feeling to be working hard and occupied by the things you love, this lifestyle leaves little time to stop and appreciate the world around us and to feel grateful for the support of our family and friends.

Too often in my daily rush I forget to reflect upon the amazing things and people around me. It happens in the moments that I race to the ranch for a quick meeting, and forget to look out the window at the towering Tetons to the west. It happens in the moments when I'm on the road for the Roundup Tour, and I forget to thank the kind and generous members of our camp community as they open their homes to TVRC. It happens when I cram hiking, fishing, and barbecue all into one sunny weekend, and I forget to appreciate my friends and family for being there through both rainy days and sunny adventures. It is in these moments of lapsed appreciation that I forget to live like we do every day at camp.

That is why I live for summer: because appreciation and gratitude abound in everything we do at camp.

In the world outside our gates, people spend a great deal of time wanting what they don't have; but in our community, we live in a culture where campers and staff take pride in their own successes, and take just as much pride in the accomplishments of others. We encourage our campers to reflect upon and appreciate the journey they and their peers share: how far they have come and where they might go next. We seek to instill in each camper an appreciation for themselves, and for their community. To appreciate the value and contributions of others is vital to the success of each TVRC participant, for it is this support which carries us all through each amazing summer.

Finally, our campers learn to feel grateful for amazing natural Wyoming ecosystem where they will live for a month. I love the way we appreciate the sun and the rain at camp, using all five senses to reflect upon the miracle of the nature around us. We take pause to listen to wind rolling up the valley. We take pause to smell the pine bark after a summer storm, so strong you can almost taste it. We take pause to let fresh mountain streams tickle our tired feet after a full day of hiking. We take pause to wonder at the brightness of a nighttime Wyoming sky.

We try not to let anyone go anywhere at camp without having a time for reflection and thankfulness. This goes for our staff as well. For those of you who were staff members in recent years, you will appreciate the memories of "neat things" - a time during staff meetings where we go around room and share our thankfulness for the work of our peers above and beyond the call of duty. "Neat things" embodies the sort of community and culture we strive for each summer, recognizing and calling attention to those around us who have offered unexpected help, done a terrific job engaging campers in an activity, or who simply make us smile.

In the spirit of appreciation, and as I try to spend more time giving thanks from September to June, I want to give my "neat things" for the day. This one goes to the person who can always make me smile, and who constantly reminds me why I am so fortunate to have her as my best friend. Here's to Cath, my loving wife, with a big summer ahead and our beautiful third daughter born on Monday, April 23^rd; you define neat.

I am a residential camp convert.  That is to say, as a kid, I never went to sleep-away summer camp.  This is a hard fact for many to believe, but it is true: the residential camp experience was first introduced to me by TVRC, as a 19 year old counselor.

By this point in my life, I had been exposed to some basic elements of community living – having just finished my first year at Washington University living in Umrath Hall.  Still, my experience living amongst others in close proximity was pretty limited.

Sure, I knew bunk beds.  I still remember the first night that “my room” became “Tom and Jack’s room.”  The sleeping arrangement was set up for what has become a tradition of brotherhood: shared bunk beds.  As the older brother, I was on the bottom and Jack took the top. He was my little brother, but for those of you who know us now (Jack worked at TVRC for 6 years), Jack is not so little any more.   Nevertheless, up until a few years back (when my wife entered the picture), I still claimed the bottom bunk and Jack still the top…the weathered bed scaring me with every rattle and creak.

Sharing a room with my brother, and living in a freshman dorm at WashU… that was the extent of my experience with community living.  I was a novice, and when I rolled into camp, that feeling really hit home.  But, what I soon learned at TVRC was that community living is at the core of the camp experience. 

Community living is what makes residential camp different from day camp.  Living together in a cabin, 10 strangers become a tight-knit family by the end of their month on the ranch.  In a setting like TVRC, there is no hiding when you are tired or cranky, when you need to wash your clothes or clean up your trunk.  You learn to share with others and respect their property – skills that took me and Jack years to really learn (in fact, I think he still has a few of my baseball cards…). 

You learn when to respect others’ privacy, and when to ask them to open up.  You learn that some people fall asleep reading books, while others value their quiet time writing letters.   You learn which of your counselors is better at roping, and which of your peers will help you clean up your trunk.

Most importantly, you learn to live with and respect those people who are not a part of your immediate family.   Respect is discussed with each cabin by our counselors on the very first night of camp, and it translates to our entire community for the duration of camp.

A nervous mother was leaving her daughter on arrival day.  This was her child’s first time away from home and the mom was concerned about her month long stay in western Wyoming.  She looked at me and explained that her daughter had had a tough year.  She had been struggling in school; not only with grades, but also with making friends and trying new things.   To see her child succeed in something was all that the mother wanted and she worried if the TVRC experience might be too much for the girl.

In her final moments with me, she asked me the question that I knew would be on every new camp mother’s mind: Tom, am I making a mistake here?

Fast forward three months.

I am sitting at my desk.  It is the quiet, beautiful autumn time of year in Jackson Hole.  Our days in the Jackson office are spent closing down the past summer, and starting to think about the next.  I receive a letter in the mail and I know immediately that it is from that same nervous mother.  A portion of the letter went something like this:

‘Dear Tom,

What a difference a summer at camp can make for a child.  This week, I was informed by my daughter’s advisor that she had taken on new honor’s level class in school and that she would soon be trying out for the sports team.  Her grades have drastically improved and she is energized by a new spirit.  When the advisor asked her, what had changed her attitude over the summer, she said a place called Teton Valley Ranch Camp.

Her advisor then asked what was TVRC, and how can we get all of his students in the program!’

Some folks say that what we do at TVRC is magical.  But all of us who know the program well, know that magic has nothing to do with it.  What we do is locate a child’s inner confidence, we expose it and then we encourage them to run with it, to strengthen it.  Sometimes the best way to do this is out in the mountains, sometimes it is at the nightly campfire, or at a Sunday rodeo.

Whatever the avenue, it is our hope that campers carry this confidence with them into the rest of the world when they depart the ranch.  Many campers, like the one described above, take their newly found confidence to even greater levels at home, continuing to push themselves to be better people outside the ranch gates.  This is the real value of camp.

