OMG! It's been forever since I have even looked at this blog! It's crazy how life gets so busy!

So, the last blog posted was on April 1st and since then things here at the Santa Fe Mountain Center have been a bit hectic. Between the passing of a dear friend and trying to continue our programs I guess the blog got left to the back burner.

Fortunately, things have evened out and life has slowed down somewhat. Our programs have been going so well and despite the hard work to get them to be successful I have had a fantastic time working them.

The Positives rafting trip that happened in May was great! It rained a lot the four days that we were on the river but it was still fun. Every aspect of the trip was incredibly laid back, we even got to take naps during the day if we felt like it. The water on the chama river was running really well so the rapids were even more fun than usual!
One of my favorite parts of the trip was when we coasted by the Monastary. It was so peaceful to just let the river carry us and to silently observe all that was around us! So, all in all the river trip was fabulous!

A day after getting back from the river we had a camp at the Mountain Center's Tree House Camp. This camp was 3 days with a group of Youth from Las Cruces and El Paso. They are part of a group in Las Cruces called NRG which is a networking group for GSA's in the southern part of the state. The camp was so much fun!!!! The Youth were fantastic and I believe that both the staff and the Youth got so much from the activities and conversations we had. By the time we had to say goodbye everyone was so much closer.

Then.....on May 30th we had a rafting day on the Rio Grande which was also amazing! Again, the water was running high and the rapids were super intense! There were about 11 people and everyone agreed that the day was fantastic!!!

PHEW! So that was a lot but as I said before things have slowed down a bit. Our next events will be just as much fun! At Aluquerque Pride and Santa Fe Pride we will have a rock climbing wall set up ! Last year it was a huge sucess and this year will be no different. Pride and Rock Climbing equal a crap load of fun in my book!

Then....sadly, 2 days after Santa Fe Pride I am going to be finishing up my time with Adventure Out! and the Santa Fe Mountain Center. I am pretty sure that most everyone knows that I am an AmeriCorps/National AIDS Fund Member and my term of service will be over at the end of June. I will be returning home to Massachusetts and trying to create what Adventure Out! has done in New Mexico. It's going to be a lot of work but I am looking forward to it!

So, Thank you for a year full of growth and learning! I will miss it here and always be grateful for my time and experiences.

Over and Out!

Stephen