“It’s the mail that never fails, it makes me wanna wag my tail, and when it comes I want to wail, maaaiiilll”
Mail time at Sonlight is a favorite daily happening in the summer. If you were ever curious how we get 70+ people to sit quietly in the dining room – singing this song is our secret! Campers eagerly await to hear their name called before coming forward to receive their letter(s) – offering a fist bump, high five, or hug to a staff member first.
We introduce the inner camp mail station on night 1 of camp. You can write mail to anyone at camp (fellow campers or staff) and send it through our “post system”. All mail but be signed and contain at least 5+ words because no one enjoys spam mail, am I right? Inner camp mail offers space for affirmative language and connection building throughout the week as campers make new friendships while having shared experiences.
Another type of mail given at mail time is from our one-way parent email system! Daily, we print off emails from the secured online portal that guardians have access to and can share with loved ones. Campers aren’t able to reply but love hearing about what is going on back home, how the family pet is, and what’s on the itinerary for when they return. We’ve seen how campers’ faces light up receiving mail from family! Here are a few do’s and don’ts that we’ve seen with parent communications at camp:
Do’s
Don’t
In a world that is overly connected with technology, reverting back to “snail mail” can offer intentional communication resulting in a tangible effort of relationships. Thank you for partnering with us to show your camper their community of support shown through this daily activity.
Please note: New for 2026 Sonlight has a “no package” policy. This reflects our goal of reducing disparity between campers.
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.
