In these unique times Sacred Rok has found ways to continue to support youth in nature. For example, over the last ten years in Tuolumne Meadows where we host all of our camping trips, we made friends with other campers. There was a young boy and his mother, Fionn and Tracey, who camped near us for many summers. Fionn would see Ron splitting fire wood at camp and he took interest in learning how to do that which started a friendship. Ron taught him how to chop and stack wood and they spent many hours together over the years this way.  With much needed nature time after following shelter in place orders for months, we had a unique opportunity to invite them to stay with us this summer.

Here are some thoughts Tracey shared about what it meant to them.

“With lock down and city life I was beginning to think I was broken. Thankfully from the moment we got to Sacred Rok, the layers started to peel off; Watching my son's bright smile when he saw Ron for the first time this summer, swimming laps in the valley river, falling off of the paddle board, Katie's nutritious/delicious meals, the trip to the lake. Nature combined with words from Ron and Katie on life, routine and nature will get us through this strange time.”

"My depression/fog has lifted. Returning to the small spot in SF is challenging but we have new tools and memories of the mini adventures, words of wisdom, ingrained images of the beauty, mountains and water. These have the ability to strip away the sadness like nothing else can. I am so grateful that I was able to get my son into nature, spending time with such amazing role models.”  - Tracey

Its just keeps becoming more and more obvious to us the importance of nature for health and wellbeing; As Tracey and her son were coming from such an intense situation of “shelter in place for months” and the relief they felt once in the presence of Yosemite.

Sacred Rok is and will always be committed to the reality of higher education nature’s way.

Ron Kauk - Executive Director

Katie Lambert - Chief Operating Officer