Rocky Mountain Family Camp – Day 2: When Families Become Campmates

​Day two of STEAM in the PARK Family Camp began with one simple victory: everyone survived their first night in a tent. For several of our families, that was no small accomplishment. As darkness settled over Moraine Park Campground, campers stepped outside their tents and looked up to some of the darkest skies many had ever experienced. Without the glow of city lights, the stars seemed endless. A few of the night owls (or very early risers!) who happened to be awake around 3:00 a.m. were even rewarded with a glimpse of the Milky Way stretching across the sky. Whether they saw thousands of stars or caught that extraordinary moment before dawn, everyone experienced the wonder of a truly dark sky—a gift that has become increasingly rare.
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This morning began with one of our favorite parts of STEAM in the PARK: learning from one another. Parker Brown, one of our own family campers, spent the morning teaching everyone about ropes and essential outdoor knots. Parker is an Eagle Scout who recently completed his first year at Georgia Southern University, and it was a joy to watch him confidently share his knowledge with campers of every age. Watching younger children look up to him reminded us that some of the best teachers are sitting right beside us around the campfire. We are so grateful to Parker and to his mom, Robyn, for sharing his gifts with all of us.

From there we headed into our Mystery of the Disappearing Log investigation, adapted especially for Rocky Mountain National Park. Families explored the hidden world of fallen logs, discovering the fungi, insects, plants, and animals that call them home. What first looks like a rotting log quickly becomes one of the busiest neighborhoods in the forest, reminding us that in nature, even things that appear to be disappearing are creating new life.

Our huddle groups gave everyone a chance to slow down and reflect. Campers shared what they hope to take home from this week. Their answers weren't about souvenirs or photographs. They talked about becoming braver, spending more time together as a family, making new friends, learning outdoor skills, and remembering to look up. Those conversations reminded us that the greatest things we bring home from places like this often cannot be packed into a suitcase.

After lunch, families tackled Rocky Mountain Rescue, working together to solve ecosystem challenges and discover just how connected life is throughout the park. There was plenty of laughter, problem-solving, and teamwork as families realized that every living thing plays an important role in keeping this incredible ecosystem healthy.

The afternoon took us down near the campground where we were incredibly fortunate to spend several hours learning from the wonderful guides at Sasquatch Fly Fishing. For many campers, it was their very first time holding a fly rod. They practiced casting, learned about the stream ecosystem, and discovered that fly fishing is as much about patience and observation as it is about catching fish.

This evening, Parker returned with Ryan to lead our second outdoor skills challenge. Together they taught families about campfire building and fire safety, helping everyone become a little more confident and comfortable around one of camping's most treasured traditions.

We ended the day with our Nature Paint Project, Using only natural materials that were already dead, down, and on the ground, families made their own paints from leaves, flowers, bark, berries, and other gifts from nature. Every family experimented with different combinations and created colors that were uniquely their own. 

Tomorrow promises to be one of the highlights of the week as we spend the entire day learning alongside the incredible rangers of Rocky Mountain National Park at the elk enclosure. We can't wait to step behind the scenes, ask questions, discover more about these remarkable animals, and continue creating the kinds of family memories that last long after the tents come down.