AAVE Trip BLOG » Ultimate Colorado
January 26, 2008
Colorado Classic #2A Photo
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March 21, 2007
This Summer I learned anything was possible!
Posted by Annemarie in : Ultimate Colorado , add a comment
This summer I went on “Rock and Rapid” in Colorado. I met the greatest group of people and the best trip leaders that anyone could have met on a wilderness trip. In total, we were fourteen people in a group; two leaders and twelve teenagers. Once we all met each other, we couldn’t stop talking. We became a family and I believe we will still stay a family as long as we remember that trip.
My toughtest and proudest moment came when we were hiking up a mountain. We knew we all had to reach the top of the mountain, but that morning my first words were, “I can’t go up that mountain.” Everyone in the group was disappointed. I was able to lean on my friends for help throughout the day, and in the end I reached the top of the mountain. I realized that I can do things if I believe in myself. With this trip, I noticed that I was capable of doing a lot of things that I didn’t think I was capable of doing. I learned to have confidence in myself, to believe that I can do anything even though I know it may be hard to do. All I have to do to get over an obstacle is to just believe in myself.
Since my trip I’ve taken a new attitude home. I play soccer, basketball, and track. I am going to play these sports no matter what and I will still be able to do well in my classes. I just say to myself, “I know I will, I can do this, I know I can!”
This summer showed me that I can do anything no matter how difficult it may be, with my new motto, “I CAN.”
-Juana Maritza, RR #3, 2006
November 7, 2006
Rocky Mountain Teen Adventure Camp!
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“Svea loved her experiences with AAVE and came home very excited about rock climbing and really liked the rafting as well. For this reason and the friends she made, it was successful!”
-Olsen Family, Rock & Rapid
“Abbott, I know you hear this a lot but this was the best summer I have ever had. I want to thank you a lot for all of your help when I needed it the most. I had no problem catching up with the group and the leaders were awesome! Thank you very very much!!!”
-Francisco Guarderas, camper
Wild West Adventure Camp!
Posted by Jenny at AAVE in : General AAVE Trip BLOG, Ultimate Colorado , add a comment
“I think that the best part about AAVE was how you got to try out different outdoor activities. If you didn’t like rafting for example, in a few days you would move on to something different. It allowed me to try out things I wouldn’t have gotten a chance to do at home, and helped me realize that rock climbing is the greatest thing in the world!”
-Svea Olsen, camper
“ Gus had an ‘awesome’ time; lot’s of fun and activity. He was never bored, good food, and great counselors. We could not have expected a better adventure for him!”
- Talarico Family
September 26, 2006
Colorado Climbing and Rafting Camp Adventure!
Posted by Jenny at AAVE in : Ultimate Colorado , 1 comment so far
“A real Western adventure camp experience! Julia returned from her trip with such inner confidence and joy. You could tell in a moment that she had grown personally beyond our wildest expectations. Her stories of the leaders and peers, adventures and personal sharing gave us a great sense of reward and pride. We were thrilled that our first AAVE adventure proved to be more exciting and rewarding that we could have ever hoped for. The counselors did a marvelous job. Thank you!”
-Susan Nethro, parent, R&R 2006
“It was all great, much to our sons surprise. He never thought that he would enjoy an outdoors adventure camp as much as he did. One of the best things for him was to go on the trip without knowing anyone- that was a growing experience and it gave him a lot of confidence. New physical challenges also built his confidence. He is much more independent and helpful around the house!”
-Michelle Ritz, parent, R&R 2006
“Rock and Rapid was an awesome summer camp trip that was filled with many fun adventures. The rock climbing was very cool and it tested my limits. The rafting was sometimes scary but really, really fun. The backpacking was a great challenge and pushed me to do my personal best!”
-Willy Chen, camper, R&R 2006
“I found every activity, every leader and every camper very successful. I enjoyed really everything about the AAVE teen summer camp. I cant think of anything unsuccessful in the whole trip!”
- Scott Zimmer, camper, R&R 2006
“I would just like to thank you for the most amazing summer of adventure in my life. I had a really great time and I have met people who I will stay friends with for life. Thank you for providing such a fun summer camp, it was perfect!”
-Anoushka Kustow, camper, R&R 2006
“Rock and Rapid was so uber awesome, it’s almost indescribable. I’ll never forget the way I felt getting on the plane to go to Colorado and the most amazing sense of relief I felt when I arrived at the airport and was greeted by the friendly counselors and excited teens. I got so much out of this last summer, it’s given me an entirely new outlook on life and much of the world. The expeirences I recieved through Buffy’s grammar lessons, Ian’s life lessons, and Denise’s confidence combined with physical challenges, group struggles, and independence seems almost unrepeatable. It was the best summer of fun and growth, my mindset would be entirely different this year without it.”
-Jessa DeGroote - October 17, 2006[Edit]
July 18, 2006
Rock and Rapid Colorado Teen Adventure
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Hello Families!
We are having a great time and miss you all. The two day raft trip was surely the highlight of the trip thus far even though it rained. Jessa was the only one who holds the claim to fame of falling out of the raft smack into the Arkansas river. We have some rock-climbing wizards in this group for sure. All of us leaders have been so impressed with their skills. BackPacking in the Diamond Lakes in the Indian Peaks Wilderness was awesome. We split up guys and girls based on the park regulations and I think both groups got a lot out of that one. The girls had some nice girl time and enjoyed their break from the boys. We missed calculated our turn off and had to hike an extra two miles but everyone kept up and we made it to catch up with the boys. We had an awesome day of ultimate frisbee on one of our days off and everyone jumped in the cold, cold, cold creek in Boulder.
More soon,
Denise and the RR crew
July 6, 2006
Most Amazing Experience of My Life
Posted by aave in : General AAVE Trip BLOG, Ultimate Colorado , add a comment
I highly recommend AAVE to any who wants to have fun and willing to challenge themselves. I was terrified everyone on the trip would be mean, stuck up stereotypical teenagers, but I was completely wrong. Everyone in the entire group became friends, if not best friends and we all fit in. The most amazing moments I remember are the challenging times, like the first two days of rock climbing, missing the turn backpacking and the 60mph wind at Arapaho Pass. I also remember the great group bonding we had when we played ultimate frisbee, capture the flag, and camofluage on Mt. Silverheels. This trip completely changed my outlook on life and on myself. I gained so much confidence on this trip. When I came home, my friends all noticed how much happier I was, not to mention fun to be with. Basically I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t enjoy this trip. You might think you can’t handle all the challenges because you’re not fit enough or mentally able to but with all the other campers and counselors there, they encourage you and keep you going. No one gets left behind. I think our whole group came away with the most life changing experience. We still talk weekly through e-mails and have plans to meet up with each other. Besides completely changing our mental outlooks, we all made friends which will last a lifetime and had moments we’ll never forget.
June 1, 2006
Teen Adventure Camp in The Rockies!
Posted by admin in : Ultimate Colorado , 6 comments
hey,
This is Ian Saunders. Rock’n'Rapid is probably my favorite AAVE trip - and I have led a lot of them! I hope you all will stop by and say hello or ask a question on this blog. I’ll keep checking in so just let me know if you have a question or anything.
alright … catch you all later.
peace
Ian