April Shady Creek Update
April kicked off the start of spring here at camp… and wow, what a month it’s been. When I think about spring, I’m taken back to growing up in Sacramento with my twin brother, Jason. Spring meant sports—basketball courts, baseball diamonds, riding bikes until the streetlights came on. But if I’m being honest, the neighborhoods we grew up in didn’t always feel safe. I’ve said it before… I was outside, but I didn’t always like being outside. Still, we found freedom where we could—on the light rail with our Ninja Turtles, navigating the bus routes like pros, delivering newspapers from North Highlands all the way to the edge of Rio Linda. That was our way of exploring the world. That was our version of spring.
And now, all these years later, I get to help create a place where kids love being outside….. instead of in front of a screen! Where nature feels safe, exciting, and full of possibility. This April, Shady Creek welcomed students from Johnson Park, Edgewater, Arboga, Paragon, Manzanita, Wilson, Meridian, Tierra Buena, Lincoln… and as I write this, we’re spending the week with Rio Del Oro, Cobblestone, Sacramento Prep, and Notre Dame. It’s been a wild ride. Some days we had hail. Other days, warm sunshine pouring through the trees. Honestly, we had all kinds of days! You never really know what spring will bring on the ridge… and that’s part of the fun.
But through all the weather and surprises, the Shady Creek team kept showing up with heart. This month brought its share of challenges—big ones—but we leaned in. We problem-solved. We rallied. And I’ve gotta say… I’ve never been more proud to walk alongside this team. Their grit, their passion, their commitment to these students—it’s the heartbeat of this place.
As we head into May, I keep thinking about what Michael Jordan calls winning time… that last part of the fourth quarter. The stretch where champions are made. That’s where we are right now—and I’m walking into it with a team I believe in with my whole heart. So here’s to sunshine… broken guitars… full hearts… and the final push of the season.
Big love from the ridge,
—Yeti
