The sweatshirt says it correctly - I am an outdoorsy type! I love being outside and find doing anything in nature fills my soul.

I find the sound of a river or creek soothing. Birds chirping in the morning seem very cheerful, and the bugle of an elk in the fall is slightly eerie. It reminds me I am only a small part of this amazing world.

I grew up in Colorado, yet it wasn’t until I was a counselor at Cheley Colorado Camps during my college years that I slept outside without a tent.

One of the first nights at camp, our unit director told us to grab our sleeping bags and air mattresses. We were all spending the night out together.

We hiked to a meadow near camp and spread out on tarps. We played capture the flag and sang camp songs until the sun went down. I didn’t think I would sleep as I was a bit nervous (of what?), but being a counselor, I didn’t want to show it to the campers.

The night was amazing and having the stars above as an extra blanket over us was literally life changing for me. Now, I sleep under the stars as much as I can.

That one night had such a positive influence on me, and set the stage for many other days and nights in nature that have been invaluable.

Last summer on a river trip, our last night was clear and incredible. The Milky Way was stretched all the way down the river canyon from horizon to horizon. I have never seen that much of the Milky Way and will never forget how amazing it was to stare at for hours.

Here in Estes Park we are surrounded by nature. Is this your first trip here? Or maybe you are bringing your children here just like your parents did. I hope that you will have a special experience that will stay with you forever. Maybe it’s seeing an elk. Or, for some, it’s seeing snow for the first time.

Estes Park is so different than so many tourist towns. Generations of families continue to come and follow traditions passed down for many years, such as doing the same hikes or teaching the kids how to fish. I think that is part of what makes Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park so special. Nature is all around us.

While you are here, I hope you will be an outdoorsy type! Do some of your favorite hikes or visit your favorite places. And, do a few things that are new to you. You never know how it might impact you.