We at camp do not perform magic to miraculously change our campers overnight.  There is no spell or sorcery that can change a child’s personality.  Instead, TVRC provides opportunities for campers to explore confidence, testing their own limits and developing the strength of character to try new things, to succeed, and to fail.  We instructors at camp do not perform magic, but with a little bit of confidence, our campers often do.

* The young camper described above is doing fantastic, returned to camp for many years and is one of the most confident and positive young adults I know... her mother is doing great as well!

Peace, I ask of thee, o River.
Peace, peace, peace.
When I learn to live serenely,
Cares will cease.

From the hills I gather courage,
Visions of the days to be.
Strength to lead and faith to follow,
All are given unto me.

Peace I ask of thee, o River.
Peace, peace, peace.

Every night at camp, we end campfire by singing Peace of the River.  To all of us at TVRC, this song is more than just a chance to wind down and wrap up a wonderful day of adventure.  To all of us, it is a reminder of TVRC’s call for us to live as leaders with the strength to lead and the faith to follow.   This familiar and powerful refrain highlights a key feature of the sort of leadership we aim to promote at camp: just as important as the ability to take charge and claim responsibility, is the ability to learn from and trust others who may step forward.

During the summer we encourage our campers to turn their unique experiences and particular skills into opportunities for leadership.  Working on a cabin art project, one might hear a counselor recognize that “Sally is a great artist so maybe she can help us design the cabin plaque!”  On a trip, campers will often highlight the talents of their peers and encourage leadership: “Charlie loves to cook, so maybe he can make the first night’s dinner and we can learn from him.”  With camp’s constant emphasis on teamwork, opportunities abound for each and every camper to experience a leadership role.

Not only is each member of camp encouraged to step up when they have a leadership skill to share, but each member is also encouraged to learn from others when someone else takes the lead.  Our campers soon learn that while Sally and Charlie may be “in charge” for the current project, they are not the only leaders in the group; instead, every single group member exhibits leadership in their attentiveness and respect.  Only in this way will the team’s efforts succeed, and only this way will group members receive the same treatment when it is their turn to take charge.

We don’t expect many of our campers to arrive at TVRC with a perfect understanding of this mantra.  Many campers will volunteer to lead in every single possible instance; just as many would prefer never to lead at all.  We work with our staff to recognize that each and every camper has the ability both to lead and to follow, and our staff work with campers to expand their comfort zones and to practice both.  Through their experiences in these different roles within various group settings, campers’ leadership skills will grow and pay dividends for the rest of their lives.

We believe that the recognition of other peoples’ skills and the ability to learn from them, paired with the confidence to step forward and to take charge are powerful lessons to learn as an adolescent.  Life will be spent working with others, and the true leader is the one who has both the strength to lead, and the faith to follow.

Final rodeo days are always emotional.  It is the day when campers are reunited with parents after a month of independence, when campers begin saying goodbye to new friends, and when everyone at camp gets to celebrate the accomplishments of each and every camper during their month on the ranch.

By my calculations I have now been to 26 final rodeos.  It is interesting to think that I have spent almost a month of my life on these special days.  With that said, in all my years with TVRC, there is one interaction with a camper on a final rodeo day that stands out in my mind.  The exchange went something like this...

During the final moments of the final day, a boy camper approached me with tears streaming down his face (for those of you who have never attended a TVRC Final Rodeo, this is a pretty normal occurrence as the campers prepare to leave the special place they have called home for the past few weeks).  I went up and gave him a hug, looked him in the eyes and reminded him of the critical messages of the day:

Think of all you have accomplished in four weeks.  Now, go make the world a better place because of what you have lived here.  Have more adventures, climb more peaks!  And we cannot wait to keep the adventure going with you next summer.

I thought my delivery had been good, and that 12 year old boy would be able to shake off the tears and get in to his parent’s car which was now full with his trunk, duffel, lariat and cowboy hat.  But the boy thought otherwise, and he reminded me that I forgot one of the most important elements of what makes TVRC special. He responded, through the tears:

Tom, you just don’t get it. I plan to live the way I lived here.  But you just have to understand… Here, I am someone.  Here, people treat me with respect. Here, I am cool.

I think that interaction occurred around seven years ago and it just about sums up why I continue to love what we do at TVRC. At TVRC, we are not just a place where fun and adventure happen every day.  Camp is so much more than that.  At TVRC, we create an environment where everyone is respected, everyone is the most popular kid in the class, and everyone is ‘cool.’  Our staff and campers perpetuate a culture where bullies are not cool and everyone, no matter who they might be back in middle school, is respected as a person of value.   

To many of us associated with TVRC, these two qualities come hand-in-hand with the environment that becomes our home in the summer. Like most of these skills we are discussing, these traits are demonstrated in how we live at the camp.  From Arrival Day to Final Rodeo, the surrounding environment offers us plenty of opportunities to model these skills for each other, and provides for incredible growth in a short amount of time.

It takes courage for a 12 year old to go out to Wyoming for a summer not knowing a single person at their destination.

It takes resiliency to continue hiking through snow to reach your intended campsite.

It takes courage to stand in front of a crowd and play a guitar solo;

And it takes resiliency to get back up and do it again, even when you made a mistake the first time.

The opportunities for these lessons at camp are limitless, and we instruct our staff in recognizing courage and resiliency in our campers so that they can praise and support those efforts.  Oftentimes courage is associated with simple brute strength. At TVRC, however, we associate courage with having the inner strength to lead. Resiliency is often found to be a quality that helps one overcome some obstacle. We associate resiliency with seizing the opportunity that exists in every hill to climb and every storm to weather.  Sure, overcoming these obstacles will be important, but by looking at every obstacle as an opportunity, we believe we are instilling in our campers a sense of resiliency that will last a lifetime.      

At TVRC, we find that it feels good to be feeling good. Consequently, we try to teach this very basic idea to all of our campers.  Now, this does not mean that we are not without our rainy days at camp.  However, what we do with a rainy day is search for the opportunities that might accompany that event.

From our standpoint, optimism is first learned by tasting success.  This success will serve as a reference point for all of our campers when the rainy days do happen.  So, we celebrate each and every small victory of our campers.  We then revisit those successes during our evening sessions called ‘cabin business.’

