We could not ask for a better group of leaders and role models to lead our programs this summer. We are so excited for our leadership team for 2018! Read these bios and you’ll find out why!
Grace Wood, Outpost Coordinator
My name is Grace and I will graduate from Texas Tech Health Science Center this May, but I grew up in San Antonio. I learned so much last year as a Head Counselor and I am excited to be back as the Outpost Coordinator. I am coming back to camp because of the community camp gave me. When things got chaotic and exhausting, I always felt I had the support of an army to help me do my job. At camp, we get to work with some of the coolest people, while guiding and nurturing younger (and sometimes cooler) people. Which ties into my favorite quote right now by Donald Miller from A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.
“The story of the forest is greater than the story of the tree”
I often read and reread this quote because it grounds me and humbles me for all the right reasons.
Sebastian Ward, Homestead Coordinator
My name is Sebastian, though at Colvig I usually go by Sebas. I grew up in New Mexico for the most part, live in Massachusetts now, and will be returning as Homestead Coordinator this summer! Having been such a large part of my life since I was young, there are many reasons for which I keep coming back to CSC. Mainly, I love working with young people, facilitating their growth as human beings, and generally creating the craziest summer camp experience I possibly can. In turn, I personally feel that I still grow immensely with every summer spent at Colvig, and leading Homestead certainly covers all aforementioned areas. I don’t really have a single favorite quote, though there are a few always running through my mind. Off the top of my head, I’ll go with the last words of Crowfoot, a Blackfoot nation chief:
“What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.”
I’ve always loved the way he used the smallest, fleeting images to convey his “meaning of life”; that which is found in all the quiet details and simple moments that are so easy to lose if one isn’t careful.
Lizzie Hellmann, Saddle Coordinator
Hi y’all! My name is Lizzie and I am originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. I will be Saddle Coordinator for the second time this year, and I could not be more excited! This will be my third summer at CSC and it honestly keeps getting better each summer. As Saddle Coordinator last year and Saddle Head Counselor the year before, I learned more about myself through my campers and fellow staff than I ever expected. That is one of the many reasons why I am coming back this summer. I want to continue to learn about myself through CSC while also being a role model for the saddle girls and all the campers for that matter. Camp is a place where kids can entirely be themselves without hesitations, and I am extremely thankful I have been given the opportunity to create that environment for the campers and watch them grow into better versions of themselves. My heart and soul is in Saddle and I am grateful to be able to come back and lead the best group of girls around. My favorite quote is by Howard Thurman.
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive”
This quote is something I try to live by because it is telling me to go follow my dreams and to enjoy the life I’ve got. I can’t wait for another incredible summer in the Red Creek Valley!
George Flynn, Spruce Coordinator
Greetings! My name is George Flynn, and I’m from Monroe, Louisiana. Currently, I am pursuing my M.A. in Philosophy at Louisiana State University. I’m an avid weightlifter and musician, and I compete with the LSU Men’s Ultimate team. I’m beyond thrilled to be returning to Colvig Silver Camps this summer to serve as the Coordinator for Silver Spruce. I was blown away by the positive and supportive environment I found last summer at CSC, and I could not pass up the opportunity to be a part of that community a second time. My favorite quote is
“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way”
because it speaks to the importance of everyday actions.
Naomi Winard, Pathfinding Instructor
Hey there! My name is Naomi and I’ll be one of the Pathfinding Instructors this summer! I’m currently living in Flagstaff, Arizona and I’m studying parks and recreation management with a minor in geology! I’m so psyched to be spending another summer at Colvig! This camp holds a special place in my heart. I’m back for another summer filled with friends sleeping under the stars and hiking the most beautiful and epic trails! My favorite quote definitely would be,
“It’s not about being good at something. It’s about being good to yourself.”
I really enjoy this quote because inner happiness does not come from being better than others, it comes from bettering yourself.
Ben Ritter, Pathfinding Instructor
My name is Ben and I am originally from Lexington, VA, but I am currently living in Portland, OR where I am attending university. This summer will be my third summer at camp and I am excited to be coming back as one of the Pathfinding Instructors. I am returning to camp because I feel it is the best use of my time during the summer. It is my best chance to have a positive impact on kids as they are growing up. I love traveling in the backcountry and it is one of the places where I feel that I can be myself. Each summer I have been at camp has been the best summer of my life, so I cannot wait until Opening Day 2018. My favorite quote is
“Live to the point of tears”.
To me, it means to live wholeheartedly and to experience everything in life as it comes to you. Embrace the ups and downs, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, and live life to the fullest.”
Gwen Schmidt-Arenales, Pathfinding Instructor
Hey everyone! My name is Gwen and I’m super excited to be one of the Pathfinding Instructors this upcoming summer. I’m originally from Boulder, CO but I’ve been living in Portland, OR for the past four years for school. This will be my first summer working at Colvig Silver Camps and I am really looking forward to getting to know everyone and becoming part of the camp community. I’ve been working at summer camp for the past three years and can’t wait to be back influencing the lives of children in the outdoors. My favorite quote is actually from the Talking Heads song This Must Be The Place and it is…
“Feet on the ground, head in the sky.”
Its a reminder for myself to stay grounded but to also keep an open mind and stay imaginative.
Conor Curtis, Pathfinding Instructor
My name is Conor, I will be one of the Pathfinding Instructors this summer. This won’t be my first summer with CSC, it will be my ninth. As a camper, my brothers and I would travel from Denver to spend our summers at CSC. Recently I have been living in Gunnison, Colorado where I attended Western State Colorado University’s Recreation and Outdoor Education Program. As a former camper Pathfinding has been the ultimate goal for me while growing up. Throughout my time working in the outdoor industry I have been working to improve my group development skills, risk management, and medical training for extended backcountry trips.
A leader is best
When people barely know he exists
Of a good leader, who talks little,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
They will say, “We did this ourselves.”
This is a quote by Lao Tzu that I found while reading The Leader Who is Hardly Known, an outdoor educators view of Tao philosophy. This quote speaks strongly to my leadership style and goals.
