Meet the new leadership at passages adventure camp

What won’t change- we go back to the drawing board every single year, always chasing the things that work really well and redesigning things that don’t. We are not expecting any more changes than our typical year to year. We are always evolving the experience and continuing to add value wherever we are able to. We have the same priority as always: your kids. We will do absolutely everything we can to provide the best possible experience for each and every camper and staff. Julie Appleby is still our wonderful camp registrar so you’ll still have a familiar voice on the phone. What will change? Well, first of all, every morning and every afternoon it’ll be OG and Arden greeting you at your car instead of Tobin. We are also offering a new program, Summit Leadership Camp for our 14/15 year old campers to grow their skills as a future staff. We are re-evaluating the needs of all of our programs and working to improve quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction across the board. Camp will always be growing and improving in different ways, and you can expect the same growth and improvement moving forward.

A message from previous Camp Director- Kevin Tobin

“Dear Passages Community, Let me introduce you to the next Director of Passages Adventure Camp: Arden Varley-Twyman! Arden has served the last two summers as our stand-out Assistant Director, proving time and again she is worthy of the trust, respect and adoration of our Staff, Campers and Camper Families. Prior to her current position, Arden was a Site Director, Counselor, Jr. Counselor, CIT and eager 9 yr-old Passages Camper. She is living proof of the type of sustainability Passages has always been obsessed with: the human kind. Her love of Passages is unmatched. Her attention to detail and follow-through is outstanding. Her approachability and warmth have served as examples for me to try and emulate. Her breadth of experience across all Passages and Climbing Center Programs is second to none. There simply isn’t anyone better suited to guide Passages into the next 30-year chapter of this amazing Community. I have lived and breathed Passages for 24 years. The Camp, its Staff and Campers have been and will continue to be extended family to me. I couldn’t turn the ship over to just anyone. Arden is not just anyone. She is the one. Passages has consistently evolved throughout the decades. That thoughtful innovation will continue and I am truly stoked to witness the growth of our Camp through Arden’s trained eyes. Together, we took full advantage of the past summer to further Arden’s acumen and completed a metric ton of on-the-job-training. She also interviewed, hired and trained HER Assistant Director, Olivia Morris - an esteemed Passages Site Director. At the end of last summer Arden fully transitioned into the Director role and began the 2024 Camp Season just like the 30 summers to precede it at the drawing table. Armed with her incredible Assistant Director and the MIGHTY Julie Appleby, Arden will shine! I am wildly proud of all that we achieved together. The strength of the Passages Community is staggering and touches all corners of this earth. Our Campers and Staff have gone on to affect this world in countless positive ways, armed with self-confidence and an open heart. I am stoked to see Passages Adventure Camps and Youth Programs find shelter under a new set of wings and watch them flourish.”

■ As for me, I dusted off the Mechanical Engineering degree I earned from UMASS back in the 1900's and moved into the Operations Manager role at InProduction, based right here in my home town of Ashland, VA. I’ve had the good fortune to work closely with InProduction for the last 12 years because they design and build our Cages for the Riverrock Boulder Bash every year.

■ I will remain a silent Owner of Peak Experiences as well as a sage to our future leaders should they need an ear or have a question. I shall be eternally grateful to have worked for and with you. I could not possibly have asked for a better crew of people to tend the sails with. When you see her, please show Arden some love! It only took me 24 years to find her!

My first experience with Passages Adventure Camp was when I was 8 years old. I distinctly remember sitting in the back of my dad’s car with my brother and his friend in the seat in front of me, waiting anxiously to get to my first ever summer camp experience. I was shy, anxious, insecure, and completely unfamiliar with any aspect of rock climbing or kayaking. The first week I spent at Passages was a life changing experience, truly and unbeknownst to me at the time. I never could have imagined that my 8 year old self would one day grow up to be the next Director of this amazing program.

I have a different perspective on Passages than Kevin Tobin did, primarily because I am one of the staff that we “grew”, someone who went through the entire program, all 5 levels, starting as a CIT, and never left. I’ve experienced first hand the profound impact that Passages can have on campers and staff, and continue to experience these effects each year watching our amazing staff grow into incredible people, seeing young campers start the week as scared as I was and ending it at the top of the tallest climb on the island.

At passages, we believe that it is an honor and a privilege to work with the most important people on the planet: Your Kids.

Our Campers, your children, are capable of much more than they think, and it’s our job to convince them of this. We use adventure-based activities like whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, wilderness survival, and more to foster a love for nature, adventure, and compassion.

Passages Campers are capable of:

• Meeting challenges with enthusiasm.

• Developing a curiosity about the natural world.

• Having a capacity to evaluate and manage risk.

• Building the self-confidence that comes from conquering fears and achieving personal goals.

• Communicating assertively.

• Seeking fun in everything they do.

• Having a deep-rooted respect for themselves, others, and the outdoors.

Developing these characteristics and tools in your children requires careful planning, a culture that fosters physical and emotional security, and a metric ton of the right people. We’re able to create this space so our Passages Campers trust us as they:

• Lean backwards over the edge of a 35-foot rappel when the ground looks so far away.

• Descend a steep and rocky trail on a mountain bike when the path is bigger than they’ve ever attempted before.

• Hurl themselves down a 350-foot Zip Line when heights make them feel queasy.

• Spend the night sleeping in the dark in a debris hut that they’ve built from scratch.

• Rush down the log-flume steps at the beginning of a 5-mile kayak trip.

• Make just one more big move on a rock climb when their arms and brains are screaming “Enough!”.

• Speak up when they think they have no voice.

Through our extensive experience, we have come to understand that each child responds uniquely to these circumstances. Rather than expecting monumental leaps forward, we believe in fostering gradual progress and utilizing small steps as building blocks for confidence. By empowering children to venture beyond their comfort zones, tears may be shed along the way; however, through empathy and unwavering encouragement, we provide a supportive environment for kids to develop the self-assurance needed to explore their limits.

Every day at Passages Camp is filled with anticipation and enthusiasm as we welcome our campers with open arms. Our primary goal is to ensure their security while setting them up for success. Transparency is key – we explain the reasoning behind every decision made, address potential issues proactively, and always communicate honestly. We take responsibility for any mistakes made along the journey but also celebrate successes together.

While it's true that not everyone shares identical values or beliefs, what remains unchanged at Passages Adventure Camp is treating one another with fundamental human respect. Our campers are more than just participants; they are an integral part of our community where challenging them equates to challenging ourselves collectively. Inclusivity knows no bounds within our organization – there is no room for judgment or discrimination here – rather a vocal dedication towards promoting equality.

Our staff has been meticulously cultivated from scratch, with almost all members being former Passages Campers themselves. This deliberate approach ensures sustainability while embodying our belief that adventure should be accessible to all individuals alike. With this vision in mind, Passages Adventure Camp was born – a platform dedicated solely to sharing thrilling experiences with anyone willing to embrace them wholeheartedly.

It is an honor and a privilege to embark on this adventure with our campers. Together, we will create lasting memories and empower them to embrace the challenges that await at Passages Adventure Camp.

Take care,
Arden Varley-Twyman