Moving into the Staff Social Area

After a few weeks in the apartments we finally moved in the tents, with a mix of feelings, a little bit anxious of the change of comfort and temperature and really excited to finally discover the lifestyle in the wood-frame, canvas tents that we carefully repaired and assembled. We quickly adapted to these comfy tents, making them our own from the first day and getting used to the cold nights thanks to warm sleeping bags and clothes. It is a good feeling to live even closer to nature, with the sounds of the birds, squirrels and horses and with the squirrels playing in the trees over our tents. It is also easier to wake up with the sun rise shining through the tent.

With the tents comes our new staff social area, a little wooden house called, in western style, the “saloon”. The first time I spoke about it with a friend she thought that it was our local bar! It is, if like us you are found of coffee and tea! We have really good evenings in the saloon, speaking, playing games, listening or playing music. In this area specific for the staff, we consolidate our team spirit, having a place that is really just for us, where we can share meals and spare time. It is different than before because now we have one unique common place for the staff unlike in the winter when we were sleeping inside, in two different houses and that everyone spent more evenings in their own room. So our new staff social area has many advantages: we spend more time together building the team spirit and we are closer to the ranch which make it easier to grab some clothes or other equipment when needed during the day.

Staff can be found in the Saloon studying guide binders or other courses to prepare for all the training opportunities we get here. We have the chance to learn how to be a wilderness horseback guide, how to build log cabins, how to track wildlife—the opportunities are endless! And should we wish to take those opportunities, you’ll find us in the Saloon, taking that first step.