He’s no Deepok Chopra or Will Ferrell (USC), Oprah Winfrey (Smith College) or Mark Zuckerberg (Harvard), or even Starbuck’s Howard Schultz (Arizona State), but when he takes the podium this Thursday, May 4, for the 2017 University of Utah commencement address, there’s no better representative of the outside world than Conrad Anker.
The famous mountaineer, filmmaker, author and U alumnus has built a career scaling the most demanding terrain in the world. It’s not the proverbial climb but the real ones he can attest to. Oh, let the metaphors fly.
“I want graduates to live in the moment,” Anker said in the U’s press release. “(and also) what responsibilities do we have today that were not present in 1988? What opportunities do we have the good fortune to explore?…Students should do the right thing for the people who will live 200 years from now.” Anker says he’ll focus on how the world has changed since he graduated with – of course- a degree in rec and leisure in 1988.
Conrad Anker’s Challenges
Even in college, Conrad Anker had a head for business; helping to start Utah’s Alfwear (Kühl) clothing company where they could make hats and later clothes for ski bums. He sold his part of the company just after graduation to pursue dreams of summitting the world’s highest peaks. He topped Mount Everest three times, once without supplemental oxygen. But the most well-known of the three was when his team retraced George Mallory and Sandy Irvine’s fateful path when they were lost in 1924. Anker and team found Mallory’s frozen, preserved body in 1999 but still the mystery of who summitted Everest first – Mallory or Sir Edmund Hillary lasts.
Anker has lost friends, suffered critical injuries, failed to summit on expeditions and even survived a heart attack while hanging from rock and ice on the tallest unclimbed mountain in Nepal, just last year. “I admire Conrad for his personal qualities as much as his professional achievements,” said Daniel Dustin, professor in the Parks, Recreation and Tourism program. “He understands life’s challenging nature, and he understands how reacting to adversity tells us more about a person’s character than when things go right.”
Anker, however, says he won’t spray about himself in his commencement speech. He wants to motivate graduates to think about the future as they move into the workforce; to be creative and intelligent, and consider the generations who will follow them.
“Conrad Anker, like so many of our students, was attracted to the natural beauty of this state,” said U President David W. Pershing. “We are grateful he chose the University of Utah, and we are proud of him as an alumnus. His extraordinary achievements and strength of character are inspiring.”
The May 4th commencement begins at 6:30 pm in the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the University of Utah campus. It will also stream live on utah.edu or online via kuer.org. If you miss those, set your DVR to KUED, channel 7, Saturday, May 6, at 5:30 p.m. MDT.
More than a thousand comments poured onto Ueli Steck’s Facebook page this morning as news of his death on Mt Everest spread. The 41-year-old “Swiss Machine”, as he was known throughout the mountaineering community, was reported killed in a climbing accident near Camp II on Mt Everest Sunday morning.
The death has been confirmed.
Six rescuers discovered Ueli Steck’s body near the Nuptse Face of Everest. Peers had seen him climbing the icy Mt Nuptse alone at around 4:30 am. Nepal’s tourism officials say the experienced Everest climber slipped from a slope and fell into a crevasse at around 6,600 meters. They’ve airlifted his body to Lukla, the closest airport to Everest.
Ueli Steck’s Expedition
Steck and Tenzing (Tenji) Sherpa headed to Khumbu region to attempt to climb Mt Everest by the never-repeated West Ridge/Hornbein Couloir route. They were trekking without using supplemental oxygen, training to acclimatize themselves. The plan was to descend to the South Col, climbing the direct route just below the Lhotse Face. Steck was going to ascend 8,850-meter Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse next month. He had posted these photos on Facebook just last week.
“Just spent two nights in Camp Two. Beautiful weather and warm. I was taking the chance to go and have a look towards the west shoulder. Conditions are great so far. But you never know it can change until in one month! So far we having a good time! Hopefully Tenjing Sherpa frostbite getting better soon so we can be together on the mountain again. Right now it looks like we have to stay again camp two. Expedition weather forecast again very strong winds for the next days. After we keep going getting acclimatized, I stick to the route to move on the mountain and not spending too many nights in camps. Like this we stay in shape and get used to the altitude!
Joy is the essence to the success.
Swiss Alpinist’s Records
Steck was known for his speed records; climbing the north face of the Eiger in 2 hours and 47 minutes in 2008 in his early 30s. He had first climbed the Eiger and the Bonatti Pillar in the Mont Blanc massif at 18. When Swiss climber, Dani Arnold, beat Ueli Steck’s record, the Swiss Machine returned in 2015, clocking in at 2 hours 22 minutes (and 50 seconds). He won the Piolet D’or award in 2009 for his first ascent of Tengkampoche north face (6500m), Khumbu Valley, Nepal, and then again in 2014 for a solo ascent of the South face of Annapurna (8091 m) in Nepal. In 2015, Steck earned another record, summitting 82, 4,000-meter peaks in 80 days.
