The 2025 Ten Friends trip to Nepal was another wildly successful adventure with life-changing opportunities to experience the culture and countryside of Nepal, and support various Ten Friends projects! Adult chaperones were Mark LaMont (Co-Founder), Bruce Abernethy (Board President), Nurbu Sherpa (Board member), Mary Meador (Bruce’s wife) and Dr. Monica Ramsey. The four local high school students were Solei Planty and Grace Fendall from Sisters HS and Carly Cameron and Willa Ramsey from Summit HS. Some of the highlights of this amazing trip included:
Meet the Students who traveled to Nepal in 2025 and their reactions
Solei Planty (recent graduate Sisters High School)
I’ve grown up in Sisters for most of my life and just graduated from Sisters HS. I love the outdoors and try to spend most of my free time outside, including activities like hiking and backpacking. I have never been outside the country before so I’m very grateful for this opportunity. I and can’t wait to help and contribute to these amazing communities. I’m excited to step outside my comfort zone, experience new culture, and connect with the Nepali people.
Reaction to the trip:"My time in Nepal was truly life-changing. The country itself was beautiful, but the true beauty was its people. The warmth and kindness of the people in Nepal left a huge mark on my heart. The joy they make out of every situation is admirable and inspiring. They taught me a lot about true happiness. Thank you Nepal and Ten Friends!" Grace Fendall (12th grade Sisters HS)
Hi, I’m Gracie Fendall, a rising senior at Sisters High School. I am an enthusiastic and outgoing student who channels my energy into my love of dance and cheerleading. As an active member of Associated Student Government, I love encouraging students to get involved and am excited to further immerse myself in school activities in the coming year. I am also a barista at Sisters Coffee Company. I am no stranger to adventure but always in familiar landscapes. Having spent most of my life in small, close-knit communities, I am excited for the opportunity to travel to Nepal and experience a culture that is so different from my own. I believe there is so much I can learn from the Nepali people and I hope to grow from that experience. At the same time, I want to give back in meaningful ways and contribute in efforts that help improve their daily lives. Reaction to the trip: "I went into the Nepal trip hoping to get back a new understanding of a deep and strong culture. Not only did I achieve that goal, I also gained an understanding of true human joy and connection. The people we met and hard work we experienced has transformed who I am today. I’m so thankful for the opportunity, and will forever cherish the close friendships I created with many young women and children my age." Willa Ramsey (11th grade Summit HS)
I am a student at Summit High School and I love everything about music, whether it’s listening to it, playing guitar or talking about it! I also love to snowboard, hike, run and do things outside! I am very excited about our trip. I want to go because this is an incredible opportunity to see more of the world and broaden my horizons. I look forward to meeting many new people and making the most of the trip.
Reaction to the trip: "My time spent in Nepal was one of the most monumental and memorable things I have ever done. I was instantly affected, as well as inspired, by the selflessness and kindness of every single person we came across. I wouldn’t trade a single minute of it, and will never forget the connections I made, and the beautiful country I saw. This experience has completely altered my perspective for the better, and I hope to return again. Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible, and all of the beautiful people I was able to meet!" Carly Cameron (12th grade Summit HS)
I love the outdoors and sports and I’ve been playing rugby and doing cross country recently. I’m from Bend and I love traveling! I’ve been to places around Europe and North America so I am so looking forward to experiencing a very different culture. I think this trip will be incredible and I love and appreciate any opportunities I have to get exposure to a different way of life. It is a great trip because I get to help people there, but I think it will open my eyes and have a big effect on myself as well. Reaction to the trip: "I knew my trip to Nepal would be life changing, but it changed me in ways that are hard to even explain. It taught me that each day can be joyous, even if it’s not filled with material objects. Each and every Nepali person‘s work ethic was like nothing I had seen before. A goal of mine is to try to embody just half the amount of work ethic and drive they have. Something very surprising for me was the deep connection we made with people with whom we didn’t even speak the same language! It showed me that connection through just happiness and music can create unbreakable bonds and memories. A favorite memory of mine from the trip was dancing and uncontrollably laughing with sweet kids at The Hopeful Home Orphanage. Although we didn’t always understand each other, our laughs were universal. The genuine love and kindness is something I will carry with me and hope that I can pass a bit of it on to others."
Meet one of our 2025 Chaperons Dr. Monica Ramsey (Internal Medicine Physician)
Hi! I'm an internist living and working in Bend with my husband John, our daughters Willa and Samantha, and what some might consider too many pets (2 dogs, 2 cats, and a gecko). I enjoy fostering kittens, mountain biking and adventures of all sorts. Connecting with and learning from people around the world has always been fundamental to me, beginning with anthropology studies in college and continuing through travel and work in medicine. I’m also really looking forward to seeing Central Oregon students engage with new cultures, and to supporting an experience that I hope will deepen their sense of service, curiosity, and connection. I’m so grateful to be part of this crew! Reaction to the trip: "Traveling in Nepal with Ten Friends was a powerful and eye-opening experience! What a gift to have the opportunity to step into local communities with a purpose and in a way that felt authentic, immersive, and deeply human. I was moved by the kindness, strength, and generosity of the people I met, and by how naturally our new Nepali friends welcomed us into their lives. Living without the conveniences we take for granted and being open to the adventure of new experiences was a clear reminder of what feels most important: being present and active, helping and learning from one another, and forming real relationships. I also learned something unexpected—that we’re often capable of much more than the stories we tell ourselves! This experience left me with a deep sense of gratitude, and a renewed perspective on how I want to live, what I value, and how I engage with the world around me."
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