Nature and Nurture: How Camp Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta Empower Young Leaders

By David Jernigan, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta

We’ve all heard stories of city kids arriving at overnight camp, nervous about the wilderness and reluctant to disconnect from their devices. At the end of camp, these same children look up at the stars with wonder and tranquility, swapping stories over s’mores. While these moments certainly happen every summer on our beloved 160-acre outdoor homesite in Madison County, Camp Kiwanis is more than a change of scenery and a place of peace. It’s an award-winning epicenter where Atlanta’s future leaders are strengthened.

Since 1951, Camp Kiwanis has welcomed more than 600 young people each year to participate in activities such as kayaking, archery, swimming and orienteering. These activities are fundamental and teach teamwork, self-confidence and confidence, skills essential to personal and professional success.

A key component of Camp Kiwanis is our Leaders in Nature’s Kingdom (LINK) program, founded in 1982 and recent recipient of the prestigious Eleanor P. Eells Award for Program Excellence from the American Camp Association. LINK is a four-year leadership development program for adolescents ages 13-15, designed to develop future leaders.

“LINK is the heart and soul of our camp program and has continued many traditions over the years,” said Carly Robinson, executive director of Camp Kiwanis. “As we take children from cities across 10 metro Atlanta counties into the woods for traditional camp experiences, it’s important that our campers see themselves in the faces of our staff members. The best way to do this is to “grow our own plant”. Leaders in Nature’s Kingdom allows us to begin training youth at age 13 and have some of our best staff members once they turn 18. Most of our city kids are petrified of the “lions, tigers and bears” in the woods when they arrive on Monday. . But when they leave on Friday, they no longer want to return to the big city, because they have finally been able to discover the wonders of nature, by the river.

I will never forget my first experience at Camp K. I made the two-hour trip north from Atlanta and was immediately amazed by the natural beauty of Camp K, nestled in the heart of the historic Broad River and the Bartram Trail. As I was walking through the park, a member of LINK caught my eye. Here is this teenage girl leading a team building exercise with a group of middle school girls. I was fascinated by his impeccable leadership qualities: his clear orders and genuine encouragement resonated with the girls, who responded with confidence and enthusiasm.

This remarkable display of leadership in action reverberated throughout the camp with LINK members leading archery classes, mentoring novelists and non-swimmers in kayak safety, teaching children how to ecosystem and nature preservation and resolving conflicts with social-emotional health and wellness skills that rivaled those at camp. best educators.

It quickly became clear to me that Camp Kiwanis is an essential platform for personal growth and leadership development, fostering the sense of responsibility and achievement that our teens carry into their communities and the world. It’s no surprise that many of our Youth of the Year (YOY) finalists are also members of LINK. Take Elias Denis For example. Our 2022-23 BGCMA YOY, who also won the 2023 Georgia State YOY title, credits his experience as a LINK member and camp counselor with helping him realize his love for animals. After graduating, Elias works part-time at Banfield Pet Hospital and runs a garden maintenance business. This fall, he will study veterinary science at Tuskegee University.

Likewise, our finalist BGCMA YOY 2023-24 and Georgia YOY 2024 Jaden Tarver says becoming a member of LINK was his most impactful experience, giving him the confidence to advocate for young people on the Hill. She says participating in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C., opened her eyes to endless career paths. “My ultimate goal is to become a lawyer and work in the nation’s capital as a policy maker. I want to make a positive impact on the world by supporting those who feel ignored and making big changes that will benefit the masses. This fall, Jaden will attend Howard University and study political science.

Alumni success stories like these, coupled with a recent surge of interest among teen members, are a testament to the effectiveness of Camp K and its crucial role in our mission to unleash the limitless potential of children and adolescents.

“We hope to utilize more of our alumni in the future because their success after the program speaks volumes about what they learned with us,” Robinson said. “We hope to continue the LINK tradition for many years to come. »

CALL TO ACTION: Help us increase the impact of Camp Kiwanis. Partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and Camp Kiwanis allows you to supporting workforce readiness opportunities for our teens, preparing them to succeed in today’s job market. In addition, Camp Kiwanis offers rental opportunities for business retreats, providing an inspiring setting for team development sessions. Your partnership can provide invaluable support to these future leaders, ensuring they are prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Camp Kiwanis isn’t just about recreation; it’s where children and teens develop essential leadership skills and explore interests that lead to postsecondary success. We aim to expand access to Camp Kiwanis for more metro Atlanta youth to participate in each support, enhance the Leaders in Nature’s Kingdom (LINK) program, improve camp infrastructure and to cover summer operational expenses. Your collaboration can have a lasting impact on the lives of young people, fostering their holistic development and paving the way for their future success.

For more information on how to partner with us and support Camp Kiwanis, please visit www.bgcma.org/campkiwanis.

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