NN Sept 2026

Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … More than 90 Upper School students and staff from Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, traveled August 20-21 to Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, for their annual school retreat, an event designed to build community and set the tone for the upcoming academic year.

Upon arrival on Thursday, students unpacked and gathered for lunch before starting the afternoon’s outdoor activities. The schedule featured team-building games, including capture the flag and a water-soaked sponge relay, where MHA principal RD Gallant and coach Michael Camacho doused the kids with water. The afternoon concluded with the annual “Capture the Mattress” competition, which ended with the Senior and Sophomore classes securing the victory.

“Capture the Mattress was very intense this year,” said Layten M., upper school student. “But it’s an event I’ll always look forward to at Retreat.”

“Capture the Mattress is always a classic MHA tradition, and the food was great, too,” agreed Senior Ryan W., reflecting on his final retreat. “Being my senior year, it really made me think about how much I’m going to miss hanging out with my friends, as well as seeing the underclassmen experience MHA community in a whole new environment outside of campus.”

Following dinner, the group gathered for an evening worship service led by Gerson Martinez, MHA chaplain and Upper School Bible teacher. Drawing from the biblical narrative of King David and Nathan, Martinez highlighted the value of strong relationships, encouraging students to recognize the importance of having a mentor while also striving to be a positive mentor to their peers.

On Friday morning, students completed breakfast and cabin clean-up before boarding the buses to return to the Mile High Academy campus.

“The annual retreat provides a foundational start to our academic year,” said Gallant. “Beyond the excitement of the activities, it offers our students an invaluable environment to cultivate meaningful friendships, build strong mentor relationships with faculty outside the traditional classroom, and connect spiritually as a group.”

—Karrie Meyers is the Mile High Academy marketing and development coordinator. Photos supplied.

Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … The senior class students from Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, returned Sunday, August 30, from its annual Senior Survival retreat at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado. This special weekend not only allowed the students from the Senior class to focus on spiritual reflection and time in nature but also helped build class unity for their final year together.

Students left campus following classes on Friday, August 28. The retreat opened that evening with a vespers service followed by a special “Afterglow,” during which students gathered—due to fire restrictions—around a fake fire to share words of encouragement.

On Saturday, Scout Master Ryan guided the class on a three-mile trail hike through the camp property. Students also participated in a Saturday night game of Sardines, a camp-wide variation of hide-and-seek won by senior class member Yana. Throughout the weekend, students also enjoyed informal circle volleyball games and plenty of shared laughter.

Student chefs Roger and Chelsea oversaw kitchen operations for the group, preparing meals planned and supplied with assistance from MHA principal RD Gallant. The menu included Friday night Haystacks, a Sabbath breakfast of pancakes, hash browns, and eggs, a sandwich lunch, and a Sabbath supper of spaghetti served with garlic bread, which proved to be a crowd favorite.

When asked to describe the weekend, student chef Roger summed up the experience simply: “The retreat was amazing.”

Annual retreats like Senior Survival give the class students a chance to step away from campus and connect before the busy school year takes off, setting the tone for a memorable final year that will quickly lead to their senior class trip and graduation.

—Karrie Meyers is the Mile High Academy marketing and development coordinator. Photos supplied.