‘Cabin business’ is a time where optimism and positivity are modeled by our counseling staff.   First, campers will be asked to share the highlights of their day (these are the successes that we strive to celebrate).  The highlights might be as minor as making a necklace in lapidary or as major as completing their Rough Rider sheet.  Whatever it is, we offer our positive feedback and praise. Then, the camper reflects on those things that were challenging for them.  These oftentimes can be viewed by many as the rainy days where a good attitude could get thrown out the window.  Our counselors also have learned to question our campers on the opportunities that might exist with that challenge or low point in the day. Cabin business always concludes with every camper answering what they are looking forward to the next day.

This daily practice begins to form a foundation of positivism that exists in everyone who is at the ranch. Still, times do exist when people can get down at camp or when on a long hike, so when our staff sees that negativity, they seek to squash it by once again embracing the opportunities of that challenge. They look to past successes of the camper to serve as examples of high points and they call on those experiences to remind the camper of the feelings they could be having at that very moment. As the camper grows through our program, this role of motivator is often taken up by other campers. Further, by the time the camper is a Wrangler or Trailblazer one can see that even during down times, a positive feeling will come over a camper, which tells us that they have learned this skill well.

As our campers grow up, they will encounter endless opportunities to be a part of a team.  For each of them, being on a ‘team’ might look a bit different.  For some, it will occur on a playing field, for others it will occur in their college studies as they prepare a project with a group.  As they advance beyond high school and college they will find teams to be a part of their professional workplaces and will feel like a part of a team as they raise their children with their spouse.   To fully understand teamwork and what it means to be a team player is a powerful character trait that will be vitally important to the growth of our campers.  Consequently, it has become one of the essential skills we hope to impart on each of them during their time at the ranch.

The idea of ‘team’ is so ingrained in what we do at camp that we hire our staff based upon their ability to be a great team member.  Additionally, our staff training is a two week lesson on how to be a part of a great team and how to encourage a sense of teamwork in all we do.

But while this trait is at the core of all we do, imparting a sense of teamwork on our campers is a more challenging task.  It is our hope that by the end of camp, campers are better team players through the experiences that they had at camp.  Further, we hope that each camper will be able to recall a time when they worked well as a team during their time at camp.  We have found that this reference point serves as a powerful teaching tool when other instances that demand a sense of team occur in the non-camp months. 

The first thing we do to establish good team skills is to empower our campers to get to know each other. This is done in the early part of camp through ‘get-to-know-you’ games and talking sessions like ‘cabin business.’  Usually, these sessions are facilitated by our counselors and trip leaders who encourage the group to share their likes and interests. Later, the collective experiences of camp (like backpacks, pack trips and rodeos) really assist our campers in getting to know each other.  In these instances, we encourage campers to share what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are and where they want to grow.

When this knowledge is established, we then work to foster their skills as a good team member.  First we work with them on listening skills.  This often occurs during campfire and during cabin business where we talk about the respect we should give each and every individual.  Additionally, we work on the recognition of others’ skills. This occurs in a variety of different venues from backpacking trips to campfire to riflery. As campers begin to recognize and appreciate the skills of others, they grow themselves as they look to those individuals for help and also know when to call upon these ‘experts’ when their knowledge is imperative.

Finally, we put all this knowledge to the test by presenting our groups of campers with tasks that must be completed as a team.  Through our separate adventure groups (Yearling, Rough Rider, etc) these tasks become more extensive as time goes on.  So, as a Yearling group the task might be to get the dishes done on a pack trip after a meal while our Trailblazers are tasked to prepare and plan a whole seven day backpacking trip. The skills necessary to complete both tasks are based on the foundational skills of teamwork we hope to impart on each of our campers.

With the fun and exciting challenges growing for our campers as they advance with our program, it is our hope that so too will their teamwork skills. Consequently, when they need the skills in the future, they will be able to reference the great ‘team’ they were a part of as Wranglers or when they planned all their trips as Trailblazers.

 I find that many people are curious as to the ‘curriculum’ of TVRC.  While the word curriculum likely elicits visions of textbooks, microscopes and final exams, all of us at TVRC pride ourselves on the skills we teach our campers and the techniques used to teach these skills. So, in an effort to define those things, today we begin a blog series that seeks to elaborate on our ’curriculum.’

But to understand what and how we teach, you first must know that we expect that our campers will come away from TVRC with some very tangible ‘hard skills’ and some less tangible but easily distinguishable ‘soft skills.’  Over the next couple of months, this series will seek to analyze both the hard and soft skills that we hope our campers gain from their time in Wyoming. Further, we will seek to demonstrate how we ‘teach’ these skills. 

Some of the skills that will be discussed are a real part of the ‘character education’ that TVRC offers. Often referred to as ‘soft skills,’ we prefer to view them as components of being a good leader and a great person. I will cover one of the following attributes each week:

• Teamwork
• Positivity and Optimism
• Resiliency and Courage
• Creativity
• Respect for others and  the environment 
• Leadership through the strength to lead and the faith to follow
• Confidence
• Community Living
• Gratitude and Appreciation (for others, for the environment and for ourselves)

In addition to character education, it is our hope that campers come away from their time in Wyoming with ‘hard skills’ that make them more capable outdoorsmen/women, better horsemen/women or  better artists or fishermen/women. After reviewing each of the soft skills, I will explore the hard skills – covering one skill each week. The core competencies of our curriculum are as follows:  

• Horseback riding
• Hiking.
• Camping
• Fishing
• Target sports
• Arts and Crafts
• Environmental Education
• Music
  
  Please check back in next week to learn more about teamwork and how we hope to instill this skill in our campers.

There’s a Chinese proverb that goes something like this:

‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time, is today.’

Twenty years from now, the campers of Teton Valley Ranch Camp will take that proverb to heart as they admire the work of the campers who came 20 years before them.

This year, as a part of the TVRC Forest Legacy Project, TVRC came together as a community to tackle the pine bark beetle epidemic which has adversely altered the forests around the camp. Donors provided the funds to plant trees. Local organizations supported our efforts by donating their services and time, and campers and staff donated their hands and hearts as they planted over 700 new trees on the camp property.  The effort once again defined the strength of the TVRC community who continually come together to positively impact the lives of our youth.

