On Jan. 22, Camp Kiwanis’ Leaders in Nature’s Kingdom (L.I.N.K.) members traveled to Sweetwater Creek State Park (SCSP) with the goals of sharpening their leadership skills and practicing their map reading and camp stove cooking skills. Camp Director Carly Robinson says L.I.N.K. members braved the cold at Sweetwater Creek with tenacity and grit.
To become a L.I.N.K. member, teens must persevere through a journey of two rounds, where they’re tested on their leadership abilities and outdoor skills.
During summer camp at Camp Kiwanis, L.I.N.K. members teach other Club members outdoor activities such as kayaking, and they also guide campers through night hikes. Their January venture to Sweetwater Creek was part of their summer camp preparation. At SCSP, they were pushed outside their comfort zones and their limits were tested throughout the day in different ways:
- They started the chilly day with a 4.5-mile hike. During the hike, Robinson constantly reminded L.I.N.K. members to see the outdoors through the eyes of campers they would be interacting with over the summer.
- Another challenge emerged as jumping from rock to rock. Missing a step meant falling into the icy creek, so the L.I.N.K. members challenged themselves to focus but still have fun.
- Their next challenge included cooking over a camp stove. Robinson used that moment to teach L.I.N.K. members more about reducing campfire impacts.
Overall, the trip was a chance for L.I.N.K. members to grow as a collective and as individuals.
“While the pandemic did not allow the L.I.N.K. teens to come to Camp K this weekend, we were still eager and thrilled to get together and bring Camp K to Atlanta to enjoy the great outdoors,” said Robinson. L.I.N.K members left with a “sense of accomplishment and pride for pushing through the cold weather challenges while getting hands-on practice with map and compass, and cooking over camp stoves.”
L.I.N.K. members look forward to leading, guiding, and teaching campers at Camp Kiwanis this summer.