Reconnecting… for Good

By Linda Christensen Appleby,
National Alumni Board – President

Linda with a friend – A/U Ranches

“The Adventure Continues” not only is the theme of the 60th Reunion celebration next year (August 21-24, 2015), but also is an apt description of my life’s journey with Adventure Unlimited – DiscoveryBound.

My camp memories are of excitement, joy and spiritual growth while challenging myself on horseback and climbing 14ers. Years later, I rejoiced in reconnecting with A/U when our children attended camp, finding other former campers and staff whose children were now having their own adventures in self-discovery. Then in 2005, the 50th Reunion reinforced all the good that came into my life through A/U—sharing memories, making new friends and most of all, reconnecting with the best part of me that camp brings out. Finally, this Zipline newsletter, along with Facebook, has put me in touch with people I have cherished in those memories but with whom I’d lost touch.

…in 2005, the 50th Reunion reinforced all the good that came into my life through A/U—sharing memories, making new friends and most of all, reconnecting with the best part of me that camp brings out.

Thanks to this continuing relationship with an organization I love, I now have the privilege of serving with dedicated, fun and hard-working individuals on the Adventure Unlimited National Alumni Board (NAB). Collectively, they represent decades of service to youth through DiscoveryBound’s Outreach activities and National Leadership Council, as well as at the A/U Ranches. Find out who is representing you on the NAB and share your ideas with us, especially as they relate to the upcoming 60th Reunion. Input is being incorporated into our planning from the 100 alumni who already responded to a reunion survey.

The reunion weekend is a kickoff for what we expect will be an ongoing dialogue with you, A/U-DB alumni. From the moment you drive up the road with the splendor of Mts. Yale, Princeton and Columbia as the backdrop, past the “Welcome Home” sign, you’ll be able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, and enjoy an array of activities, interesting talks, music by talented alumni, opportunities for professional networking and, of course, time to relax and soak up the atmosphere and surroundings.

If you want to get in some hiking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, road biking, fly fishing, riflery, archery and rafting (river conditions permitting), join us before the reunion, August 17-21, for Mini-Camp. Details and registration will be available at adventureunlimited.org starting in January 2015.

Even if you are unsure if you can attend the reunion, we hope you’ll stay connected by following who’s coming and what’s happening through the A/U-DB Alumni Facebook Group. If you’re not already one of the group’s nearly 1,600 members, click Join on the cover photo and share your memories, photos and ideas. You can also keep track of who’s planning to attend (close to 90 at this writing!) and invite others by clicking on Events.

The excitement is building for the future of Adventure Unlimited and DiscoveryBound—we welcome each of you to be part of it!

Hope to see you at the Reunion, Mini-Camp and on Facebook.