AAVE Trip BLOG » Colorado Discovery
July 21, 2008
CD2 - July 17, 2008
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Hi Abbott, friends, family and everyone back home!
We just stopped for a shower after our mountain biking adventure in Crested Butte. Everyone did a fantastic job, no injuries! The wildflowers were fully in bloom and the views of snow-capped peaks were unbelievable. Hank, Jason, AJ, and Louis all realized they were naturals at mountain biking. Kofi did an excellent job as leader of the day. The whole group is friends with one another and we’re really impressed with how they are bonding and living the AAVE life! Tomorrow we head to Aspen for our service project. More updates to come later!
Enjoy the pictures!
Allison, Meghan, Takeo
July 18, 2008
CD2 - Hey Everyone back home,
Posted by AAVE Leader in : Colorado Discovery , 1 comment so far
Today is Day 3 of our amazing Colorado Discovery adventure.
ALL campers are fantastic and are getting along really well. Yesterday we hiked up to and then swam in Turquoise Lake in the highest city in the United States, Leadville, 10,152 feet, 3094 m. It was super fun and a great way to beat the hot Colorado summer weather.
Today we traveled to Crested Butte, a beautiful and cool mountain town! We swam in another alpine lake. The highlight of this lake was a rope swing. It produced a lot of laughter, smiles, and bonding.
The group is coming together really well. The three girls, Zoie, Gabby, and Kaitlyn, are three peas in a pod and love sharing a tent. Kaitlyn, Louis, and Hank cooked gourmet meals yesterday for the group - a strong solid start from the cook teams assures that we will be eating well all summer. We are enjoying Mo’s guitar playing and Kofi’s DJ-ing skills. Each camper brings something unique to the group and together they are super, nice, generous, friendly, polite, adventurous, and up for the challenges Colorado Discovery will offer.
Tomorrow we are off to mountain bike. They are all excited to be participating in so many fun activities. Thanks for sharing your kids with us!
-Allison, Meagan, and Takeo
Loving the AAVE Life!
CD1 - Howdy Y’all!!!
Posted by taylor allred in : Colorado Discovery , add a comment
This is CD #1, the best AAVE trip visiting planet earth, sending out a big Yee-Haw!! to all the parents back home. All the kids hit the trail yesterday after a hardy meal of chicken and potatoes (with optional vegetarian option) before the saddle-up with the real cowboy, Ralph, who might be among the last genuine cowboys left on the west! He’s over six feet tall, has a deep voice, wears a white cowboy hat, wranglers, and burly gray mustache. He has a love for horses, the great outdoors and making sure all the kids are safe and enjoying themselves. Plus I hear he does an amazing BBQ dinner (with veggie options)! So all the kids are saddled up on their own horse like Buttercup, Butch, Rocky and more!
This adventure was preceded by some very hard work at a wild life refuge for wolves. Some were 98 percent pure wolves. The kids worked hard in the hot sun to build a den for the wolves to stay in and have a look out on top of. They also secured a barrier around the fence so the wolves wouldn’t dig under the fence and get loose. All the trip leaders were impressed with their hard work. All the kids will have tonz of picture of the wolves and their habitats. Plus pictures of the the four black bears that were in the refuge as well. Before we left our two knowledgeable guides brought out one of the 14 month old pups so we could get a up close look. Good job Campers - you did an excellent job!!
Our tie dye shirts are looking good and we’ll have some good times in the wilderness sporting the flashy colors of the funky dye when were walking in the woods with all our gear. We’re prepping today for our last adventure: a full bore wild backpack and potential summit of some massive Colorado peaks (we’ll let you know how the summit goes). Wish us good luck and know were all loving the AAVE life.
Fun in the sun,
Taylor A, Tara A, and Katie A
July 14, 2008
Hi everybody this is CD #1,
Posted by taylor allred in : Colorado Discovery , add a comment
We’re in Crested Butte hanging out in the town before a wild day of Mountain Biking tomorrow. It’s a good rest day to get pizza and ice cream after two days of rafting down the Arkansas River and rock climbing in the mighty rockies.
