Youth trips provide opportunity for extreme fun

Scott Csernyik

10/2/2003 12:00:00 AM

From being at the mercy of white water rapids to rappelling down a 110-foot cliff, 13-year-old Alice Gonzalez found the courage to conquer any fears during a recent Youth Task Force trip to West Virginia.

"They kind of had to force me into the raft," she explained. "It was scary. Just like the rappelling. I was scared and said, �I'm not going to do it.' They told me just try the beginning, and the next thing I knew I was doing it.

"When I was done, I felt better. I'm glad I did it because I would have regretted not doing those activities."

Fourteen Tribal youth were accompanied by six chaperones from June 16-20 for white water rafting, horseback riding and rappelling in West Virginia.

Dave Deetzler, 17, said it was fun to rappel off the cliff near the New River Gorge Bridge. The 3,030-foot bridge is 876 feet above the New River.

"The rappelling was cool because it was such a rush. The trip was a lot of fun because it was a positive activity to be involved in."

The Youth Task Force is planning another extreme trip next month to Isle Royale.

"Can you survive one week on an island without your mom and dad?" posed a question on the Parks & Recreation calendar.

From Aug. 17-25, Youth Task Force chaperones will lead a team of six Native youth into the Isle Royale wilderness. Youth ages 12-17 interested in the trip have the opportunity to prepare themselves for the trip by participating in certain upcoming activities which also earn them points.

The top six point getters will be eligible for the experience.

Those planned activities for points include: -Deerfield Park hike, July 16 from 4 to 7 p.m.; -Michigan Indian Family Olympics, July 18; -Camp food, July 23 from 4 to 6 p.m.; -Pigeon River hike, July 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and -Canoe trip, July 30 from 4 to 8 p.m.

"We want to get them conditioned and mentally prepared for what lies ahead," stated Chip Neyome, Youth Task Force member. "You're hiking across the entire Isle Royale and it's all or nothing. You have to be prepared. We relate to that a lot of times in life."