Liz Kirkland – Ward, Colorado … For most who are able to attend, or who have attended, either summer camp or a weekend retreat at an Adventist camp, the experience, while impactful, may only last a handful of days. But for the families who have been called to camp ministries, camp life is every day. Here is what camp life at the Rocky Mountain Conference’s (RMC) Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, is like from the perspective of children that live at camp year-round.
What has been your favorite thing about living up at camp?
[Grace, age 11] Being able to build things in the woods, and also just being able to help. Where I lived before, we could never build. There were no trees because it was in the country. Now it’s really fun because we build lots of little forts everywhere.
[Larke, age 7] It is fun to help out, and it is fun to play outside and build forts.
[Marcus, age 11] Meeting all the staff and being able to meet people during camp.
[Bella, age 12] And we have friends up here.
[Jase, age 6] Playing blob here.
What is blob?
[Grace] Blob is a game that’s kind of like tag, except when you get tagged, you have to connect hands. You can split up, but when you want to tag another person, you have to be touching.
So, you all get stuck together like a big blob. I see. Where is your favorite place to go at camp?
[Jase] Here to play blob.
[Larke] To the barn to play and to ride the horses.
[Grace] I think my favorite place is like what Larke said, the horses, or just outside play.
[Marcus] During the summer, my favorite place to play would be at our tree forts that we have all around camp.
[Bella] There’s one that we probably play at the most, but we have more than one.
What is your favorite thing to do up at camp?
[Jase] My favorite thing to do up here is drive RC cars.
[Larke] I have one more thing I like, I also like to go Jeeping!
[Grace] Sometimes we go out Jeeping to Miller Rock on the trails, and, normally, we do it with our friends and family. In the winter, if it is just a short cruise, like to Pathfinder Village, we get pulled behind on our sleds.
Any last thing you would like to share about living at camp?
[Marcus] I just want to thank all the staff for being really good and working really well with the kids at summer camp.
[Bella] Not very many kids get the option to be up here full time and be able to enjoy life on a mountain, so, yeah, I guess we’re lucky.
Growing up at camp is an experience that few people get to take part in, and the RMC camp kids talked about their outdoor adventures as being their favorite part of camp life. The 2025 RMC summer camp season starts in just two months. Even if not all year long, be sure to sign up the camp-age children in your life today so they can also have some outdoor adventures of their own. CLICK HERE for more information on RMC camp sessions.
—Liz Kirkland is the RMC Communication director. Photo by Liz Kirkland.
