Looking Back on Summer 2026

Our summer season always flies by, and as we move into autumn each year, we really appreciate taking the time to look back at the prior few months; there’s always so many photos and memories to share, and so much more to be said about the unique experience of each new week (or two weeks) on the ranch. 

For those of you who joined us this year, we hope you’ve enjoyed our recent posts looking back at the summer; for those of you who have yet to join us, we hope you came away feeling like you know us and our programs a bit better. And if you’ve yet to see our 2026 recaps…you’re in the right place! Read on for a look back at each 2026 summer session, photos and all.

ALUMNI WEEKEND

Alumni Weekend is the very first event of the summer, landing right at the end of May this past year. With the help of our pre-season counselor crew, we hosted a small group of Camp Trinity alumni of all ages for a peaceful weekend in the mountains: sharing meals together, playing music in Leedy Lodge, hiking up Gates Mountain, working on craft projects in silk screening or pottery, helping with ranch projects, or simply relaxing.

The collective years of lived Camp Trinity experience amongst our alumni this year (and every year) was both staggering and touching. Many remember a time before the road to the ranch was paved, and many recall when our current directors were children themselves! Our younger alumni, who were more recently campers or staff members, got to know the community in a new way, and there was a strong sense of connection to something much bigger and longer-lasting than any one person.

The ranch was also at its late-spring best this year: cold, clear water in Hayfork Creek, lush green forests and pastures, and a hint of summer heat at the height of the day balanced by crisp mornings and evenings that made us want to keep our sweaters on just a little bit longer. 

FIRST SESSION

After Alumni Weekend, we jumped straight into staff training: lifeguarding & first aid certifications, plus an orientation week where staff learned about the ranch, our programs, & their roles here.

By the time First Session arrived, the excitement and joy of being back at camp was palpable, and it gave First Session a wonderful start-of-summer energy. Programs were busy and bustling, from slack lining to horseback riding to ceramics, and campers came to announcements each day with stories of crawdad sightings, shooting stars, & card games before bed.

First Session brought our inaugural Alps backpacking trips, camp dances, and Untalent Show, and we also hosted the International Festival, our first of the summer: a chance for our international staff to share favorite food, games, and traditions from their home countries. 

Some of the most indelible memories from First Session, however, were the everyday moments of settling back into summer at the ranch: the coziness of the first campfire up on Friendship Hill, watching campers bond over stacking hay in the barn, and seeing the craft shops on the Avenue come to life.

SECOND SESSION

By the time Second Session arrived, summer was in full swing. With one session behind us, everyone was full of new ideas for programs and activities; handmade rock necklaces were a particularly huge hit this summer. Second Session also had a busy calendar of summer celebrations: Fourth of July, the Community Barbecue, and the Horse Show (alongside all of our normal programming, of course — hiking, backpacking, crafting, music, dances).

Our annual Community Barbecue was a highlight of the year, as it always is: a delicious meal of ranch-produced food followed by dancing and a chance to visit with family, friends, and neighbors who joined us for the evening. The Horse Show this year was Renaissance fair-themed; handmade crowns, jousting, and jesting abounded, as did a costume parade and a horses vs. campers watermelon-eating contest (in a surprising turn of events — the campers won). 

As the weeks passed and we all settled deeper into camp life, we really began to notice and appreciate the feeling of being part of the Bar 717 community. Familiar friends were welcomed back, and new faces quickly became part of the tapestry of life here. Our Second Session events, which all our campers help organize, were a wonderful example of that community in action. We couldn’t have asked for a better group of campers to continue the summer with!

THIRD SESSION

You’d think that the many annual celebrations of Second Session would be hard to follow, but Third Session did an excellent job of carrying on the summer energy. This year, Third Session was our largest group of the summer, and everyone leaped into camp life with enthusiasm. We had so much interest in our Alps backpacking trips that we added an additional trip for Third Session, and the Untalent Show featured some of the best camp humor we’ve seen: a dance team performance, a Rubik’s cube demonstration, miming, and more.

Of course, we can’t recap Third Session without the Harvest Festival. The Harvest Festival is a favorite of the summer amongst campers and particularly our CILTs, who help choose our theme and design decor each year. This year’s theme was Toy Story, and we loved seeing everyone’s creativity and artistic skills for each festival booth: a slip-and-slide, henna designs, a dunk tank, cupcake decorating, and more.

By the time Third Session arrived, the summer heat had settled in, the garden was in full bloom, some new animals had joined us in the Small Animals barn (two baby goats this year!), and the swim hole was the perfect temperature for cooling off each afternoon. It was truly the height of summer at the ranch, and a wonderful two weeks spent soaking in the camp atmosphere before we headed into our final session.

FOURTH SESSION

Fourth Session was our smallest group of campers, and it lent a particularly cozy atmosphere to the ranch; everyone felt like familiar friends in no time at all, and it was a lovely way to wrap up the last couple weeks of summer sessions.

With that said, we still stayed busy as ever with all our camp activities: campfires, dances, Sunday hikes, and overnight trips abounded as always. Campers worked on wood shop projects (including a toy-sized horse stable replica), ventured into the Alps for one final backpacking trip, and brought the full breadth of their creativity to the stage for the Untalent Show (clown performances, Lilo & Stitch impressions, game shows, a Q&A session hosted by one of our chickens…).

We wrapped up the session with one of the sweetest festivals of the summer: the Apple Jubilee. The Jubilee celebrates our apple harvest on the ranch each year, and features all things apple-themed. We planted a new apple tree on Gates Gables lawn, and enjoyed apple cider, caramel apples, and more up at the Amphitheater. By the time Fourth Session rolled around, the season had shifted slightly. It was late summer at its best; the light was just a little more golden, the days just a little shorter, and the mornings just a little chillier. With the Apple Jubilee to cap things off, it felt like the perfect moment to appreciate the end of summertime in the mountains and all the fun that our camp season brings.

FAMILY CAMP

Family Camp was our last session of the summer: one week where those of all ages came to enjoy everything the ranch has to offer. Just like our summer sessions, family campers shared meals together (including Sunday breakfast), explored our program areas, hiked, swam, and attended campfires, dances, and a boat race to cap off the week. 

This year, we had a wonderful group — a blend of alumni and new families from all across the country. We had a picnic dinner and dance at the Homestead, went on afternoon river walks, held an enthusiastic Untalent Show, and worked on beautiful craft projects on the Avenue. It was, as always, a chance for us to re-connect with old friends and introduce new ones to all the things we love most about summer on the ranch, and we’re grateful for the time we were able to spend with everyone.

As our final session of the summer, Family Camp was bittersweet for our staff & leadership team, but we threw ourselves into enjoying the last few days of camp to the fullest: the late-summer mornings and golden light, chilly river dips, and warm evenings. To everyone who joined us this year: thank you for being a part of this community, and for spending your summer with us. We loved having you at the ranch!

It’s hard to believe it, but after a wonderful 2026 summer season, we’re already looking ahead to 2027. If you’re interested in joining us at the ranch for another summer of big fun & good camping…you’re in luck, because enrollment is open for all our 2027 sessions! Head to our website for dates & rates, or to sign up for camp — we can’t wait to welcome you back to the ranch next year.