The Grand Meeting – Alex Hogue, BRDD Illustration 2026

Hello again! The past couple weeks have been so inspiring, and I am so happy to share some exciting updates in my summer! 

At the beginning of July, Inspiration Point, the Grand Adventure’s much anticipated in-person camp, took place! I was so excited to be able to attend in person in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and be able to meet the campers! I was also finally able to meet my mentors, Bree and Stacey, in-person for the first time and take in the incredible beauty of the Grand Teton National Park, which was absolutely stunning to see for myself!

There were so many incredible plans during the camp! The kids were able to hike to the peak of one of the mountains of the Tetons (we took the tram up to the top, so it wasn’t too crazy!), and we were even able to have a snowball fight at the top as there were still patches of snow on the ground! They were able to canoe down the Snake River, and they camped in Yellowstone National Park. It was incredibly powerful to see the kids taking on such adventures and step out of their comfort zones despite all they have been through, and it really conveyed to me the impact of this experience. This truly is such a special once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not only that, but the campers were able to meet other kids going through similar experiences and make lasting life-long connections, which I think is one of the most impactful parts of the program.

It was so rewarding to meet the campers and learn about their incredible stories and backgrounds. I was in awe of their enthusiasm and willingness to explore and take on this new adventure. I feel so inspired to continue my work with this organization after finally being able to experience this program for myself. 

Looking ahead at what’s to come, I hope to create illustrations for visual communication that capture the incredible message and powerful emotions of this program! This tool will hopefully be used for advertising and promotion to donors, which I’ve learned is a massive and crucial component of running a non-profit like this. I am continuing to also work on developing a coloring book that the kids can use to remember their experience, learn more about the wildlife they saw, and engage with the camp even after the program is over, and I am considering designing stickers that the kids can also have as souvenirs!

I look forward to sharing what else is to come!