8th Grade Trips 2010A Taste of the Colorado

Wilderness!

8th Grade Trips

• 1st Year at Ranch Camp for an off camp expedition

• 4 day trip including a 3 night backpacking portion in various CO National Forests

• Includes a visit to the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado… the tallest Sand Dunes in North America!

• Often gives campers first experience of camping, hiking, backpacking in preparation for TASC and Teen Village programs

Where will 8th Grade be going

this year?-The hiking portion of the 8th Grade trips this year will be awesome trails in the Rio Grande National Forest in SW Colorado

-The Rio Grande National Forest is 1.86 million acres located about 4 hours south of Denver. It remains one of the true undiscovered jewels of Colorado with filled with beautiful, pristine wilderness and wildlife.

“Who will be my

Counselors?”• 8th Grade Counselors and Trips leaders this year hail from as close as Colorado and as far as Israel!

• Each counselor has been hand picked for 8th Grade due to their expertise, enthusiasm and uniqueness and all are totally excited for the summer of a lifetime!

“What can we (parents and campers) do

between now and camp to be ready for the 8th

Grade Trips?”Physically PrepareJust like anything that is demanding on our bodies, it is best towork up the strength and stamina bit by bit rather than justthrowing our bodies into difficult and rigorous work. For most of

youthis may be your first experience camping, hiking or even puttingon a frame backpack. Begin now by wearing your gear as much aspossible and getting comfortable with the physical work that youwill be doing on the 8th Grade Trips. Walk, run, dance, climb,

bike,row… basically move as much as you can between now and the startof the session. The more you prepare your body, the more effortlessthe trip will seem for you… and the more fun you will have!!

Keep in mind that you are not alone! Most 8th graders feel nervous about their first trip outside of camp, first time hiking or backpacking prior to coming to camp. All the counselors are here to make you feel comfortable and ensure that you have a great time on your trip. And as campers you will be able to encourage each other and bond as a team, being able to depend on each other to get through it together. On the 8th Grade trips you will have the opportunity to challenge yourselves and look at every challenge as a chance to learn about yourself. Chances are… once you are on the trip, out in the beautiful Colorado wilderness, you will be having more fun than you ever have!

**Also feel free to contact Kolby or Gilad throughout the summer with any specific concerns.**

“What if I’m nervous about the physical challenges on the 8th grade trip?”

“I wasn’t what you might call very physically active kid before the 8th grade trip. When we were climbing the Sand Dunes it took my friend and me way longer to make it to the top than some of the others… but when I made it to the top I was so proud of myself. It was a liberating experience!”-Sophie Morris, 8th Grade Camper in 2005

You should have received a trips packing list in your parent manuals. Just in case you missed it, we have made available on this webinar a packing list of required items specific to the 8th Grade Trip. If you have any questions about the types of equipment recommended or need some advice from us about where to buy equipment/what brands we prefer… don’t hesitate to ask us! We will be happy to help you as best as we can to get the right gear for the trip. Again, we would encourage you to purchase and start using your gear as soon and as much as possible! The more familiar you get with your sleeping bag, and the more comfortable you feel in your hiking boots, etc….the less trouble you will have with these things when we are on the actual trip.

“What should we bring to camp specific to the 8th Grade Trip?”

Depending on the session, there will always be at

least 2 different 8th grade trips per session. Each

trip will have no more than 12 campers and at least 3 staff members. We travel in 15 passenger vans and sleep

in tents.

“How many 8th Graders are on a trip at a time?”

Now seriously…. ARE YOU EXCITED

OR WHAT?!Think of it as an amazing 3 night sleepover with all of your best friends under the clear Colorado night sky. Think of it as perfect time to relax in Nature and reflect on all of your personal goals as you reach young adulthood. Think of it as a chance to laugh and play with unique and interesting kids that you have never met before. Think of it as a way to be outside, staying active and energetic in some of the most beautiful places in North America. Think of it as the field trip of a lifetime, filled with adventure… sure to make lasting memories!

But above all else….

THINK OF IT AS A CHANCE TO HAVE A

BLAST!!!!

Let the adventure begin…..See you this summer….