Greetings from Quito, Ecuador!

For the first three days of this adventure, the primary goal has been simple: acclimatization. Before attempting any of Ecuador's famous volcanoes, our bodies need time to adjust to the high elevations of the Andes.

I arrived in Quito, which sits at nearly 9,400 feet above sea level, and immediately felt the difference. Even walking up the city's steep streets leaves you breathing a little harder than normal. Rather than rushing into big climbs, I've been spending these first few days exploring the region, hiking, and giving my body the time it needs to adapt.

On October 6, I'll board a plane bound for Ecuador.

The plan is to arrive in Quito, perched high in the Andes at roughly 9,000 feet above sea level, and spend a few days acclimatizing before heading into the mountains. Wyatt will join me on the evening of October 9 after flying in from the University of Utah.

This trip is special for a lot of reasons.

It will be our first international adventure together.

It will be our first international climbing trip together.

And perhaps most importantly, it will be a chance to share an experience not only as father and son, but also as friends.

(Wyatt, Molly and Jud Rock Climbing at Donation Rocks, 2019)

A Shared Love of Adventure

Adventure has been a significant part of my life for a long time.

Over the years I've worked as an Outward Bound instructor, guided climbs on Mount Shasta with Shasta Mountain Guides, led expeditions in Nepal with Canadian Himalayan Expeditions, and spent countless days helping young people discover what they are capable of through challenge and adventure.

One of the greatest privileges of those experiences has been watching people grow when they step into unfamiliar situations.

After more than two decades at Stone Mountain Adventures, there are a lot of things I could put on this list. The adventures. The watersports. The campfires. The friendships. The laughter.

But when I think about what makes SMA special, it's often the little things. The traditions. The moments. The experiences that campers may not expect when they arrive, but end up talking about long after summer is over.

Here are five of my favorites.

1. Greeting Campers at Breakfast

Every morning, without fail, campers begin making their way to breakfast.

And let me tell you, the transformation from "sleeping teenager" to "functional human being" is not always immediate.

There are bedheads that defy gravity.

There are sleepy eyes that aren't quite open yet.

There are campers who somehow made it all the way to breakfast while still appearing to be asleep.

And there are the conversations.

"Good morning, how'd you sleep?"

"I don't know."

"What are you doing today?"

"I don't know."

"What did you have for breakfast?"

"I haven't eaten breakfast yet."

Fair enough.

One of the things I love most is standing outside the dining hall and greeting campers as they arrive. Sometimes the conversations are meaningful. Sometimes they're ridiculous. Often they're both.

It's hard to believe we've already reached All Camp Day for SMA 4-1 2026! The first half of the session has absolutely flown by, and what an amazing start it has been. We welcomed an incredible group of campers and staff from across the country and around the world, creating a camp community filled with energy, adventure, laughter, and friendship from day one.

Whether campers arrived as first-timers or longtime SMA veterans, it's been exciting to watch new friendships form and lifelong memories begin to take shape. The enthusiasm around camp has been contagious, and we're only halfway through the session!

Our campers have already enjoyed a wide variety of adventures, including several overnight trips featuring some of our most popular activities, such as rock climbing and wakeboarding. These experiences give campers the opportunity to challenge themselves, build confidence, and create unforgettable memories with their friends.

Sports have been a huge part of the fun so far! Campers have been competing, laughing, and working together in activities like ultimate frisbee, kickball, pickleball, volleyball, and newcomb. These games are about much more than winning. They help campers develop teamwork, communication skills, sportsmanship, and lasting friendships.

Out on the water, our wakeboarding, waterskiing, and kneeboarding programs have been packed with excitement. We've seen campers push themselves to try new things, celebrate personal victories, and encourage one another every step of the way. Our boat staff couldn't be more proud of the progress we've already seen and are eager to see what the rest of the session brings.

Of course, no SMA session would be complete without spending time at Donation Rocks. As stewards of this special climbing area, we're fortunate to have world-class rock climbing just a short walk from camp. Campers have been challenging themselves on a variety of routes while learning valuable climbing skills and supporting each other through belaying and teamwork.

And the fun certainly doesn't end when dinner is over! Campers have enjoyed fantastic evening activities both in and out of camp. Trips for ice cream and roller skating have been big hits, while camp favorites like Jud Games have kept everyone laughing, competing, and making memories long after the sun goes down.

SMA 4-1 2026 has been nothing short of extraordinary. The energy, growth, friendships, and adventures we've witnessed so far have made for an unforgettable start to the summer. We can't wait to see what the second half of the session holds as our campers continue to explore new challenges, discover new passions, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

We know you're missing your campers, and we know those first few days apart can be tough. The good news is that from everything we're seeing here at Stone Mountain Adventures, your campers are settling in, making connections, and diving headfirst into camp life.

Each morning starts with plenty of energy and a little bit of silliness as "The Birdie Song" echoes across camp. It's quickly become a favorite tradition and the perfect way to kick off another day of adventure.