The Forest Legacy Project began in 2010 as an idea by campers to combat the pine bark beetle.  Through their lessons in TVRC’s environmental education program, called Discovery, campers mapped out a three pronged battle plan to combat the beetle.

First, we would preserve the forests that had not been affected by the beetle.  With the help of organizations like Firewise Landscapes, Inc., TVRC sprayed trees with a coating that would protect the them from further infestation during the summer bug season.

Next, we would foster new growth. This is where our campers really got their hands dirty!  With their help and support, 700 new trees were planted around the main corridor of camp. It is our hope that these trees will grow into tomorrow’s forest for all campers to appreciate.

Finally, we would mitigate risks.  Dead trees can be fantastic for wildlife, but they can also be hazardous around buildings (due to wind) and when they are tightly packed together (due to wildfire).  Consequently, we left some dead trees for the natural wildlife, but removed many trees with the help of our friends at Firewise Landscapes, Inc.

We would like to thank everyone for their support with this project, it is one that we hope to continue well into the future of TVRC.

After 73 years, one would think it would be easy to narrow down what we stand for at TVRC.  Still, this winter, we called upon an old friend to sit down with us and help us define what make us one of the finest summer camps in the country.   The goal was simple, set us on a strategic course that would renew itself after our 75 years in operation (we have 2 more years to go!). But while the goal was simple, the process of defining our tactics, our mission, our vision and our core values as an organization was exponentially more challenging.

But after careful consultation with ourselves and some of constituents, here is what we came up with for our core values (or that which defines us):

Core Values and Beliefs (those guiding principles that steer our organization) 

We believe in…

* Children

* Community, where the value of every person is nurtured

* Timeless heritage of the American West

* Leadership: strength to lead, faith to follow

* The imperative of environmental stewardship

* Growing through the challenge and adventure of every experience

* Legacy and traditions of Teton Valley Ranch Camp

Wonderful blog post by John Gans, executive director of NOLS.  His thoughts echo what we hope our campers gain from spending time with us in the backcountry of Wyoming.

‘Extended wilderness expeditions develop one's understanding of leadership, teamwork, ethics and judgment. Connecting with the wild outdoors in an intense way fosters the kind of self-reliance, judgment, respect, and sense of responsibility that can help leaders thrive in today's shifting organizational landscape.’

To view the whole post go to:

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/04/expedition_leadership_in_the_w.html

‘I went into the woods  because I wished to live deliberately, to front on the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.’

                Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

Through my experiences with TVRC, I know I feel a connection with nature that is challenging to describe.  Thoreau did the world a great service when he went to Walden Pond and reflected on the each person’s relationship with the natural environment. His words continue to speak to our collective need to get out of doors. He reminds us though, that that connection is a personal one. For me, my natural connection to the wild has come from all the experiences I have had at camp.

The feeling comes from cresting Pineapple Pass and looking into Alaska Basin.

It comes from the sound of the thundering water at the North Fork Falls.

It comes from the cool feeling of an afternoon rain shower on a hot summer day.

It comes from soaking your feet in a slow moving stream.

It comes from climbing a tree to set up a cowboy kitchen in the backcountry.

It comes from seeing a herd of elk grazing in the sagebrush.

It comes from the dashing of a shooting star witnessed from a sleeping bag.  

It comes from standing on top of Black Tail Butte, Sand Butte, Rendezvous Peak, Static Peak, Darwin Peak, Blacks Peak, Downs Mountain, Joy Peak, Terrace Mountain, Smokehouse Mountain, Table Mountain, Two Oceans Peak and Jackson Peak…

And it comes from the journey up and down each one of those pinnacles.  

For all of us at TVRC, a strong connection to our natural environment is imperative. That is why today is so important to us at camp…

Today, people will be gathering around the world to commemorate Earth Day.  As we do a great deal in the summer to instill the values of a connection with nature in our campers, some may wonder what we will be doing in the off season to commemorate this special day.

In celebration of Earth Day 2011, the fulltime TVRC staff will be doing the following:

• Tom is headed to the ranch to put the final touches on this summer’s TVRC Forest Legacy Project, to dig away the snow that is surrounding the office and to play a little bit outside.
• Carly is back in Jackson and will be working to solidify our great forest and park permits so that campers can play in the great natural environment of Wyoming.
• Ryan is spending some time at home working in his garden and he will be mapping out his plans to compost this year.
• Liz is spending time with her kids, walking up and down the Snake River picking up litter to make our world a more beautiful place.
• Bubba is watching the weather so that he can find the perfect place in Jackson to take his shoes off and sink his feet into the green grass while he puts the final touches on the staff team for 2011.
• And Jackie is hiking on the East Coast!

Each day at TVRC, hundreds of pictures are taken of campers, staff, horses, and activities. You name it and we have probably taken a picture of it. The photography service at camp is run by one person who will be in camp and at trailheads snapping photos of our campers. But, we cannot be everywhere, so we encourage campers and staff to take as many pictures as they can while on their various adventures. This is our small effort to try and capture the essence of our backcountry and front country experiences.

As a former trip leader myself, I have hundreds of photos from my own years on the trail.   Some folks have asked me if I have a favorite photo that I can think of that has been taken at/of TVRC. With literally thousands coming in day after day, it is a challenge to pin one down. But I would say that many of Randy Kriewall’s photos are some of the best I have seen not just of TVRC and its campers, but of kids in general.

Thanks Rando for setting the standard for great camp photography. Parents look out, because coming your way soon will be more information about accessing our daily pictures on Ecamp!

Below are two Tom Holland originals:

The first is from my packtrip last year with the Tophands into the Abzaroka Range. The boys are standing on the remains of an old round pen near Double Cabin.

 The second is a photo from approximately 2006. This shot was taken of a group of Rough Riders on their pack trip. We had just crested the summit of Smokehouse Mtn (near Pendergraft Meadows). I was out front and turned around to see this pack of boys posing for a pic above me.

Got any great TVRC shots you want us to see? Send them to jbarret@tvrcamp.org

What do these four words mean to you? 