Steck’s family learned of his death today. He is survived by his wife Nicole who is also a climber. They married in 2007 and honeymooned on the North Face of the Eiger. Steck’s death is the first casualty of this spring’s mountaineering season in Nepal. There are 365 registered climbers from 39 teams scheduled to depart, according to officials. Hopefully, everyone stays safe. Last year, six climbers died on Mount Everest.
There is much ado in the House of Mouse this summer and this Disney geek for one couldn’t be more excited. I’ve entered every online Disney contest I can find.
Summer of Heroes is Coming
Gone is the Tower of Terror; replaced by the new Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! inside Disney California’s Adventure Park. The ride along with the new Super Heroes area opens May 27. Instead of following a celebrity couple, a child star, her nanny, and a hotel bellhop into a 1930s elevator, you’ll help Rocket bust his pals out of the Collector’s Fortress, then rise and fall in the gantry lift as it rocks music inspired by the film’s popular soundtrack. You’ll still get the randomized ride experience you had from the Tower but there will be all-new visual and audio effects.
The Super Hero vibe spreads beyond the Guardians through September 10 with these events:
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off! – Star-Lord fires up his old-school boom box to get the party started.
Super Hero Encounters – Meet Groot, Captain America, and Spider-Man.
Avengers Training Initiative – Black Widow and Hawkeye assemble young recruits for a series of tests to see if they have what it takes to join the ranks of the Avengers.
Heroic Encounter: Black Widow – Black Widow will arrive on the scene several times throughout the day in an armored Avengers vehicle for her heroic encounter with park guests.
Grab a Piece (or Bite) of the Action – Special themed merchandise and food will be available throughout Hollywood Land.
Oh,The Parades
The summer at Disneyland park brings back classic favorites like the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America attractions, with the “Fantasmic!” nighttime spectacular returning later in the summer. The classic Main Street Electrical Parade will have a limited run at Disneyland park through June 18.
The Main Street Electrical Parade will roll through Disneyland until August 20. The Rivers of America and Fantasmic! are re-opening at Disneyland Park.
When To Go
If I could get away this month, I would. May (before Memorial Day) is the perfect time to play in the Magic Kingdom. I just might make it to California. Fingers crossed. A trip to Disney World and Universal is already in the works for November. I went to Disney World in October once and it was a hot, humid mess. It’s unfathomable how millions travel to Orlando in the heat of the summer. Who cares if that’s when school’s out. The crowds, humidity and heat make it the most absolutely dismal time to go. That said, if you plan to visit, here are some deals to be had.
Get One Free
Book a trip through Utah’s Get Away Today and get an extra day free at Disneyland. In other words, get a 5-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper ticket for the price of a 4-day. With the kids out of school and longer park hours, your family will be able to take advantage of having more time at the parks.
Save over $160 per person over gate prices with the Southern California CityPASS. You’ll get a 3-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper ticket, and 1-day admission to both LEGOLAND California and SeaWorld San Diego.
With the Disney/Universal Combo Ticket you’ll save even more on your Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood tickets. Both Park Hopper and 1-Park per Day options are available for either two or three days. All combo tickets include a 1-day ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood. Experience everything the Disneyland Resort has to offer this summer and explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and more at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Ah, the summer. The green, the trails, the sun, the kids screaming for attention. School’s out which means you’re in. But cut yourself a bit of slack and enroll Junior in one of the many summer camps happening throughout Utah. Don’t feel guilty. You were never meant to play at a fourth grade level 24/7.
The list below is by no means all-inclusive so if you know of a summer camp, PLEASE to add it in the comments!
Updated for 2017. This list is updated every summer. Contact me if you have a summer camp in Utah that you’d like me to feature.
Egyptian YouTheatre Summer Camp is where children learn confidence and collaboration, while they expand their innate creativity through theatre arts in fun-filled days. Camps are offered to various age groups and interests (Drama or Musical), with exciting camp electives each day such as stage combat, stage make-up, puppetry, Shakespeare, acting for film, and so many more. This summer, YouTheatre has expanded its offerings to include several one-week camps, as well as the more extensive multi-week camps. All camps end with a production on the Egyptian Theatre stage in Park City.
Ballet West Summer Ballet Fantasy Camps With two different themed weeks you have the option to enroll in just one or both weeks to enhance your child’s art, dance and learning experience. Classes will take place at our Trolley Square location, 600 South 650 East, Salt Lake City . Students will incorporate ballet-based movements and imaginative art work to explore the world of fantasy! Ages 3–6 (As of May 1, 2017)
Ballet West Summer Intensives The Ballet West Academy 3 and 6-week summer intensives guide students in their ballet technical skills as well as other dance forms that compliment a ballet artist. The program is held at Ballet West’s beautiful home, the Jessie Eccles Quinney Ballet Centre located in downtown Salt Lake City. This program offers unparalleled training by a distinguished staff of Ballet West Academy Instructors, Ballet West Artistic Staff (featuring Artistic Director Adam Sklute), Ballet West dancers and well-known in-state and out-of-state guest teachers.
