We look forward to each week of camp!
Whether it's your first week at Sonlight Camp or you are a seasoned camper we want all campers and families to be prepared for the week ahead
After your camper is registered, you will need to log in to your account and complete the required information. The following forms are required for camp attendance. Completed forms are due by May 15th. All forms may be completed or uploaded through your Camp In Touch Parent Dashboard
Authorization Form - This required form provides the authorizations we need to care for your child.
Health Form – This is a required form which includes health history, allergies, insurance information, emergency contacts, etc. It is very important to tell us about your camper’s medical needs in the camper’s health history. Healthcare staff will review your camper’s health history before camp starts. If we have any questions, we will call you to discuss. If you have health concerns you would like to talk through, feel free to contact Mary Marugg, RN directly.
Physical Exam Form – Colorado State regulation requires a physical by an MD, APRN, DO or PA. Any sports physical, annual exam is acceptable on any form.
Immunization Records – By Colorado State regulation we require current immunization records from your camper’s doctor’s office. *New in 2026, immunization records for out of state campers may be on a form from any state, and no longer need to be on the Colorado form. Colorado residents must provide immunization records on a Colorado form. Read more about Colorado immunization requirements for camps
We are passionate about taking good care of campers while they are with us. We invite you to help us do that well by understanding our approach to camp. Please visit our Parent Handbook to learn more about how we do things at Sonlight Camp.
The Sonlight Healthcare staff check all campers in on Opening Day to help verify your camper’s medications and chat with you about their administration.
Upon enrollment you may list a bunk request for your camper. While we try our best to honor these requests we are mindful that it is healthy for the community to mix up large groups - each year new cabin groups form wonderful connections and deep friendships.
Check out the What to Bring List
We believe space and independence are important for the overall camp experience, while also recognizing the desire for families to feel connected with their children during camp.
Read more about communication from Camp to Home Staying Connected at Camp
Read more about staying connected from Home to Camp Mail Call
Sonlight has a small "swag" store for Sonlight merch. The store is only open on Arrival and Departure Days, and will not be available throughout the week for campers to purchase from. Each season we order a handful of new designs to add to our collections of staple items but often "once they are gone they are gone". 100% of the proceeds go to the Sonlight Scholarship Fund to help more campers come to camp.
Check out our "ITK Blog Series' (ITK = "In the Know") for more about camp. Foodservice, Healthcare, Mail call, and more!
Sundays are camp arrival days! Beginning at 4:30pm, staff will be present in the parking lot to greet you. Upon passing through the stone gate you will be met by a staff member who will give each camper a name tag to be worn. After parking, unload your belongings, keeping meds and sodas separate. You’ll check in at the white tent before heading to your cabin. Once you meet your counselor you will continue working through your arrival day check in sheet - healthcare check in, drop by the dining room, etc. Feel free to stay with your camper(s) through the arrival process, until the bell rings to start our session at 5:30pm!
Closing day is an opportunity for both campers and families to celebrate our time together! We'll have coffee and pastries available when families arrive starting at 8:00am. At 8:30am we'll do a short closing program to include a video/slide show of our time before we say goodbye until next year! If you are unable to attend the slideshow or would like to share with friends/extended family, each video will be available on Vimeo within a few days of the end of each camp session.
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.