My TVRC experience began 14 years ago in a college auditorium in St. Louis when a classmate looked at me and said that I should work at a summer camp she attended. Before she suggested this wonderful experience, she began her thought with the simple statement of ‘I know a place.’

I will forever remember that moment. And since then I have come to know what those four powerful words can mean to the campers, parents, alumni and friends of this community.

‘I know a place, where the mountain spires, reach to the sky, to the heavens above…’ This is the way the “Teton Serenade” begins. And while many people immediately think of that song when they hear those four words, it is what the song represents that will forever make all of us smile.

For me, the words speak to a place where nature is the perfect playground and the every camper is made to feel like they are a superhero. 

For me, the words represent the very best in our world’s future, as youth come to TVRC and work together to become better leaders and better human beings.

For me, those four simple words represent a place where the mantra of ‘the strength to lead and the faith to follow’ are not just talked about but lived each and every day.

For me and for so many others, those four words will forever take me back to a place that I will always call home.

Teton Serenade

I know a place where the mountain spires

Reach to the sky, to the heavens above.

Where cool sparkling streams and the crystal waters

Flow through the land I’ve learned to love.

I’ve taken the trail with my horse and saddle

I’ve hiked the way of the mountain man

I’m hard as a nail and a real rough rider

So you can see how tough I am.

I’ll always dream of the Teton Valley

When I return I long to roam

Up high on a hill where the wranglers wander

So I can call Teton Valley home.

This past week, I traveled the east coast on the yearly Round Up tour. The presentations were fantastic is Bronxville, New York City, Darien, Ct. and Needham, Ma. (thank you to all our hosts and guests for making this tour great!). And while the shows were great, the weather made for a great adventure.

I saw falling ice in New York City, rain in Darien and a snowy winter wonderland in Boston. Coming from Wyoming, I like to think of myself as fairly weather savvy. But when I stepped in my first slush puddle in New York City while wearing tennis shoes, I realized I came east unprepared.

From my experience, I can tell you that soggy shoes, wet jackets and cold hands can leave even the savvy-est of outdoorsman feeling out of sorts. So, I thought I would put together a list of 5 must-haves for the summer of 2011, so your travels out west are drier than mine in the east.

1. Gloves, warm socks, and a good stocking hat. Summer temperatures in Wyoming can dip to feel like winter in the early mornings/late evenings while warming up in the day. So protect those extremities! Gloves that can be used in snow (especially for boys this year), a stocking cap that covers your ears and warm socks will be important as you sit around campfire at night.
2. A rain jacket. Ponchos offer some very basic protection but for all the adventures you will have a good rain jacket will be very important. Contrary to old adage that ‘everyday is a sunny day at TVRC,’ sometimes it does rain. So, for all your adventures both in the backcountry and in camp, get yourself a good rain jacket.
3. Broken in, waterproof hiking boots. You will be hiking in puddles, mud, snow, grass, sticks, sagebrush, rain, rocks and on roads in these puppies, so you will want to make sure you have a good pair. Waterproof boots are best, and if your boots have not been treated in some time with waterproofing material, do this before your arrive. Also, break your boots in at home! There is nothing more annoying than getting a blister in the backcountry because that was the first time you ever wore your boots. Get comfortable in them as it will pay off in the long run.
4. A light, but warm layer. I always backpack in a long sleeve, light fleece sweatshirt. This sweatshirt is there for me when I need a warm layer under my rain jacket and it is easy to pack and store when the hiking is hot.       
5. Gaiters (especially for all boy campers!). Gaiters are a camper’s best friend in snowy conditions as they go over your boot and up your calf. When hiking in early summer conditions, they will prevent the snow from getting into your boots. (I think I could have used mine in the streets of New York last week).

Parents, soon you will be receiving our spring mailing packet, which will have a much more lengthy packing list. If you have any questions on what to bring-do not ever hesitate to give us a call.

In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Wilderness Act. With that stroke of the pen, the federal government immediately set aside and protected nine million acres of wild, scenic and undisturbed country around the United States. Now, 40+ years later, there are some 100 million acres of wilderness land. However, wilderness, as defined by the act, was not just national forest or park lands.  Rather, in the act, wilderness was defined as:

‘…lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition…’ Section 2(a)

‘…an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man…’ Section 2(c)

‘…generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s works substantially unnoticeable…’ Section 2 (c)

‘…shall be devoted to the public purpose of recreation, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation and historic use.’ Section 4(b)

Why is this important to TVRC?

The backpacking and horse pack permits that Teton Valley Ranch Camp owns will take campers into 5 separate wildernesses in Wyoming. These include: the Fitzpatrick wilderness, the Gros Ventre wilderness, the Teton wilderness, the Washakie wilderness and the Jedediah Smith wilderness. In fact, because our pack trips all go into a wilderness area at some point or another, every camper at TVRC will spend time in the wilderness this summer.

How is the wilderness different from the National Forest, Bureau of Land Management Land or the National Park?

Oftentimes the fine people at each of these government agencies oversee the various wildernesses around the country. But campers will notice very subtle differences when they enter the wilderness, namely, the absence of human influence. Consequently, motorized or mechanized equipment cannot be used in the forest (ie if a dead tree is going to come down in the national forest, a chainsaw could be used; however, if a tree is going to come down in the wilderness, then a handsaw would have to suffice).

TVRC is extremely lucky to have the opportunity to send our campers into these pristine untouched areas. To enter a wild land that has been untouched forever is a magical experience and one that we hope our campers will remember forever.

To find out more about our country’s wilderness areas go to www.wilderness.net

As a summer camp, we are often thought of in a much different light than our September through June partners in education. But while our classrooms may look different, our goals are much the same: to grow the minds of our youth. And while the K-12 schools may use English, Math and Science as their means to challenge and foster budding young minds, we use the backcountry and a wilderness setting to do the very same things. 

As a former teacher, I was always taught to approach every lesson with a SWBAT statement. The SWBAT statement referred to what students would know at the end of the lesson or in long form, the students will be able to statement. Consequently, each part of a lesson would build towards the knowledge each student would possess at the end of the instructional period. And, although I would not pass this secret along to our campers, camp functions in the exact same way.   