Create Your Vacation at the Kimball Art Center this summer. Dozens of classes are available for tots (3 – 5), Kids (5 – 10), tweens & teens (11 – 17), families (all ages) and adults.
Whether you want to learn how to paint, sculpt, draw, photograph, mosaic or make ceramics, there is a class for everyone. Classes are weekly from June through September.
Dance Tech Studios, Park City’s premiere dance program and facility, is offering summer dance camps/intensives for girls and boys, ages 3-18. Whether your child’s interests lie in “Tiny Tutus” (ages 3-4) camps where girls explore ballet, jazz, tap and creative movement, or in the exclusive and highly demanded “Boys Extreme” hip hop/breakdance camps incorporating all the latest “tricks” taught by the finest hip hop/breakdance guys. Little man camps are for “guys only” ages 4-12 (age groups are separated). If your child is interested in trying all forms of dance and a truly unique experience, the “Dance Intensive” program is for dancers 7-18. Dancers will receive professional training (beg-adv placement levels) in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, turns/leaps, flexibility, yoga/Pilates for dancers, Cardio conditioning, choreography and much more. Pre-Registration is required for all camps and is limited.
The Up With Kids children’s theatre award-winning curriculum is always “G-Rated” and family friendly. Though perhaps not Broadway caliber, the shows will entertain parents and kids. The groups are divied by age so your little ones aren’t trampled during rehearsal or in the pool for those afternoon swims. Camps are located in Lehi, Sandy, Park City, Ogden, Salt Lake City, and Kearns.
Campers can explore their environment while playing outside in the dirt, growing and cooking tasty veggies, meeting ancient dinosaurs, and of course, making great art. Students k-8 have a variety of weeks to choose from where they can interact with their environments and communities while stretching their imaginations, making art and fun crafts with recycled and creatively repurposed materials. The all-day programs have partnered with some of Utah’s most environmetally active non-profiits like TreeUtah and the Cottonwood Canyon Foundation.
The Camp Invention program at Jeremy Ranch Elementary School is a week-long adventure in creativity that immerses children entering grades one through six in exciting, hands-on learning disguised as fun summer activities. Led by local educators, boys and girls are challenged to explore connections between science, technology, engineering, and innovation. Participants spend their time navigating an island via upcycled ships, learning the power of combining magnetism and electricity, while designing, improving, and analyzing their own inventions in a team setting. Early and alumni registration discounts are available. Spaces are limited.
We really love Keen sandals for summer camps (and all summer)! (affiliate links 😉
Camping at the Y is a fun and unique experience that gives children and teens the opportunity to discover their full potential, meet new friends, play and create memories that last a lifetime. Through camping children and teens explore nature, become a community and develop confidence, independence, leadership and social skills. Archery, Arts & Crafts, Hiking, Team Building, Mountain Biking, Orienteering, swimming, horseback riding & more.
Even tiny tots get camp. Each week 3-5 year olds can explore a unique theme that encourages learning, creativity, adventure and fun. Camps are from 9:00 – 12:45 Monday through Thursday. All camps are open to the general public.
Options for children ages 3-6 years old, camps run four days a week (Mon-Thurs.) from 9am-12:45 and are open to the general public. You provide lunch and sunscreen and they provide snack.
Wasatch Kids Camps offers field-trip based summer day camps throughout the Salt Lake valley for kids ages 5-16 as well as 5-day overnight travel camps. Kids will have full days of hiking, exploring, swimming, climbing and arts and crafts.
Tracy Aviary Summer Camps Join Tracy Aviary for an Avian Adventure during the half-day or full-day week-long summer camps for children going into Kindergarten through 5th grade. Each camp has a different theme, but all are packed with bird-related crafts, projects and games. Campers will also spend their time learning about and experiencing nose-to-beak encounters with Tracy Aviary’s feathered friends during flighted bird shows, keeper talks and special bird feedings and an intimate experience each day with one or more of our famous Bird Show avian ambassadors.
Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter’s educational summer camp programs will inspire and fascinate your child through week-long exploration and discovery about the natural world through STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Swaner offers summer camp programs for youth ENTERING kindergarten through 8th grade in Fall 2017. You should enroll your child based on what grade they will enter in Fall 2017.
