Teens from Longmont Youth Center Brought Curiosity, Courage, and Joy to the Overnight Trip. Written by CAP Instructor Sara Grillo.
Earlier this summer, Cottonwood Institute teamed up with teens from the Longmont Youth Center for an overnight adventure full of learning, laughter, and time in nature. We kicked off the trip early in the morning, gathering to pack gear and get to know one another. Spirits were high as we loaded into vans and headed to the beautiful Glen Isle Resort, a great base camp nestled in the mountains.
Once we arrived, students dove right into learning about our environment and scouting out the best spots to set up tents. After claiming our campsites and setting up tents, we spent some time settling in and playing a high-stakes version of Red Light, Green Light, where participants had to sneak a stuffed animal across the field without being seen. That playful energy carried into Mass Paranoia, a fast-paced bandana snatching game that kept everyone on their toes and in-bounds!
Later, we shifted gears to learn about some of the local plant species in the area. Armed with new knowledge, students embarked on a scavenger hunt to spot as many of these native plants as they could. From there, we cooled off and explored the mountain river flowing just down the trail from our campsite, soaking in the peace of the water and the surrounding landscape.
As the sun began to lower in the sky, the energy ramped up again with an enthusiastic game of capture the flag, complete with dramatic sprints and close calls. Afterward, we gathered for a well-earned dinner of hearty ramen before diving into hands-on evening activities, including whittling and making rescue bracelets.
Nature offered up a few surprises of its own: a fox and a deer made quiet appearances near our site as dusk settled in. As night fell, we lit the campfire, roasted marshmallows for s’mores, and shared a moment of silence to reflect and connect with the sights and sounds around us. One of the most powerful moments of the night came during our sensory challenge: students were blindfolded and scattered throughout the campsite, and had to return to the fire guided only by the sound of a steady drumbeat. The quiet focus and trust in their senses brought a beautiful close to the day.
After a good night’s sleep under a star-filled sky, we woke up early to enjoy a peaceful breakfast, break down our campsite, and spend the morning fishing, taking photos, and enjoying a last bit of time together in nature.
We’re so grateful to the Longmont Youth Center teens and chaperones who brought such curiosity, courage, and joy to this experience. We can’t wait to do it again!
Thanks to the City of Longmont, Great Outdoors Colorado, Thorne Nature Experience and Nature Kids Longmont for helping to fund this incredible program! If you are inspired and want to help support this program as well, Donate Today!
