Wild West Fest Gives Best to Club Members
June 22, 2010
On June 6, six members from BGCMA began their eight-day journey in Telluride, Colorado for a unique mentorship opportunity, Wild West Fest (WWF) 2010. Sponsored by the Sheridan Arts Foundation, WWF a week-long celebration of Western arts, culture and customs, which brings inner-city youth from across the nation to Telluride. BGCMA students participated in WWF thanks to The Chip Allen Mentorship Program (C.A.M.P), a partnership formed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America that brings Club kids to Telluride for enriching educational experiences. Luis Cervantes, Erin Baugh, J. Baker, Errol Simmons, Jesus Ortiz-Arce, and Chante Foster, ranging from ages 13-15, were exposed to a new environment with the chance to discover a variety of exciting outdoor activities. Over the course of their trip, the kids had the option of various activities, such as horsemanship, fly fishing, dance, drama, golf, the Rock and Roll Academy, and more. Activities were also were planned for each night: a community-wide barbeque in the town park, a presentation with a nationally recognized Yosemite National Park Ranger and author Shelton Johnson, a concert with Great American Taxi, and an art reception with WWF featured artist Brett Schreckengost. Near the end of WWF, the group ventured to the Circle K Ranch for horseback riding, ropes course, zip line and a guided nature hike.
They ended the trip with the second Annual Heritage Festival, a fun day of activities including stagecoach rides, a Butch Cassidy reenactment, a Native American dance show, and well as mining demonstrations.
WWF 2010 not only offered unique opportunities for Club members, but the chance to explore where their interests lie. They also spent time with new friends from Clubs in Denver, Colorado Springs, Farmington, NM, and Fort Worth, TX. Youth were encouraged as they created new friendships, discovered new surroundings and invested in new activities—resulting in an uplifting and meaningful cultural experience.
