Gearing up for Summer Camp

The summer solstice could not come soon enough for the participants of El Buen Samaritano’s pilot Outdoor Kids program. Eagerly anticipating the start of summer, approximately 70 children received the opportunity last spring to learn about nature, while preparing for a week-long overnight nature-immersion summer camp.

Outdoor Kids, lovingly known as “Rainy Day Kids” due to the rain that seemed to often hover over the program, brought many people together with one goal in mind: to reconnect children to nature. The series of Saturday events comprised of a variety of activities which taught the participants about outdoor survival skills, plant and animal wildlife, nature conservation and more.

“During the program, the children experienced nature in an atmosphere full of fun and excitment,” said Education Programs Coordinator Leslie Quinnell. “In a lesson on how to use a compass, students learned the basics of navigation and received their own compass. They participated in a scavenger hunt that encouraged teamwork and the use of their newly acquired compass skills. As they were walking away from the activity, they eagerly applied their new skills, describing what direction their homes were in comparison to the other children's homes,” Leslie said.

The purpose of this program is to give children, who come from a primarily urban setting, an opportunity to become familiar with the natural world while preparing them for El Ranchito, a week-long overnight nature immersion summer camp created in a collaborative partnership among the Shield Ranch Foundation, Westcave Preserve and El Buen Samaritano.

“Through interactive activities such as rock wall climbing and archery, children experienced the thrills and fun of the outdoors,” Leslie said. “During the animal adventure session, the children learned about native wild animals. With a hands-on approach, the children felt animal pelts and learned to recognize animal tracks and droppings. It was amazing to see how they personalized their learning experience by shouting out the different animal tracks they had seen before. When they entered the area that had all the skulls and pelts displayed, their eyes just widened with curiosity,” Leslie said.

Although this program was geared towards children, there was a focus on the entire family. Outdoor Kids was held in conjunction with adult life-skills workshops. During lunch, families and friends ate together before parting ways to take part in their age-appropriate activities.

“It is important to instill an appreciation of nature in children,” Leslie said. “If children are directly involved in outdoor activities, they are more likely to lead a more active lifestyle. Not to mention, they learn to co-exist and respect our natural environment.” For information on how to support or get involved in this program, contact Mona Izquierdo. To view pictures of the program, click here.