Founded in 1979 as a wilderness adventure program for high schoolers, Sonlight has always been a place to discover who God created you to be.
Sonlight Camp camp is home to thousands of campers, alumni and staff members. Intentional in all we do, faith is woven through all aspects of work and play.
Sonlight has grown from a backpack program for high schoolers to a year round facility and resident camp program. Youth ski groups have filled the lodge for 41+ years and heaven only knows how much hot chocolate has been enjoyed around the woodstove. It is the capacity to dream and a willingness to follow that dream that has inspired so many to pour their creativity and passion into the programs and facility that exist at Sonlight Camp today.
Winston Marugg knew he had one thing he wanted to do with his life: provide opportunities for mountain adventure for kids. In the early 1970’s he guided groups into the Pecos wilderness of New Mexico, up Truchas Peak and along trails by Beatty’s cabin. As director of a camp in northern Colorado, his programming included guiding kids into the Indian Peaks wilderness and beyond. In 1979, with trail miles under his boots, and the persistent desire to get kids into the wilderness, he and (soon to be wife) Mary Winchester (Marugg) founded Sonlight Adventures, Inc. An independent, non-profit backpack program for high school kids. The vast San Juan wilderness was the setting, with miles of trails and unlimited peaks.
Land was purchased in 1982, the lodge was built, intended to be a base for the high country adventures, a staging area for all the trips. This humble vision was interrupted by God, when a persistent youth pastor visited and announced that the lodge was the ideal setting for a youth ski trip. That first winter 13 youth groups were hosted and the ski-lodge-for-youth-groups was solidly in place.
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.