We approach each aspect of the program at TVRC with these same sorts of goals. Our adventure group sheets (check in sheets that each camper fills out during his or her stay at TVRC) are the assignments leading up to a grand, mysterious (and fun) test at the end of camp. To our campers, these assignments are fun: participating on a backpacking trip, reading a map or leading a song at our campfire. But we, as summertime educators, know that these ‘fun’ assignments have a greater importance for the growth of their young mind and the building of their character. 

To complete a backpacking trip is to participate in an extraordinary lesson in teamwork. To read a map is to listen well and demonstrate a challenging skill in the very real way of navigation; and to lead a song at campfire is to speak, sing, articulate and present oneself well before a crowd.

To each and every camper, we don’t really spell out how very close our likeness is to their other nine months of the year. But parents and guardians should know that when you send your child to TVRC, not only will they have “fun” but their young minds will grow in powerful ways and their developing character will find sound footing.  

Roundup season is off to a great start!  Tom and Catherine Holland kicked off the week in St. Louis, MO at Margaret and Peter Condie’s house, whose son Peter was a Trailblazer this past summer.  There were many staff members in attendance.  It was great to see John Klamer, Ross Durbin, Zane Privette, Susie and Liz Andrews, Randy Kriewall, Bruce and Karlyn Doty, Tim Bommarito, and Jeff Broeder!  Thanks to the Condie’s for opening their home for this great TVRC gathering!

Bubba Albrecht was seen in Jacksonville, FL Tuesday night at Annie and George Egan’s house.  Their two sets of twins, Grace and Neely (Rough Riders in 2010) and Ben and Paul (Trailblazers in 2010), were ecstatic to see familiar TVRC faces.  The Cramer family, Julia and Will and their sons Hunt and Toby, also attended this fun event.  Many thanks to the Egan family for hosting their first (very successful!) Roundup in Jacksonville.

Last night, Tom headed east to Matt and Caroline Lintner’s home in Wilmington, DE.  Their two daughters, Beatrice and Alex, were campers this past summer.  What a great Roundup with Terry May, former board president, and Kate Schutt, current board member in attendance. Tom had a great time catching up with Alex Giacco, a 2010 Trailblazer, and his parents Christine and Alex, Ian Harrington, a 2010 Wrangler, and Bret and Anna Snyder and their children, who attended Family Camp in 2010!  Thank you Lintner family for hosting a great Roundup this season!

Tom will be in Washington, DC tonight at the Dupree’s house!  Call the office at 307-733-2958 with questions or directions!

TVRC is coming your way this winter! Our Round Up tour is a great chance to see what is so great about TVRC. We will be heading out after the New Year and going to a collection of homes around the country to promote our program. If you would like to know more about these shows, please call our office at 307-733-2958.

St. Louis, MO - Jan 3rd
Jacksonville, FL - Jan 4th
Wilmington, DE - Jan 5th
Washington, D.C. - Jan 6th
Atlanta, GA - Jan 24th
Chicago, IL - Jan 25th
Pittsburgh, PA - Jan 26th
Columbus, OH- Jan 27th
Bronxville, NY - Jan 30th
New York City- Jan 31st
Darien, CT - Feb 2nd
Boston, Ma - Feb 3rd
San Francisco, CA - Feb 3^rd

Jackson Hole, WY-Feb 16^th

Los Angeles, CA-TBA

Yes, absolutely.   History has shown us that dry and clear (no snow in the trail) conditions in June were a product of decreased snowpack the previous winter. Consequently, when a winter gets off to a start like this one, we make subtle changes to next summer’s trip schedule so that we do not go to the highest elevations in the earliest days of boys’ season. We will not know the actual conditions of each trail until June, but the snowpack does give us an indicator as to where we are headed.   

But we love snow at camp! Many a camper has been lucky to play in the snow on the Fourth of July and an above average snowpack usually makes for beautiful wildflowers late in the summer. And who doesn’t like glissading?! This fun activity is all about sliding down on the snow in style and makes many hikes exhilarating. Look forward to building snowmen in June and snowcones in July!

Today, the TVRC staff will head out to Albertsons to participate in the annual community event of bell ringing. Our team will ring bells at the entrance of the grocery store in Jackson from 12-6 to raise money for local charities this holiday season. If you are in the area stop by and say ‘hello’ as it looks like it is going to be a bit snowy!

And tomorrow is our annual TVRC holiday party. Come one, come all to the Elks Lodge on Broadway in Jackson to share in the spirit of TVRC.  Pizza and bowling from 6pm-9pm. Whether you are an alumnus, a friend of camp or just a camper at heart, join us tomorrow for this fun camp tradition!

Happy Holidays to all!

There has been a great deal of talk recently about the tough times ahead for the postal service. Well, if TVRC could weigh in, we would continue to guarantee our business for many years to come.

It is no surprise that at camp, we like to slow things down a bit. We tell stories instead of watching TV, we sing songs instead of listening to our iPods, we go on backpacking trips instead of playing video games, and we write letters instead of sending emails or text messages. In fact, every Sunday we require our campers to dedicate some portion of their rest hour to this antiquated practice and write a letter home. At the ranch, the ability to text family members or call them quickly from a cell phone does not exist for our campers, consequently, we turn to the good old postal service to help us all out. 

This old fashioned form of communication is a necessary camp connection for many parents, but parents please know that this is vitally important to our campers as well! Parents are encouraged to sit down and write letters to their campers as they will be cherished when they are received. Daily, the incoming mail is put out for all of our campers and staff, and to receive a letter or, even better, a care package can be the highlight of some camper’s day.

As someone who has been around TVRC for a long time, I can assure you that the gesture of receiving a letter is never lost on me, or any other staff or campers. In my last few years it seems that where I once received the care packages from my mom and dad at camp, my daughters have taken over and now receive care packages at camp from Nanny and Popi. I know the gesture will not be lost on them either (I am just happy we all like the same cookies).

So, I always look forward to our endorsement of the postal service come June 1. For campers, staff, and TVRC family members, the good, old fashioned letter is and always will be a time honored staple of the TVRC experience.    

