Two Flagstaff Grads and Camp Alums Receive $500 Scholarships from Friends of Camp Colton
Camp Colton alumni Trinity Harris and Sara McCabe reflect on their Camp experiences as they prepare for college and new frontiers.
Two Flagstaff high school seniors have something extra to celebrate. Friends of Camp Colton selected Trinity Harris and Sara McCabe as the 3rd annual recipients of its $500 scholarships for Camp Colton alumni. Read on to discover the lasting impacts of their Camp experiences and what they are taking with them as they look forward to college next year.
Learn more about the positive benefits of outdoor environmental education.
Trinity Harris
Trinity Harris
Graduating from Flagstaff High School, Harris will attend The University of Arizona next year. Camp Colton helped Trinity realize the importance of being vulnerable and embracing new experiences.
Harris shares:
As we sat on the cold, hard cinder block wall, gathered around the firepit, I gazed across the sky full of stars. As I looked, I was able to identify the Milky Way, the Big and Little Dipper, and the familiar zigzag line of Cassiopeia we had just learned about that day. Suddenly I felt a harsh wind swirl through my hair. I tugged at my beanie, pulling the fabric over my ears to keep them warm as I looked back down at the raging fire in front of me. I scooched in closer to bask in the heat one last time before we all trudged off to our tents for bed.
Going outside and learning about nature at Camp Colton was a very valuable experience and was my favorite part because, for as long as I can remember, I have always loved camping. Along with camping, I love participating in team games and activities, which is exactly what we did at Camp Colton. I specifically remember standing in line at the volleyball courts, cheering on my new friends as I waited for my turn to play. This was one of my favorite activities, along with the big square dance at the end of the week where I was able to have the chance to dance with my camp crush.
Since we were all away from our homes and families, we had to start developing independence. We were expected to keep our tents clean, meet up at specific times, and to stay in our camp, so we had to start holding ourselves accountable.
If I had any specific advice, I’d share with 6th graders who are hesitant to go, I would talk to them about making sure to come prepared. Bringing the right equipment will start you off feeling strong and confident and will help you have a good experience. Also, I would add that you shouldn’t be afraid to talk to an adult or fellow classmate if you feel scared or sick. Being open and vulnerable will help you to connect with others and make new friends, and I know this is true because that’s how I made many friends. This experience is something that you will have shared with your peers that helps you all develop a sense of community.
This advice also applies to me as I start preparing for college, because it reminds me that I’m going to be in a new environment, looking to make friends. It also reminds me that I’m going to need to be open and vulnerable, because just like how we had randomized tent assignments, I’ll be put in a dorm with new roommates, having to learn to communicate and compromise so that we can live in harmony. As I head off to college, I’ll be gaining a whole new level of independence with added challenges, but I know I’ll be able to succeed just like I did at camp. I’m confident I’ll be able to do it again moving forward.
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Sara McCabe
Sara McCabe
I didn’t know at the time that Camp Colton would bring meaning into my life, but it did. It taught me not only to think about myself but to think of others and the world around me. It taught me the fun that you can have when you’re away from electronics. The peace that comes from going on a hike in the woods and the importance of taking an interest in the environment.
Going on a hike in the woods for one of our activities really stuck with me and taught me more about the environment. How vital it is to protect our environment. How fortunate I am to live in Northern Arizona, the terrain it provides. I remember learning about how to protect the environment and ways to save water by walking scattered apart through the field so that we couldn’t create erosion and taking one three-minute shower for the week.
After camp, I took an interest in exploring the forests more, listening to nature’s noises. I also found an interest in saving more energy so that we may have a better environment. Camp Colton influenced my career plans by encouraging me to look for different solutions. To find a more efficient way, to not be afraid to try something new. To be open to new ideas. I may not have kept the three-minute showers in my routine, but I’ve kept it in my mind to make it quick, to preserve water in other ways as well. Sure, I alone might only save a few gallons of water by doing this. But imagine if we all did that consistently. We would be saving some much water.
I’d give the advice of embracing all the opportunities that Camp Colton has to offer, to a 6th grader. Embracing the experience and all the opportunities it has to offer will give you more knowledge in different aspects of your life. You’ll find that Camp Colton has its own quirks and at the end of the day, you’ll only be there for a week. By giving up your phone, waking up early every morning, and by taking a three-minute shower, it will build your strength in character. The different quirks at Camp Colton is what allows it to influence all different aspects in your life. This advice has taught me how to gain strength in my character by stepping outside of my comfort zone.
