In the Warmth of the Shadow

What would it be like to grow up in a vacation resort where each week every summer, life was completely different than the summer before? Where every summer afforded you the opportunity to meet new people, oftentimes each week? How would those experiences shape your life as an adolescent and then as a young adult?

Robert Ruesch grew up at the YMCA of the Rockies, in the shadow of Rocky Mountain National Park. In his book In the Warmth of the Shadow, he invites you on a trek through the memories, anecdotes, and everyday adventures of a boy learning about living one summer week at a time. Watch as his father takes a seasonal regional mountaintop camp and transforms it into a world-renowned, world-class resort where people's lives are changed forever.

The YMCA of the Rockies is a magical place. Now you can enter into the story of what made it great.

Robert N. Ruesch grew up at Estes Park Center, YMCA of the Rockies. Every summer, he interacted with families, college staff, and conference guests from the United States and around the world. Growing up, Robert had the special opportunity to play, learn, and work with individuals from different backgrounds. Unlike most children growing up, his friendships were as varied as an artist's palette of colors. This gave him a unique perspective on the value of meaningful relationships. Because he was the manager's son, he was known as Walt's boy. This title came with many challenges and opportunities. He observed and developed a life perspective living in a seasonal camp that became a world-class resort.