Kyle Ordway Memorial Fund

A Tribute to Kyle Ordway

In early July 2006, the Keystone Center and Keystone Science School family learned of the tragic loss of one of its own: Kyle Ordway, age 23—a former Discovery Camp camper, counselor assistant, and camp counselor. Kyle started attending Camp at age nine and remained personally involved with Keystone Science School in various ways until 2002. From that point on, he’d always stop by The Keystone Center and Science School when he came through Keystone, smiling and stopping in each office or building to say hello to each and every person. He is missed.

Janesse Brewer, a current senior mediator with The Keystone Center and a former Keystone Science School Camp Counselor and Director, shares with us a personal reflection on Kyle and his time at Science School:

Kyle Ordway

My first year as a Camp Counselor was Kyle's first year as a camper. Kyle was 9 and I was 18. We both loved Camp and he came back every summer. When Kyle was too old to come to Camp as a camper, he inspired the founding of the Counselor Assistant Program. When he was too old to be a Counselor Assistant, he applied to be a Camp Counselor and was our first Camper to become a Counselor. His whole life, he'd always been racked with injuries and in his teenage years a seizure condition. None of these things stopped him from skiing, climbing mountains (in Colorado and Alaska), or sneaking out of the dorms at Camp. And when Kyle was in college and Ben and I were planning our Science School wedding, we couldn't imagine for one minute that Kyle wouldn't be there too. He was a part of our Science School extended family.

Kyle was an old soul. Even when he was little, he liked the counselors as much as the other campers. He was nice to his mom, even as a teenager. He was a prolific writer and scribed poetry that lacked the childish subjects and rhyming schemes. I wonder now whether he was both child and adult all of those years, working to fit his whole life into 23 years.

While so many things about Kyle seemed wise beyond his years, he had a silly side too. Kyle was an Elvis fan. He could do an Elvis impersonation like no one else, and Camp's Talent Show was always the forum. He’d turn up his collar, find just the right shades, turn on his deep Elvis voice that seemed to come from nowhere, start moving his legs in the perfect imitation of Elvis, and move from camper to camper serenading them with Elvis’ Blue Suede Shoes or some other song.

Well, as the famous saying goes, “Elvis has left the Building.” And while our Elvis may have left the building, he’ll never be far from our hearts. As Elvis’ lyrics say:

Well, it's one for the money,
Two for the show,
Three to get ready,
Now go, cat, go.

Kyle Ordway Scholarship

A scholarship program in Kyle's name has been set up to provide a quality summer outdoor experience to the Keystone Science School in Keystone, Colorado, for disadvantaged, inner city youth so they can be exposed to the outdoors, learn about science and nature, and interact with students from different backgrounds from all over the world. Every cent of each donation will be directed to supplying scholarships to these young people.

Kyle spent many summers at Keystone Science School both as a camper and later as a camp counselor and the school had a large impact on his life.

Checks can be made payable to: Atheneus Foundation
Check memo should state: Kyle Ordway Memorial Fund

Checks should be mailed to:
Lawrence Rich and Association
7445 E. Peakview Avenue
Centennial, Colorado, 80111

All donations are tax deductible. For more information please contact the Ordway family at 303-466-0611.