Friday, September 19, 2025
Dear AMS F-A-M-I-L-Y (Students, Parents/Guardians & Staffulty),
Last week I had the opportunity to spend 3 nights and 4 days at the Aspen Valley Land Trust’s Chapin Wright basecamp supporting our 8th grade outdoor ed. (ODE). Wow! You might think after reading all the emails, attending pre-trip planning meetings, completing backpack checks, etc. that you’d have a pretty good handle on what to expect, but until you’re on location, in the moment, with 120ish energetic 8th graders, you don't know what it's like. The experience will stimulate all 5 traditional senses. The sight of 16 excited yet tired patrols intermittently arriving in basecamp to see their friends after a nearly 25-mile hike, the sound of teachers (Guess which ones!) sounding the wake up call banging pots in the morning, the smell of sweaty feet in a tent (Or the groover!), the taste of a handmade salami or ham and cheese lunch sandwich, and touch of a climbing rope while rappelling a rock wall. Our Skiers also experienced proprioception (body awareness) and vestibular stimulation (balance) during the hike or while helping their patrolmates ascend a wooden wall or climb over an aspen log suspended 10 feet in the air. thermoception (temperature) after the sun went down or while doing a push up in the cold mountain stream on the final day’s jog and dip, and unfortunately maybe even some nociception (pain) after a rolled ankle. Our senses are our bodies’ biological way of taking in information from our environment, and that sensory learning experience would not have been possible if it wasn't for over 30 AMS staffulty, some of whom have participated in this annual pilgrimage for over 20 years, and about another 30 volunteers, some of whom are alums (Matt Stege), former Olympians (Simi Hamilton), Aspen Hall of Famers (Bob Wade) and outdoor experts in various adventure sports (Mark Falender, etc.)! These are the kinds of people you want your children around. When I talk about the AMS Difference, our ODE program led by ASD ODE/Ex. Ed. Coordinator Katherine Gleason, and at the 8th grade level by Mike Wessler, is a shining example. If anyone has ever questioned our staffulty’s love for their children, how many educators outside of AMS and ASD would spend up to 6 nights and 7 days, 24 hours a day, a long way away from civilization with just a Garmin satellite phone, in the elements, hiking, prepping food, and digging holes? I think you’ll agree, not many. When I got back to campus from basecamp one of our teachers said I’m now officially an Aspen Skier again! Well, I don't think I’ve earned my stripes yet, but I'm working on it and am excited to participate in some part in our 5th, 6th and 7th grade outings. Our first group of 5th graders returned from Arches National Park and Moab, UT today. I’m looking forward to hearing how it went. It’s an honor to be a part of the AMS F-A-M-I-L-Y (Forget About Me I Love You). GO SKIERS!
Shine on,
Dr. Tom
Tom Dodd, PhD
#AMSAllIn #AMSF-A-M-I-L-Y #TheAMSDifference