After breakfast in the Rhino Dining Hall, campers gather with their Crews, the small groups they'll spend time with throughout the session. Crew time helps everyone get to know one another, build friendships, and feel like part of the SMA family. The first few days are always full of team-building games and challenges, and today's highlight was Pole Board, which had campers working together, cheering each other on, and sharing plenty of laughs.

Once the games wrapped up, campers headed off for an afternoon packed with adventure. Crews could be found scaling the climbing wall, hiking to Rocky Ridge, competing on the soccer field, battling it out in a camp-wide volleyball tournament, carving across the water during wakeboarding, and testing their skills during Mountain Bike Masters.

From the trails to the lake and everywhere in between, Session 4 is off to an incredible start. The smiles, excitement, and enthusiasm we've seen these first few days remind us why we say it every summer:

SMA Session 4... we saved the best for last! 🏕️💙

We snapped a few Crew photos along the way to capture these early friendships and unforgettable camp moments. Take a look below. We think you'll agree, your campers are having an amazing time!

(John was in the bathroom when his group photo was taken... I promise he's having more fun at camp than this  "post bathroom / I missed the group photo" shows)

There was definitely a reality TV show vibe around Stone Mountain Adventures today as we celebrated another fun All Camp Day.

This session's theme was SMA Reality TV Show, and each cabin had the chance to create and perform its own original skit. Campers spent the morning brainstorming ideas, rehearsing scenes, and bringing their shows to life. From competition style game shows to survival adventures and plenty of camp comedy, every group put its own creative spin on the theme. The skits were performed in the cabins for our Bunk Inspectors and staff members, and everyone enjoyed seeing the different ideas campers came up with.

The day started with a later wake up and a special breakfast of donuts and bagels. After breakfast, campers got to work cleaning their cabins and getting organized for the week ahead. We also had four groups heading out to do laundry today, which is always an important part of keeping camp life running smoothly.

All Camp Day gives everyone a chance to slow down a little, spend time together, and enjoy being part of the SMA community. Whether campers were working on skits, helping in their cabins, hanging out with friends, or getting ready for upcoming adventures, there was a great atmosphere around camp all day long.

This evening, the entire camp will gather at Greenwood Furnace State Park for our All Camp Day BBQ. It is always one of the highlights of the session and a great opportunity for campers and staff to come together, share a meal, and enjoy time outdoors.

The adventure continues over the next few days as campers head out on several exciting overnight trips. One group is traveling to Raystown Lake for a camping and wakeboarding overnight. Another group is heading to Great Trough Creek State Park for a hiking adventure and overnight camping experience. A third group will paddle the Upper Raystown Branch of the Juniata River on a canoeing overnight.

These trips give campers the chance to explore new places, challenge themselves, and make memories with friends that will last long after summer ends.

From reality show skits and laundry runs to barbecues, hiking, canoeing, camping, and wakeboarding, today was another great reminder of what makes life at SMA so special.

At Stone Mountain Adventures (SMA), there’s a special energy that takes over camp on All Camp Day—and this week’s celebration was packed with creativity, laughter, and plenty of SMA spirit!

This session’s theme was “SMA Sails the High Seas,” and our campers fully embraced the adventure. Throughout the morning, cabins worked together to dream up, rehearse, and perform their own nautical-themed skits. From daring captains and mischievous pirates to epic voyages across imaginary oceans, each cabin brought its own unique twist to the theme. The performances took place right in the cabins for our “Bunk Inspectors” and SMA staff, and the results were fantastic. The creativity, teamwork, and enthusiasm on display reminded us once again what makes the SMA community so special.

But All Camp Day is about much more than skits. It’s an opportunity for campers and staff to reconnect, recharge, and spend quality time together outside of the normal camp routine. We kicked off the morning with a late wake-up and a special breakfast featuring donuts, bagels, and plenty of smiles. After breakfast, campers rolled up their sleeves for cabin deep cleaning before diving into skit planning and preparation.

Following lunch, campers headed out for a fun-filled afternoon of activities, including:

• Rail Trail Biking
• Rock Climbing
• Intro to Touch Rugby with Seth and Sean!

The day wrapped up with our always-popular all-camp BBQ, bringing everyone together for great food, great conversations, and lots of laughter. We also gathered for a special evening meeting where campers learned more about the SMAM Program—Stone Mountain Activity Masters. This exciting challenge encourages campers to step outside their comfort zones, try new activities, and work toward earning a coveted SMA water bottle. As always, we concluded the evening with Candlelight, a meaningful time for reflection, gratitude, and connection as a camp family.

All Camp Days bring out the very best of SMA—creativity, friendship, teamwork, and that unmistakable camp magic. Whether campers were performing skits, biking the rail trail, scaling climbing routes, or learning the fundamentals of touch rugby, they were creating memories that will last long after summer ends.

And the adventure continues! Tomorrow, two exciting overnight trips head out into the great outdoors. One group will travel to Raystown Lake for a camping and wakeboarding overnight, while another group will camp at Greenwood Furnace State Park and spend the day climbing at Hunter Rocks in the Rocky Ridge Natural Area of Rothrock State Forest. These overnight experiences offer campers incredible opportunities for adventure, challenge, and unforgettable memories under the stars.

Enjoy the photos!!