Waterbury Youth Service Bureau Trip to Black Rock State Park

Last weekend Outside Perspectives took youth from Waterbury Youth Services to Black Rock State Park in Thomaston, CT. Tucked into the scenic rolling hills of the Western Highlands, 439-acre Black Rock Park offers a variety of outdoor activities.

[caption id="attachment_924" align="alignright" width="256"]field Activity field[/caption]

Starting the day off with some fun games in the field we started to get to know each other a bit. Next we set our sights on the large protruding, aptly named, black rock at the top of a hill overlooking the field.

[caption id="attachment_922" align="alignleft" width="284"]OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Black Rock[/caption]

 

The descriptive name for the rock is given because of its' contrasting darker-colored material known as graphite. A material found in your average #2 pencil. This fact is directly linked to the area's history, as early settlers to the Naugatuck Valley were given rights to mine graphite lead by the resident Indians as early as 1657.

With the Black Rock as our goal, we set out on a steep trail surrounded by wooded ledges of pine, hemlock and oak. We not only challenged the youth to navigate to the top of Black Rock with a map, but also to locate a geocache along the way. Geocaching is a treasure hunt that can be found in countries around the world, requiring individuals to use navigational skills to find “caches.”

Participants expertly located the rusty old ammunition canister hidden under a rock on the side of the trail and found it chock full of souvenirs. Pushing on, the group supported each other up the trail to the top. With a steep drop to the bottom and an epic panorama up and down the Naugatuck Valley, we stayed for awhile reaping the rewards of our efforts and admiring the grand view. Since we left our cell phones behind, we were able to relax and have uninterrupted conversations with each other.

[caption id="attachment_973" align="alignright" width="263"]beach Black Rock State Park Beach[/caption]

Before ending the day, we swung by the Black Rock State Park beach and cooled our feet off in the water. and took time to reflect on the day. Everyone said they were glad that they came, "the day was fun" and they "had a good time." The big take home message was that sometimes you just need a little time outside to slow down, take in the details, remember what it's like to be a kid again, and to find out that trying new things can be great fun! Thanks Waterbury Youth Services for a a great day. We look forward to our next adventure.

[caption id="attachment_984" align="alignnone" width="2215"]caterpiller.jpg Fear of bugs?... This brave participant challenged herself to face her fear.[/caption]

 

Comments

  1. seostar2July 23, 2020 at 9:39 PM

    This camera would be great to take to theme park or on a hiking outing where you don't want to be bulked down. best camera for photography

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CT's Unspoken Crisis & Outside Perspectives as a Solution

Image
In October of 2023, Dalio Education released a report titled “Connecticut’s Unspoken Crisis: Getting Young People Back on Track, A Study of Connecticut’s at-risk and Disconnected Young People.” This report found its way to us at Outside Perspectives, and our initial reaction was a rather confused and dramatic, “unspoken?!?!” As a former special education teacher in a town-wide behavioral program for a decade, I spent many years shouting from the rooftops: these kids need more, I need more, we’re not doing enough!  Nicky and Liza had the same experience working in the youth development field for decades before founding Outside Perspectives.  Clearly, the idea that this crisis was ‘unspoken’ didn’t sit well with us at first. Then we began talking with people and attending the round table discussions hosted by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. We quickly learned that this report was news to many community members. View full report here We talked with Board members, pa...
Read more

"CT Youth Excellence Project" Expedition

Image
[caption id="attachment_558" align="aligncenter" width="5184"] YEP youth and mentors taking in the sunset from atop Alander Mountain. [/caption] Outside Perspectives teamed up with The Connecticut Youth Excellence Project  (YEP) for an action-packed  trip to Alander Mountain in Massachusetts. Upon arrival at the trailhead on Saturday, June 11th, the skies opened up giving ample opportunity for mama Nature's experiential lessons on clothing choices and preparedness. After a conversation about how to stay warm and dry in inclement weather, the group put on ponchos, packed gear and headed out to brave the elements. While it was a soggy start, the weather cleared and the sun shone bright in the afternoon. We powered our way into camp and the students set up our generously donated brand new tents. Click here  for an entertaining speedy set-up video. [caption id="attachment_555" align="aligncenter" width="5184"] Hiking throu...
Read more

Participant Spotlight: Meet Sadie, An Outsider and Trailblazer on All Fronts

Image
Participant Spotlight: Meet Sadie An Outsider and Trailblazer on All Fronts Introduction: Meet Sadie Levy, a senior at Hall High School in West Hartford, whose journey with Outside Perspectives has been nothing short of inspiring. Sadie is involved with The Bridge Family Center in West Hartford, and this was the first year of an Outside Perspectives Bridge partnership. Sadie speaks to her “why” behind being a part of the Teen Center. “I am a part of the West Hartford Teen Leadership Committee because I like working with people my age and organizing events that will make a difference in my community.”  From her inaugural expedition to becoming a certified Wilderness First Aid provider and leading the charge in fundraising, Sadie embodies the spirit of exploration, leadership, and community engagement. Embarking on the Expedition: Sadie's first foray into the world of outdoor adventures came through Outside Perspectives' expedition facilitated in partnership with The Bridge Famil...
Read more