A Volunteer Story: Tie-Dye, Big-Horned Sheep, Shooting Stars and Joy

The Amazing Group from CES

The 'Gates' at the Canyon Entrance

Marie and I were fortunate to be able to join another Splore adventure last week.  We met the Splore staff and volunteer guides in Dinosaur Colorado, then drove to the Gates of Lodore put-in on the Green River, located at the north end of Dinosaur National Monument.  It was there that we met a group from Community Entry Services, based out of Jackson Wyoming, that consisted of adults with developmental challenges that were eager for the adventure.  In fact, four of them had done the Gates of Lodore trip in previous years, and greeted many of the Splore staff and guides by name.   That first night at the put-in we all rolled out our sleeping bags, under the stars, and dreamed of what the next few days would hold.  As we fell asleep, we saw several falling stars and the space station pass overhead; it was a great start.

The Paddle Boat Led by Gordy

In the morning the rafts were loaded and our group of 25 were split into one paddle raft and five with oars.  Gordy captained the paddle boat that required all to work together as a team.  For the most part everyone was paddling in the same direction.  A short distance after the start we entered the “gates” where the rock walls rose to 300 to 500 and more feet.  The rest of the busy world was left behind.  The isolation and sound of the river was wonderful!  

Big Horned Sheep at Camp

Overall we spent 4 days on the river.  Some stretches were just peaceful floating and watching the scenery go by, punctuated by laughter and the calls of different birds.  The rock walls consisted of many layers, and in spots these were turned on end to produce vertical fins.  We saw many big horn sheep along the river, and some were even in our camp on the third night.  You could hear the sheep grunting as they hopped up and down the steep rock walls.  At other times on the river we put on helmets and grabbed on as we rocked and rolled through the rapids.  Two of the rafts had chairs lashed at the center of the front rows, and these provided a safe perch for those who needed extra lateral support on the rafts.  No one escaped getting wet in the rapids, and there were many grins!  Seeing the smiles on the clients is a big part of our reward for volunteering with Splore. 

Smiles at Camp (And Tie-Dye!)

Costumes at Camp: A Splore Tradition!

We stopped at beaches for lunch, and then found shady campsites in the afternoons.  There we relaxed and soaked in the sights and sounds of this special canyon, did various crafts, and there was a lot of good natured banter and kidding.  The Splore staff and guides were very efficient in setting up the kitchen, wash stations and the “groover”, and did an excellent job with the menu planning and cooking.

The most important part of this message is the following: Every time we do a trip with Splore we are reminded that there are many people who cannot do these activities without some level of special support.  All too often the care givers may feel that the logistics are too difficult, or that it is very hard to find time to do these “extra events” in this seemingly very busy world. This is where the staff and volunteers of Splore do make a real difference.  We see it on every trip.  The bottom line is that Marie and I see our time with Splore as a win-win because we seem to get as much rewards as the clients do.  Come on an outing and see for yourself!

Steve and his wife Marie began volunteering for Splore in 2003 and Steve joined the Board in 2006. Steve has a Bachelors and Masters of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University and has been managing engineering and construction projects for 30 years. Steve has been an avid outdoorsmen his entire life and particularly enjoys sailing, hiking, camping, skiing and mountain biking. Steve and Marie volunteer because of the great satisfaction they get in sharing outdoor experiences with people with special needs.