“When you're unabashedly and truly yourself, you make TRUE friends.”

“The most important thing I learned this summer is that friends are the most important part of the Gulch.”

“This place has made me believe that community is possible.”

“I'm gonna miss this place more than usual. The extended time at the Gulch has made the connection stronger.... I'm sad to leave, but the person I am because of this summer is the person I want to be when I go back, It's like the song 'Cause being here's just another step towards where I'm gonna be...'”

“We found ourselves in many different lush places, like a peaceful river crossing, an elegant forest, and a killer rockslide. We traversed through these three biomes with ease. It was truly a sight to behold.”

"I gained a lot of confidence that I didn’t really realize I needed and felt more powerful than I have in awhile. I think this will remind me in life of what I can accomplish and what I am capable of. "

"I grew from accomplishing feats I didn’t think I would be able to conquer. I’ll carry the knowledge that I’m more capable than I think I am."

"Paleo Trek provided me with a first-hand experience of what paleontology really looks like, both in the field and the lab, thanks to the Gulch and Dr. Axel Hungerbuehler. I already really loved paleontology, but Paleo Trek really helped solidify what I wanted to do in college and internships. Even in the dry desert heat, it was such a great time that it makes you forget about the gnats or the cacti, just having a great time sitting on rocks and getting to enjoy the environment and hanging out with new friends."