For the 24th summer, LEAP kids packed up from the city and went camping in the woods.
LEAP’s camping goals are multi-faceted: to expand children’s experiences, to develop an appreciation for the outdoors, to teach new skills and to have fun. This summer, over 550 LEAP children joined by 100 New Haven college and high school student counselors camped across New England.
LEAP camps in multiple locations with increasing levels of difficulty. Young children, from 7 to 8 years old camp at the Calabresi farm in Woodbridge. They experience their first overnight in a tent under the stars. Highlights include nature hikes at the adjoining state reservoir land, catching tadpoles in a pond, sitting around a bonfire telling (not scary) stories, and roasting marshmallows for S’mores.
Nine and ten-year-old children participated this year in a new partnership between LEAP and the Peabody Museum of Natural History called “Outdoor Corps.” High school students chosen by LEAP and Peabody are trained at the Peabody during the Spring semester to teach natural science to the LEAPers. For two weeks these teenagers teach LEAP kids in New Haven Public School classrooms about things like food webs, trees, and environmental awareness. The Outdoors Corps instructors then bring those lessons to life in the field for the LEAPers while they are camping with projects like this one that began by catching flying bugs.
The 11 and 12-year-old boys and girls enjoy an overnight of camping as well but the experience is a bit more rigorous. They camp at Black Rock State Park in Western Connecticut. It is their responsibility to assemble their own tents and their hikes are longer. After a full day, they are excited to swim at the campground’s beach and sing songs while food is cooked.
All of this leads up to the camping program for 13 to 15-year-old LEAPers, what the organization calls Leaders In Training or LITs. The LITs camp as part of a partnership between LEAP and the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). AMC trains LEAP staff on hiking and camping techniques to use with teens and makes available camping equipment including tents and backpacks. The LITs camped for three days at the AMC’s Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell Massachusetts in the Appalachian Mountains.
They carried all of their food, tents, and sleeping bags in on their backs and took everything (including trash) out when they departed. They cooked their own meals, hiked on a mountain, and swam in a waterfall. Here’s what some new backpackers had to say about their journey in the wilderness.
“Even though the hiking with our bags was long and tiring, the view was beautiful to see and was worth it; especially the waterfall we saw. The two day trip was a good experience for me because I know how to put a tent up and be resourceful in the woods for two days” said LIT Carnaiya Curtis, 14, who attends Elm City College Preparatory School.
“The camping trip to Massachusetts started off on a rough patch! Before our activities even began we had to walk over a quarter of a mile to get to the camping site. Mr. Elvert told us that the main reason for the trip was to challenge ourselves and try new things and we did just that. I saw it as a great challenge and we conquered it,” said LIT Karlyse Pollard, 15, who attends New Haven Academy.
My son camped out with the 7-8 yr old group in Woodbridge and LOVED it!!! awesome first time camping experience for him that he STILL hasn't stopped talking about. I'm absolutely impressed with LEAP and the counselors I have met! They have gone above and beyond with my son who has ADHD and I know can be a handful. We will miss them as this is their last week - but he has memories that will last a lifetime! Thanks to his counselors!!! Go LEAP!!!