Friday, September 30, 2005
“The Ranch”
This summer I worked out in Colorado. I was a day camp counselor at the YMCA of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch, in Winter Park. Calvin has a good relationship with the YMCA and has had a program out there for 5 years now. They bring about 30 students out there every summer for the Leadership Challenge Institute. Snow Mountain Ranch is world renowned and even has many international students working there.
The thing I will miss most about the summer is the entire atmosphere that was present at “the Ranch.” Waking up every morning to see the snow-capped mountains, breathing in fresh, unpolluted mountain air, and praising God by simply being in awe of his creation were some of the many daily activities I did. However, it wasn’t simply the views that I will miss; I will also miss my co-workers. Obviously we weren’t the only employees of the YMCA; they had many other groups present as well. Another student group from Iowa was there for the summer, and I got to know many of them very well, some who I hope I can become lifelong friends with. Also my supervisors were unbelievable. Of course they wanted the job to get done, but they wanted to make sure that we had fun doing it.
I had such a great experience out there. Of course I missed home but being with so many friends and in such a beautiful place, it almost made me forget about home. I realized I want to live and work in Colorado because it is such a beautiful, laid back atmosphere. I will most certainly go back again, possibly with Calvin or by myself, for the experience again. The views are amazing. The most calming thing is to be on top of a mountain and look at a lake knowing it has never been touched because there is no possible way to get there. It is so serene and calming I can’t wait to go back.