Happy 4th of July! Today in the spirit of celebration and reflecting upon the values of America, we want to share about our recent experience collaborating with Stansport as they hosted at-risk youth at their fourth annual camp out at Castaic Lake!
In partnership with Stansport, California State University at Northridge, and SOS Survival Products, we had the pleasure of setting up an obstacle course using our favorite products for the wonderful children of LAPD Devonshire PALS to enjoy after a fun-filled day of outdoor activities.
The LAPD Devonshire Police Activity League Supporters (aka Devonshire PALS) is an amazing program based out of Northridge, California that provides after school and weekend enrichment programs for at-risk children and teens. The program has proven to be highly effective at deterring gangs and preventing crime for over thirty years as it fosters trust and understanding between children and law enforcement. Devonshire PALS believes that if children are reached early enough, they can develop strong, positive attitudes toward police officers and the law. In addition to after school and weekend adventures, Devonshire PALS also has a youth center that includes a library, a computer lab, a great room that is used for Tae Kwon Do, movie nights, ping pong, air hockey, and more as well as outside basketball courts and tether ball.
We feel so privileged to collaborate with such an incredible group of people that have dedicated their free time to bettering the lives of those less fortunate in our local neighborhoods.
Now to the fun part!
The obstacle course was filled with all kinds of physical challenges, including racing through tunnels, guiding each other through colored flags, hopping downhill in jumping sacks, and cheering each other on as they ran through our 9.5 foot Giant tunnel to reach the finish line!
The course captured the attention and help of the entire campsite and we had a blast watching the children have a blast.
After the relay was finished and s’mores were consumed, each camper was equipped with lanterns and embarked upon a nighttime hike up in the hills above Castaic Lake. Led by an instructor from the CSUN Aquatic Center, the kids were fascinated by lessons about the night sky and the scenery surrounding them. There was also an opportunity to see a snake from a safe distance! It’s an awe-inspiring experience to witness children in communion with nature, especially when it’s not the norm for them to be amongst trees, lakes, and fresh air. There’s nothing quite like the great outdoors!
We hope this post inspires you to give back to a cause that speaks to you, whether it’s picking up trash on the beach, reading to children at schools or libraries, or helping out in a local soup kitchen. We all have the power to change the world through one act of kindness at a time!