"This is the Place" Service Project (by Bree)

Teen Staff member, Josh, has done a great job setting up service projects at "This is the Place" in Salt Lake City.  There is always work to be done, whether it's pulling weeds, organizing, cleaning, etc.  On this particular day in July the teens pulled weeds in crazy windy weather and then got to spend some time in the petting zoo.  A fun adventure!

cHaLk ArT! (by Bree)

Who doesn't love playing with sidewalk chalk?  I challenged the teens to take an area of the sidewalk and really make an effort to create something nice.  I wanted them to do more than just a simple smiley face.  I was so impressed with the art work they created!  Which one is your favorite?

*THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST!*

Hogle Zoo (by Bree)

We love when we get free tickets to fun places in the community!  Hogle Zoo usually hooks us up at some point during the summer so a small group of us went and we had a great time.  Our favorite attraction was the new polar bear!  So cute. :)

SheJumps "Fly Freestyle" Jump Camp! (by Berenice)

A couple of weeks ago She Jumps invited us for yet another fun adventure.   Did we go skiing in the snow?  No, but we did ski.  Kind of.  Amber, Cloris, Diego, and I had the chance to ski off ramps into water at the Utah Olympic Park.  And we got to jump on trampolines for half the day.  All of that is fun and exciting in itself, but what made it better was the people we got to hang out with.  Unfortunately Hannah Whitney wasn't able to make it but Vanessa and Catie were there along with other enthusiastic and cool people.  Among them were Jen Hudak and Ashley Battersby, part of the U.S. Ski Team.  We had no idea who they were until later in the day when Vanessa told us.  I've been doing things with She Jumps for two years now and they always have really interesting people like that for us to meet.  Claire even showed up in time to see Diego and me in the aerial show at the end of the day.  Diego was the only boy in the group  and had everyone's attention.  Being the cheerleader that he is, he was amazing on the tramps and tried a back flip on the ramps, which is a lot more than Amber, Cloris or I dared to do.   Making the day even more memorable was the quick rainstorm at midday that delayed our water fun and the hula hoop and Pogo stick characteristic of all She Jump events.   To sum up, we all had fun and love being with the She Jump people and their friends because we know we are going to do something new, challenging, and rewarding.  And we know we are going to be in a supportive group of people that make us feel comfortable and able.  

-Berenice (Club Teen)

Hike to the "Y" in the Rain! (by Bree)

I'm a BYU Alumni and have wanted to take the teens on a hike to the "Y."  I told them it wasn't the most fun hike in the world, but everyone needed to hike to the "Y" just to say they did it.  After weeks of dry, hot days, the one day it decided to POUR RAIN ALL DAY LONG was the same day scheduled for the hike.

As we drove down to Provo I secretly hoped the rain would magically stop as soon as we got there.

Nope.

It was raining harder and harder and definitely no sign of sun and blue skies.  I almost wanted to just give up and turn around, but I decided this could be a completely awesome adventure.  I didn't expect us to even make it all the way up to the "Y" but just encouraged the teens to do their best and we'd go as far as we could.

 You can see that we're completely soaked and the rain is dripping off our faces!  :)

 Embracing the smearing make-up.  She later wiped mud across her face as "war paint." 

 THEY DID IT!  Mud, rain, fog, and cold weather... they were champions.

 This is evidence of falling and slipping in the mud.

 Checking out the view below.

 Appreciating the warm shelter of a little cave area.

 Catching a little drink of water off the leaves.

I was so proud of them by the end!

I told them I'd buy everyone lunch if they made it to the top, so... we all went out to lunch before heading home.  :)  It was a great adventure and I'm so glad we didn't give up!