Beach day for desert kids
The Boys and Girls Club of Imperial Valley was treated to a trip to Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, California on Wednesday.
Outdoor Outreach in collaboration with Senator Ben Huesos office, California State Parks and the Parks Now Coalitions made this all possible for over 20 kids from the Imperial Valley.
News 11 joined the students on their beach adventure with more.
Members from Brawley and Holtville took to the water for and handful of activities, some of them for the first time.
“It gives the kids and opportunity to come to the beach who may not otherwise have that opportunity. Yesterday they went surfing, today we’re going to be doings some paddle boarding and some kayaking, and some outrigging,” said Misty Lee, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Imperial Valley.
“It’s a great pleasure to be here because Brawley and Holtville don’t get as many opportunities to come here to San Diego as a field trip. Being out here, camping, doing stuff with my friends, it’s like a community hanging out getting to know each other better,” said Alexis Becerra, 7th Grader from Brawley.
It was also a first for some campfire traditions.
“In this camp, I had my first traditional campfire s’mores,” said Brian Quezada, 7th Grader from Holtville.
Senator Ben Hueso joined in on the day activities to bring attention to transportation needs and ensuring access to the coast.
“If anything that you guys learn from this trip that you made here in San Diego to have some fun, learn that this coastline belongs to you and your family no matter where you live. And we all have a responsibility to protect it because it belongs to all of us,” said Ben Hueso, California State Senator.
This trip was fully paid for thanks to grants and outdoor outreach, a non-profit organization that runs programs year-round for youth that addresses critical community needs.
“We want to get them out here, disconnect from the technology that they have in their regular lives, and then just bring them out here and enjoy nature. Just as hard as it is for people from San Diego to get to the water, It would be even harder people from Imperial Valley to come all the way out here to the beach where they have the right to go to whenever they want to. So it’s a really good experience for them to come out here especially during the summer.”
“I would like to give a shout out to the outdoor outreach for making this happen, we are so excited to be here and we will remember this moment forever,” added Becerra.
