By Callie Smith
In the outdoor world we have seen some of our best leadership come through young people, and it is important that this continues. While it is essential that adults understand the necessity of stewardship, lasting and impactful change can be created through cultivating youth trail and environmental stewardship opportunities. Helping to create a positive relationship of curiosity and confidence between kids and their surrounding environment can ensure lasting conservancy efforts for years to come.
CDTC recently had the opportunity to go out on a series of day hikes with Rockies Rock Adventure Camp in Leadville, CO. The Rockies Rock Adventure Camp is a part of the greater Get Outdoors Leadville program and provides students of many ages with the opportunity to engage in a multitude of different fun outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and fishing with the goal of teaching a lifelong love for nature.
During these day hikes, CDTC taught students about the Continental Divide Trail, as well as how to respect and identify wildlife while on the trail.
“It was a great experience to see the joy and wonder that the kiddos brought with them to the trail, their joy at being outside was infectious” says Callie Smith, CDTC’s Community Engagement Coordinator.
From smelling the fragrant pines to experiencing awe over the many marvelous mushrooms the children in the program were able to explore and imagine with freedom while using sensory lessons to interact with nature. The kids scurried around the forest with joy while looking for little holes in leaves and nests in trees that indicated critters were close by.
Organizations such as Rockies Rock provide an essential opportunity for trail and environmental stewardship that benefits both the environment and the kiddos.
The CDT is a great space to teach young people about the National Scenic Trail System and the importance of environmental stewardship, as the CDT traverses numerous landscapes, ecosystems, states, and culturally, spiritually, and historically important areas.
You’re never too young to start building a sense of adventure and a love for natural spaces of any kind!
Callie Smith is CDTC’s Community Engagement Coordinator and she is based out of Colorado. In her free time she enjoys white water rafting and learning to knit.
All photos are by Callie Smith