June through August, children two months to 12 years of age can explore creative and challenging activities and interests like hiking, mountain biking, basic biking skills, swimming, scavenger hunts, wet and wild water games, volunteer projects and arts and craft. Located in Snow Park Lodge at the base of Deer Valley Resort. Counselor ratios are one to three for infants, one to four for toddlers and one to eight for older children.
Red Butte Garden Summer Camp
Learn something new, make good friends, be inspired and have fun. These weeklong, morning and afternoon camps for preschool- 6th grade combine the excitement of the natural world with science experiments, art projects, garden exploration, photography and the simple joy of the outdoors. Camp registration is required.
Hogle ZooCamps
Come spend a week at the zoo. Camps offer a fun educational way to spend your summer. They include special animal encounters, crafts, and other activities. Kindergarten through 7th grade.
Thanksgiving Point has a broad variety of unique summer day camps. With exciting themes such as Jurassic Journey, Whatever the Weather, Fairytale Science, Animal Adaptations, Plants & Gardens, and more, if you can’t find what you’re child wants to do here, then it probably doesn’t exist.
Learn to Skate Camp is for ages 4 & up. Must have a least some experience on the ice. Pre-Competitive Figure Skating Camp, Ages 5 & up. Competitive Figure Skating Camp: Ages 8 & up. Must have passed pre-preliminary Free Skate & be working on an axel.
Squirt, Pee Wee & Bantam Camp, Rocky Mountain Hockey School.
BYU Cheer/Cougarette Cheerleading Camp
BYU offers summer camps for both cheerleading and dance. The dance camp is led by BYU Cougarette director Jodi Maxfield along with members of the 15-time National Dance Team Champion BYU Cougarettes. Cougarette Camp for 2017 will be held July 31st – August 2nd.
The Cheer and Stunt camp is led by BYU’s cheer coach Jocelyn Allan as well as former and current BYU cheerleaders. Cheer and Stunt Camp for 2017 will be held July 17th – 19th.
The Cubs Cheer Camp is also led by Jocelyn Allan and the BYU cheerleaders. Cubs Cheer Camp will be held July 24th – 26th.
The professional staff will guide your child through exciting summer days that include sports, games, arts & crafts, field trips, tennis, art, skateboard, and swim. Camp is located at 1354 Park Avenue, in City Park, in the building adjacent to the playground.
Basin Recreation summer camps offer a variety of camps for the athlete, the outdoor adventurer, the dancer, and the youth who just want to have a ton of fun during their day: basketball, soccer, tennis, mountain biking, swimming, water camps and more.
SummerWorks provides an active and engaging day camp experience for Rowland Hall students and students from across the Salt Lake area. Campers between the ages of 4 and 16 will find a range of fun self-awareness and team building games, field trips, ball games, swimming and an array of options that allow them to design a summer around their specific interests and imaginations. The week-long sessions and half- and full-day options makes SummerWorks an accessible and convenient option for parents looking to build a fun and flexible summer schedule.
Kids Tri Camps
These are multi-sport camps for kids, ages 5-12 years old, designed to introduce multi-sports training in a positive and fun environment. All athletes will receive training in swimming, biking and running and how to transition between events.
Summer Fundamentals Camp for ages 7-10 years old introduces kids to multiple sport experiences and reinforces physical education, agility, balance and coordination.
Depending on the week kids get to try baseball, tennis, swimming, karate, team handball, golf, skating and curling in addition to gymnastics two times per week and an opportunity to do freestyle into the Pool at the Utah Olympic Park. Alpine ski equipment, helmet and skate board equipment recommended but not required.
Go big with FLY Freestyle 3 and 5-day summer camps at the Utah Olympic Park. Water ramping into the Spence Eccles Olympic Freestyle Pool and bouncing on the trampolines will have participants mastering new tricks, catching air and having a great water ramp experience. Camps are designed to help athletes of all abilities become more confident in the air and on their skis in the water so they’re ready when the snow flies. They add off-site activities such as rock climbing, gymnastics, and divingto round out the day.
Kids don’t have to be Jewish to experience this well-organized, exciting and social summer camp program. Camp K’Ton Ton for 2-5 year olds and Bernie Camp for grades 1-10 focus on friendship building and creating social and life skills while making the most of up to nine weeks of summer. Pick your weeks. Older kids are full day, every day; the younger ones can be full or half day, three or five days a week.
Cirque Lab takes viewers into the world of Cirque du Soleil training. In this episode freestyle, acrobatic, slopestyle, and halfpipe Canadian skiers try their flips and jumps on the Russian swing.
At first they use safety lines, but as they quickly adapt to the apparatus, they get into some their more intricate moves as the Russian swing takes on a whole new dimension.
In #CIRQUESHOP: The Workshop Series presented by C:LAB, Cirque du Soleil explores a new acrobatic repertoire by reaching out to athletes from different disciplines. See what happens when two different cultures come together – circus arts and extreme sports.
