In their hit song, TLC says not to go chasing waterfalls, but BTE certainly doesn’t follow that guideline. Hiking to Ouzel Falls with Boys’ Trail’s End was a fourth-week treat – a gentle hike with a rewarding view. But this group of campers delivered even more. The campers gave me a lesson on current slang, told numerous riddles, and performed the best trash sweep I’d ever seen.
During our ascent to the falls, we played get-to-know-you games and talked about our favorite sports teams. The miles flew by, and before we knew it, we heard the crashing sounds of the waterfall. We reflected on the view and took a few silent moments before the ensuing chaos of bulk-cooking began. Once everyone was well fed, I broke out some peak treats and let campers answer a trivia question (or complement a counselor) to pick which flavor of sour straw they wanted. Fueled by enthusiasm (and a bit of sugar,) BTE collected so much trash during bulk clean up, the creators of Leave No Trace would be proud.
On the hike back to the van, we got to see controlled wildfire burns , and received a nature lesson from Counselor Matt. As we neared the trailhead, campers chatted excitedly in preparation for the evening’s campfire: the highly anticipated square dance with GTE.
“The hike to Ouzel Falls was nice and misty… it was a perfect cool down right before square dance” said CILT Larkin M.
