Greetings prospective Lioneer!

It has been almost two years since we have seen most of you and we cannot wait to be with you again this summer. Even though we have been physically apart, you have been close at heart with everyone in the Pyles Camp family. In the past year, we have faced unprecedented challenges, developed new habits, and had to learn to live in a new world, not unlike your experience as a 1st year camper. As a camper, we challenged you to grow and push beyond the limits you thought you had; we developed habits, such as helping keep camp clean every morning; and we asked you to make Pyles Camp home for 2 weeks. Today, we invite you to apply to return to our home in the mountains as a Lioneer.

The Lion Meadow lifestyle is unique and one that very few will ever be able to enjoy. You will cook on a wood burning stove, cut your own firewood, help maintain Lion Meadow, and take a backpacking trip deep into the Golden Trout Wilderness. You will have a great time as you learn to work together backpacking through beautiful mountains, preparing meals together, and enjoying each other’s company by the campfire.

At Lion Meadow, you will learn more about yourself, how to take care of one another, and develop skills that will allow you to progress through life. As with most things at R.M. Pyles Boys Camp, you must earn the privilege to return as a Lioneer. The form linked below is only the first of many steps in applying to be a Lioneer. To initiate the application process, please fill out and submit the form linked below as soon as possible. These forms will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on February 15th, 2021.

Here are a couple more things you can do to start preparing and demonstrating that you deserve to return as a Lioneer in 2021.

1. Attend our virtual events. Over the next few months we will be hosting a variety of virtual events. Keep an eye on the calendar at www.pylescamp.org/events to see when our next events will be.

2. Show us your grades. Part of the application includes sending us a current copy of your grades. Send us your grades and progress reports from throughout the school year to demonstrate how you have been progressing.

3. Get ready, both physically and mentally. Lion Meadow is over 12 miles from camp and many groups do this hike in a single day. Anything you can do to build your strength and endurance will serve you well. Keep track of your progress in an app or journal and let me know how it is going.

4. Most importantly, keep in contact with camp. Let me know how things are going at home, school, and with your friends. Not sure how to get in shape for camp? Ask us for some guidance. Write a letter, send an email, or give me a call.

Pyles Camp is working with our State and County health officials to ensure that we can offer our program in a way that mitigates the risks posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while also maintaining the integrity of the Pyles Camp program. As a result, there may be significant changes to how our program looks like this summer, including a significant reduction in the capacity of the Lioneer program. There also exists the possibility that it will be deemed unsafe to hold in person programs at all this summer. We would like to thank you in advance for your understanding and flexibility as we progress through these uncertain times.

If you are interested in becoming a Lioneer this summer, it is very important that you complete your application as soon as you are able to. The sooner you get this to me, the sooner we can get started on the rest of the application. Also please remember, it is your responsibility to complete the application; not your parent’s, dog’s, aunt’s, sibling’s, guardian’s, teacher’s, or anyone else’s.

In the Camp spirit,

Jorge “Panda” Mendoza Panda@PylesCamp.com (661) 294-1394 ext. 5