Summer in Camp Lotus has that smell of lingering wood smoke in the cool morning air and that sound of rustling leaves against the constant but faint roar of the river. Summer seemed to arrive so suddenly this year. From jackets to sunscreen, the temperature jumped into the hundreds and sent us plunging into that ice cold water of the South Fork of the American River.

As the first groups began to flow through our camp for both one day and two day trips, each day on the river blossomed into an unforgettable and unique experience; swimming in rapids, eddies and pools, jumping off rocks, swimming through rocks and of course getting soaked in awesome class three rapids.

River Runners has been getting real this summer. It is as if all the awesome authentic creativity of the past has been condensed into something tangible.  I have been calling it, 'Intentional Rafting'. Don't get me wrong, we haven't gone serious - there is plenty of the old joking and horsing around, but everything we do is aimed at one outcome - to provide the best river rafting experience we possibly can to everyone who comes through our camp. 

What that looks like is different for everyone and it takes a bunch of adventurous yet sensitive souls like our crew to navigate each trip as artfully as they have been doing! 

Our guides have amazed me over the last month - cranking out applause winning dinners after a long river day, taking kids on a swim after cooking a hamburger lunch when they could be off work and generally just being so patient, accommodating and inspired.

It has been such a great summer so far, I am excited to see what happens next!

-Sarah Vee