Day 1

 “Leaving from the San Bernardino center with 35 sleepy students, we left at 3:30am en route to LAX.  All students cooperated with a grueling boarding process and left the comforts of southern California to their adventures in Colorado…

“It's been a long day of travel, but we are finally here at the Ranch.  All the students and staff are safe and sound and getting to know each other.  We can't wait for the days ahead and we will post pictures and activities every day to keep you all updated...

“We have survived the bone chilling wind and are now safely, happily inside the Ranch House.  Dinner is being prepped, groups are bonding and an air of anticipation charges the atmosphere…

“The blusterous wind blew as we boarded the bus, bound for LAX, Denver, and a long-awaited adventure.  Little did we know our adventure would commence so soon…

“Day one saw many students forgo sleeping in order to reach their centers at the usual time when most are shuffling off to bed after a facebook injected night. Some arrived at 2:30 am, others at 5:00am: all were exhausted. The sun had barely…”

Wait… This all seems vaguely familiar; like the early mist that blocks your vision in the morning, or like the remnants of a dream that evaporate like water through cupped hands. The students and I have the strangest sense of déjà vu. This chaperon personally feels like he has sat in front of this same computer, looking out the same window at the forest green canopy.

Oh! That’s right! This is returner’s camp. These sleepless students, all of whom have taken the two-hour flight to Denver International after an early morning of last minute packing, are back to bask in the majesty of Colorado. Some came during the snow months, so the heat and blazingly bright green is a welcome retreat from thawing out their hiking boots. Some have been here recently, while others haven’t stepped foot on this ranch in about year. Counselors that were held dear have left the camp to go to bigger and better things, while others have remained to glorious applause and hugs all around, and a batch of new faces ready to involve the students in all of the new and exciting projects that, unfortunately for you reading at home, I cannot divulge under penalty of public humiliation that involves a howler monkey and shaving cream… Let’s just my lips are sealed.

I know there is a lot of talk about the fires that are going on in this area, but any trace has not made it to our area. The sky has been a clear blue, the trees a dark green, and the land clear of any soot. We are unable to even smell any ash coming from the fires on the other side of this expansive forest.

The biggest difference in today seems to be the fact that we were dropped off half a mile away from camp with the ability to only ask yes and no questions of our fearless leaders. Needless to say, the pinpoint accuracy in questioning, all students made it home in record time.

With the students settling into the old routine (five minute shower schedules, three square meals, learning new names with faces, and splitting into teams), there is not much more to say after looking at the bright faces of those who have so many fond memories in this thin place.

FYI : A thin place is a site where the boundary between heaven and earth is especially thin; one can commune with nature and get a sense of who he or she is and what he or she wants in life more easily.