Nathan impressed us all with a dyno (where you jump off the rock to a higher ledge) his fearless tactics were super brave (yes he was completely secure and roped in). Fabiana was a natural as she was cruising up the rocks doing the most intense climbs. The rafting wasn’t without some big laughs. Cassidy fell into the river twice and Ron spent only a second in the cold water before he was pulled out by Taylor who was right next to him. Eli is really funny and on the long drive to Crested Butte everybody was dancing in the car doing the ‘Eli’; Mom, he’ll have to show you when he comes back. Rachel is a gem and is always helping out when others are tired. Alix was awesome at Rock Bottom Ranch where we caught chickens and did service on the farm. Giorgio was the best chef when we cooked his favorite Barrilla pasta, he made us all laugh cause he was so determined to give us the best italian pasta any of us have ever seen! Ulysse is hilarious the practical joker with all the other campers and keeps us on our toes. Duncan is a mountain man a real natural in the woods; he has a heart of gold too. Gabrielle is the chatty one, she’s witty and gave us all a delight when she gave us some english chocolate. Mmmm it’s the best! Amanda is wonderful she has a charismatic and positive character; she’s very mature for her age. Such a delight!! Brant is a bundle of energy, he’s always up for a laugh and doesn’t give when climbing the hardest rock climbing problem. Jeremy is a funny kid he’s spreading the love with his new italian phrase ‘te amo’ and helped cooked the best pasta on the trip.
The kids are a delight. Things are all good. Thanks for sending your kids. Were off to get pizza and play games!!!!
fun in the sun loving the AAVE life,
Taylor, Tara and Katie
July 7, 2008
July 7, 2008 Colorado Discover #1
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“Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.”
“OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!”
Wow the trips started off with a roar, not a lion but a river, knee deep and 8 feet wide when the whole group braved the river not once but twice! We crossed this during our hike on the Timberline Lake Trail. The teamwork was amazing and we all crossed with our falling, only Cassidy slipped once and got soaked to her waste, which was a bit of a laugh for everybody. She recovered quickly, with a smile on her face!
The group is bonding really solid. Everyone has such wonderful personalities!! We have a good variety of talents and kids - its like the best fruit salad you’ve ever had. The kids are fantastic. Today they are on the mighty Arkansas River braving Big Horn Sheep Canyon doing some fun whitewater rafting.
We’ve also eaten really well with a world variety including Thailand, Italy and Mexico being the themes of the dinners. And you’ll have to ask your kids to teach you about ‘Big Booty’, a favorite game around camp. We sleep under the stars each night on a big green tarp; in the day it’s just laughing, playing and having a good time!
Havin’ fun in the sun
CD #1
CD2 - Hi Everybody!!!!
Posted by AAVE Leader in : Colorado Discovery, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
This is Allison. I will be sharing an amazing summer with you all in
Colorado along with two other wonderful leaders Takeo and Meghan! We
can’t wait for you all to get here. Just a little more than a week
now.
I am sure you have all had a chance to see what an amazing itinerary
our group has. Everything is included for jam-packed fun. We are
hiking, rock-climbing, horsing-around and much much more.
I can’t wait to meet all of you soon.
Lots of love,
Allison
July 3, 2008
Hello CD1 Campers!!
Posted by AAVE Leader in : Colorado Discovery, England-Ireland-Wales , add a comment
Lifetime Friendships!
Hello!
This is Katie, Taylor, and Tara. We are your Colorado Discovery trip leaders. We are so excited to start this trip, it’s going to be the best summer EVER! We’ve got the van all packed up, yummy treats in the back seat, and we’re ready to start our adventures. Hope you are all getting excited as well and we can’t wait to see your smiling faces at the airport.
Taylor:
I’m back for my 3rd summer at AAVE! The good people, sweet adventures and loads of fun memories keep me coming back year after year! I’ve also lead the mighty Bold West trips, and 8 day Kayaking and two Boot, Saddle, Paddle trips last year. I’m a high energy endurance runner and completed the Bear 100 mile race last September. I’m currently going to the University of Utah working on a Philosophy degree. I have wilderness first aid certifications, CPR, and lifeguard training too keep us safe and on our feet. I look forward to the summer see ya all tomorrow!!!
Katie:
Hello everyone! I’m Katie and I’m from Birmingham, MI. This is my first year at AAVE and I’m super excited to hang out with such an awesome group of kids and go on some great adventures! I go to Michigan State University where I study Psychology and play lacrosse. Hooray for summer!
Tara:
Greetings great and wonderful adventurers! This is also my first summer at AAVE and I am looking forward to experiencing many new journeys with you! I have found myself in this wonderful profession after starting a graduate program in Recreation Studies at Ohio University. I love whitewater, and have spent many summers raft guiding, traveling and exploring the Earth! See you soon!
See ya Soon! Life is Good! Our first adventure is a 4th of July party, some great hikes in the rockies and then off to battle some mighty river rapids. See ya at the Airport!!!
Taylor, Katie, Tara
January 26, 2008
Summer Colorado Camp; Best Summer Ever!
