Camp 2026: Recap!
Camp 2026 was one for the books! All of the things were experienced. All of the times were had.
These youth most definitely did rise!
This year we had just 6 youth come up the mountain with us — some last minute cancellations kept the group small, and we trusted that this was how it was supposed to be.
(Spoiler alert: It was.)
Our campers this year were carrying the heaviest of things — and we're not talking backpacks.
They came us to struggling. And they came to us hopeful, bright, and brave.
Our team of four leaders — Marlaina, Heidi, Weronika, and Chelsie — led these young humans up to the Mount Carlyle lodge, 2200m in the sky.
There they spent 4 days learning to love themselves and each other while:
- hiking
- dipping into cold alpine waters
- exploring flora and fauna
- sharing stories
- crying
- dancing
- stretching
- laughing
- cooking
- staying up to late
Just to name a few.
It wasn't always roses—camp never is. It's hard work to choose to do the work of rising.
These youth doubled down, showed up for themselves and each other, and chose to share the heaviness and also the joy.
"The best part of camp was creating a small community up in the mountains with a group of strangers. I was scared at first but it taught me that when you're with the right people, you can feel free to be yourself and the camp counselors helped me feel comfortable." — Kaia
This year, we ended camp early.
This was the first year that we made a decision to end camp two days early.
It's always a tough decision to end a life-changing experience.
Our team works off a little something called Lemon Theory when it comes to risk management and assessing compounding challenges in the wild.
Essentially, three lemons in the wild means it's time to evacuate. The risk is too great.
Lemons can be a lot of things—big and small, like poor weather or a tired team or a medical event. Anything.
We count the lemons and manage them accordingly. Too may lemons, big or small, compound and increase risk.
Our number one job in the mountains is to keep youth and our team safe.
This year, we had a lot of lemons pop up in a short period of time.
Three days into camp, we put a plan in place to end camp early. This was a tough decision and the right decision.
And we ended camp early with joy, dancing, gratitude, and adventure!
"My favorite part of camp was meeting all the people. Also on the last night when we told each other what we're good at. It brought me lots of joy." — Jordyn
Big Thanks
Pulling off a big change like this from a remote alpine environment and having it go smoothly takes a lot of people dedicated to digging deep in a really short period of time to create the best outcome.
We did that. We're amazed.
And we have these folks to thank:
THANK YOU to the youth who came to camp this year. You all showed us what it is to hold space and never ever leave a lion behind. You made some big leaps and were flexible through some hard decisions. And, honesty, we're in awe. Thank you for showing up for yourselves and each other solidly.
THANK YOU to our Leadership Team who, while juggling lotsa lemons, initiated Project Give Them The Stars, and ensured that the youth would have the ultimate Girl in the Wild experience regardless of having two less days than previous groups. Our team was dialled, impressive, creative, incredible. We are forever in awe of their leadership this year.
THANK YOU to Daye Hagel, of Mental Health Wilderness First Aid, who called up the mountain to support our team in building a plan to communicate the big decision with the youth in a constructive and supportive way.
(Side note: The youth this year were AMAZING! They understood that for the well-being of the whole group, we had to end the experience early. And they jumped at the chance to make the remaining 24 hours they had together utter magic.)
THANK YOU to Kaslo Search and Rescue and their all-female rescue team who flew in on our last morning to evacuate two youth with dancing injuries — because we really let loose on that last night. No regrets. They were incredible, kind, proficient, and inspired the heck out of the youth.
THANK YOU to our Front Country team Fox and Sandra who rolled with the punches and showed up where we needed them to show up at a moment's notice every step of the way.
THANK YOU to Pete who volunteered to go up and down the mountain several times over the course of camp to support unexpected support needs. We were in dire need of extra muscle and Pete delivered. Big time.
THANK YOU to the parents of all of the youth who changed plans, accepted the new plan with grace and support, and showed up in the middle of nowhere to collect their kids with gratitude and joy. Thank you for supporting our decision.
THANK YOU to the Carlyle Lodge for coordinating SAR and supporting our camp so whole-heartedly for another year. Gosh, we love you and we love it up there.
THANK YOU to Nicola Lightstone of Guidepost Therapy for providing pro-bono post-camp clinical support to our staff.
