From July 28th-August 2nd, 2024, Jett Foundation enjoyed time in the Rocky Mountains with an exciting crew. Camp Promise – Rockies hosted 21 campers and 32 volunteers to bond and enjoy a week of unique and fully accessible games and activities.
After unpacking our bags and throwing on cabin color clothing, the Rocky Mountain Village was marked with a ceremonial raising of our Pigasus mascot flag. We also kicked off our week in the arts & crafts room, decorating name tags and cabin flags to hoist throughout our time. Also, who doesn’t love a s’more!? Our first night came to a close with a little sugar rush around the campfire, telling favorite stories and connecting with peers.
This year’s camp in the Rockies saw many other unique activities, including Camp Promise Trivia, Table Top Conversations, a Belly Flop Contest, Karaoke Night, Wheel of Fortune, and a Team USA Basketball watch party during the Paris Olympics. Campers also made multiple trips to the Rocky Mountain Village zipline, pool, and fishing pond!
A Camp Promise experience is not complete without an annual Kangaroo Court hearing where campers have the opportunity to “punish” counselors and volunteers for silly accusations throughout the week. To your left is counselor Nathan watching a raw egg drop down his forehead; straight ahead are counselors Leah and Emily with ketchup and mustard from head to toe; and to your right is Jett’s Executive Director Eric Snyder eating a cup of sardines! Needless to say, justice was served and there will be no more loud snoring from volunteers!
We were also blessed with a special visit from our friends at Edgewise Therapeutics to host a Shark Tank event with other surprises. Campers worked as groups throughout the week to create unique inventions that are applicable to everyday life. Edgewise then supplied a panel of judges to walk campers through realistic, yet playful ideas during their visit. We also took turns freezing random items with liquid nitrogen and enjoyed a liquid nitrogen-based ice cream bar!
“There is never a dull moment when spending time with our Camp Promise family at any location,” shares Camp Promise Operations Director Niki Benfield. “Shout out to our volunteers, campers and their families from the Rockies area for yet another incredible year! Our team already CAN’T WAIT to be back!”
Meghan Houston, Camp Promise Program Director, says “Each year, our team drives away from Rocky Mountain Village with such a bittersweet feeling. Camp Promise – Rockies has such a refreshing atmosphere with a group that is very close to our hearts, but we wish camp would never end. The amount of gratitude I have toward the families who join us cannot be put into words.”
A big thank you is owed to Jett Foundation’s Camp Promise sponsors: Cure Dale’s Duchenne, the Flatley Foundation, Sarepta Therapeutics, Dyne Therapeutics, ITF Therapeutics, the Killian Family, the Nicholoff Family, Ultragenyx, and Yale Appliance.
Be sure to check out photos from Camp Promise – Rockies on Facebook!