These conferences provided a plethora of fantastic learning opportunities as we had a chance to choose from a wide variety of educational sessions ranging from topics on programmatic activities to sessions on youth development. It also gave all of us a chance to connect with old friends from other camps that are running similar programs around the country.

TVRC is always very proud to attend these conferences and be the representatives from Wyoming (TVRC is the only ACA accredited camp in Wyoming), and continue to improve our program.  To find out more about these organizations go to: 

http://www.acarockymountain.org/

http://www.waic.org/

The Jackson Hole News and Guide ran a story last week about the school board of Teton County debating whether they should go to a more 'balanced' calendar and do away with the traditional calendar which includes a longer summer break. The goal of the change would be to decrease the summer learning loss that is currently a problem for this district.  That article can be found at the following link:

http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=6615

This week, a letter to the editor (below) appeared in the same newspaper from Tom Holland that is written in defense of that summer break and the enriching learning opportunities that exist for many children around our country.

I am pleased with the efforts our school board is making towards tackling the issue of summer learning loss. It is a major problem facing our youth and it needs to be addressed so that we can continue to advance our education system.

But let us not forget that it is not only in schools where our children are taught. For over 100 years, summer programs have sought to complement the education that happens in the traditional classroom with experiential learning that occurs in places schools are not able to go. At summer camps, learning continues as the classroom is transformed by people and by place. That place might be in the mountains of Wyoming, an urban center, or a foreign country, but learning continues. And it is in these same summer programs where youth are being taught essential skills that are necessary for life beyond school. They are taught leadership skills, the challenges of group dynamics, problem solving techniques, and how to take calculated risks in safe environments. All of these lessons are hallmarks of the thousands of summer camp programs that exist around the country. 

As a former public school teacher and now a summer camp professional, I have seen the value of what the experience of summer camp can do for a child in the classroom. Students who participate in summer programs come back to school empowered with the skills they have acquired and the life lessons they have learned. There are no grades at camp. There are no standardized tests. There are just the simple lessons of life that powerfully connect our children to the real world.

I agree with Superintendent Shea when she points out ‘that students who do not have access to enriching experiences during the summer lose academic ground, and that a balanced calendar may be a way to alleviate that.’ However, I wonder if the cost of going to a balanced calendar will be the loss of those enriching experiences for our children? 

It should be our collective goal to find and to provide those enriching summer experiences for every child so that summer learning loss does not occur in this school district or in any other around the country. Schools, camps and other summer programs should work together to recast the solution of summer learning loss rather than ignore the important benefits of all programs that advance the educational growth of our children.

Tom Holland

Executive Director, Teton Valley Ranch Camp Education Foundation

Board Member, American Camp Association

   This conference brings together professionals from camps, schools and other organizations that operate some or all of their programs in the wilderness setting. With our backcountry trips to Targhee National Forest, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Shoshone National Forest and Grand Teton National Park, this conference made for a great learning experience.   

   Over three days, Carly and Bubba talked about best practices with some of the leaders in risk management and attended small group sessions that covered a wide variety topics. These topics included:

·         Behavioral Risk Management

·         Evacuation Decision Making

·          ACA Program Case Studies

·         Training your staff to be risk managers

·         Small Program Risk Management

·         Managing Risk from Behind the Desk: A Systems-Based Approach

·         Internal and External Critical Incident Reviews

·         Backcountry Lightning "Safety?"

   Following a conference or a similar learning opportunity we will gather as a group and discuss how we can implement some of what have learned from these great sessions. It is our goal to be constantly improving and we can only do this if we continue to strive for knowledge to make us better! Thank you, Carly and Bubba for making the trip to Colorado Springs!  

Following our time in Dubois, we all ventured back to Jackson for a barbeque with all TVRC staff at the Holland House. Catherine made ribs and the Yellowstone Hot Strings (Brian Hager and Tom Marshall) played music. It was a wonderful conclusion to a great meeting weekend.  

However, what this does not take into account is the successful summer programming that is happening around the country. Programs like ours are not just dedicated toward showing campers adventure in Wyoming, rather we are called to a higher purpose of educating our campers so that they might return to school and their homes and be successful. We teach critical thinking skills as we challenge campers on backpacking trips. We teach leadership skills as all of our campers learn to ‘have the strength to lead as well as the faith to follow.’ We teach presentation skills as campers are required to perform in front of an audience. And these are just a few of the lessons that helping our campers to be better students in the fall.

What the latest recommendation fails to recognize is that it is not just school where our children will be educated. We, as camping professionals, view ourselves as a part of a greater team that is working towards the success of all children in our country. This team includes teachers and school administrators, parents and coaches and those that work at summer programs to expand the minds of our kids.

Let us all work together to improve the education of our children and include summer programming as a part of the solution.  

His story is like so many of ours that are associated with this great place: a shy kid who comes to this magical place in the Tetons and his life changes forever. From my sense of talking with his great friends and family-Luke embraced life. He grabbed each day by the horns and lived for the challenges that can be found in the wilds of Wyoming. It is my guess that he might have got a bit of that personality from his time at camp.

And it is in this spirit of camp, that I am proud to say that Luke is still there today to see the excitement on every camper’s face before their great adventures. He watches as campers come to our program as shy campers and leave as outward leaders ready for the next ‘Rough Ride.’ He smiles as they sing for the first time in front of the crowd and make their first announcement about their trip leaving. 

I know he is doing all these things with us, because his picture hangs in our dining hall. It is a constant reminder to me and those associated with TVRC of the spirit we hope to instill in our campers. 

A big ‘thank you’ to the Harkness family and all their friends for all they have given TVRC over the years, and for hosting me for the weekend.

And to Luke, thanks for the smile in the corner of the dining hall that keeps showing campers the way.

Golfing in Burlington...

Tom with the Harkness Family.

After all the campers have spent some time honing their riding skills, we will have our very first rodeo tomorrow (Tuesday, June 22) at 2:30. Our rodeos are usually on Sundays but this Sunday our campers were still making their way through our 1st Degree riding class and Horsemanship 1st Degree.  Now that all the campers are graduates of these classes, it is on to the Rodeo Arena!

