The Camp Tails Quest
Our mission at Camp Tails is straight forward: improve the lives of donkeys and humans.
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Donkeys First!
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Kindness - everyone (whether 4-legged or 2-legged) is going through something we know nothing about.
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Treat every living creature as we wish to be treated.
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Be open and honest in decision making, communications, and transactions.
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Build a culture of inclusion and belonging - for our donkeys, caretakers, volunteers, and enthusiasts.
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Never cut corners.
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Always do the right thing.
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Strive to learn and improve every day.
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Accept missteps, setbacks and failures without loss of enthusiasm.
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Forward, always!
Our Guiding Principles:
Meet Our Team
To introduce our team members, we asked each to give one reason why they are excited to be a part of Camp Tails.
We LOVE donkeys and all animals!!!
Pia Dean
Why I'm involved with Camp Tails:
"Six letter synonym for love...DONKEY."
Retired healthcare attorney. Board experience includes Denver Health and Hospital Authority, 2016 to present (Board Chair 2020-2023) and Colorado AIDS project 1992-2002 (Board Chair 1997-2001).
Lynn Steele
Why I'm involved with Camp Tails:
"My happy place is being in nature, interacting with animals, and making sure they know they are loved."
Owner of Go Dog Go! a canine adventure and hiking company, 2004 to present. Lifelong entrepreneur and animal advocate.
Mari Bush
Why I'm involved with Camp Tails:
"Donkeys are the best therapists."
Attorney specializing in people winding down their law practices to ramp up advocacy for donkeys! Previous board experience includes professional (Colorado Trial Lawyers) and nonprofit organizations (Dan Lewis Foundation for Brain Regeneration Research).
Terri Slivka
Why I'm involved with Camp Tails:
"Donkeys are my role models."
Retired high school counselor. Board experience includes National Kidney Foundation, Cherry Creek Schools Parent Council President, Colorado Fourteener's Initiative, The Bridge Project at University of Denver, Youth Empowerment Support Services (YESS), and Highwater Farm.
Kristin Dean
Why I'm involved with Camp Tails:
"Frolicking with donkeys epitomizes joy."
Retired Executive Director of a nonprofit that builds affordable housing and sustainable communities in inner-city Chicago. Having spent a 30+ year career working to bring wildly disparate view points together (family, communities and businesses) now looking forward to bringing together humans and animals to create a more loving world.
Clark Skidmore
Why I'm involved with Camp Tails:
"It's about creating a place where our families can grow older with kind, tolerant, and loving creatures."
Proud graduate of University of Arizona. Entrepreneur with background in sales and marketing in action retail and other ventures. New Dad to a baby boy.
Gillian Skidmore
Why I'm involved with Camp Tails:
"In a black and white world, I prefer donkey grey."
Graduate of Academy Arts University. Professional photographer, entrepreneur and citizen of the World. New mom to aforementioned baby boy.
Polly Breit
Why I'm involved with Camp Tails:
"Making the world better one donkey (or two) at a time."
Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, and current member of the Board of Trustees at Denver Academy. A former third grade teacher, she has a lifelong commitment to changing systems, empowering communities and individuals, and healing families.
Crystal Potter Rivera
Why I'm involved with Camp Tails:
"Donkey people are my kind of People."
Executive Director of Denver Health Foundation with more than 20 years of nonprofit experience. Previous experience includes Colorado Business Committee of the Arts, Jarod Polis Foundation's Academy of Urban Learning, and Mile High United Way.
People saving donkeys
Donkeys saving people
Donkeys are remarkable animals known for their emotional intelligence and unwavering loyalty. They form lifelong bonds and experience a full range of emotions, including joy, grief, empathy, and love, just like humans.
It is our goal to make these sentient beings trust humans again and interact in ways that benefit us all.
Would you like to:
Learn patience?
Create unimaginable bonds?
Feel at peace with kind souls?
Enjoy nature and de-stress?