The best thing about ACMNP was the people I got to meet and do life with for the summer. I fell in love with the park, but I fell in love with the people even more. Despite being one of the few Christians, the people I met that summer were some of the most loving and caring humans I had ever met.

We all came from different places and different backgrounds, and yet, there was something that united us all. We became a family.

I have felt familial connections with people before, such as my own family, friends, youth groups, or college, but I had never felt such a strong connection with such a large group of people.

Not only did the friendships I form become my favorite part, it was also the most surprising part because I did not go into the summer with that expectation. It was hard for me to think about having to leave and go back to school and “back to reality.”

Every time I thought about it, I dreaded the idea. I just had to keep telling myself that I was meant to be in Glacier for that summer but that I was also meant to return to school. Experiencing seasonal life and ACMNP gave me an opportunity to consider what I want to do after graduation. For many of the friendships I formed, it is a “see you later” not a “goodbye.”

Rachel K., Glacier National Park, 2017