05/28/2026
☀ Summer The Way It Should Be
"Counting down the days until summer break used to be nothing but a thrill, but as a parent, it can also feel like a challenge. As a kid growing up in Pueblo, the thrill was staying up late with friends, drinking Taffy's limeades on hot summer afternoons, and swimming with my dad and sister in the evenings.
As an adult, I look back on childhood summers and recall so many great memories. However, I'm most grateful for all the time I spent outside, exploring and learning about nature. A lot of those summer days were also spent as a camper at the Nature Center (now the River Campus). Seeking adventure on the surrounding bluffs, forging into the Arkansas River, skipping stones, and learning from talented educators are all part of the roots that support my love for nature.
Now, as a father, I continue to feel that thrill as summer break approaches, but I also understand the challenge of keeping kids active, off their screens, and making memories of their own. I want my kids to have that same dirt-under-the-fingernails, sun-on-their-shoulders experience that shaped my youth. That is why I am so grateful the NWDC still provides those exact opportunities right here in Pueblo's backyard. It's a place and a camp where the next generation can trade their tablets for trails and let the outdoor adventures begin."
- Brodie Kettelkamp, NWDC Board Member
Learn more & register your child for NWDC's summer camps: https://www.hikeandlearn.org/plan-your-visit
