This summer Kid City had its first retreat at Camp Colby in the Angeles National Forest. Staff members Alma Catalan, Laura Cuellar, William McKeithen and volunteer Herley Jim Bowling accompanied 35 high school and college students for a weekend of community building activities including a talent show, healing circles, swimming, hiking, and cooking. The kids enjoyed getting to know each other on a deeper level and are already asking about the next retreat.

Later in August, young adults embarked on an amazing five-day journey to explore the high sierras and learn about water conservation on the 3rd annual Kid City Mono Lake trip. Along with Herley Jim Bowling (volunteer) and Laura Cuellar, they visited Manzanar, Mono Lake, Yosemite, and June Lake. Staff from Outward Bound Adventures and members of the Mono Lake youth education program taught the group about invasive plants, environmental careers, how the drought is affecting ecosystems and lots more. Thanks to donors, partners, and parents for supporting this trip!

Max Rico, incoming freshmen at UC Riverside, had this to say about the Mono Lake trip:

“As a biology major, I was fascinated with the thriving ecosystems full of native and migratory birds, shrimp, flies, shrubs, and much, much more. Falling water levels in every lake we saw in the area gave us a firsthand look at the drastic effects of our unsustainable water practices and the drought. Our activity here in Los Angeles threatens the very existence of these lakes and ecosystems. Aside from conservation education, during the four nights at Mono Lake we were able to witness the night sky illuminated by a myriad of stars, galaxies, galactic clouds, and planets. I was able to see the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, Scorpio, Polaris, the Andromeda Galaxy, Saturn, and even a triangular constellation my younger sister identified as the ‘pizza constellation.’ Not many people I know are fortunate enough to go on a trip like this, or even camping at all, so for that I am grateful to Kid City."