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BOEC's Inspirations
The Official Newsletter of the BOEC
May 12, 2021
Dear Friend of BOEC,

May is such a transitionary month isn’t it? The mountains are closing and it’s not quite warm enough (or melted enough!) to get out on the lake for a paddle or the trails for a hike and we all anxiously await the warm spring days that lead to the next season for the BOEC and our participants. 
 
This season we are so excited to welcome back a summer intern class which was cancelled last summer for the first time in 45 years! We‘re also thrilled to start welcoming back our beloved staff, volunteers and participants, all of whom had to take last summer off as well. We begin this season somewhat cautiously because, while all indications point to a more “normal” summer, we will still err on the side of caution, keeping everyone safe with protocols and policies in place to do so. We’ve done the research, talked to many professionals and partners and we know that our number one priority has to be safety above all else. 
 
While May brings both flowers and showers it also means the return of our amazing team of instructors for bonding and training before they begin a busy summer. We will soon welcome back our friends from the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado, local kids who are part of Camp Big Tree and youth and veterans and their families who will join us for river trips, time on the ropes course, paddling in Lake Dillon and so many other adventures. We are truly excited to welcome back our summer Wilderness Program and equally grateful that the winter season went so well. It just goes to show that a positive attitude, LOTS of preparation and serious dedication to an important mission will help to overcome just about anything. 
 
This month’s Inspirations shares some wonderful stories about those who make BOEC what it is. Beginning with Melissa Kuwahara whose heart and passion for the BOEC shines through her huge smile every day of the 19 years she has been with us. Thank you Melissa for all you do!! BreckWild returned this year after a one year hiatus with 10 medical students coming to BOEC for a month-long immersive program in wilderness medicine. And our donor spotlight this month highlights the Davignon Charitable Fund who have been giving to the BOEC for a number of years. Many thanks to them and to all of our very generous donors! 
   
Please continue to stay safe and healthy and thank you for your support of the work that we do here at the BOEC.

Warmly,
Sonya Norris
Sonya Norris
Executive Director
Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center
It's the People Who Make BOEC So Special: Office Manager, Melissa Kuwahara
For 19 years, BOEC Office Manager Melissa Kuwahara has called the BOEC home. And for 19 years she has been in the middle of it all while seeing growth and changes along the way. Check out her story.
Medical Students Go BreckWild with BOEC
A group of 10 medical students from Sydney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia teamed up with the BOEC for a month-long immersive wilderness medicine program aptly named BreckWild. Here's a glimpse of this amazing experience.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Davignon Charitable Fund
The Davignon Charitable Fund has been supporting the BOEC in a variety of ways for the past decade. Its support ranges from vehicle upkeep to much-needed equipment donations. We are very grateful for this continued relationship and look forward to many more years to come! Read more in this month's donor spotlight.
Summer Programs are Back!

After being forced to cancel the majority of summer programming in 2020 due to COVID-19, we are excited to announce that summer programming is back this year! We will be starting with day programs in June before transitioning into overnight camps in July, all with strict COVID-19 policies and procedures in place. As we return to some semblance of normalcy we look to provide programs such as the San Juan Military Trip in partnership with Telluride Adaptive Sports Center and three day camps for local teens. We are also excited to work with a new group, Joshua Station, part of a larger organization that serves families who are transitioning from being homeless. Here's to a great summer!
Live Banff Film Festival Returns This June!

The live Banff Film Festival is back for two nights! Albeit in a different setting - outdoors at the CMC-Breck drive-in - Banff returns with two brand new lineups of films on Friday & Saturday, June 25 & 26. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 28th at 9:00am at breckcreate.org.

Thank you to BGV Gives, the Town of Breckenridge, Cornerstone Real Estate Rocky Mountains, FirstBank, Blue River Sports, and Krystal93 for making this year's virtual and live festival possible.
Congratulations Winter Interns!

In what was probably the most interesting and challenging winter internship in BOEC's history, we are proud to announce that the winter intern class of 2020-21 has graduated with flying colors! Many of them will continue on as BOEC staff this summer and upcoming winter.

Congratulations to Alexa Millward, Ben Cole, Ben Landau, Caleigh Sewell, Emma Gilroy, JR O'Neil, Jessica Boyers, Taylor Weckstein and Tyler Eaton. May all your futures be bright!
WHAT'S COMING UP?
THANK YOU TO OUR KEY PARTNERS
The mission of the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) is to expand the potential of people with disabilities and special needs through meaningful, educational and inspiring outdoor experiences.
BOEC is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit