Building Grit and Resilience at TVRC
When parents sign their children up for summer camp, they often think of the fun—campfires, horseback rides, and friendships that last a lifetime. And while Teton Valley Ranch Camp (TVRC) is certainly filled with joy and adventure, there’s something deeper at play: we are in the business of building grit and resilience. Grit is the combination of courage, resolve, and strength of character. Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties, to adapt, and to come back stronger. At TVRC, we believe that our campers are capable of doing hard things, and that facing challenges head-on will help them grow into confident, capable adults ready for whatever life throws their way.
The Science of Strength Through Stress
In The Anxious Generation, psychologist Jonathan Haidt describes children as antifragile—a concept borrowed from Nassim Taleb’s book Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder. Unlike a delicate wine glass that shatters when dropped, or a plastic cup that merely survives a fall, humans are designed to grow stronger through stress. Taleb uses the example of a tree: as the wind blows against it, the tree’s roots grow deeper, its trunk thickens, and it becomes more resilient to future storms. At TVRC, we embrace this idea wholeheartedly. Our program is designed to provide the right kind of challenges—ones that push campers in a safe and supportive environment, where they can learn from their struggles and emerge stronger.
Progressive Challenge: From Small steps to Big Strides
One of the most powerful examples of this philosophy is our backpacking program. Each summer, campers set out on age-appropriate backpacking trips, with the difficulty increasing as they grow older. A camper’s first trip might be a manageable hike with a light pack, but by their final summer, they’re tackling high-elevation treks that test their endurance, teamwork, and mental fortitude. The most difficult trips—the ones that include unexpected storms, long uphill slogs, or the exhaustion of adjusting to altitude—are the ones our campers talk about for years. They are the stories that get shared at alumni gatherings, the experiences that make their way into college essays and job interviews. They are proof that struggle leads to strength.
Grit Is Built in the Small Moments, Too
While our backpacking trips provide a tangible way to see resilience in action, grit is developed in every aspect of camp life. Sharing a cabin with a group of peers means learning to navigate conflicts, practicing patience, and developing the social skills necessary for teamwork and cooperation. The first time a camper mounts a horse, it’s a leap of faith. With time, they develop confidence in their own ability and learn to push past fear. In Lapidary, campers work diligently to smooth the perfect rock, learning that true craftsmanship takes time and persistence. Whether it’s hitting a target in archery or pushing through a tough morning wake-up, every moment at camp is an opportunity for growth.
More than a Summer, A Foundation for Life
At TVRC, we believe that real growth happens when kids are given the space to struggle, to push through difficulty, and to realize that they are stronger than they thought. Our alumni return year after year to tell us how TVRC shaped their lives—not just as a fun summer, but as a truly transformative experience. In a world that often seeks to shield kids from difficulty, we stand firm in the belief that doing hard things makes us stronger. And that’s why TVRC isn’t just a summer camp. It’s a foundation for life.
