Stories

Where Youth Share Their Stories:

A Collection of Personal Narratives

February 2025 Cabin Trip

by Shirley, 15 yrs old

Reaching the Cabin

During this freezing February 2025, THUE youth visited the Mohican Outdoor Center and stayed in a cabin with their leaders, Antonio and Lizzette, for three days. When we arrived, it was a noticeable contrast to the snow in New York City. Even on the way to the location, we noticed how the frost-covered trees and snow-abundant environment contrasted with the chilly rain back home. When we arrived, our car had trouble going up the hill initially. We had to settle various materials into the cabin and then retrieve our gear to keep us warm and hydrated later.

“The nature in whole was very nice because it gave us obstacles that we had to overcome together." THUE member Ethan was referring to our troubles with the ice and snow on the first day of arrival. Once all tasks were completed, we got to relax in the warm cabin as it sheltered us from the harsh wind.

Spending Time Together

Having no technology on these cabin trips is a consistent factor that fosters better communication and a sense of community, which is why this ‘No-Phone’ rule is also applied at the THUE hub. The youth bonded through puzzles, long conversations, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, board games, movies, cooking, etc. They accompanied each other outside and on the porches to touch or play in the snow together, which was another form of bonding and having fun in general. Playing pranks or jokes on one another while respecting boundaries is another common way they bonded while on this trip. Here are some of the members' favorite moments in their own words:

“My favorite moment was when me and my peers made a pillow fort, I felt like they were family; it felt like I was at home because of how much fun I was having.”

Lyly, 12 yrs old

“My favorite moment from the trip was when we got to spend free time in the afternoons to play games or do jiu-jitsu.”

Kiara, 17 yrs old

“Going hiking because it was cold and fun, we were running away from Antonio and them”.

Ethan, 15 yrs old

Nature’s Impact

THUE youth seemed to really enjoy being back in nature; they ran up the trail to the boathouse and climbed over mini mountains of snow. While on the back porch or walking near a tree, they would constantly crack off icicles from the surfaces. Snow angels and rolling down hills of snow were another common trend during the hike. Lyly, a THUE member, enjoyed attending this trip because it allowed her access to natural beauty and socialization. “At the beginning, I was stressed because of everything going on in the world, just the thought of all of it was overwhelming. When I was in the nature, I forgot about all my problems. Leaving the trip was bittersweet because I wanted to spend more time there.”

Lyly was able to catch a break from the fast-paced and, at times, chaotic moments that have filled a lot of young people’s lives recently.

“This trip improved my knowledge on the outdoors and made me have a stronger bond with my peers.” (Lyly). The outdoors was not the only skill learned by campers, layering was shown the right way to the youth, this was what allowed them to play in the snow with no worries of freezing their fingers off. Though they struggled with it at first they got the right layers on with guidance. Crampons was a new hiking gear that was introduced during this trip, another skill learned was how to apply and adjust their crampons.

Also one of the most important skills learned and executed during this trip was being able to make some bomb food! . We also had the privilege of eating some of the youth’s home food made by their parents. I’d say we learned most importantly that we should do a THUE cookout ASAP.

Reflection

After being asked if they would recommend going camping with THUE or camping in general to friends and family, Lyly said, “Yes, I would because of all I stated before. You get to bond with your peers and grow more comfortable with them. I learned to appreciate all of the things I find in nature that I can’t find in the city. When I am in nature, I'm at peace, and it’s very quiet. In the city, I just hear a bunch of noise."

Kiara also said, “Yes, I would most definitely encourage everyone to come even if they are not sure because you never know what you're missing out on, and you won’t know if you like it until you try it. From my personal experience, everyone does end up loving camp."

The main takeaway from their responses is that they enjoyed this trip and encourage others to try doing similar activities to test it out. Another takeaway is that being in close contact with nature can help with stress and emotions that might be overwhelming for certain individuals. This trip helped the members in different ways, and there are many more trips and outdoor activities that are on their way now that spring is approaching.

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