This Colorado-based organization focuses on youth who have hit bottom and are on their way to straightening out their lives. Bartholomew took his first trip with a group of boys last summer. With emotion, he speaks of finding pleasure in seeing these boys gain self-esteem through conquering daily challenges and the Continental Divide that most of them admitted they didn't think possible and of spending time alongside them teaching them the little and big things that go along with such a trip. The first night, Bartholomew watched as the boys pitched their tents without clearing the ground of pine cones and rocks. Keeping quiet, he let them do their work and noticed that they never made the same mistake again.
Nature truly is an excellent teacher.
And Bartholomew will be back up in the mountains this summer with another group of boys, learning. Charlene Santucci is a Seattle-area freelance writer.