Pack the gear you need and be prepared physically and emotionally for a great trip.
You are in for a trip to remember.
Physical and mental preparation will help you get the most out of your trip . Physical preparation may include anything to strengthen your cardio endurance as well as your core strength. Hiking and walking, especially if you add weight to your day pack. Core and strength exercises such as sit-ups and crunches are beneficial to carrying a pack. Leg-strengthening exercises such as squats are always good trip preparation.
Mental strength is just as important. Begin practicing time set aside from your phone or technology, and prepare family and loved ones that you will not have connection for the duration of your trip. Consider bringing a small journal to record your experiences along the way, so you can share with family and friends after the trip. Many trips include nature's adversity, take the opportunity to go for a walk in the rain, or get out on a cold day.
Adventure staff carry a Garmin InReach satellite communication device. It allows limited communication with the Sonlight office, as well as Search and Rescue in the event of an emergency on the trail. Should an emergency arise during the trip and your family needs to contact you, contact the Sonlight office 970.264.4379 or [email protected] and they staff can relay a limited message to the group in the back country.
All Adventure Trip participants are required to complete the online Health Form and online Authorization Form. If you are registered for a Sonlight Backpack trip through the Sonlight system, you'll find forms and links in your Camp In Touch portal.
If you are joining a group for a Sonlight Backpack Trip (Sandia Presbyterian or Cloud River Ministries) you'll be provided links to the forms by your group leader.
To comply with Colorado State childcare regulations, high school and youth participants also need a physical exam from a healthcare provider (MD, PA or Nurse Practitioner) and documentation of current immunization status.
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.
