Youth Program

Before this summer started, my nerves were on high alert. I had been wanting to be a youth crew leader ever since I did the program as a youth at 14 and again at 17. The closer the time got, the more nervous I became. Then the day finally came when we picked up the youth that we would have the entire summer. Even in the first, quick conversations with them, my nerves melted away. These are the people I want to surround myself with. People who are curious about the land we live in and who want to protect it by learning and working all summer in Montana. They started to each day with a smile and a good attitude.

Over the summer, the crew became a unit with inside jokes, card games (that got quite competitive), and who could speedwalk the fastest (everyone cheated). We worked in beautiful areas full of wildlife and wildflowers. Even on the hot and smoky days when we were all tired, they still found things to joke and laugh about.

One specific day (that we now laugh about), we were hacky sacking in our campsite when we heard a noise. I peeked over, and a large moose was chowing on a bush about 30 yards away. After herding everyone into the car, we found that this was the first time many of the youth had ever seen a moose. The excitement and laughter made the scary moment a little less scary. The moose decided to then bed down right next to camp, so we took off into town towards a park. Which ended up being one of my favorite moments of the summer. We laughed and did cartwheels and handstands. We found ways to make up games that barely made sense, and watched the sunset-crossing our fingers the moose would be gone by the time we got back.

Looking back on this summer and the beginning, I no longer understand why I was so nervous. Our five youth and my co-lead made this one of the best summers ever.