There is a place in this world that is incredibly special to me. It holds many unforgettable memories, began many lifelong friendships, and sparked impactful change within my soul. This place has changed a lot over the years; it existed before me, and will continue to exist now that I have left it.

This place is not a secret. Many thousands of people have been there, year after year, for over 60 years. Those people have come from every walk of life and every age, some only a day or two old. They have come from just down the road, and they have come from across the world.

Those people came to this place for different reasons.

Some were forced to come by their parents and some begged their parents to come.
Some were brought by a friend, and some were looking for a friend.
Some came to get married, and others came to celebrate.
Some came for solitude, and others to find a community.
Some came for wisdom, and some came to cause trouble.
Some came to experience nature, and others to experience adventure.
Some came for spiritual reasons, and others came for scientific reasons.
Some people experienced growth, and others found trauma.
Some found love, and others were heartbroken.

Each one of them having their own experiences.
Experiences that never would have been possible if it weren’t for the people who made it work.

The ones who loved.
The ones who cared.
The ones who stressed.
The ones who fixed everything.
The ones who pushed themselves.
The ones who made the impossible happen.

This place is loved and cared for. This place has a family that comes together to get things done. They plan, build, and execute day in and day out. They work at all hours of the day. They run, they exhaust themselves, they put out fires (literal and figurative), and they do everything possible to make it all work. These people know each other. They cry together, laugh together, and rely on one another in immeasurable ways.

It is an amazing privilege to be a part of that family, working with such incredible and selfless people. Watching the people who pour their heart and souls into their roles, caring deeply and passionately about each and every day. There is intense trust, vulnerability, and honesty. It’s a family and a team that never give up.

This family always exists, but it may not always be together in one place.
It changes and breathes as time goes on. Each year having it’s own family, a snapshot in time.

But the family that was will never be forgotten.

Let this stand as a memory of what was, while looking forward to what’s next.