Four Days, a Giant Moth, and a Lifetime of Memories at Explorer’s Camp

“What do you remember most from Explorer’s Camp?” I asked Max one morning after the four-day adventure had wrapped up.

“The giant moth that me and my friends found!” he exclaimed, still wide-eyed at the memory of a dusty white creature with wings, measuring at least twice the size of his two hands (or so he recalls).

As I pressed for more memories, he eagerly recounted days spent entirely in nature: hiking up to the archaeological site Chullpas in Urubamba, examining plants in Yucay, and following water channels in Pumahuanca—each exploration with magnifying glasses in hand. 

I knew he had enjoyed the experience, and not just because I asked him each day when he returned home. I had seen it in his cheeks, rosy from the sun, in his bright eyes, and in his body that would give out each night by 8 PM, tired from a day of movement. His only complaints were that the camp was too short and that there were fewer kids than he expected. Now, hearing his recount of camp memories at the breakfast table, I couldn’t help but smile—especially because this very morning he was far less enthusiastic about heading off to school.

Valley Camp had already been on our radar since we moved to the Sacred Valley four years ago. Last year was Max’s first chance to join, though he was hesitant at first. He boldly declared he’d “try just one day,” and if he didn’t like it, that would be the end of it. Not only did he finish the two weeks we had signed him up for, but soon after, he was asking us to commit him to the full four weeks of camp for 2026.

So when Valley Camp announced a new, shorter Explorer’s Camp this past July, it felt like a gift—four days of adventure for Max, and four fewer days of wondering how to keep him busy during Peru’s winter school break.

There was one challenge: as a freelancer between jobs and with unexpected expenses piling up, I wasn’t sure I could make it work. Max, however, was already certain he’d be there. The turning point came when our application for a partial scholarship was accepted.

That gesture meant more than just four days of games and hikes for Max, or a few precious hours of work time for me. It showed us that Valley Camp truly lives its values—that building community means ensuring that all children, regardless of a family’s financial situation in a given moment, have access to experiential, nature-based learning.

Since joining Valley Camp, I’ve watched Max grow in confidence and adaptability, qualities that will serve him well beyond childhood. I imagine that, years from now, while exploring nature on his own, he’ll recall those fond memories of camp. And, perhaps, he’ll still remember that moth.