Summit & Service isn’t a camp. It isn’t a vacation. And it definitely isn’t a typical summer program.
It’s two weeks where phones disappear, comfort zones shrink, and teenagers discover how capable they truly are. Days are full, friendships form quickly, and growth happens in ways that can’t be scheduled or scripted. What starts as an adventure quickly becomes something deeper: a chance to grow, to contribute, and to make memories to last a lifetime.
A Day in the Life at Summit & Service
Mornings start early. No phones, no snooze buttons, just the sunrise and excitement for a new day. Breakfast is loud in the best way. We sit outside, together, and intentionally prepare for our day. We tell stories, make plans, pack lunches, and fuel up for the day ahead.
After breakfast, we hit the trails. The excitement in the car is palpable as we meet our guides at the trailhead and unload the bikes. We split into groups and begin our ride. Some days, we bike through canyons. Other days, up mountains or ridges. Either way, our mornings are filled with time outside, facing new challenges, and making memories along the way.
After our rides, we find a spot for a picnic lunch. Stories are exchanged over sandwiches as we rest from the morning and refuel for the afternoon ahead.
Next up, community service. After our picnic lunch and rest, we head to a local trail to help with restoration. Gloves on, tools out. For the next several hours, we give back to the trails we get to adventure on and work together to leave the San Juan mountains even better than we found them.
The car ride back to the lodge is normally quieter, a moment of calm after a jam-packed day. Evenings at the lodge are a highlight of the day. You can find us in an epic spikeball tournament outside, playing ping pong and pool in the game room, reading and resting, or simply spending time together.
Dinner is a celebration of effort, of teamwork, of growth and new memories. Stories bounce around the table. Inside jokes are born. Someone laughs so hard they can’t finish their sentence. We take time for gratitude and look ahead to tomorrow.
Later, we gather to reflect. Students talk about what challenged them, what surprised them, what they’re proud of. These moments of quiet, honest reflection are where growth takes root.
A day at Summit & Service is full. Full of joy and laughter. Full of facing hard challenges head-on. Full of trying new things and practicing old ones. Full of learning, reflection, and service. It’s the collection of these full days that truly transforms students. They arrive curious. Maybe nervous. Maybe unsure. They leave grounded. Confident. Connected.
Somewhere between the early mornings, the hard work, the laughter, and the reflection, students not only discover themselves, but they transform into young people ready to take the world by storm.
That’s a day in the life at Summit & Service. And tomorrow, we’ll get to wake up and do it all again.
