OUR CAMP BEGAN IN THE MID-1980S, FOUNDED BY MR. RON CLOSE AND THE INSTRUCTORS OF REGION 110B. THAT VERY FIRST YEAR, JUST 43 CAMPERS GATHERED AT MR. CLOSE’S CABIN ON A SMALL LAKE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. IT WAS HUMBLE, RAW, AND UNFORGETTABLE.

IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, THE CAMP GREW—BUT THE CONDITIONS REMAINED RUGGED. CAMPERS PITCHED TENTS AND SLEPT OUTDOORS, UNLESS TORRENTIAL RAINS TURNED THE GROUND INTO A LAKE OF ITS OWN, FLOODING TENTS AND FORCING EVERYONE BACK INTO THE CABIN FOR SHELTER. THE TRAINING MATCHED THE ENVIRONMENT: TOUGH, GRITTY, AND INTENSE. NO SHORTCUTS. NO COMFORT ZONES.

AS THE YEARS WENT ON, THE CAMP OUTGREW THOSE EARLY SETTINGS AND MOVED THROUGH LARGER, MORE PROFESSIONALLY RUN LOCATIONS. ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, WE FINALLY FOUND OUR HOME AT CAMP CONISTON—A PLACE WE’VE LOVED EVER SINCE.

OUR JOURNEY HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY. AT EVERY STAGE, WE’VE STAYED TRUE TO OUR CORE VALUES WHILE PUSHING TO MAKE THE CAMP BETTER EACH YEAR. TODAY, WE TRAIN IN AN INCREDIBLE SETTING—ONE THAT SUPPORTS THE SAME INTENSITY AND SPIRIT OF THOSE EARLY DAYS, WITH ONE MAJOR UPGRADE: RAIN OR SHINE, NO ONE HAS TO SLEEP IN A FLOODED TENT ANYMORE.