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Hello, my name is Mike. I’m raising money to help my sister, Mary Kay, who lost her home in a forest fire. Her beautiful cabin burned to the ground. She lost her possessions, including sentimental items that can never be replaced. Our family has owned cabins on this land since 1969 and we spent our childhoods here with Mary Kay having the ambition of living on the property as an adult. She was able to make those dreams come true. She renovated one of the cabins and moved into it. From her cabin she could look out on the forest, river and our family property. This was her dream home, where she and her husband intended to live for the rest of their lives. They were forced to evacuate only a few days before the fire burned down their cabin. I am raising money to help them start rebuilding and repairing this wonderful piece of history we inherited.
Western Life Camp is our family’s heritage. My sister Mary moved into a riverside cabin and built a wrap-around deck so she could be surrounded by the sound of the river, watch hummingbirds and sit out under the stars. Her husband, who moved here from New Zealand, found his “Turangawaewae” or “place to stand” here.
Western Life Camp is located in the Santa Fe National Forest, outside Las Vegas New Mexico and a few miles from the base of Hermits Peak and from Calf Canyon. The Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the largest wildfire in New Mexico's history, reached our property after the two fires combined. The camp lost our largest building, the "Rec Hall". All that’s left is the tin roof.
Our parents, Mel and Jan Root, bought Western Life Camp in 1969 and ran the private recreational summer sleep-away camp, mentoring hundreds of youth. Many of them returned every summer, then worked as staff when they were old enough. Former campers sent their kids to the camp. Over the years, campers returned as adults to reconnect with our family and with the special place that meant so much to them growing up. Old campers visited during hard times in their adult lives, to feel safe and renew their connection to the camp and our family. For the Root family, Western Life Camp is our safe haven and our place in the world. We carry these strong, loving memories with us. Thanks for your contribution to help us restore our family property and help my sister put her life back together.
Western Life Camp is our family’s heritage. My sister Mary moved into a riverside cabin and built a wrap-around deck so she could be surrounded by the sound of the river, watch hummingbirds and sit out under the stars. Her husband, who moved here from New Zealand, found his “Turangawaewae” or “place to stand” here.
Western Life Camp is located in the Santa Fe National Forest, outside Las Vegas New Mexico and a few miles from the base of Hermits Peak and from Calf Canyon. The Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the largest wildfire in New Mexico's history, reached our property after the two fires combined. The camp lost our largest building, the "Rec Hall". All that’s left is the tin roof.
Our parents, Mel and Jan Root, bought Western Life Camp in 1969 and ran the private recreational summer sleep-away camp, mentoring hundreds of youth. Many of them returned every summer, then worked as staff when they were old enough. Former campers sent their kids to the camp. Over the years, campers returned as adults to reconnect with our family and with the special place that meant so much to them growing up. Old campers visited during hard times in their adult lives, to feel safe and renew their connection to the camp and our family. For the Root family, Western Life Camp is our safe haven and our place in the world. We carry these strong, loving memories with us. Thanks for your contribution to help us restore our family property and help my sister put her life back together.