Wilderness Youth Project

I’ve written many five star reviews but for this review, I really mean it.
When I was 9 – 10 years old, I spent my summers running through the Santa Barbara trails with this amazing group. I learned how to start a campfire with only a few pieces of wood, I learned how to rock climb and I learned how to have fun after leaving the Bay Area which I missed. I also got to experience the amazing natural beauty of Santa Barbara. We hiked around the Ellwood Butterfly Reserve, where we got to see butterflies resting for the winter and the beautiful beaches nearby. We went to Zaca Lake, a really nice lake in the backcountry with amazing trails nearby. We went to the top of the Santa Ynez Mountains and saw the amazing views. Plus, there was so much more!
When I moved to Santa Barbara, I thought it was nothing like San Francisco where I lived before this. I thought the hiking, the trails that I had taken for granted were missing here. Then Wilderness Youth Camp took me behind the Santa Ynez Mountains on my first outdoor trip with them, to Red Rock, a swimming hole. It was a hot July day but we cooled down in the water, we chased some fish and learned how to make a campfire properly without gas or matches. The next day, we went to Lizard’s mouth, a rocky formation overlooking all of Santa Barbara. We played coyote and fawns, a really fun tag game where we hid and the counselors found us. I stayed hidden the longest, even they said I was out of bounds but I think I was in bounds :) The trips continued to become even more and more fun. My favorite counselors that I remember were Charlie, Jerry, Ruby, Paloma and Sean. It’s been years but if any of them are still there, sign up with their groups.
I moved from Santa Barbara but I wish I still lived there so I could sign up to be a counselor.
To any parent reading this, please sign your children up for this program. I really mean it, I am so happy I participated in it. I learned so many outdoor and leadership skills from this summer camp and made so many friends. I miss it so much!