Posted by admin in : Colorado Discovery, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
Jenna had a wonderful time - really liked everyone in the group and her trip leaders - I thought the communication from the trip leaders was excellent - would love for you to add a Costa Rica younger program.
-Parent, Berkencamp, CD
I loved my time with AAVE. I made a ton of new friends and I loved all of the activities and learned so many new things!
-Camper, Marla Smith, CD
Carley loved everything about her trip–the leaders were amazing and she just had a great time! It sounds like the trip was highly supervised. It was a great learning experience and she can’t wait to go again next summer!
-Parent, Ed Stein, CD
Matthew’s summer trip with AAVE was phenomenal. He loved being in the mountains of Colorado with like minded kids that were ready for adventures and challenges, guided by enthusiastic and well qualified counselors. From the phone call home from the airport on the very first day we knew that he had landed with the right kind of organization: one that allowed him to experience a slightly wilder world than his September to June life affords. Alice, Greg, and John were remarkable in the seemingly effortless way they combined fun, challenge, and routine while maintaining top flight safety. Each activity afforded thrills and challenges that were capable of being met and therefore affording Matthew a real sense of accomlishment. Matthew’s last words from the airport before returning home were, “This trip was fantastic: way too short but perfect. Next summer I want to find out which trips Alice, Greg, and John are running and sign up right away.” Congratulations to an extremely well run organization with wonderful counselors who both love the outdoors and know how to share that love with kids.
-Parent, Sabina Soloway, CD
The most successful thing about AAVE was the councelors and kids. The councelors were all friendly and helpful; the kids were nice to each other and from diverse cultures which was cool. There wasn’t anything unsuccessful about anything on the trip. I loved my summer with AAVE.
-Camper, Mathew Soloway, CD
It was a wonderful experience. From the first moment when I spoke to Nate about AAVE and it’s philosophies before we even commited to when Michael’s plane was delayed to Colorado I found your staff to be professional, caring and trustworthy. I would and do recommend AAVE to other families.
-Parent, Colleen Hodge, CD
I really like the Colorado Discovery Trip. I got to meet new people coming from all over the country. I also discovered Colorado and its magnificent sceneries. Every day, new activities and new challenges! The counselors were amazing and very nice to everybody.
-Camper, Chloe Vadot, CD
By all accounts Keegan seemed to have had a very good time. She had good things to say about the guides, the activities, the structure and the group dynamic. It was very nice that Alice so quickly sent the kids her photos from the trip as it gave us a great basis for Keegan to elaborate on her experiences.
-Parent, Leslie Henshaw, CD
I enjoyed the entire trip. I enjoyed all of the activities and thought that the amount of time that we did each one of them was just right.
-Camper, Keegan Mendez, CD
Annemarie and Chris, who answered my 101 questions, were excellent on the phone. I liked that they were also trip leaders, and not just office staff. Great PR personalities.
-Parent, Zoe Winters, CD
It was relly cool! I learned I can do things without my parents around even though I missed them.
-Camper, William Lucas, CD
I enjoyed everything very much. It was definetly something that I would do again. I made soooo many new friends and learned many valuable lessons that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I had a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Camper, Keane Robinson, CD
July 30, 2007
Colorado Discovery #3 - Action packed!
Posted by Jenny at AAVE in : Colorado Discovery, General AAVE Trip BLOG , 2 comments
Hello from Colorado Discovery!
We are all doing well after our awesome 3-day backpack adventure at the base of Mt. Silverheels. After some beautiful alpine hiking on our first day, we set up camp and got to know one another. The second day we climbed Little Baldy Mountain; an extremely awesome feat considering it’s 12,000+ ft elevation! Oh, and be sure to keep your eyes open for a group picture from the top we have mailed out!
We are rock climbing for the next few days, then on to rafting the roaring Arkansas River. The fun doesn’t stop there as we’ll finish up this week with our horseback riding trip. What a wonderful way to spend a summer! The kids are doing well, getting along great and having a blast.
We’ll be in touch,
Alice, Greg, Jon and the Colorado Discovery crew
July 6, 2007
Get Ready for Colorado Discovery!
Posted by Alice in : Colorado Discovery, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
Hi Friends,
Well, we just returned from a wonderful week of Staff Training and are extremely excited about our Colorado Disco Adventure trip this summer! I hope you are all getting pumped up and ready to explore this beautiful and magical state. We can’t wait to see your shining faces in Denver on the 4th of July. Woo hoo!
See you soon,
Alice, Jillian and Greg