I know it sounds funny but it was really like a dream. It’s weird how you can know a friend for a few years, yet you meet people you have never seen before and hang out with them for 5 days and end up knowing them just as well. I had such a hard time leaving because as each day went by it just got so much more exciting and better and better!

On the very last day we did some cool stuff together and I couldn’t help myself from crying. Everyone was just so friendly and it was so much fun. The leaders were awesome! They had such a positive attitude towards everything that it was hard not to enjoy yourself, it tends to spread as well so that everyone is just so happy the whole time, well…I know I was! I learned a lot about myself too, and how I can effect other lives and the future for the better. We all learned about leadership and goals and did some great teamwork, trust, and other activities that were awesome! The kayaking was excellent. That is one of the main reasons why I came along, and I got so much more out of it then I had expected. I love to kayak and the trip made me even more enthusiastic about it.

The experience did change me. It’s difficult to explain how. But I feel great about it. I want to go back there soooooo bad. I am pretty sure I will be there this summer!

A huge thank-you to you and the Dan Culver Foundation for sponsoring my son on the Dare to Dream Leadership Program this past August. Saying how grateful I am just doesn’t seem enough, but I do want to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude. It was an incredible experience for him and he grew in leaps and bounds during his week on Jedediah. He was already a beautiful young man, but a sometimes shy boy who worries far too much for a person so young (14yrs old).

All the events he described really evoked team building, spirit strengthening, inspiration and goal setting. What an amazing opportunity to have this experience, especially at such a young age. My son also formed meaningful friendships with the leaders and other participants, and they’re already planning an alumni trip next summer. He sees himself growing with the program and becoming a leader himself – WOW!

Again, thank you, thank you!! If I can contribute as a Dare to Dream advocate, please call upon me at any time. The continuation of this program is crucial for our youth.

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On a different trip was another young woman whose mother saw a dramatic change in her daughter’s feelings and outlook on life. She couldn’t really pinpoint the specific changes but senses that her daughter has made some personal changes as a result of this experience. She felt Dare2Dream is a very worthwhile and positive experience. Her daughter loved it!

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The last trip of the summer another young man attended because his parents wanted an experience that would have their son “step out of the box” and experience something on his own. This program was fabulous and met all their expectations. Their son talked non stop about his experiences. This was very unusual for him to be so verbal about an experience. Must have been fantastic. He thoroughly enjoyed the leaders and the new friends he met. This was a totally different sort of experience than anything he has done before. Parents had hoped that he would do something new and different without being dependent on his friends. This met their expectations. He did the program on his own and loved it!! Only regret that the weather was a little marginal so they did not do as much kayaking as they had hoped. He loves kayaking now. Mother understands that their safety was the only reason the kayaking was limited and appreciated the leaders being responsible and making the call. You can’t control the weather.

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Our Parkgate coordinator also spoke with a young participant and his father about their experience this summer. Dad was more verbal about providing feedback than the son. The son is a relatively quiet kid who comes from a small rural area. His father thought it was a fantastic experience for his son. He Felt there was a very capable leadership team who ran the program and thought that his son had become more introspective about what he can accomplish and what he has to contribute to the world. He feels his son knows himself better and is more positive about his capabilities. Exceptional experience. Everything from contact with registration, Parkgate staff, calls on confirmation, evaluation, delivery of program was done exceptionally well. The father had remembered that our coordinator had called several weeks prior to the trip to ask if families had any questions and to confirm that they had received the package information. He felt this was a step that went above and beyond the call of duty and highly recommends this program. The son was less forthcoming with his answers, but when asked he did say that the scenery and the island that they camped on was spectacular. The leaders were very enthusiastic and nurturing and ensured that everyone was friendly. He felt that he was friends with everyone by the second day. When asked how he felt he has changed from this experience, he says he has not determined what changes have occurred yet but did say he learned new things and really enjoyed the kayaking.

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The mother who wrote the letter quoted near the top of the page went looking for this experience. Her son was sponsored due to the family’s current financial situation and he was not a willing participant when his mother suggested this opportunity to him, but she encouraged him to go and enjoy himself. She dropped him off at the beginning of camp and sensed the resistance to go. When she picked him up at the end, the first thing out of his mouth was, “Thanks for sending me. This was the best experience of my life to date”. His mom knew this would be a terrific experience, so that is why she made him go. Her son is the oldest of two and is very dependent on the companionship of his brother. This was the first opportunity for him to experience time away on his own. This experience exceeded their expectations. Her son found this to be a life altering experience. Once he returned home he so desperately want to go back. He loved the hikes and the inspirational stories about Dan Culver. He thinks Dan was an incredible human being. Her son has developed the confidence to speak in a group environment, gained independence and is already saving his money so that he can return next year. Mom is so grateful that her son was sponsored because he truly gained a life-altering experience that would not have been possible due to current financial constraints.