An Open Letter to the Parents of our Staff
Dear Parents and Families,
This message is a bit different from what you might expect. It’s directed towards the parents and families of our staff members, which is not a common practice. Traditionally, the belief is that since our staff are adults, communication with their families is unnecessary. However, as parents ourselves, we understand the value of family connections.
We’ve observed a significant shift in recent years, particularly post-pandemic, where our staff are more connected to their families than ever before. They often seek advice and support from you during times of struggle or hardship. Recognizing the crucial role you play in their lives, we felt it was important to reach out to you as your TVRC staff members wrap up their training.
Our goal with this note is to provide you with more information about Teton Valley Ranch Camp, where your loved ones will be spending part of their summer. We also hope to establish a relationship between you, as their trusted family members, and us, the senior TVRC leadership. Our primary aim is to ensure a successful summer experience for both our campers and our staff. Many of you are already familiar faces from previous summers, but we believe this information is important for everyone.
A bit of history—Teton Valley Ranch Camp (TVRC) is an independent non-profit educational foundation that has been operating since 1939. Our program focuses on Western Adventure in and around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We operate on a 2,600-acre ranch and in the surrounding National Forests and National Parks. Given the remote and wild areas we explore, a central theme is overcoming adversity. We cultivate traits like grit, resilience, and tenacity, as reflected in our Purpose, Mission, and Vision Statements:
“TVRC instills passion and respect for the outdoors while building self-confidence, skills, and lasting friendships.”
“The Mission of Teton Valley Ranch Camp is to Provide InspiringWestern adventure in the Jackson Hole and Yellowstone area.”
“TVRC is a trusted partner with our families and creates future generations of leaders ready for challenges ahead.”
You’ll notice our statements do not specify “for campers.” This is intentional. We aim to foster growth not only in our campers but also in our staff. We often refer to ourselves as “counselors to the counselors” – a mindset and mantra we hold dear. We guide young adults as they embark on what is, for many, their first “real job.” A summer job at TVRC builds invaluable skills such as leadership, communication, time management, conflict resolution, creativity, problem-solving, empathy, critical thinking, and sound decision-making.
The experience, camaraderie, and natural beauty of our mountain home far outweigh the paycheck. The skills gained here greatly enhance our staff’s future job marketability. An article from The American Camping Association highlights that experience as a camp counselor translates into excellent management and personnel skills. Beyond these hard skills, we witness tremendous growth in our staff when they prioritize the campers, their co-workers, and the TVRC community over their own desires and comforts. It is a life-changing experience they will carry with them always. Now, we seek your support as parents and family members. We humbly ask you to partner with us this summer. We know our staff value your guidance, advice, and reassurance. Life and work at TVRC can be challenging. We have long days, significant physical activity, many details to manage, and we live in a somewhat isolated place, all while being responsible for the wellbeing of others. When things don’t go as planned, we must be flexible, learn from our mistakes and find the best solution.
When your staff member reaches out to you feeling frustrated, exhausted, or even in tears, we ask you to listen, empathize, and offer support. Encourage them to speak with their supervisors, a member of the full-time team, or Jim/Cora directly. Our goal is to acknowledge challenges, support them in crafting a plan, and ultimately keep moving forward. Overcoming these challenges helps our staff develop grit, tenacity, and resilience. While an early departure from camp is sometimes necessary, we want it to be a last resort after thoroughly exploring all other options.
We are excited that TVRC will soon become, or continue to be, a significant part of their life story. Remember, we want to be a helpful resource for you and your staff member. When they encounter bumps in the road, encourage them to talk with us. Lastly, if you ever have concerns, know that Cora and I are just a phone call or email away. Thank you for supporting them this summer, and we hope to thank you in person one day soon.
Sincerely,
Jim and Cora Ligori Executive Director / Camp Director
