Rooted In Nature and Community

July 13, 2025

The Story of Our Name—By Ali Lien—Co-Founder and Executive Director

So… why are we called Mountain Roots?

That’s a question one of our campers asked me this summer—right as we were heading to Opening Circle. And honestly, I loved it. Because behind the name is a whole story. A story that started 20 years ago with a big idea, some bold friends, and a deep love for kids, community, and the natural world.

For perspective, I grew up going to an outdoor day camp outside Philadelphia. My siblings, friends, and I learned new skills and excelled at refining others. We worked through social dynamics and figured out how to find our way. Our counselors provided a safety net and love so we felt supported all day long. We swam and paddled in a creek, crossed a wobbly suspension bridge, and enjoyed the whole camp community for events and activities. We played hard (it was the ‘80s after all). We slept well. Nobody was talking about dopamine or screen time back then… but we were getting all the benefits just by being outside and being kids.

Fast forward to the early 2000s as the digital age swept into Gen Z’s everyday lives, we were seeing a shift in the camping and outdoor education industries in the way that our participants were interacting with the experience of being outdoors. So, a few of us started dreaming. What if there was a space where kids could reconnect with the wild? Where they felt totally at home outside? Where play was encouraged, creativity was celebrated, and every kid could find their spark? From 2005 to 2009, we planted the seeds of that dream. We found our people—partners, supporters, families, and local heroes. We figured out logistics. We built something rooted in love, community, and dirt-under-your-fingernails joy. We called it Mountain Roots. And it’s grown into a whole forest of amazing humans.

So back to that inquisitive camper’s question: “Why’s it called Mountain Roots?”

I said,  “Picture in your mind, a mountain…does the mountain you see have roots?”.

The camper looked up at me with a confused yet curious glance and said, “Yeah, I guess”.

“How so?”, I asked.

“Well, the mountain has trees and plants and each of those have roots—so does that mean the mountain has roots?”. We talked a bit about what makes up a mountain. There’s the mountain itself, the rocks, soils, and minerals—the land. Then there’s the vegetation—all the trees and plants…cool things like moss and algae. And around the mountains there are so many animals and a diverse ecosystem and habitat that make for a really incredible place to live and be. “So, yeah, the mountains do have roots”… the camper concluded.

At Mountain Roots Day Camp, we kick off each day with Seed Stretch—where a camp counselor leads the entire group through the stretch—growing from a seed into a mighty tree, through a series of modified yoga poses and stretches. Every day, we envision nourishing ourselves, digging in our roots, and growing strong. We take time to breathe and slow down between each movement. We ground ourselves for the day that is to come at Camp, as we also ground ourselves in who we are and the community around us. We often envision being Maple, Poplar, Dogwood, Cedar, and Oak seeds (the names of our different age groups at Camp), and sometimes, we even envision being a Truffula Tree to engage our imaginations first thing.  

This particular morning, that same camper came up to me again after Seed Stretch, and I asked,
“So… how are we like the roots of the mountains?”
They grinned.
“Well… if we’re each a tree, like in Seed Stretch, and we all grow, then we all have roots—just like the mountains do.”
YES. THAT! That’s the heart of Mountain Roots. Every camper is growing their own roots—learning what they love, who they are, and how amazing it feels to play outside with friends.

Over the years, some of those roots have grown deep. This summer, 9 of our staff members started as campers (or Outdoor Ed participants). Yep—you read that right. Many of them were once tiny Maples and are now full-on camp counselors, leading activities, mentoring younger campers, and carrying on the camp magic. Several of them have been with us since 2015! They’ve grown from campers to helpers (Roots Crew) to staff.  At Mountain Roots, we’ve created a culture of leadership rooted in empathy. We see each other. We hear each other. And we cheer each other on—every day.

As we celebrate 16 years of Mountain Roots, we want to give a shout out to some of the amazing folks who helped us grow:

• Lylah, Evie, Riley O. & Riley H. – started as preschool campers, now rockstar staff who have been around most if not all summers of Mountain Roots Day Camp.
• Rose & Logan – Outdoor Ed participants for 7+ years, then Roots Crew, and now back again as returning summer staff members and leaders.
• Doug – a teen camper at RYLA (which we ran for 10+ years) who joined our summer staff team throughout college and beyond, adding music and fun around every bend.
• Lauryl & Summer –the ones who helped us to create our Roots Crew program when they were in middle school, and now they are a core part of our Camp leadership team—bringing experience and a natural gift for working with kids, They sprinkle daily camp magic wherever they go!

And me? My roots are here too. My own kid has grown up at Mountain Roots, and so have I. It’s hard to envision our world in another 15-20 years, without picturing some sort of cyber-reality. But one thing is for sure—we’re staying rooted in what matters: nature, connection, and play. Camp isn’t just a place. It’s a family. It’s where stories grow, roots tangle together, and every camper is seen, heard, and celebrated.

So yes, mountains do have roots. And at Mountain Roots, so do you!☀️🌲❤️

-Ali Lien and Your Mountain Roots Crew