Tomorrow, our riding events will be Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Musical Mares, Potato Race and Keyhole. Additionally, we will have the roping events of Quickdraw Roping and Team Roping.  If you are in the area, we would love to see you at this fantastic TVRC tradition!  Please call if you are going to make it over to the rodeo to verify that your camper will be in camp and not on one of our backcountry adventures.

Our rodeos will resume on their regular Sunday schedule, next Sunday (June 27) at 2:30.     

In that first week of June, 79 great leaders will join us for what will prove to be an amazing summer. We retained 55% of our staff from last year and 98% of our staff members were recommended by someone within the TVRC community. They are in for a real treat, as this will be an amazingly rewarding job that they will never forget.

And campers as you pack your trunk for your summer adventure, consider this packing tip: warm socks are great! While a pair of athletic socks are important for games on the green or the occasional game of knock-out, warm socks made for hiking will suit your needs during the temperature changes that happen in Wyoming. Don’t worry, your flip flops will be calling your name when you go swimming in the lake-but at night and early in the morning you are going to be glad you packed your smartwool socks!

Why is summer camp important to our youth?

 A study from the American Camp Association provided sound evidence that camp is a positive force in youth development.

 When you consider sending your child to TVRC, know that studies have proven that children who attend summer camps grow in the areas of positive self identification, social skills, physical & thinking skills, and positive values. 

 It is easy to think of TVRC just being a ‘fun’ place for your child to spend the summer. And this thought should not be overlooked!! TVRC is fun and will create memories in your camper that will last a lifetime. But couple that ‘fun,’ with the fact developmental growth is occurring each day of your child’s summer adventure and you have an amazing combination.

 According to the ACA study, ‘Directions: Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience,’ summer camp typically benefits children in the following ways:

·         Children become more confident and experience increased self esteem

·         Children develop more social skills that help them make new friends

·         Children grow more independent and show more leadership qualities

·         Children become more adventurous and willing to try new things

 Thank you ACA for your research to prove what TVRC has taught for 71 years!

TVRC campers, staff, parents, and friends met in Los Angeles on April 16th for the 2nd Annual Alumni Party! It was a wonderful event... Thank you to everyone who made this such a special evening! 

Friends, in the next few weeks we will be saying 'so long' to an old friend at the Jackson winter office. Very soon, Carolyn Ryan will be concluding her service to TVRC as she retires from her position office manager after 12 years.  Carolyn Ryan has been a staple at the camp office through 4 directors, three spearate camp locations and has become the friendly voice of TVRC to countless camp families.

If you called to make sure your camper arrived safely at camp, it was probably Carolyn's voice you heard to reassure you.  If you had a question about trunk size and shipping, it was probably Carolyn who told you the specific size you needed. If you were a parent that was just concerned about sending your child to camp for a month, Carolyn probably talked with you from the heart as she was once a camp parent too. Or if you were like me, a young camp director, who needed a confident voice to help guide the ship, Carolyn was there for you.

Carolyn has been here for us all. By our accounts she has enrolled campers at TVRC over 2500 hundred times, and many of those campers spent the night at her house if he or she missed a flight or had to go to the doctor in Jackson. She will be missed at the Jackson office, but she has assured us that she will always help to stuff envelopes for our spring mailing or lend a hand when a camper gets stuck on a flight to Jacksonville,Fl  instead of Jackson, Wy! Additionally, Carolyn has been gracious enough to train her own protege, Ingrid Watsabaugh.  We welcome Ingrid to the TVRC team(if you would like to find out more about her please go to our staff bio section), and look forward to working with her for a long time to come.

Carolyn, as is said on the final night of camp,

'So Long, we'll see you again.

See you again, someday.

For after all, the world is small, we'll meet along life's way.

Good luck to you, God Bless you, too,

It's not 'Goodbye' we'll say. But 'So long' we'll see you again, see you again someday.'

Here's to you Carolyn Ryan. Thank you for being you.

Did you know that TVRC had a basketball hoop?  We you aware that this is one of the hottest spots to hang out during 'guzzles' and evening acitivities at camp?  The hoop is represents a lot of what is great about TVRC. For instance, we all love it because it makes us smile a little bit more.

It stands about 9' 6", making us all that much better at basketball. It has a chain net, which makes an amazing sound when the ball rattles through. It sags a bit in front, which makes it look like it is always smiling at the shooter.  The rim is very bouncy meaning all you have to do is just get it close to the hoop and it has a pretty good chance of going in.  And it is on a dirt surface.  Clearly, this setup is not made for Madison Square Garden-but it is perfect for 'knock-out' games in the summer. What is best is that different people are always winning at this fun activity-and few members of our community actually play basketball.  Here, everyone becomes champ of the court. So, this summer, do not forget to pack your sneakers, because you will most definately have a chance to try your hand at 'knock-out.'

(and for those of you keeping score at home, here is who the winter team is supporting during this year's March Madness:

Tom: a graduate of small Washington University in STL, Tom always throws his support to the Fighting Illini of Illinois. Although they missed the bracket this year, he is excited about proudly wearing Illini jerseys around camp in the summer of 2011, after Illinois wins the National Championship.  This year, he will support any team from the Big Ten.

Carly: from Michigan, Carly will always support the Michigan school that will vie for the title.  This year, she will be backing Michigan State University.

Ryan: Although a graudate of Vanderbilt, Ryan throws his support to his home state Wildcats of Kentucky.  This could be Ryan's year.

Or maybe it is Bubba's: Bubba went to Universityof Virginia, but let's be honest, he is a true Buckeye from Columbus, Ohio.  Bubba will be cheering on Ohio State from the minute they hit the court.

Liz: Although she used to teach at Illinois State University, Liz, is a graudate of the University of Wisconsin (the Big Ten is well represented in the office!).  So she will be pulling for her Badgers.

Carolyn: Carolyn is from New Orleans and she is just pulling for the Saints to win another Super Bowl!!) 

Great question! TVRC is constantly trying to improve our services for our community. We want everyone's experience to continue with the camp even when they leave the ranch gates. Consequently, we have made some advances in our website that we hope will encourage members of our community to stay in touch. In an effort to constantly improve, we also would love to know your feedback - fill us in and let us know what you think of our new site!