Lives Impacted at Camp
On River Time’s Campers and Chaperones from Big Oak Ranch and Homes of Hope for Children at Grand Teton National Park
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened!” - Dr. Seuss
Good-byes are never easy. But when you develop deep, transformative relationships combined with memories for a lifetime, it’s even harder. Lives were impacted at On River Time camp these past couple of weeks.
Girls from Big Oak Ranch are greeted by encouraging notes from On River Time volunteers as they checked into their cabins at The Lodge at Palisades Creek.
Day 2 - On River Time campers (teens from Big Oak Ranch in Alabama, Palmer Home in Mississippi, Homes of Hope for Children in Mississippi, and Still Creek Ranch in Texas) experience Fly Fishing on the Snake River with the incredible guides from the award winning and Orvis endorsed, The Lodge at Palisades Creek.
Gathering around the fire pit to "burn our fears". A few tears were shed. For so many, their biggest fear is repeating the mistakes of the generations before them. One boy declared, “I don’t think that’s my destiny anymore!”
The kids left their mark on the benches and in our hearts.
Day 3 - Whitewater Rafting Near Jackson Hole
The morning after "burning our fears", we faced them! Brodie Croyle from Big Oak Ranch shared that whitewater rafting provided an important teaching moment, “Who’s in your boat?" Make sure you are surrounded by people paddling in the right direction!
Day 3 -Scholarship Presentations
Daniel from Homes of Hope for Children and Nick from Palmer Home will both attend Ole Miss in the fall!
Day 4 - Camp 1 - 2nd day of fly fishing.
Largest trout (21") by Francisco, and most fish (36) by Danielle
Day 5 - Day trip to the Grand Teton National Park led by Teton Science School
Pinning Ceremony
Our final night is our pinning ceremony where each kid recognizes someone who had an impact on them. One younger boy from Homes of Hope told an older boy from Big Oak Ranch, “You taught me how to be brave”.
At camp, the kids are able to be their true selves, as they build relationships with teens from other children’s homes who are just like them. Any walls of fear or shame come down.
The purpose of On River Time is to empower children of abuse and neglect, to let them know they are not defined by their past, they have a future filled with hope. They are Imago Dei, made in the image of God. Thank you for the role you play in helping to change lives.