Colvig Silver Camps was founded on the principles of building self-esteem, identity and leadership in a non-competitive environment. Armed with five kayaks, two school buses, a few horses and several used backpacks, Craig and Mary set out to pursue these principles by exploring the mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts and canyons of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. Thirty years later, roughly 5000 campers have passed through the gates of CSC, many to return as staff or supporting alumni.During that first summer, Craig and Mary discovered the Red Creek Valley just down the road and subsequently purchased 250 acres that are now the heart of our CSC community. CSC has since expanded to its current size, which includes over 600 acres, 40 buildings, and three additional camps - Homesteading, Outpost and Pathfinding. The Colvig family also expanded as "Uncle Jim" and Kathy Colvig joined the budding camp effort, as well as Mary and Craig's three sons: Clay, Cameron and Cassidy.For 12 years CSC flourished under Craig and Mary's direction. As enrollment numbers grew so did the number of buses, cabins, horses and backpacks. During this time, CSC became an accredited member of the American Camping Association and a member of the Western Association of Independent Camps. Tragically, Craig Colvig and two staff members were killed in a private plane crash in 1981. Recently divorced from Mary, Craig left the CSC legacy to his three sons and the responsibility of 'direction' to long-time assistant directors Tom "Frosty" Frostman and his wife Susan (Sam). Frosty and Sam carried the torch for four years after which they left to pursue other interests. They recently relocated from Kentucky to Westcliffe, Colorado, and Sam returns to camp often to fill in or train our expedition manager. Upon their departure in 1985, "Uncle Jim" Colvig picked up the torch and brought CSC into the 90's. Along with his second wife Jane and daughter Jacy, Jim spent 9 years pursuing the ideals of camp with continued involvement from founder, Mary Colvig-Miller, oldest son Clay Colvig and long-time Program Director June Maiers-Reineke. In 1993 Jim "retired" from the director's position, but remained involved at camp as a CSC board member and physical plant manager. Armed with two psychology degrees and a one hundred fifty pound St. Bernard, Cameron Colvig and his wife Nicole took over as directors, developing new programming and rekindling a relationship with the Western Association of Independent Camps. Cameron's decision in 1998 to take on the challenge of medical school brought Clay Colvig and his wife Tavia back to camp as the directors. Clay had been pursuing a career as an architect and Tavia a career as an attorney, but both saw the possibilities at camp as much more rewarding and jumped at the opportunity. They bring both traditional and fresh perspectives to a management team that now includes our Office Manager Alexis Harrell and Program Directors Jack Magill and Evan Suiter. It is a team that will ensure fun and exciting summers of growth and development for everyone for years to come.CSC started as and remains a family owned and operated business with historical and current involvement from two generations of Colvigs: Mary Colvig-Miller as a board member and Clay, Tavia, Jim and Cassidy as current management. Certainly, none of CSC's longevity would be possible without the contributions of camp families such as the Weidmanns who helped pound the first nails in CSC cabins; Barbara Hudson who gave years to CSC as the 'Witch Doctor'; the Barkleys who also devoted many years to CSC; the Frostmans who helped direct CSC through challenging times; the Vorwalds and Reinekes who helped bring CSC into the 90's and recent and current contributions by Scott Kelley, Gray Berryman, Amie Podolsky, Andrew Notbohm, Megan Weidmann, and Lindsay James.CSC remains, as always, committed to teaching today's youth the value of outdoor ethics and a respect for our natural world. We pride ourselves on fostering personal growth, self-esteem and leadership in a non-competitive environment through challenges in and out of the traditional camp setting.