September 2023 Newsletter: Summer Highlights into Fall
Dear Friends,
This summer was awesome. It was our biggest one yet, full of new experiences for our 230 participants from cooking quinoa with Slow Food in the Tetons to multi-day backpacking in Yellowstone. We capped it off with an amazing week at Teton Valley Ranch Camp with 65 of our middle and high school participants. Even though our participants headed back to school, we were still able to connect with them through Climbing Club and Bike Club through September. We even held Participant and Parent Council meetings as a way to more deeply and consistently involve kids and their families in our program planning, collecting feedback and ideas to inform our programs moving forward in the year.
We were also busy over the last month with our Coombs Cup Golf Tournament and Old Bill's Fun Run, essential ways we fundraise for our programs. We had a blast at both events, from post-golf cocktails with our supporters to watching our Trail Running Club place in the race on Old Bill's run day covered with Coombs temporary tattoos.
Now our staff is taking a quick breath before diving into fall programs. Once again we have more demand than we can accommodate, but we'll fill every spot we can in our afterschool and learn-to-swim programs. Our fall programs are an important way to meet our families' needs and give participants a way to stay active and connected between summer camp and ski season. We're excited to welcome two high school Empower interns to our fall program staff.
No matter the season, these opportunities for local kids are truly only possible with support from our community through events like Old Bill's Fun Run and Coombs Cup. Thanks again for being a friend of Coombs Outdoors.
Happy fall!
Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director
Activate Camp Highlights
This summer, 122 participants in grades K-5 received up to three weeks of Activate camp each throughout the summer, up from the 83 participants in summer 2022.
This summer, Activate campers had the chance to...
hike
climb
swim
paddleboard
go rafting
learn to cook
harvest veggies
make arts and crafts
earn their junior ranger badges
learn about bugs and wildlife
play in the mud
ride the tram
go camping
make new friends
and so much more!
Activate staff say that a huge highlight of the summer was seeing the youngest campers get into fishing. It was a new activity for us this summer and we were nervous about how it would go for K-2nd graders, but it was such a hit that the kids didn't want to stop! It was also special for our staff to be learning alongside the kids.
"I think it made them feel more comfortable and confident because they got to see me struggling too!" - Espi, Program Outreach Coordinator
Engage Camp Highlights
Coombs Engage programs gave 100 middle and high schoolers the opportunity to have adventures outdoors this summer, a big increase from last year's 65 participants. The main camp event is backpacking, plus our separate clubs for mountain biking, climbing, trail running, and kayaking.
In the 8 weeks that Engage programs occurred this summer, we ran 10 backpacking trips plus a few car camping adventures. Groups explored the backcountry of the Tetons, the Palisades, and Yellowstone, overcoming challenging conditions and coming out more confident and connected.
At the beginning of the summer, it was a lot of the kids' first time backpacking. At first, they were anxious and complained about how heavy their packs were. By the end of that first trip they all realized they could do it, learning a lot about themselves and gaining great outdoor experience. By the end of the summer they were all swapping stories about their backpacking adventures, whether that meant commiserating about the mosquitos or bragging about the great views they hiked to.
"My favorite thing was seeing how excited they were to get to camp - they called it their home for a few nights. And how one group's highlight was their dishwashing dance party. At first they were nervous about these big trips, but then on the last night they didn't want to go to sleep because they didn't want to wake up and have to go home!" - Megan, Engage Program Coordinator
Our weekly clubs were also in high demand, Engage participants to build skills and share passions for specific activities by attending weekly evening clubs led by staff and volunteer mentors.
Coombs Climbing Club practiced every Monday at the Snow King Boulder Park, and even got to experience more challenging routes on real rocks during weekend excursions into Grand Teton National Park with Exum Mountain Guides.
Coombs Mountain Bike Club, now in its second year, met every Tuesday through this month teaching important skills like general bike maintenance, technical riding skills, trail etiquette, and navigation. It quickly became one of our most popular programs with kids progressing quickly and having fun together on our local trails.
This was the first year for our Trail Running Club, requested by participants who wanted to pick up the pace and explore new trails with their friends. This crew capped of the season by racing in Old Bill's Fun Run!
