ITK Tips (ITK = In the Know)
Providing great food at Sonlight Camp is a priority.
Food concerns are real. Food is cultural, familial and foundational to who we are as humans. It is both fuel and comfort–and sometimes it is a little scary when you don’t know what you are going to eat or, maybe more concerning, if you are going to like it.
Sonlight food strives to be excellent, made from scratch and designed for the age group we are serving. Many of our meals are “deconstructed”, for example, on spaghetti night, pasta, meat sauce, a basket of bread, a bowl of salad, a bowl of dressing, parmesan are all served seperately. Campers who preferred buttered noodles can make their own, while campers who are vegetarians can help themselves to the vegetarian red sauce in the kitchen windows, or our GF campers can visit the kitchen windows and receive gluten free noodles and bread.
We understand that dietary needs and preferences are personal and diverse. From allergies to lifestyle choices, our food service staff is dedicated to accommodating special dietary requirements—gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and more to the best of our ability. Should we identify a camper or staff member who may have needs that we do not feel we can adequately meet, we’ll consult with parents / caregivers pre-camp to come up with a plan. We create menus that allow all campers and staff to feel included, cared for, and satisfied.
Sonlight is “allergen aware”. We are not a peanut free or gluten free facility, but food service staff are well aware of allergies, labeling foods that may contain gluten or dairy. Nuts are avoided if a camper or staff member has a nut allergy.
Just like trying new activities at camp, we are hopeful that campers can try new foods while they are here–which is why our cooks are so thorough in their planning and execution of the weekly menus. While we will not force campers to eat new foods, we will encourage them to try a “no-thank-you” bite of something that might be a little new or unusual.
CONTACT INFO
1536 Sonlight Place
PO Box 536 (USPS)
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
Be With kids. Show Them God.
Caretaker
Thom’s Sonlight connection began in 1990 when he brought youth from the Phoenix area to ski; that trip continued for the next 18 years every March. He then participated in a handful of adult backpacking trips before extending an offer to volunteer in the off season. After almost a decade of spending chunks of May volunteering he now calls Sonlight home year round serving “wherever is needed”.
Thom holds a BS in Communications from the University of Puget Sound as well as a MDiv from Luther Seminary, which led to his 35 years as a Lutheran Pastor. The initial driving factor of finding the best way to be in service to others was evident in his ministerial work and has translated significantly to his contributions at Sonlight in retirement.
When not fixing things or working on new projects Thom enjoys golfing, cheering on San Francisco sports teams, and playing the guitar. He has three grown children and two grandchildren.
Co-founding Sonlight in 1979 with his wife, Mary, the calling that began simply as a “small, summer only backpacking program” that turned into what so many call home today can be accredited in part to the faithfulness of Winston. His passion to creatively solve problems and find solutions is evident in all parts of camp. An avid backpacker himself, he also enjoys bike touring and has logged over 14,000 on his touring bike. Nowadays, he serves as Board Treasurer and Camps ultimate human resource, providing insight to all things property and Sonlight history.
Winston earned his BS degree in Social Psychology from Colorado State University. He began working for Presbyterian Highlands Camp before deciding to start his own program, with a lot in between it's probably just easiest to say “and the rest is history”!
In his free time Winston enjoys traveling, spending time in the backcountry, and befriending as many furry friends as possible. You’ll find him around camp with a cup of coffee and Truman by his side.
Camp Director
From her middle school years as a Sonlight camper to spending her college summers on Summer Staff to then joining the full-time team as Program Director, Claire can’t imagine any other way to spend her summers! Now, as Camp Director, she continues to bring Sonlight’s vision of creating a community of well-being to life through her gifts of strategic planning, creativity, and intentionality.
Claire holds a BS in Psychology from Regis University, where she spent much of her time involved in University Ministry. She served as a Peer Minister to first-year students and coordinated opportunities for fellow students to discover how they were being called to use their gifts in service to others.
When she’s not immersed in the camp world, Claire enjoys reading, just about any outdoor activity, and spending time with her three-year-old kitten, Frankie.
