Why Camp for All Matters: My Story and the Mission of the Wilderness Adventures Foundation

As parents, we all share the same hope: to raise happy, healthy, and confident kids. We want them to discover love, friendship, purpose, and a strong sense of community. To help them along the way, we carefully choose schools, sports, and activities-all in search of the right formula to nurture their growth.

For me, summer camp was that formula.

I first came to Wilderness Adventures as a teenager. I remember flipping through the catalog, knowing it was out of my family’s price range. But we were no strangers to financial aid and scholarships. We figured out what we could contribute (I mowed plenty of lawns!) and then called the owners to ask if help might be available. Thanks to the generosity of others, I got my chance. That opportunity-to backpack through wild places, sit around a campfire with new friends, and test myself on rivers and trails-changed the course of my life.

At our respective camp experiences, both Catherine and I discovered confidence we didn’t know we had. We learned how to make decisions, to lean on others, and to push through challenges. The lessons we carried home from those experiences have shaped us as parents, spouses and leaders.  

That’s why we believe so strongly in the work of the Wilderness Adventures Foundation. Historically, the camp experience has been a privilege reserved for families with the highest incomes. We are working to change that. We believe every child-regardless of financial means-deserves the chance to experience the magic and impact of camp.

When all children have access to these opportunities, we will raise a generation of resilient, empathetic, and confident young adults-the very qualities we hope for in our own kids.

As someone whose life was transformed by a scholarship to camp, I know firsthand the difference it can make. That’s why this Old Bill’s Giving Season (through September 12, 2025), I invite you to join Catherine and I in our financial support of this important cause. Your support ensures that more children can step into the transformative experience of camp and carry its lessons for a lifetime.

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