Adam's Camp - Summer 2017

This summer we had the opportunity to go to Adam's Camp at YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, CO. Adam's Camp is a family camp for children with disabilities and their families. Myles was in intensive, but still fun, therapies for five days while the other three kids attended a sibling day camp. Myles' group did one adventure activity per day including canoeing, climbing, swimming, horseback riding, and tubing. Sydney was in the Big Sibs camp and was on the go most everyday. They went climbing, swimming, miniature golfing, go cart riding, shopping, roller skating (her favorite), the two little boys were in Little Sibs camp and stayed onsite to do all sorts of preschool type activite - crafts, playground, nature hikes, scavenger hunts, etc, while Gilby and I had free time for four days in a row, which was much needed respite for us. We stayed in a cabin on the Snow Mountain Ranch property and were able to do fun things as a family in the afternoons and evenings. It was a great week!

Monday 7/31 - We arrived at camp in the afternoon to get checked in and settled. Since it was Myles' birthday, we had left home early and stopped at Beau Jo's in Idaho Springs for a pizza birthday lunch. We took the kiddos on a nature walk before meeting up with the other Adam's Camp families for a quick orientation.

Tuesday 8/1 - While the kids were at their day camps, Gilby and I went to a breakfast with other parents of campers. We then spent the day resting, reading, watching TV, and went on a little hike before having to pick up the kids. Things we don't often get a chance to do! We ended the evening flying kites out front of our cabin.

Wednesday 8/2 - Gilby was able to go golfing with another dad from the camp, and I had the whole day to myself. I sat outside of our cabin for most of the day and worked on updating family pictures and blogs. It sounds boring, but was actually just what I needed. We headed to the kiva and went on another nature hike with the kids after pickup. One of Sydney's highlights was the improvement she made with her roller skating.

Thursday 9/3 - Gilby and I went to the Hot Sulphur Springs during the day, picked up the kids and had family photos taken by the volunteer camp photographer, and then went tubing. The two oldest loved the tubing hill, but the younger two decided it was too scary after only a couple trips down.

Friday 9/4 - Hiking! One of the things I for sure wanted to do while the kids were at their camps was to go for a day hike beyond that of just a little nature walk. Gilby and I drove into Arapaho National Forest and hiked Caribou Pass Trail. It was gorgeous! Friday night the Potter family came to Snow Mountain Ranch to spend two days of their Colorado vacation with us. It was so great to catch up.

Saturday 9/5 - Adam's Camp activities wrapped up with a little program put on by all of the kids. Afterward we had a conference with Myles' therapy team. He loved all of the camp activities and made some good progress during the week. We drove to Grand Lake that night for pizza and ice cream with the Potter crew. It was fun, but also so rainy and chilly!

Sunday 9/6 - The Potters headed out after breakfast, and we surprised Sydney with a horseback riding session, which she had been asking for the whole week. It was her first time on a horse. I pictured the 1.5 hour session to be Sydney on an horse riding around a ring with an instructor giving her the basics while I watched from the side. Nope. It was a trail ride! I did not sign up to go along, and by the time I figured out she would be going off on a trail, it was too late for me to sign up because I had the boys with me. The staff kept referring to Sydney as "the unaccompanied minor" to make sure she was situated right behind the lead horse since she was the only kid without a parent! I felt horrible, but Sydney didn't mind at all. She was so brave and excited. 1.5 hours later and we picked her up at the end where she excitedly reported nothing but great things and fun stories. I was so proud of her!

A fun week that left us with memories, which will soon not be forgotten.