Rocky Mountain Family Camp – Day 1

​Today marked the beginning of our seventh STEAM in the PARK Family Camp, and somehow these first days never lose their magic.

This summer, we welcomed 57 campers from 17 families to Moraine Park Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park. By tonight, every tent was standing, every campsite had become a little home, and what began as a collection of strangers was already beginning to feel like a community.

One of my favorite moments happened before we had even really begun.

As all 57 of us gathered together in a circle for our first welcome meeting, one of our newest campers quietly looked around and said, "Everyone looks so happy. I hope that's what happens all week."

I've carried those words with me all evening.

Because what I saw today wasn't simply happiness. It was kindness in motion.

Within an hour of check-in, every family had arrived and settled into camp. If you've ever put up a tent, you know that isn't because everyone suddenly became camping experts. It's because people noticed one another.

Children were hammering tent stakes into the ground for families they had met only minutes before. Parents were helping stretch rainflies over tents that weren't their own. Camp chairs appeared where they were needed. Extra hands lifted heavy bins. Questions were answered before they even had to be asked.

Several of our new families had never camped in a tent before today. Think about that for a moment. They chose to leave behind what was familiar and step into something completely unknown with people they had never met.

That takes courage.

It was also such a joy to welcome back families who first joined us at our very first Family Camp in Acadia in 2023. Watching children who have grown taller reunite with friends they made years ago, and seeing parents pick up conversations as if no time had passed, reminded me that some places become home because of the people who gather there.

This year, we were thrilled to welcome eight new families—22 new campers—to this little adventure we call STEAM in the PARK. By the end of the afternoon, you could hardly tell who had been here before and who was experiencing it for the first time.

That's the kind of community we hope to build.

None of this happens without extraordinary people working quietly behind the scenes. We are incredibly grateful to Ranger Danielle and Ashley, who have helped us navigate every detail of our time here in Rocky Mountain National Park. Their partnership means more than they know.

Our ambassadors—Roxie, Melanie, and Sarah—are simply remarkable. Caring for 57 campers is joyful work, but it is also demanding work. They lead with patience, kindness, and hearts that make everyone feel like they belong.

And then there are our Mountain Mama Chefs—Tiffany, Lyndi, and Amanda. The moment I asked if they would help feed this little campground full of families, each one answered with an immediate yes. They have already poured so much love into this week, and it shows in every meal and every conversation around the picnic tables.

Steve and I ended the evening looking across the campground as children ran between campsites, parents visited beneath towering pines, campfires flickered to life, and laughter drifted through the mountain air.

This is why we keep coming back.

Not because every tent goes up perfectly or every schedule unfolds exactly as planned. We come back because something beautiful happens when families slow down long enough to notice one another. New friendships begin. Confidence grows. Children discover they can do hard things. Parents make memories that won't fit inside a photograph.

And if Day One is any indication, this week is already becoming one none of us will ever forget.