Summer camp to teach outdoor skills for teens

FARMINGTON – A new summer camp will help introduce local young people to outdoor activities such as canoeing, mountain biking, climbing and rafting.

The camp, known as Jolt the Outdoor Lifestyle for Teens, is offered by San Juan College's outdoor recreation center.

There will be four sessions, and each session lasts one week. The first session will start Monday, June 6 and the teens will participate in outdoor activities from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. until Friday, June 10. Other sessions will be held July 18-22, July 25-29 and Aug. 1-5.

The sessions will showcase outdoors activities that teenagers can participate in throughout the community.

"Everything that we're doing here on this campus will be local," said Annie Willmon, an outdoor recreation coordinator at the college.

For example, certified instructors will teach teenagers about rappelling in the Glade Run Recreation Area.

Willmon said the program will introduce participants to activities they can do throughout their lifetime. She said that is important because teenagers who have participated in sports in high school often are not able to continue competing in the sport after graduation. Other teenagers may not be involved in athletics, and the staff hopes to introduce them to the outdoors.

"This is really all about creating a healthy community," she said.

Willmon said the teenagers do not need to have any outdoors experience to participate in the camp.

The program costs $300 per student, and $100 is due at registration. The remaining $200 must be paid before the program's start date.

"There are opportunities for kids who want to be in the camp but can't afford it," said Renee Lucero, a spokeswoman for the college.

She said teenagers who agree to volunteer at Human Health and Performance Center events will be eligible for scholarships.

The college provides transportation to and from the various activities, but the teenagers should bring their own lunch and snacks.

Registration can be completed at sanjuancollege.edu/joltcamp or by visiting the Outdoor Equipment Rental Center, 4601 College Blvd. For more information, call Willmon at 505-566-3487 or email willmona@sanjuancollege.edu.

Hannah Grover covers Aztec and Bloomfield, as well as general news, for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4652.