Guest Author - Andres L. "Racoon" Medina

In the spring of 1983, while attending school in Boyle Heights, CA, the basketball coach asked if I would like to attend a boys’ camp located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains during the summer for two weeks. The first question I asked the coach was “How much does it cost?” He told me it’s free. I had to ask this question. My dad worked the nightshift at a shipyard in San Pedro, CA and my mom ran the household. Although my dad was working fulltime, we barely had enough money to cover the necessities and didn’t have the extra money to splurge on movies or a weekend getaway, much less pay for a two-week camping trip, which is why I had to ask how much it would cost to attend.

Guest Author - Sara "Willow" Ferreri, BSN, RN

I was incredibly impressed by the level of dedication and engagement displayed by the staff members of Pyles Camp. Having started there as campers themselves, it is evident that they are fully invested into the Pyles Camp mission, and are committed to helping one generation, after the next, to grow and thrive. They serve as excellent role models for the boys to look up to, and balance authority with compassion to maximize their impact.

Guest Author - Jeff Wilson

Guest Author - Jeff Wilson

My history with the camp dates back nearly three decades, when a highly respected mentor encouraged me to get involved with this very special program. My father, whose career was built leading major foundations and non-profit organizations nationwide, also provided encouragement. I did not know until years later that he was well versed in the humble success and “miracle” of the Pyles program, also having many mentors in his professional and personal life who were long supporters of the Camp.