By TRENT ROBISON
Moapa Valley Progress
Five youth participants of the local Parks and Recreation Leaders of the Future (LOTF) program traveled to a short day camp on Monday, July 14 at Camp Lee Canyon on Mount Charleston.
At the camp, local participants interacted with similar groups from Laughlin, Indian Springs, and other communities around the county.
The camp service graciously provided a multitude of activities to entertain the young leaders. The group was allowed free reign of the hiking paths, mountain biking opportunities, archery range, as well as a couple of stations instructing a few Native American art projects. During the first half of the day, most of the local students had either taken to mountain biking or archery, which for some of the group was a new skill to learn entirely.
One of the favorite, and most difficult, activities was a ropes course which provided a team-building group challenge. It began with ‘ice breakers’, small games meant to build the sense of unity within the group.
After those were complete, the real challenge began. A cable suspended with ropes and trees allows a single person at a time to walk across, while the rest of the group anchors down the ropes and cables as well as offering supportive comments along the way.
“The kids had an opportunity to face their fears that day,” said local LOTF counselor Elmer Lopez. “They tried it out and, even though it was high up, the kids learned to be more involved and work as a team.”
The LOTF summer program involves meetings held every Friday which usually last around two hours. During these meetings, the eleven students participating along with the local director of the program, Elmer Lopez, spend the time with various activities including practicing interview skills, writing resumes, and filling out applications; all with the purpose of teaching the students skills for their future.
Also involved with the program is doing service in a number of community and Parks and Rec programs and activities during the summer. The day camp experience was a way to express appreciation to the teens for their service, Lopez said.
“The kids help out a lot, so I just wanted to give them something fun to go to,” Lopez said.
The local program consists of eleven participants. But only three were able to attend the day camp, due to a conflict with the annual Boy Scout camp which was held last week in the mountains of southern Utah; and other conflicting summer activities.
Two other students from the Parks and Rec Sports Camp, one of the organizations the LOTF assists, were quickly chosen to go to the camp to fill some of the empty spaces.
