This is Kirsten here! I spent the last two weeks of June with our fellows in Provo and North Lake Tahoe getting ready for the Kids Adventure Games. It was amazing to see first hand how the projects have been developing and getting to know the kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Fellow, Natalie Dyjak, cheering on the Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe
The week leading up to the Kids Adventure Games involved gathering the supplies for the games and helping the kids get ready for the games. Macie, Natalie, and I spent time running around getting backpacks, bike gloves, t-shirts, and water bottles for each of the kids. We all perfected our poster making skills to provide encouragement for the kids throughout the course.
On Friday, the kids attended the skills clinic, preparing them for the course the next day. It was a way to familiarize themselves with bike riding, rock wall-climbing, working as a team and other obstacles of the Kids Adventure Games. Finally, on Saturday it was time for the games to begin! It was interesting to see how the courses differed between Snowbird and Squaw Valley.
Fellow, Macie Bayer, helping two kids get onto the zipline
One of my favorite parts of the week was seeing all of the kids finish the games! One girl was so nervous about it so we helped her by going over videos and the website to make sure she knew what would happen during the Kids Adventure Games. She was most nervous about the zipline, but she even completed that obstacle! The week after the Kids Adventure Games in Provo, all of the kids were wearing their medals that they received for finishing the course. They can’t wait to do it again next year!
I loved seeing the kids work to overcome their fears, and to gain a sense of accomplishment in completing the course. In Lake Tahoe, one of the participants did not feel very comfortable riding her bike. So, we spent some extra time practicing riding her bike during the skills clinic. On Saturday, she walked her bike for most of the bike-riding portion, but she still tried her hardest!
Team Tahoe Twins on the podium!
It was great to see the kids work together. Some of the participants were busy sharing stories of sharing water with their teammate. Others shared stories about helping their teammate complete challenging obstacles. Two of our teams won their age groups, which was so exciting! Team The Bomb won the co-ed 8-9 years group and Team Tahoe Twins won the co-ed age 6-7 years group.
I can’t wait to go back next year and experience it with new and old kids and new fellows. It was a highlight of my summer!
