Thirty people walked into the woods last week. It would be five days before they returned home.
They were hoping to leave a legacy… to create something larger than themselves… to make a difference. And they needed the perfect place to do it.
They chose the outdoors.
They called it Legacy Camp. Organized with the support of Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center, the Children and Nature Collaborative of Austin, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Children and Nature Network, this five-day camp was designed to empower young people to get kids outdoors.
The camp was held at Shield Ranch in the Texas Hill Country and taught leadership skills, community organizing, goal setting, and the power of the personal narrative to young people between the ages of 18 and 28. The idea was to empower them to be the leaders of today, and to join the movement to get children and people of all ages to enjoy, respect, and conserve the outdoors.
Legacy Camp Trainers Shannon Messer, Maggie Patterson, and Megan Bonnett hug it out during Legacy Camp 2016.
The tents where Legacy Camp participants stayed during their 5 day excursion to Shield Ranch in the Texas Hill Country.
Legacy Camp Participant Omar Garza basks in the rays at Shield Ranch during Legacy Camp 2016.
Legacy Camp Participant Alex De la Cruz enjoys a beautiful wildflower field at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center.
Legacy Camp Participant Omar Garza works on a service project at Shield Ranch, giving back to the place that hosted Legacy Camp.
An important component of Legacy Camp was the service project, which allowed participants to really get their hands dirty and give back to the land.
Legacy Camp Trainer Maggie Patterson gazes up at the collapsed grotto at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center. All of the Legacy Camp participants visited Westcave and conducted a service project at the preserve.
Legacy Camp Participant Chloe Crumley journals about her experiences at Legacy Camp while sitting around a campfire.
Legacy Camp participants enjoy an evening relaxing and singing around the campfire.
The campfire was a crucial component of Legacy Camp, offering a peaceful and enjoyable end to long days spent learning and exploring in the outdoors.
Legacy Camp participants hike back to camp after a day spent working throughout the ranch.
Now that Legacy Camp has ended, all of the participants join a national network of hundreds of Natural Leaders who have been through Legacy Camps held throughout the country, with help from the Children and Nature Network. They also leave camp with action items to implement social change in their own communities, whether that be starting a community garden, attending a city council meeting, or creating an outdoors club for underserved children. Since this Legacy Camp was held right outside Austin, many of the participants live in the city and already have exciting plans to get kids outdoors right here in Central Texas. As Legacy Camp Trainer Maggie Patterson said, “that’s the magic of Legacy Camp.”
