Immersed in the Wild – June 2010

Walt Whitman Backpacking Trip

WildPlaces and Walt Whitman High School from Los Angeles will be backpacking Freeman Grove June 18 – 21. We are taking 15 students from LA to Sequoia National Forest to learn about backpacking, wildlife, adventure, solitude, and peace.

Many of these students have never been on an overnight trip in the outdoors…and for them backpacking in the Southern Sierra will be the trip to remember.

Our goal is to engage these youth in the outdoors, so that they will continue to explore, adventure, and care for the land into their adult lives. These students are from the inner city of LA and do not have access to natural areas. WildPlaces gives these students this opportunity!

If you are interested in learning more about this trip, or if you have an outdoor skill to share with these youth as an educator, contact Anne at anne@wildplaces.net, or call us at (559)539-5263.

Event Report:

Walt Whitman High School Site Visit – On June 1, 2010 fifteen students from Walt Whitman High School in Los Angeles hiked Solstice Canyon in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains. The students will be attending an Immersed in the Wild trip on June 17 – 20 at Freeman Creek in Sequoia National Monument. The students were conditioning for a backpacking trip with WildPlaces.

The hike was a scenic route through the coastal Santa Monica Mountain Range, where mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and many bird species take refuge from the suburban sprawl of Los Angeles. Many of the students had never been to the Santa Monica Mountains, so it will be an extraordinary experience for them to hike in the splendor that is the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A few of the students are nervous about the Immersed in the Wild trip, because not only will they be away from home for four days, but they will also be away from a shower for four days!

Update: Freeman Grove Backpacking Trip, June 17-20

On June 17 – 20 Walt Whitman High School students went on a backpacking trip to Freeman Grove. The students learned how to backpack, navigate in the wilderness, cook and use back-packing equipment.

WildPlaces educators led a discussion about wilderness ethics, cultural awareness, storytelling and ecology. WildPlaces taught the students that they are stakeholders and reporters, and can create change regarding issues in their own communities.

Being immersed in the wilderness is not just a challenge, but also an opportunity to be in one of the most beautiful wild places in the world. The participants had a great time, and they all want to volunteer for WildPlaces in the future. We can’t wait to backpack/camp with them again!!

Thank you Walt Whitman HS: Brenda, Everett, Joseph, Bianca, Jerrie, Paola, Christian, Vivian, Ross, Brandon, Maryela, and Toriana. Thank you also to all the educators: John Picone, Michelle Ritcher, James Harbison, Chico Garza, Susan Macias, Ian Herdell, Mehmet McMillan, Anne Taormina, and Phil Lloyd.

On June 17 – 20 Walt Whitman High School backpacking trip to Freeman Grove. The students learned how to backpack, navigate in the wilderness, cook and use back-packing equipment. WildPlaces educators led a discussion about wilderness ethics, cultural awareness, storytelling and ecology. WildPlaces taught the students that they are stakeholders and reporters, and can effect change regarding issues in their own communities. Being immersed in the wilderness is not just a challenge, but also an opportunity to be in one of the most beautiful wild places in the world. The participants had a great time, and they all want to volunteer for WildPlaces in the future. We can’t wait to backpack/camp with them again!! Thank you Walt Whitman HS: Brenda, Everett, Joseph, Bianca, Jerrie, Paola, Christian, Vivian, Ross, Brandon, Maryela, and Toriana. Thank you also to all the educators: John Picone, Michelle Ritcher, James Harbison, Chico Garza, Susan Macias, Ian Herdell, Mehmet McMillan, Anne Taormina, and Phil Lloyd.