Coombs Kayak Club got participants on the water for 6 days of whitewater progression, where they learned how to read moving water, river safety, and paddle techniques with the Jackson Hole Kayak Club.
Twenty participants spent a unique week of camp at Snake River Days put on by our friends at the Snake River Fund. With a focus on promoting and protecting the Snake River for the benefit of our whole community, participants learned about river ecology, navigating in moving water, sustainable fishing, leave-no-trace riverside camping, and more. This was a perfect way for kids to feel connected to our local waters and to build community through spending time together on the river.
One of the biggest highlights of the summer was its finale, when 65 Engage kids and Coombs staff headed to Teton Valley Ranch Camp supported with funds from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. Kids got to stay in cabins with their friends and do activities from horseback riding and archery to jewelry-making and an incredible karaoke dance party. The week reminded us that Coombs Outdoors is more than a chance to play outside - it's a community where kids can grow up together through special experiences.
Summer Empower Internships
This summer marked the third year of the Coombs Empower internship program, and it was another successful season. We had 10 high school participants working competitively paid positions with partner organizations and businesses in the outdoor or conservation industry including:
REI
Wheel Wranglers
Jackson Hole Land Trust
Hole Food Rescue
Hoback Sports
Stio
Slow Food in the Tetons
Trout Unlimited
Coombs Outdoors
We know our interns have good experiences when they come back for more, like the 4 interns that returned for a second internship at the same employer this summer. Thanks to our partners for making these experiences possible!
Our Partners Make it Possible!
Our programs are so much better thanks to our amazing Jackson Hole community. THANK YOU to all the local organizations who shared their time, expertise, and resources with us and our participants this summer. Partners for our summer programs included:
Slow Food in the Tetons
Snake River Fund
Hole Food Rescue
Grand Teton National Park
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Astoria Park Conservancy
Jackson Hole Land Trust
Grand Teton Music Festival
Rendevous River Sports
Jackson Hole Kayak Club
Teton Science Schools
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Teton County Search & Rescue
National Museum of Wildlife Art
National Elk Refuge
Teton Valley Ranch Camp
Trout Unlimited
Powers of Flowers EcoPrinting
Wyoming Game and Fish
REI
Teton Pet Partners
Exum Mountain Guides
Fall Programs Starting Now!
Coombs fall programs are starting now, running 4 days a week for 7 weeks. We had more demand than ever for these programs, so many families are unfortunately on waitlists. We are seeking funds and resources to be able grow this program in future seasons. This year's fall afterschool programs include:
Swimming lessons, now located at the Rec Center, will help 30 elementary school kids build critical skills in the water on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Afterschool programs for K-5th graders, happening on Wednesdays, will keep 26 kids active and connected while serving as important childcare for families.
This is the first time we're offering fall afterschool workshops for middle schoolers, requested by the participants themselves. We're thrilled to have an especially excited group of 6-8th graders, who wanted to stay involved with Coombs and outdoor activities between summer camp and winter programs.
Thanks for a Successful Coombs Cup!
Thanks to all who attended our Coombs Cup Golf Tournament! It was a beautiful, fun day to play golf and celebrate Coombs programs, with a special performance from the Coombs Ukulele Club.
Thank you to our hosts at the Snake River Sporting Club and to all the generous sponsors who made the event possible:
First Republic Bank
MountainScapes
Shaw Construction
Two Ocean Builders
HUB International
Stio
The Wort Hotel
Jackson Hole News & Guide
Orijin Media
Get on the water with this ACA Paddle Safety Course
There's still time to get out on the water this fall - make sure you do it safely! We want to pass along an exciting resource from our friends at the American Canoe Association: a free online training course about paddlesport safety, in English and Spanish, that's phone-compatible. Topics include planning trips, managing groups on the water, identifying dangers, inclement weather, rescue priorities, and more! The course can be completed in only about 20 minutes or you can save your progress and finish later. There is no age minimum requirement. We encourage all of our families and other water lovers in our community to take advantage of this great opportunity!
Volunteer with Coombs this Winter
Interested in sharing your love of snowsports with Coombs kids this winter? Volunteer for Coombs Club, our ski and snowboard mentorship program on weekends at Snow King or Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
