Reflection on SITKA!

Five days in Sitka reminded us of something easy to forget in today’s world: hope still lives where people choose to see one another fully.

In a country that often feels divided and weighed down by hate, we found ourselves standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Sitka—community members who welcomed us not as outsiders, but as neighbors. Together we learned, listened, and shared. Their generosity of spirit and openness gave us more than just experiences; they gave us hope.

If we only look at the world through the narrow lens of our own experiences, our vision will always be blurry and incomplete. But when we step into someone else’s story, when we allow ourselves to see through their eyes, something changes. Clarity comes. And with it, the kind of 20/20 vision that can only be built from compassion, curiosity, and connection.

Sitka showed us what it looks like when differences don’t divide but instead enrich. And we leave carrying the reminder that hope grows stronger every time we choose to see each other clearly. Our campers will forever be changed because of this experience.