17 BEFORE DEPARTING ON THEIR CAMPING TRIP, INTERNS COLLABORATE TO BUILD FAMILIARITY WITH HOW TO SET UP AND TAKE DOWN THEIR INDIVIDUAL TENTS. Each summer, teens across Detroit are hired into the Environmental Stewardship Internship program (ESI) at the Belle Isle Nature Center. Thanks to generous funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other contributors, this paid internship provides skill-building, certifications and exposure to careers in natural resources and outdoor recreation. One of the most impactful aspects of ESI programming is when the teens plan and organize an overnight camping trip, which, for some, is their first ever. ESI is intentionally designed to provide skills that will impact the camping trip as well as give teens an edge in the job market. To prepare for the trip, interns were invited for swimming lessons hosted by Huron Clinton MetroParks and attended a weekly cooking program with Michigan State University Extension. The Detroit Outdoors’ camp gear lending program also provided free access to tents, sleeping bags and portable cooking equipment. The camping trip took the interns to the shores of Lake Michigan at Muskegon State Park on the coast of Lake Michigan. Initially hesitant upon arrival, the interns eventually gained confidence and started having fun after helping each other set up tents and prepare for dinner. After dinner, some initiated a compliment circle and created friendship bracelets, while others ended up on a nighttime hike and did some stargazing. Some of the highlights include the interns swimming at the beach, making sand angels and hiking up dunes. When it was time to head to bed in their tents, the sounds of night took over, with owl calls and coyote howls that made for BY MICAH BLAKE-SMITH, EDUCATION SPECIALIST LEARNING Through Camping some interesting chats over a campire breakfast the following morning. This year’s camping experience was a resounding success — just ask our interns! 18-year-old Le’Andre Denard sums it up perfectly. “Going camping for the first time was definitely a fantastic experience,” he says. “I experienced wonderful team building activities and learned essential camping skills. I can’t wait to go camping again.” INTERNS LE’ANDRE, CHARITY AND RUBEN SHOW OFF THEIR FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS CREATED ON THE TRIP.
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