Have you ever visited the Rocky Mountains in the fall? If so, you’ve probably seen the foothills covered in stunning golden foliage and heard the whisper of a cool breeze through the leaves. It’s my favorite season in the mountains — the colors of the sky and the earth, the sounds of the trees and the birds, and even the fresh scent of the change in season leaves me awestruck.
Aspen trees make up the golden fall foliage seen in northern New Mexico and even here at Glorieta. Populus tremuloides, or “quaking aspens,” are medium-sized deciduous trees that earned their name from the unique flat shape of their leaf stems that allow their leaves to tremble (or quake) in the slightest breeze, creating a whispering sound. They grow in diverse areas and show an incredible ability to endure and grow in the face of adversity, particularly wildfires. Their ability to endure is not just a testament to singular aspen trees, but by their unique dependence on one another.
Their beauty is apparent, but what an onlooker may not know about these majestic trees is how they are part of a system larger than themselves. Each tree is a part of an aggregate of genetically identical aspens called a “clone.” Each clone shares a lateral root system that connects them to each other; you can tell clones apart from one another by noticing which trees share similar bark, branching, and leaf size, shape, and autumn coloring. These clone networks can be less than an acre to over 100 acres in size and can combine with other clones to make up whole aspen groves. Their systems live anywhere from 50 to 100 years, and I am thankful that my timeline has lined up with theirs so I can enjoy their beauty at Glorieta!
Learn more about aspen trees from the U.S. Forest Service!
Naming Aspen Club
When tasked with naming Glorieta’s monthly giving program, aspen trees were one of the first things that came to mind. One of my first and ongoing projects at Glorieta was creating a space for people to support our ministry and be a part of something bigger than themselves: a network for good. We have much more impact together than we ever have apart. Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
While many aspects of aspen trees can lead us to ponder the things of God (leaves quaking in worship, resiliency through trials, the sheer beauty of creation), the chief attribute is their communal nature. The network of underground roots linking each tree in the grove are just like the strong connections we want in our group of supporters. Together, we can grow, thrive, and glorify God.
Aspen Club Impact
Aspen Club aims to connect our supporters with tangible ways to be co-laborers in the gospel with us at camp. Because of our members’ generosity, over 25% of our campers receive scholarships to attend camp! Scholarships are awarded to Family Camp and Day Camp guests based on many criteria, including financial need, medical need, ministry and military involvement, and location. We pray that this effort makes Christ-like change at camp accessible to everyone, and trust the Lord to provide for an increase in need as camp grows. If you would like to learn more about Aspen Club, check out our website.
What kind of communities of support are you part of? How have they been a blessing to you? How can you be a blessing to your community?
