|
When Don Sampson was young he had a dream of starting and running a summer camp where boys could come and learn good work habits, have fun, and help others. With Mont Ellett and Dorothy Ellett, his brother Joe Sampson and other friends, the shared vision of the group was developed into a boys ranch camp experience in 1966.
The first year of camp included 12 boys participating and living on-site for the entire summer. The camp operated on a ranch near Navajo Lake in southern Utah, hence the name “Navajo Trails”. Horseback riding, cattle management and a lot of hard work were hallmarks of the inaugural summer. In the beginning it was part of the boy’s experience, while at camp during the week, to help build fences, cabins, and many other structures that are still at the camp. After a week of work, the boys would spend their time enjoying a fun weekend at Lake Powell.
The following summer season Navajo Trails was operated from its current location, outside of Bicknell, Utah which at the time was Mont’s family farm and ranch property. Campers, owners, and staff built cabins, the initial dining hall and the camp facilities began to take shape. Many of the original buildings remain in nearly original form. In 1972 the program was expanded to include girls and separate facilities were built to accommodate this positive change to the traditional program. Various Trip activities were tried but the tried and tested activities still remain as part of the camp program. Years of operation, new friends and changes eventually lead to the purchase of camp by Don’s oldest sons, Dave and Dan in 1995. In 1999, Dave’s full-time employment demands resulted in his selling his remaining ownership to Dan and Jenny Sampson, the current Owners and operators.
The camp was built by the loving hands of those who love the program, camp, and property. Navajo Trails also has a old grist mill on its site. The mill which is no longer in use, used to be the social scene for the entire area. People would come and drop their grain off to be processed and they would have dances, dinners, and parties while they waited. |
|
Don Sampson married Nancy Cahoon and had five children, David, Daniel, Janette, Rebecca and Christopher. Most of the year they lived in California where Don was a professor at Foothill College in the bay area, but they spent every summer in Utah at Navajo Trails. Don grew up in Richfield, Utah with his 9 brothers and sisters. He received his Bachelors and Masters from the University of Utah. His hobbies included photography, horseback riding, fishing, and teaching. Each summer he longed for the start of the camp season and the opportunity to meet and befriend all the new campers. Don enjoyed showing campers how to love the out-of-doors and help them realize their potential. Many former staff and campers attended his funeral after his passing in 1996. |
|
Mont lived at the home he modified and expanded on the camp site when he accepted a High School teaching position at Wayne High School in Bicknell. He also supervised and produced the annual yearbook as part of his responsibilities. Each year he farmed the fields located on the ranch, maintained the camp facilities, cared for the horses, and fulfilled several responsibilities with camp operations during the summer. He and his wife Dorothy were integral to the years of successful camp operations at Navajo Trails. In 1993, Mont and Dorothy retired and sold the camp property to the Sampson family. They subsequently built a home across the highway in clear site of the camp property and you can still find Mont keeping an eye on the place and cooking his famous buttermilk pancakes on a Sunday morning for the campers when he is available to do so. |
|
The Beginning |
|
Don Sampson |
|
Mont Ellett |
|
1-800-200-CAMP ~ PO Box 55 Draper UT 84020 ~ info@navajotrails.com |
