We began our Changemaker’s first overnight trip with a classic Colorado plot twist: rain. On Friday evening, our van rolled into Granby under the darkness of night and the promise of precipitation. Students sprang into action, pitching tents in the drizzle and laughing while we all worked to flip a rain fly right side out under the glow of our headlamps– the ultimate high-stakes team builder and the perfect way to set the tone for a weekend of silliness, teamwork, and willingness to get a little muddy.
Saturday dawned misty and magical. After our morning circle, we joined Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) for our weekend orientation and headed out to Strawberry Lake Trail. There we split into trail crews, hauling McLeods and work gloves up the steep and rocky trail. The afternoon was a blur of hauling, digging, and learning—how to build drains, strip logs, and what it feels like to give back with your whole body.
Back at camp that evening, the rain gave way to a stunning post-storm sunset that painted the sky pink. VOC chefs outdid themselves with dinner, and our students mingled easily with the rest of the crew. Under the open sky we played rollicking rounds of Kunja and Animal Master, then gathered to hear from the Director of Trout Unlimited about how trail work shapes entire watersheds. A tired but thoughtful debrief rounded out the day, and we slept like rocks by 9 PM.
Sunday morning began with another circle and a big breakfast before our final push on the trail. Fueled by pancakes and determination, our group nearly doubled Headwaters Trail Alliance’s expectations: 40 feet of turnpike built, 42 log stairs set, and countless drains dug. We debarked logs (so satisfying!), moved rocks, and lugged bags of dirt up steep switchbacks. Some students hiked up to Strawberry Lake itself, a mirror of lily pads framed by the first flash of autumn in the alpine.
By midday we packed up tools and celebrated alongside the VOC crew, sore but proud of what we’d accomplish. The ride home became its own kind of victory lap, a soundtrack of K-pop Demon Hunters and mid-2010s emo carrying us back to the gear room. What a great start to what will no doubt be a great year!
A huge thank you to Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Headwaters Trail Alliance, and all the funders and supporters who make the Changemaker Program possible.
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