On June 11-12, 2024, The Proctor Hug High School Adventure Club celebrated the graduation of ten club members by taking a camping trip to Plumas-Eureka State Park. These 10 graduates had never been camping before explored and they enjoyed two days of fun filled adventure. This trip was a partnership with the California State Parks and Reno ICO.  Two Washoe County School District staff and two Reno ICO volunteers led this trip  into the Northern California woods.

Students toured the mining and lifestyle artifacts and demonstrations at the museum facilities. They hiked several of the trails in the area and found a small waterfall at sunset. Even while the mosquitoes started to bite, the sunset scene was beautiful. All agreed that while the mosquitos were troublesome, the hike was well worth it. Students played in the small creek that flowed through the campsite. The giggles and laughing turned out to be contagious!

Students worked together to prepare, cook and clean up from meals with some impressive skills and great cooperation. Smores over a campfire were a hit. Most of the students had never eaten a s’more from scratch before and they were impressed by the treat. They finished the trip with lunch up at Eureka Lake.  

Students learned how to set up and take down the ICO backpacking tents, and gained experience in sleeping outdoors, using the ICO sleeping pads and sleeping bags. There were many discussions on a large variety of topics, ranging from wildflowers, alpine lakes, leave no trace, mosquitoes, bears, mining, camping lifestyle to frontier lifestyles. There was even a rousing game of pinecone baseball.

For the adult leaders, it was valuable to witness students from the inner city explore nature for the first time and work together to make it a memorable trip. All of the students “had a blast”,  and are hoping to go camping again. One student couldn’t wait to use what he learned on the trip to take his family to the same spot. We have worked to inform, practice, and empower students to learn how to and feel confident enough planning their own adventures. The Adventure Club is looking to continue into 2024-25 school year with snowshoe trips, another camping trip and our first whitewater rafting trip.

If you work with a group of youth in Reno, I strongly urge you to get them outside!  Do consider partnering or volunteering with Reno ICO!